Argue all you want, but the hot rod and custom car craze was born in California, and California still does it best.
In January we saw the Grand National Roadster Show, originally held in Oakland then moved down to SoCal. The Los Angeles Roadster Show and Swap Meet will be held June 19-20 at the Fairplex in Pomona. The Good Guys Rod & Custom Show’s headlining events were held in Pleasanton March 28-29 and Del Mar Del Mar April 10-12, and last weekend Rod Shows offered up the 75th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Sacramento Autorama, one of the world’s longest-running indoor car shows, recognizing some of the country’s finest custom vehicles. The milestone show featured over 500 world-class customs and presented hundreds of individual awards during its weekend run. It’s put on by Rod Shows, the same outfit that does the Grand National Roadster Show.
Click on to see which cars won what. Then argue about how your show Back East is actually better. Vroom vroom!
Baggy Custom Award, 1957 Chevy Bel Air
H.A. Bagdasarian World’s Most Beautiful Custom Award was won by Homer Diaz with a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.
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1936 Ford Coupe
The show’s prestigious Custom d’Elegance award was presented to Nick Rogers for his 1936 Ford Coupe, built by South City Rod and Custom. The winner received a $5,000 purse and trophy presented by ARP Fasteners.
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Nick Rogers
The show’s prestigious Custom d’Elegance award was presented to Nick Rogers for his 1936 Ford Coupe, built by South City Rod and Custom. The winner received a $5,000 purse and trophy presented by ARP Fasteners.
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1956 Ford Panel
Dick Bertolucci Automotive Excellence Award went to Steve Castellano and his 1956 Ford Panel.
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There were pinstripers, too.
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1963 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
For the third-consecutive year, the show crowned the World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider. The title and a $5,000 prize presented by ARP Fasteners were awarded to Juan Montero for his 1963 Chevrolet Impala Convertible.
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1963 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
For the third-consecutive year, the show crowned the World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider. The title and a $5,000 prize presented by ARP Fasteners were awarded to Juan Montero for his 1963 Chevrolet Impala Convertible.
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1947 Dodge Coupe
Joe “Candy Apple Red” Bailon Memorial Award was presented to Ernie Enriques for his 1947 Dodge Coupe.
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1937 Lincoln Zephyr
Sam Barris Memorial Award, selected by the Barris family for best metalwork, alignment, and paint, was awarded to Taylor Yager’s 1937 Lincoln Zephyr.
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1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
The West Coast Challenge Car Show Series presented by ARP Fasteners also crowned its Grand Champion during the event. Charlie and Alanna Butts were presented with the “Best of the West” award for their 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible, beating out competitors who participated in at least four select car shows across California, Oregon and Washington. The Grand Champion received a $12,500 prize, while the first and second runners-up received $6,500 and $3,500, respectively.
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Charlie and Alanna Butts with the “Best of the West” award for their 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible.
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Chevrolet Stepside
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