We hate to play on a timeless clich, but sometimes there's just no better way to put something. For instance, from the time you're old enough your mother has always pounded the, "Don't judge a book by its cover," aphorism into your skull. When it comes to life, those few words may be the best advice ever given. To that end, if one were to take the title of the L.A. Roadster Show at face value, and opt not to attend because they're not the roadster type, well then they just missed out on one happening truck show.
When one reads the title: L.A. Roadster Show, it's easy to confuse the show as being a roadster-only event. True, inside the gates are only pre-'38 roadsters, exclusive to finished and painted ones at that, but don't let the title fool you. Outside the fence that houses the roadsters is a come-one-come-all event for any pre-'75 vehicle, regardless of top. In fact, outside the roadster temple is just as packed with a wide variety of rides as it is inside.
For the past 44 years the L.A. Roadsters Car Club has put on the event over Father's Day weekend. In that time the show has become a Southern California tradition that has folks coming from all over California, and outside its borders as well, to spend the weekend in the Golden State. Besides hosting a roadster and car show event, the weekend also yields a massive vender midway that encompasses the latest products the aftermarket has to offer, even down to a 50-foot Hawaiian shirt booth. Not to mention, in the same parking lot as the open car show is one of the biggest swap meets this side of the Mississippi. Inside the swap meet one can find anything needed to get started on a new truck project or finish off an ongoing project. Here's just some of the stuff we managed to spot over the weekend.
 1960-'66 C10s were a hot commodity...  1960-'66 C10s were a hot commodity at this year's show, as evident by this two-toned slammed longbed rolling on a set of Coy's wheels. |  Talk about patina; check out...  Talk about patina; check out this '32 Ford parked next to this C10. Psych! That's not a C10, look close and you'll see this dude threw a curveball and showed up with a C20. |  Long and low is exactly what...  Long and low is exactly what Kerry Morris' '65 Chevy Hugger Orange truck is. |
 |  We never miss an opportunity...  We never miss an opportunity to snap a picture of a customized truck, so you can be sure we weren't gonna shy away from getting one of this Ford hooked up with '62 Chrysler headlights and matching grille surround. Peep the drawer pulls nestled inside that grille surround, stylish. |  Without the badges, trim,...  Without the badges, trim, or show card we didn't know whether this Chevy is a '55 or '56. However, we do know this, those Cragar wheels with knock-offs look right at home. You can never go wrong with a set of knock-offs. |
 Apparently this guy believes...  Apparently this guy believes in the term, "Chrome won't get ya home," because he decided to exnay the chrome accessories on his F1. However, he did throw on a set of polished Billet Specialties wheels. With what else, knock-offs. |  Another gem we found in the...  Another gem we found in the swap meet was this '56 Ford cab, which already had a posted 100 hours of bodywork in it. This guy also had a custom chassis, as well as various other parts, available for the truck. |  What is it about rusty, decrepit...  What is it about rusty, decrepit patina metal that gets one's heart racing like a lab rat? |
 Here's a shop truck we wouldn't...  Here's a shop truck we wouldn't mind having, a '28 Model A pickup. How sweet is that engine-turned firewall? |  Seriously, where did all the...  Seriously, where did all the '60-66 C10s come from? The cool thing about seeing this many C10s was all the different approaches to building one. For instance, this guy went with a restomod theme and slammed his on the ground with a set of Weld billet wheels... |  ...while this guy built his...  ...while this guy built his C10 as a throwback to the days of hot rodding in the early '60s. |