Trucks at a roadster show? For real?!
Like belt loops on boxer shorts or vuvuzela horns at a spelling bee, custom classic trucks at a roadster event might not be what you'd expect. If there's anything we've learned to expect from the L.A. Roadster Show, it's the unexpected.
Yeah, everybody knows that the L.A. Roadster Club only lets open cars inside the gates of their main event. But how many people know that there is a second section of the show that fills the humongous parking lot between the roadsters and the ticket booth where hundreds of pre-'75 non-roadsters gather to show off? Actually, everybody knows that too, which is why "Specialty Parking" has become a hugely successful annual show in its own right. In addition to all the coupes, sedans, and wagons, this is where you find all the cool trucks. It's also where you find the swap meet that probably attracts as many people as the rest of the event.
If you know of any roadster show with a better selection of trucks than this one, we'd like to hear about it. In the meantime, enjoy our gallery of pickups from the L.A. Roadster Show.
Custom Classic Treasure
Remember what we told you about the great swap meet that shares the parking lot with the non-roadster participants at this event? We made a few passes through the area to find out what people were selling, and what they were buying. Hopefully, some of this treasure won't get stuck in an endless swap meet rotation, but will turn into projects that we'll see on the street and at shows in a year or two.
A Vagrants club plaque hangs...
A Vagrants club plaque hangs in the windshield of Dennis Wilson's flamed '55, driven from Chino, California. Dennis says the Chevy was a "basket case" when he started the one-man, backyard rebuild. Now it's got a 502 crate engine, Mustang II frontend, Ford 9-inch rear, Auto Meter gauges, Americans, and cool paint.
The sun-bleachness came with...
The sun-bleachness came with time, but the Old Crow Speed Shop graphics on Robert Rhoades' '38 Ford is a brand-new addition. Robert, aka "Bad Bob" bought the mostly stock pickup-with an injected 283-earlier this year, so there's still work to be done. Most of it will probably be posted on the HAMB message board of the Jalopy Journal website.
"Nothing fancy" is how Scott...
"Nothing fancy" is how Scott Allen from Laguna Niguel describes his '36 Ford, although it has started collecting show awards in Southern California. The small-block-powered pickup was in progress when Scott bought it; he finished the chrome and upholstery and added A/C. We especially like the paint color. Not fancy, but cool.
On the subject of paint, John...
On the subject of paint, John Marsh's '55 Chevy wears a great shade of red all over the truck, including the front (but not rear) bumper and the door handles. The '55 also features a 383 and a great, ready-to-pounce stance.
Keeping it all Mopar, Michael...
Keeping it all Mopar, Michael Breatore runs a Dodge 360 engine and 727 transmission in his '54 Dodge panel truck, dropped on a Plymouth Volare front clip. He shaved the body panels and pulled off the bumpers, and upgraded the grille with custom horizontal bars.
Some oversized rolling stock...
Some oversized rolling stock and olive-green paint made us take a closer look at this '65 Chevy. The in-progress interior includes buckets with tan upholstery. The owner is unidentified, but the words "exotic Mex. Bed wood" identify the bed material, which we would have mistaken for plywood.
The appetizing paintjob and...
The appetizing paintjob and the lowered altitude-along with some updated rubber-called our attention to this caramel-colored '55 Ford F-100.
Shaved emblems, trim, and...
Shaved emblems, trim, and hardware and perfect black paint-shot by Vince Borzilieri. We challenge you to come up with a cooler look for a '64 Chevy. John Kardashian owns this one, set up for comfort, looks, and driveability, with a 383 stroker for power and dropped spindles for the right posture.