Hot Rod Pinstriping from Pomona (click to see these pictures full size) Like most shows with a hot rod and custom car theme, the pinstriping and custom lettering is everywhere. Telling a story of bygone racing years or thin, symmetric lines setting off a deck lid, we dig it all! So here at the 2012 LA Roadster Show, pinstriping found my lens often... Here's a few of my favorites and the complete gallery below. Keeping the lettering theme going, dig this! The gold leaf pinstriping is sexy and get the Cali vibe from the palm trees visible in the reflection. This is the cowl of Throttle King Car Club provisional member Chris. His Model A Hot Rod carried un-fakable patina and some great new-but-looked-worn pinstriping. One of my favorite shots from the show so far! More from Chris's hot rod. You tell me... If you're an artist, get in touch! I'll feature your pinstriping in your own gallery: admin@myrideisme.com If you can't get enough pinstriping, there's more here: pinstriping pictures. Here's the pinstriping pictures from last year: 2011 LA Roadster Show pinstriping [nggallery...
2014 Detroit Autorama – Basement Hot Rods
posted by pikesan
2014 Detroit Hot Rods - Pikesan's Picks for Best of Show - In the Basement Detroit Autorama packs Cobo Hall upstairs and down as well. For some people, the basement, downstairs as part of the, "Detroit Autorama Extreme" is the only way to go. I find plenty to like in both, so I shared the best of upstairs Detroit Autorama here. And for the best of the best, check out the 2014 Ridler Award "Great 8" Contenders. Why not take a look and you be the judge... course, my style doesn't change much. Here's a few of my downstairs favorites then... find everything else here: 88 pictures from the basement. Ford in a Ford Coupe 1930 Ford Model A Hot Rod Coupe Dave DeBaar's hot rod model A coupe is as sweet as it gets. Dave told me this coupe was built in a 3 car garage and didn't leave for anything until it was done. Dave and his dad did the paint and built the stout looking 289 small block Ford too. Dave even made the adapters for the 4 Holley 94's onto the Offenhauser...
Metal Flake Gypsy Custom Van Shines at SEMA Show 2013
posted by pikesan
Custom Vans at 2013 SEMA Show Vans. They're not just for living down by the river anymore. (RIP Chris Farely aka Matt Foley) One of my EASY picks for "Favorite at SEMA" has to be this custom Ford Econoline Van. Not since Church's VanGO has a van made a statement like this. With metal flake shining in the Las Vegas sun, I had to grab some pictures and share. If metal flake's your thing, make sure to look at the other metal flake paint stories and pictures we've done including a "how-to" about spraying flake yourself. Complimenting the cooper-gold flaked flames and stripes, the gold leaf lettering spelled "Chrome Gypsy Tattoo" a Las Vegas based tattoo and piercing shop. A perfect calling card for the shop, yea?? How do you paint metal flake on a roof with this detail? Standing on a latter for days!!?? Someone lets us know who did the paint... they deserve credit! Custom details and more metal flake covered the interior. I heard the engine's detailed and flaked too. I'll try to grab a picture tomorrow. ...
Jeem’s BUGGY LOVE – Now You Can Own it
posted by pikesan
Hot Rod Designer Sets the Look of Dune Buggy-love! I don't normally post cars for sale, but Jimmy's a good friend and GREAT hot rod designer. So... when he tried his hand at a dune buggy (and pretty much set off a mini-dune-buggy craze here in Phoenix) I had to see it! It was at the Goodguys show first, the "FISHBONE" featuring custom paint and trick pinstriping to match. Want to know more about what's going on in the head of hot rod designer Jimmy Smith? Take a look at these stories featuring Jimmy's Designs Or, you can own his dune buggy! "I've always loved the whole, late 60's-early 70's California lifestyle thing. I was a child of that era, so things like skateboards, dune buggies and hot rods have been on my mind since pretty much day one! Of all the impractical types of cars out there, dune buggies rate right up there, thing is, while they may not be great for hauling groceries or going to business meetings with, what they do deliver are smiles. Climb into one, and the stupid grin starts right away....
2013 LA Roadster Show – ACME 1953 Chevy Thriftmaster
posted by pikesan
Chevrolet Advance Design Series - Custom Hauler Another sweet ride for sale at the LA Roadster Show. (click to see pictures full size) If you haven't been around MyRideisMe.com much, I'll let you know, I usually don't feature cars for sale. I mean, if it's "My Ride is Me" then why you selling it? Also, I don't typically get into bikes. Like to look at them, love the way they sound... just not my bag. But... this old Chevy truck spoke to me! As part of the universal "ACME Services" this truck does it all. From Used Tires to Bail Bonds to Speed Equipment. I'm sorta guessing that this is a 1953 Chevy truck by the "Est 1953" on the door. The Chevrolet "Advance Design" series as they were called from 1947 until 1955 had some pretty small changes year to year. Did I get it right? Wing or vent windows in the door didnt' appear until 1951 and push-button door handles (like this truck has) didn't appear until 1952. 1953 showed a change to the hood lettering for 3100, 3600 and so on based on load...
One-of-a-kind Custom Painted Shop Truck Doors
posted by pikesan
Hot Rod Art: Hand Painted and Lettered Old Truck Doors As soon as we stepped into the swap meet at the 2013 LA Roadster Show, we found Gary Crisp and his custom painted doors. In a time where patina is IN and faking patina is about a common as the real stuff, Gary’s work is tough to beat! Who knows what condition the doors were in when he got them, let’s figure they were rough… but the end product is outstanding! The lettering and art, even up close, look to be good’n old. Gary’s a custom painter by trade. Mostly hot rods and bikes from what he told me, but now he’s just having fun painting doors. As you can see, he’s fairly successful at it with a few of the doors already marked as “sold” and I heard an order for one happening as I waited to say hi. Get your own custom doors by reaching Gary by email. He’s a little old school when it comes to computers, so give him a few days to respond. Thanks Gary!...
SEMA 2012 – Cool Rides #10 – GAS Mustangs and More
posted by pikesan
Galpin Auto Sports Ford Greats at SEMA 2012 (Click to see any picture full size) Click for everything @ 2012 SEMA Show from MyRideisMe Wondering what this is? I was too! Turns out this is one of two cars built for the United States Air Force as part of the 2009 "Super Car Tour", a new recruiting tool. The other car built was a Dodge called "VAPOR". Think something like this would help a gearhead sign up for service? Flat but pearly paint covers the Lambo style doors, APR custom wide body kit and Galpin Auto Sports (better known as GAS) carbon deck lid. The overall look was speedy and ready for flight. Especially... Inside where the magic is! That's a real jet ejection seat sitting right in the middle of the car. I suspect the flight stick doubles as the gear shift and the steering wheel is just barely seen here with the X-1 logo on it. Better hang on too, there's a 500HP Ford Racing 4.6L under the hood. This is wild! Call me crazy, but I'd still rather have the original, "Barn Find" 1965 Shelby GT350...
2012 LA Roadster Show – The Shiny Roadsters
posted by pikesan
Fine and Finished Hot Rod Roadsters Segregation Works Segregation. It's a word with a perfectly bad score for connotation. I'm hear to give it a boost and say... It works at the LA Roadster Show. Over here, a fantastic swap meet when you're looking for that obscure 50s original part for your Caddy... Over there, a car show fit for everyone. Trucks, traditional hot rods, nose up street gassers and even a laid out Econoline van. Then, there's the "real" show... Over yonder... Separated by a walk that your dog would turn down, but featuring a conditioned air main hall filled with go-fast goodies and hot rod art... and of course, the shiny, finished roadster that are, the LA Roadster Show. To get in, you need a finished, glossy painted car and no fixed windows. True roadster and no rats. Thank you, moving along... Skip all this, I just want to see more pictures: 2012 LA Roadster Show photo gallery The AZ Hot Rod Connection (Click to see full size) Making the trip out from Arizona, my home state in case you didn't know... where two fine, real deal hot...
2012 LA Roadster Show – Swap Til you Drop
posted by pikesan
Bring your Money! Hot Rods & Parts for Swap at the 2012 LA Roadster Show Pinkees built 1932 Hot Rod Friday of the LA Roadster Show means swap'n. This year is no exception with cars lined up fer-days waiting to get in and grab the primo swap spots. Just so you know, the gates don't open until 5AM to park and wait for the other, main gates to open at about 10AM (sometimes sooner). Once inside, there's no telling what you might find. Here's my look around with my Pops enjoying the cooler California weather. Featured Hot Rods and Customs at MyRideisMe.com: Here are the follow-up stories from 2012 LA Roadster Show: Pinkee’s Built 1932 Ford Roadster – Riveted and Injected (shown above) Frank Lockhart’s Slick Speedster Reborn - Land Speed Racer with Style Chopit Kustom’s Beatnik Bubbletop – This was a 55 Ford turned 50s Radical Kustom More Chopit Kustom - 1953 Chevy and 1932 Ford Pickup Hot Rods and Customs The first thing you'll find at the LA Roadster Show is problably the most obvious. Like the nasty Hemi powered hot rod above with a severely cool rivet...
Day 1- Bonneville Speed Week 2011 – Spectre Performance
posted by pikesan
Round One goes to the Salt 2011 Bonneville Speed Week sponsored by Spectre Performance My last post about the Spectre Performance "SpeedLiner" detailed THE PLAN. Everyone knew bringing 5 motors and trying to break 5 records was a stretch, but the team was motivated and prepared. Then "the salt" announced it's plan. Things started well. The streamliner, still naked of it's lettering and B/BGS class was loaded on the trailer, first thing in the golden salt morning. In the 300 mph lane of the long course behind George Poteet's "Speed Demon" streamliner and the mustard rocket called the "Maro Special" (also a 2010 Baddest Hot Rod at Bonneville), SpeedLiner patiently waited it's turn. Spectre crew chief Steve Schmalz tugs on driver Kenny Hoover's belts The bell rings... the Spectre bullet is pushed down track until the 434 cubic inch Caddy motor drops into gear and starts making power. Like MMA, the first round lasted about five minutes. What everyone hoped was a malfunction with the air shifter turned out to be this: What you're seeing is the shredded remains of a quick-change gear set....
2011 Rose City Roundup – What’s a Little Rain?
posted by Nick K
PDX Car Culture Alive at Portland Car Show Rain Didn't Spoil This Parade! - Story and photos by Nick K. This time of the year Portland,Or has it’s Rose City festival. Which includes a number of festivities such as the Starlight Parade, Fleet Week, Rose Cup Races, a number of firework shows and now, the Rose City Round Up car show. Which is becoming a Kustom Kulture staple in a rich history of Portland’s Rose City Festivals. Portland's best hot rod and kustom kulture show geared up for it's 4th Rose City Round Up. The Rose City Round-up is an annual event hosted by the Driven Dead Car Club (CC) to celebrate the hot rod lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest. This being my 1st run at the Round Up, I was quite revved up for this event. It's no secret that I have a fondness for the Great Northwest not to mention a love for the culture. I had plenty of time to think about it as we drove 10hrs up Interstate 5 to get to Portland, Or. I have to admit it's quite a drive when you have...
Shiny and Finished – Inside the 2011 LA Roadster Show
posted by pikesan
Hot Rod Roadsters - Only the Pretty Ones at 2011 LA Roadster Show (click on any picture to see it full size) I mentioned in the 2011 LA Roadster Show kick-off story there's three parts of the show: the "Proper" roadster show, the "other" cars (also the part I like best!) and the swap meet. I'd say there's four parts if you include the Pomona SoCal Speed Shop open house. We'll cover all of those for you at MyRideisMe.com! Stay tuned and check back often! As you can see, there was no shortage of custom hot rods at the show. The key difference for the LA Roadster Show is of course, they all must be roadsters. The strict definition is "no roll up windows" but who cares! If the top comes off, it's a roadster to me. By the afternoon, the sky had finally cleared from its dreary (and miserable to photograph!) gray color and was showing a beautiful blue sky. Isn't this what we always think of for California? The few Model T's and late 30's and 40's roadsters were easy to spot and served to break up...