When the first weekend in March arrives, you can expect around 300 of the best street rods, customs, musclecars, and custom trucks from around the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to gather at Will Rogers Exhibit Hall for the Fort Worth Rod & Custom Car & Truck Show. "It's one of the earlier shows of the season," commented past event-winner, Richard House. "Around these parts, it's become sort of a Texas tradition!"
Local Willys collector and repeat multi-trophy winner Pat Cummings concurred: "People look forward to this show every year because they know that there's a good chance that they're going to get their car (or truck) featured in one of the magazines!" Past CCT-feature subject Maurice Land agreed. "It's like going to a big old family reunion. Same time, same place, every year."
And that's exactly the reason why CCT comes to Cowtown the first weekend in March. As you can see from the accompanying photos, the 2005 edition of the Fort Worth Rod & Custom Car & Truck Show featured some terrific trucks. So nice that rather than continue writing about them, we're simply going to show you some we caught in our viewfinder. And we mean right now!
Ken Stringer's lavender '49...
Ken Stringer's lavender '49 Ford F-1 rolls on a Chevrolet S-10 chassis. Ken's F-1 is powered by a 350ci small-block, and it's nicer than an unexpected present!
Another beautiful early Chevy...
Another beautiful early Chevy is the Midnight Hauler, owned by Chad and Marcia Gorczya. The small-block-powered 3100-Series Chevy has been featured in numerous truck magazines. Note the custom air cleaner under the hood.
Jim Bayne's poppy-red, 'glass...
Jim Bayne's poppy-red, 'glass '37 Ford Ute was manufactured by Wild Rods and built by Killer Rides. It was one of the most popular feature cars at Ft. Worth 2005.
Gary "Iron Horse" Johns exhibited...
Gary "Iron Horse" Johns exhibited both his 'glass-bodied S-10 chassis '39 Studefaker pickup (with 350ci Chevy power), and his Harley-Davidson-engine '03 "Slammer" chopper. Both show machines were well received by the car-crazy spectators.
Here's a different-but-tasteful...
Here's a different-but-tasteful treatment for an early Chevy 3100-Series. Local truck enthusiast J.T. Kenner III owns this stylized, white '54 Chevy.
Justin Montez owns this red...
Justin Montez owns this red and silver-flamed '97 Chevy Blazer that's flamed to within an inch of its life. The interior matches the exterior color scheme.
Tom Cummings' electric-blue...
Tom Cummings' electric-blue '42 Willys pickup was keeping good company with Bobby Langley's re-creation of his vintage "Scorpion" Top Fuel dragster circa 1959. Both vehicles were part of the NitroGeezers.com display.
Tim Cummings' (Tom's brother)...
Tim Cummings' (Tom's brother) red '41 Willys 1/2-ton hauler features a patriotic theme; it's powered by a TPI 350ci Chevy and hustles down the road in the blink of an eye!
You're looking at your atypical...
You're looking at your atypical "grandpa's truck"-this blue '49 six-cylinder-powered Chevrolet is owned by Kennedale, TX trucker, Billy D. Gilley.
Another local favorite was...
Another local favorite was Sam Gilley's green and white, Kennedale-based '72 Chevrolet C10. Sam's C10 is an outstanding restoration with various N.O.S. parts. Can you say "clean green machine" real fast five times?
Paint-and-body man Billy Mc...
Paint-and-body man Billy Mc Swain, of Rockwall, TX, unveiled his '05 Chevrolet SSR mild custom at Ft. Worth. The roadster pickup features an Eaton-Magnuson supercharger, airbrushed-woodgrain side paneling, and big-inch billet wheels. The truck won one of the top trophies for outstanding details at the event.
Jerry Thompson's '51 Ford...
Jerry Thompson's '51 Ford F-6 2-ton originally started life as a dump truck. However, in the process of being fully restored the Colleyville, TX-based F-6 has been converted to a fine pine stake bed. Let's go on a hayride!
Peter Hambrect's lime-yellow...
Peter Hambrect's lime-yellow '54 Ford F-100 small-window features small-block Chevy power and tons of detail. Check out the numerous louvers on the tailgate.
Roy Trent's cream-colored...
Roy Trent's cream-colored '56 F-100 features a tri-power-equipped 302-W small-block and enough details to keep your eyes busy for a week! Roy's Effie hails from Ft. Worth.
Another popular vintage pickup...
Another popular vintage pickup at the Ft. Worth Show was this Ford-powered '32 Ford pickup owned by Dennis and Barbara Cannon, from Azle, TX.
Jerry Hogan's mild custom...
Jerry Hogan's mild custom '78 Pro Street Chevrolet stepside hails from Roanoke, TX.
This Downs Manufacturing '37...
This Downs Manufacturing '37 Ford Ute is owned by a Highland Village, TX couple, Doug and Dixie Pederson. The LT1-powered hot rod featured a ton of custom touches. Note the side-opening tailgate.
The red, pinstripe-flamed...
The red, pinstripe-flamed '56 Ford F-100 Pro Street panel is known as The Beast. It was built by Classical Gas Motors, and is owned by Chris Lofgren, of Arlington, TX.
Robert C. Burkhart owns this...
Robert C. Burkhart owns this maroon-flamed '49 Ford F-1 street truck from Ft. Worth, TX. Bob's red ride is powered by a small-block Chevrolet.
Perennial favorite Maurice...
Perennial favorite Maurice Land shows this orange-flamed '47 Chevy panel, powered by a 454ci big-block Chevrolet. The truck has been featured in numerous magazines.
Meet Hortense, Chuck & Dianne...
Meet Hortense, Chuck & Dianne Nixon's '29 Model-A Ford Huckster, a real favorite with both rural- and city-based old-timers.
Early Ford pickups look great...
Early Ford pickups look great in two-tone red and black. Kaufman, TX trucker Jack Ellison also showed his '35 Chevy Super Gas/Super Comp roadster in a nice side-by-side pairing.
Robert Parrish owns this immaculate...
Robert Parrish owns this immaculate silver and red '72 Chevy Cheyenne. Bob hails from Irving, TX.
Steve Crane is the owner of...
Steve Crane is the owner of this red, 350ci small-block-powered '46 Chevrolet 1/2-ton. Some of its features are a set of Billet Specialties wheels with paint and bodywork by Custom Touch. It was a superior example of a vintage street truck!
When or if late-Hemi-powered...
When or if late-Hemi-powered '36 Fords are your thing, you're going to love Jim Elmore's black-cherry pickup. It hauls buns and puts a smile on your face at the same time.