Carps' 2015 USA Hot Rod Vacation

[Carps]

Since we hadda pass by the city of Oxnard to get back to the City of Angels, a stopover at the Murphy Museum was inevitable.



They were holding a shindig for Corvette folks on the day but we arrived a tad late to experience the parking lot show.



So we just went inside and looked around to see what was new since my last visit.



As always with this place there were a few interesting cars that were not in the building when we previously attended.



Along with a couple of old, or new as the case may be, caravans.







This old gal usually resides at the Petersen Museum but since that building is closed for renovation, I guess it hadda go somewhere for a vacation and a room full of caravans is probably a good place for it.



In fact it gave us the opportunity for a closer look inside, which is more like a club lounge room than a caravan.



This one looks old but is brand spanking new!



However, it's completely sixties cool, right down to the fins.



Here's the story.



Here's a few other different and interesting vehicle displayed on the day.



Jeep yoot isn't something you see every day.



Cad looks OK, but the Willys seems to be missing a few parts.



Buick Limo by Brewster is also kinda rare.



Dodge Charger is Hemified.



A few more Caddys than last year.



And a new [9](old?)[/i] Packard.



'36 Ford is a nice old thing.



I always enjoy a BN1 Austin Healy, one of the coolest Pommy sporty cars ever.



Lincoln Land Yacht is one of a set of three in the museum.



The model train guys have done a mountain of work to almost double the size of the layout in the past 12 months.



They've also added a bunch of rolling stock, all of which is hand made to depict real equipment used on real railroads.







The small scale town and country-scapes are also very realistic.

[Carps]

Here's some of the stuff that we stumbled across cruising around the L.A. area.







This thing may look like an old Kombi from this angle.....



...but it was insane from any other.





This was sitting behind a supermarket.



Also nearby in the same parking lot.



Saw a lot of Ferrari's in Calyforn-eye-ay, nearly all of them on trailers, I guess that's the Fiat heritage kicking in.  



A later model Kombi, looks like it needs some work.



The Kombi's baby brother is starting to get a little scarce as you don't see thank everywhere like in days past..



Here's a slightly altered one.



Pretty rare Jag XK120, waiting for someone to give it a little love.



Somewhere near Pomona.





Anaheim, not far from Disneyland and a nice old Lincoln pulled up in the street behind us.





Other side of that fence behind the supermarket.



A few streets over from my motel.



Not far from where we spotted the black Kombi.



This one is a daily driver.



I figure this lot also fitted that description.







Feeling hungry we decided to skip the train ride...



Yup, they really do have public transport in suburban L.A.



We cruised over to the famous Harvey's (now Bob's) Broiler for some supper.







Once we got inside, the crew told us we were a day early for the cruise night.





So we had something to eat, a couple of cold beverages.......





....shot sum-mo-foters....



......and high-tailed it out of there behind the local fire truck.



Followed this old Vette back to our digs in Brea, near the tar pits where the sticky black stuff  was bubbling up through the ground in places, as a result of the constant 100 degree plus temperatures.



Next day we went shopping, starting at the Early Ford V8 store, here's some of Bills fleet in the parking area behind the shop.



The deuce is a bona-fide old hot rod, a barn find if you will.



Not in bad shape all things considered.





This visitor from Denmark was equally as enthralled as my Aussie pals, all being first timers.



The '34 is for sale, but none of the others....yet.



A pretty solid Cal car....



Suffering only from the ravages of too much sun.



The forty coupe was pick of the bunch as far as I was concerned and had it been for sale I may have been severely tempted to part with a chunk of cash.



Wouldn't be too hard to fix all this.



A new boot lit handle, which is about all it needs aside from new paint was available inside the store as NOS or reproduction.

[Carps]

The Early Ford V8 Store is filled to bursting with NOS, that's Neat Old Stuff and a few reproduction parts as well.



They also have a few 'banger' bits.



And some blowers as well as suckers.



My two Confederate compadres were like kids in a lolly shop.



Need an old flathead V8 block, Bill has it covered.



There, usually a couple or more complete cars in addition to what's parked outside.





I'm thinking this is what they call 'patina'?



Parts hang from the rafters.....



Like these NOS and good pre loved fenders.



and these too.



Need a grille, they have it covered.



They can even do you a petrol bowser!



Wheels and brakes, no problem.





Some stuff is there just to tease us, like this bottle of aftershave that I offered to purchase without success.



But generally everything here that will help keep a car on the road, is for sale.





This stuff is for display purposes only.



The '34 cabriolet is available provided you have a big wad of greenbacks and I mean a seriously big wad.



Need an axle or some gears?  Got all that covered and more.



Bling anyone?



Or maybe a beam axle for under the front?



With old parts packed safely in the back of the Family Truckster, it was off to see CW Moss in search of the bits Bill didn't have on hand.



There's also a goodly amount of secondhand and NOS parts available here.



See anything you like?



No? Maybe it's in this pile then?



Or this one.





Or perhaps something from the 'specials' table is what you seek?



CW only has stock and reproduction stock parts but next door, Reid's Auto Parts have all your hot rod needs covered.



Yup, this stuff is all new.



New Old Tin (NOT?) bodies anyone?



This part of town is known not just for antique car parts but antiques and cool old stuff in general, like this vintage Maytag washing machine.



Or Coke and other memorabilia.





I loved this giant Thunderbird model, but even if it did fit my luggage, the price tag was a touch steep for my wallet.



These cardboard dealership signs carried a hefty price tag, but only to us non Willys folks I guess.



In the original CW Moss building there's now a used vehicle sales operation........







............that also has a few other automobile related things like this Ford tire stand.



The few cars on offer were well priced, like this late forties Tudor Sedan, which came very close to becoming the next import to Oz.



It was in very good shape and required bugger all work to be roadworthy and registered here in Oz.



Clean as a whistle underneath with a good running milady modded flathead under the hood.



The forty convert looked OK to me, but was not yet ready for sale as it required some work to make it right.  



This Merc Convertible seemed rust free but in need of some TLC.  



It has four NOS fenders, all the stainless is good too.



Under the hood is a late Ford V8 drivetrain, with new steering and suspension to make it a reliable driver.



The Deuce five window, well it's a nice car that's gunna be over $130k by the time you convert to Aussi bux and then there's the cost of getting it here, import duty and so on, which makes me think it's not for us.  So to avoid upsetting anybody, I didn't shoot any pictures of this car.

That's not really true.  



Next day was seriously hot, so being a bit silly I left my two Aussie compadres at the motel and headed out to do some train spotting.
The following day, I hit the Pacific Coast Highway with Ron and Elaine en-route to Pleasanton.  Leaving the boys with instructions on how to get there via I5 as they wanted to check out a few L.A. area rod shops like Aussie tourists do.

[Beck]

Carps, You come for a visit and see more of the US than I will be able to see in my lifetime living here. Hope you had fun!

I saw your Volvo Duett photo and thought of one that was in this years Drag Week. I liked it! There is a full feature of it on that site.

http://bangshift.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OLDVO081-400x264.jpg

[Carps]

Yeah we had fun and I would have gladly stayed this time, coz going home wasnt like it used to be, which was always the best part of the trip.

Anyhow, life goes on and so did we, all the way to Pleasanton.  Ron, Elaine and I hatched a plan to leave L.A. early for a relaxing run over with an overnight stop along the way.  So at around 6:30 am we filled the cars with gasoline and called ourselves ready to head north.  Instead of our normal fast trip up I-5 to I-99 and on to Sacramento, this time we too the slow and easy route, via the Pacific Coast or Highway to Carmel, home to the rich and famous.



It's a good run up that highway and we managed to get thru L.A. before the traffic, which made it even better.



Once out on the open road in the cool morning air the cars ran sweetly all the way.



Ron's little coupe is so well set up it just hums along and gobbles up the miles.



I'd drag this puppy home in a heartbeat if Ron would just sell it to me.



Sits perfectly on the road, looks great and drives like a modern car.



Anybody looking at these pictures who doesn't think this looks good needs to stop and check their pulse.



Driving through the coastal ranges it's easy to understand how the regularly occurring rockslides might cut the road or block the tunnels making the trip a little slower.



Carmel is a very nice little spot, peaceful and relaxed the locals very polite and nobody here is in such a rush that you have to duck n weave to get out of their way. However, accommodation is a tad pricey compared to what you'd pay elsewhere in the US, but most is unique and very well presented.  The hot rods proved popular with locals and although traffic is pretty light around town they seem to prefer a different style of car.......





.....but some clearly appreciate their transport with a few more quirks...









We did notice more than a dozen or two of these around the place.



Not sure how reliable the local fire service is, but this is the only truck in the station house.



This is the road between Carmel and Pleasantonand I'm sure you can see the humour in this next photo.  It's even funnier than it appears because when we arrived at Pleasanton, this rig pulled into the hotel parking lot behind us and the guy unloaded his fancy red car.  Then he got in, took up the cool seating position, y'know, with one arm dangled over the door edge and knuckles almost dragging on the pavement, cranked it into life and commenced cruising the parking lot.  Being that Goodguys take this hotel over as event HQ and it's where all entrants have to visit to register, it was filled with hot rods and hot rodders.  We dunno how far this guy dragged his Fiat to get there, but really?  At least when I take my fancy late model to a rod run (or anywhere else for that matter), I drive the thing there and back.  



Anyhow, since we've arrived at Goodguys HQ, let's take a quick look around the parking lot to see who and what's there, starting with a nice '55 Chevy Two Door Post.



A '46 passenger car grille completely changes the appearance of this '48 Chevy pick-up.



Wooden MOPAR seems to have had seen planty of sun and surf.



Yet another '55 Chevy, this time the desirable Nomad Wagon.



'39-42 Ford pick-ups are great looking trucks.



Model A coupe breaks every rule in the Police ticket book and then some..



Another often overlooked vehicle, the '48 Plymouth coupe is a good looking thing.



Likewise, a similar vintage Ford convert.



A pair of somewhat different trucks.



Seems pick up trucks will never fall out of favour, this one more desirable than most.



This pair are just cool.



'35 Ford three window coupe is beyond cool, has a few hours and I'd suggest even more bucks invested.



Ford model 40 is not a car one thinks of as a base for a traditional style custom.



Late model pick-up is kind of intimidating.

[Carps]

Since we made it to Pleasanton a full day before the fairground gates would be opened, I decided a cruise around the 'hood was in order, just to see what I could see.   And what I saw was an interesting looking muddersickle shop that I didn't know was in the area.  Being familiar with the proprietors name and having seen images of his work in magazines, I figured it might be wise to stop and check it out.



I wasn't disappointed.  The stuff inside the front door suggested this guy Arlen does't do 'normal'.......... or anything by half.





If you have the cash, all the machines shown here are (were) available to purchase!





And most of them have been pretty radically restyled or completely custom built.



Like I mean these things are out there man, and the prices are more than double what you'd pay for a stock Harley.



But I don't think there were any of that brand here, most of the bikes on the sales floor were badged Victory.



And they looked mean and nasty.



I was checking this one out and trying to read the story painted on it......



....when one of the other visitors asked if I'd checked out the 'Injuns'.



Heck I didn't even see the arrows!



The Native American bikes have their own special space on the other side of the showroom, the machines displayed there are all class and much cooler than a common Hawg.



I especially liked this one.



Then somebody suggested I should take my camera upstairs and photograph the hand built kustom bikes and who am I to argue with an instruction like that.



These machines are all incredible and not for sale.  I didn't try and count them, but there must have been a couple of hundred full custom show bikes displayed on the mezzanine floor of the showroom.



I'm not even sure what brand of two wheelers I was looking at.....



First I figured they are customised Harleys.......then I thought, 'Nope, they're just kustom, right down to the last nut & bolt, including the engines.



They all feature incredible workmanship and style that can only come from a fertile imagination.



The detail is mind boggling.



Since I had no idea what I was looking at, maybe it's best to just look at the images without any commentary from me?



One of this group appears to be a spaceship on two wheels the other a stylised and shrunken two wheeled  '57 Chevrolet.



This one is a definitely a Hawg, I think maybe a very old one at that.



Would you call this a 3 twin?



The paint jobs are no less spectacular than the custom work and fabrication.







I'm thinking maybe some illicit medication was involved in coming up with some of the ideas and designs, like this front wheel brake.



Or this variation of the same theme.





Another old Hog.



And another.



Mind blowing.

[Carps]

Don and Peggie, hit Highway 99 from Tulare early in the morning and after an uneventful trip arrived in time for breakfast the morning after we rolled into Pleasanton.



So with the California gang plus my Confederate buddies all present and accounted for, we tucked into a hearty serve of eggs and bacon and were set for another great weekend.



This year we got a hotel room close enough to the fairgrounds entrance that we could walk if we wished to and lots of folks set up camp to watch the cars roll by.



And roll by they did.  It's clear that Model A Fords remain plentiful.



Most folks made it through the traffic unscathed, but not everybody.



The big and comfortable fat rendered late '30s and '40s cars are becoming more common.







Of course there'll always be a place in hot rodding for the 1932 Ford.



Likewise, anything that is representative of the '60s era 'Gasser Wars'.  
And yes of course they were here en-mass but I'll cover the Willys folks later.



The restaurant adjacent to our motel was like a rolling car show at breakfast time.



The machinery was inspected top to bottom by most who passed by.



However, before the fairgrounds were opened, the serious action was all in the hotel parking lot.



Ever wondered what a 1934 roadster would look like with 1935 fenders?  Wonder no more.



This car has a mountain of time and money invested in it, most of the changes obvious and many so subtle they go un-noticed.



Others are more traditional in both build style and volume of cash invested.  



Others just reeked of good taste and classy style.  The only '40 Ford model in my opinion that can take a top chop without ruining the cars brilliant factory styling is the convertible and this one is a case in point.



The mix of cars and commercial vehicles is always interesting to see.



And a rod run in California just isn't an event without a bunch of termite transporters.



Tradition sometimes comes on a trailer......



.... or it just rolls on on wire wheels.



Nobody worries too much, coz we're just all here for some fun.



Old engines never really went out of style.



And not all of the commercial vehicles are pick up trucks.



And everything is not always as it seems, some wood doesn't grow on trees.



And when there's so much sunshines as they have in California, ragtops rule!



Deuce highboys especially.



But coops are not all for chickens.



Sometimes it's hard to tell a model A from a deuce.



The mix of styles and colour is always amazing at a hot rod event.



Even the once ugly ducklings are now popular.



GM's late thirties models are equally as good looking in their own way as Henry's Fords.



And sometimes the blunt fronted old things are transformed with a little nose job.



But that's not to say they didn't look good before the surgery.



Of course there's always the obligatory arty-farty photo opportunities that can't be ignored.







And the show hasn't even started yet!

[Carps]

We were having so much fun I almost forgot that there's a swap meet included in the event, so by the time we got over there. a lot of stuff was sold and vendors were packing up.



But there were still a few items to be had that could be carried home in my baggage.





I didn't think the range of parts was as good as in previous years, but the area was still filled with sellers.



And if you looked hard enough you'd be sure to find something that's needed for the current project.



A lot more wheels that I recall on offer previously.



And a few more non car specific items than is usual here.



But there was still plenty on offer.



This guy even had his caravan for sale.



A good assortment here.



And here.



Maybe not so much here.



If you look at enough stalls you may even find all the bits required to build a whole car.........



...even a woody wagon.



Or anything else that takes your fancy.



Can somebody call an ambulance for Fred, I think I heard him falling off his char.









Yup, there was still pretty much everything you'd need to build or detail a whole car.



These plates are repro units, but provided the number isn't already in use you  can get them into the system for use on your new/old car.



There's plenty of petrolabilia, or would they call it gasabilia here in the US?



Lotsa wheel caps too, I picked up some spare Old items and a set of 4 '58 Corvette caps so I'll still have to find one more for the spare wheel.

















So much cool junk, so little luggage space.





Meanwhile, inside the many buildings on the fairgrounds, there's also lotsa stuff for the folks that like things shiny and new, from wheels.....



The ones that roll.....



to those that you hold..



This pair would look great in any old car.





There's dials too.





And everything in between.





Need louvres but can't find someone with a press?  No problem, how about some bolt on items?



Problems with your rear end? got it covered.



You name it someone has it.





And that also includes brand new body work, just name the make model and year you desire.



Yup this is a brand new all steel car, not one old Ford part anywhere in sight.



This one too.  However, the shoebox Ford in the background is the real deal, originally customised in the fifties by Ron Dunn and recently restored by Steve's.



And once you have all that new metal ready to roll, we can paint and decorate it too.





Need some choons playin' in your man-cave, we also got that covered in fine style!

[Carps]

Of course if you don't have a project, there's plenty on offer for you in the cars for sale section or the main swap area.



US$48,000 could see you cruising home in fine style.



This taxi cab didn't have a price on it but was very well restored leading us to think the number might be large.



Chevy pick-up could be had for less that US$20k, but it needs work.



This Tudor is in great shape and was also in the $15k range, as were most of these that we saw.



Late model Chevy was a little steeper at US$48,000 but it does have a 'numbers matching' 327 and Muncie four speed, positraction rear plus air ride suspension and modern four wheel disc brakes etc.



Willys Tub was tagged as 'Rare, call for price".  We translated that to mean 'expensive' and it also requires a full repaint.



This one was parked in the swap area just to tease folks as it was not for sale.



I reckon this was one of the bargains, 390 cube big block and it was in mint condition, US$6,000 or deal.



'55 Chevy nomad was serious car for serious money, US$ 72,000 or offer.



A little better priced was this neat two door sedan at only US$42,000.



The bargain price Tri-Five was this one, warts an' all for only US$13,500obo and it's the nine seat model.



Dak-Dak woody was in need of some serious work to make it pristine.



And this Kombi has some serious Porsche mumbo in it's tail for a paltry US$18,000.



This old gal was sold before the gates even opened, a clean older restoration and it went for less than US5,000.



This Caddy was more than three times that much and it needs a bunch of love.



But if you really wanted to clean out your wallet and go home with a pretty nice old car, then this '33 Pontiac Tudor was the catch of the day for only US$65,000.  



However, this would have been my Pontiac choice, a lloody nicely done restoration of a rare and rust free low mileage '57 Star Chief Wagon but again with a relatively serious price of US$45,000



I'd call it the best finished car there as it really was like new, complete with 383 and Turbohydramatic trans, it had factory air/cond and it wanted for nothing.



T model had no pricee as it was already sold.



Pair of '57 Chev Bel Air Hardtops were up in the stratosphere but touted as 100% complete and rust free.



Numbers matching Dodge Charger with Hemi and Torque elite trans was another POA deal, so I'm thinking monster bucks.  One passer by suggested the seller was asking US$99,000.



Pick-up truck would have been much easier on the bank balance at US $33,000



The cafe parking lot was no less interesting on Friday than it was the day before, with some of the same folks returning ...




And some newbies, that I didn't photograph previously.



Pleasanton is a hotbed for trad styled customs.........





.......along with all the other cool old cars.



Breakfast over it was time once again to head out to the fairgrounds, for another fulfilled day.

[Carps]

OK so here's a bunch for all you Willy's fans, there's usually a few more than turned out this year but I guess there was enough   So let's start with the other view of that pink Tub.



This car was very famous when it was built a long, long time ago.  Appeared on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine and many others as it was a real trend setting car.



Good that it's still on the road after all this time and not much has changed,the front wheels being the most obvious.



Yup, this was one badass car back in the 1970s.



This one is a badass car right now.



That power plant doesn't just have the look, it sounds like a top fueler too!



Yup, she be bad!



This little fella is packing a blown big block Chevy.





This one a 392 Chrysler Hemi.





This one I dunno, but it sounded like it had what it takes.



Even if the rear wheels dodnt seem to fit properly.



This one had the look and the sound pretty well set for mid 1960s.



Seemed to drive OK because I don't think we saw it stopped more than once all weekend.



But at least I got one photo of it at rest.



And this group, well they were just nicely built and detailed cars who's owners didn't need to show off what was under the hoods to impress us onlookers.



















Jeeps?  You say Willys made Jeeps?



This what you wanna see?







And this one about rounds out the Willys episode.

[Carps]

One of the features of Goodguys Pleasanton is the model display, from regular plastic kit based stuff to functional miniature engines made from castings and machined billets of metal.



The model cars although made from plastic, often look like rusty metal.....



Or the real deal.





Some serious customising is always evident........





And the paint work often outshines many of the 1/1 scale cars parked outside on the fairground.







Many of the customised models even resemble real custom cars..........





....or racers.  Think somebody stole the engine.



Others just showcased a whole bunch of imagination and hours of work.



Of course many are just simple old style hot rods.







Whilst others are well done phantoms.





There's even real simulated wood!



.......and some that are just a bit silly.



The model engines are a whole different ballgame.





Radial aeroplane engine is among a number of awesome  looking and sounding power-plants.



This boat is incredible, not only does it have a working petrol engine, mini hydraulic pumps driven from a PTO operate various systems so that it can be sailed by remote control and even berthed against a pier.



Here it is with the lid on and that trailer is hooked to a remote controlled vehicle that can reverse into the water and offload the boat without the owner needed to touch anything but the remote controller.



How about a fully functional small scale muddersickle?



And last but not least, some of these wild engines even power the odd nitro tether car, some of which run over 200mp/h and that's not scale, they were clocking them at that speed usingw a real radar gun.  The sound is enough to make your ears bleed.

[Carps]

Meanwhile back outside in the park, there was lotsa this stuff going on.




Only because the bright midafternoon sun, made the hot colours pop!



And the slinky mild Kustoms gleam.



John Milner rocked up to check out the action.



And so too did uncle Daniel.  Yups it's a 100% original unmolested, well almost unmolested, deuce five windah coop.  Look thru the louvred hood-sides and you may just be able to make out the 455 Olds V8 that lives in there.



This is one of my favourite MOPAR hot rods.



Don's roadster was looking' good all weekend.........



......even if it aint as shiny as some of the other deuces.



There's always lotsa trucks on hand.....



....and, busses too!



This old skoolkid mover was decked out more like a bordello than an educational institution.



This mid fifties Chevy truck looked like it has been on a diet and lost some weight from around the middle.



This engine isn't a model, it's the real deal.



Some of the customised cars are a bit radical......



Others take the deal a tad beyond radical, this was once a 1947 Cadillac!



Then there are those that have been restored to what they looked like when first built back in the day.



I'm thinking they call this a trad styled track car.



This one is just a hawt-rod, pure and simple.



And this one had everybody fooled by its accent.  It looks for all the world like a gennie US steel car but is indeed and Aussie fibreglass body, done so well nobody could pick it.



The Fordy folks had a big party.



And this pair worked hard all day to make sure everybody could see what a difference one year makes.



And a couple of really cool old things.





In my world real rodders don't let their friends drive stock, but sometimes it just happens.



Likewise, some folks are happy to see their pals embarrass themselves.



Yeah, it was kinda kool, just like this one.



Of course it wouldn't be Pleasanton without a few old Nitro racers making a bit of noise every now and then.



But mostly it's all about the purdy cars.

[Carps]

One of the other things I like about Pleasanton, is there's always plenty of wood.  Not so much as at the beach, but enough to satisfy my need for seedlings.



Forty Eight Chevy convert with timber trim is a rare beast.



The wagon version is also rare but much easier to find than the wood trimmed convertible, coupe or fastback.



Same year Ford wagon somewhat but not quite so hard to come by.



Morry Minor Traveller is rare in the US, much more common here in Oz.



Chip Foose may be a master with the felt tip pen, but I'm not always so sure about his designs.



I kinda like 'e, a bit more like the way the factories made 'em back in the day.



If you have a mountain of money, you might be able to land this on in Oz for around $250k.



Yet another British import.



Call me fussy, but even this one with late style timber on a model 40 Ford chassis and metal bits isn't quite right.  But I'd be able to live with it.



Of course 1948 would have been the last genuinely wooden Chevrolet as after that they were all made of metal.



Meanwhile, Henry stuck with termite food for a few years longer.



Cool as the late models are......



............ I really like the oldies, like this '37.



Although a '48 would do at a pinch.



Can you say, "rare as rocking horse poop"?



There's one of these coming together not too far from my house.



Gary Goodguy owns this drop dead gorgeous Chrysler.



No less gorgeous this nutmeg metallic number has the supercharged Cobra power train.



Who needs a Family Truckster, when this Mercury would make the perfect cross country vacation transport?



One very well done Chevy metal woodie.  Methinks that's an oxymoron.



This one took the prize for best wooden car on the day.





This one looks great but has clearly been in regular use for many years.



And this one. with a little work could be transformed into an organic green vacation mobile.  But it's kinda cool just the way Henry's kids built it.



The only thing stopping this baby coming to Australia is the crappy exchange rate that would add way too much to the cost.  What's that old saying about timing being everything?



YUP, wood is good!

[Carps]

Just when we figured there's nobody has more patina than Don's old Deuce, along came these guys in their model T.



I figure about now it's time for a bit of old style and nostalgia.



Not long ago those old things were considered too big and ugly to be cool, it's good that times have changed.



Late forties Chevies were even less desirable back then.  it's good that times have changed.



There was also a time when Corvette wheel caps belonged only on Corvettes, not any more.



Corvettes actually look OK without wheel caps.



Of course late thirties Chevrolets look great with their smooth fat fenders.



Sometimes they don't look so bad even without the fenders.



Some folks reckon a Deuce roadster looks good no matter what is done or not done to it.



Take a relatively light and compact body style, add a big V8 engine and that's how Oldsmobile became the original muscle car.  



Before that time, the big Olds also didn't do too badly as mild customs.



An older Oldsmobile.



And for good measure a later model Olds.



T Bucket will never be out of fashion or favour with hot rodders.



Same goes for convertibles.



The ugly duckling has turned into a swan!



He's smiling because it's no longer for sale.



Deuce of a different kind.



How to make a sub compact from a '56 Ford F100.  Chop the top before taking a slice out of the middle, then shorten it by a foot and channel the whole deal over the chassis.



Here's one that hasn't been so badly molested.



Caddy tailamps look like they were made for this Chevy.



Mercury is just classy smooth.



I liked this simply because in Australia we had the same year model as a Valiant Four Door, but we never got the Dart Coupe until the early seventies.

[Carps]

Saw this A parked in the background and thought it looked good enough to photograph.



Then it was once again time for a little arty-fartyness.



Chevy style.



Deuce style.



Here's the rest of the car.



Classy mild custom treatment works on this fordy coupe.



'34 Plymouth doesn't need much more than a little polish to the blue paint in order to look great.



Speaking of classy, doesn't have to be a big dollar high end ride to be cool.



You just gotta know when to stop with the mods and what colours to use to finish it off.



Are we havin' fun yet?  



You betcha we are!



Pure class!



Need I say more?



A person after my own heart, lotsa doors, little glass.



So ya like '32 Fords huh?





I'm kinda partial to Chevies.



Especially the less common older ones like this '35 model.



For those who can't see it, this is a '47 Chevrolet.



So is this.



It's late Saturday arvo and time to head back to our digs for a bit of shuteye so we're in good shape for a big day tomorrow and the long trip 'home'.



And the model that started the muscle car craze.