And yet another adventure is done and dusted.

It did include 3 weekends and since I was late getting out of Oz and didn't arrive in St Louis until Tuesday.  Because thay had to get the tent set up, Mike and Liz had already departed for Louisville, before I landed.  So, our good mate and fellow SLSRA member, Ed Weinhardt was kind enough to collect me at the airport and we then headed to his place, where the first order of business was to check out his stuff.

Ed's favourite is this 1962 Plymouth Valiant, Signet, 2 door hardtop which he purchased as a teenager.



Plymouth introduced the Valiant for the 1960 model year and then for the 1961 model year it was used as the base for a New Dodge model, the compact Lancer 770 series.  For model year 1963, the second generation Valiant body was slightly larger than the original Valiant (about 4.5 inches longer) and slab sided what we know here in Oz as the AP4.  Strangely, Dodge chose to drop the Lancer nomenclature and called their version of the new model, Dart.  Plymouth continued with the Valiant name and for the 1964 1/2 model year, expanded the Valiant line-up to include a new two door 'fastback' version called Plymouth Valiant Barracuda, as a competitor for Ford's new Mustang coupe.  For the 1967 model year, the Plymouth Barracuda became a stand-alone model with no links to the new Valiant models.  However, in 1970 a new sporty Valiant coupe was again added to the line up and named Plymouth Valiant, Duster, which very quickly became known simply as Plymouth Duster, but it always remained a member of the Valiant family.

The Valiant is still looking pristine.



And with only this many miles on the dial, so it should.



Yup, even the chrome plating is original.



As is the upholstery.



The engine has had regular oil& filter changes, but still has the original plugs, leads, engine mounts and most other stuff.



Here's Ed's early sixties Mercury two door hardtop…..



It too is a clean original car.



However, his '32 Hudson is all hot rod, Chevy powered, it does have all the mod con's and luxury gear.   Perfect for long distance touring, but not this time.



The '57 Chevy is coming along nicely and with the late model drivetrain, will make a fine daily driver…



Starts instantly and runs like a charm.



And to finish, here's Ed's mint original unrestored Ford F350 farm truck, which lives with a bunch of old Jeep wagons and pick-ups that I didn’t photograph this time around.



After a great steak dinner and good night's sleep, we gassed up Ed’s somewahat rare Jeep Delivery Van……..



…….OK, Ed did the gassing up………..



…….. and then we hit the road.

Along the way we saw only a handful of hot rods…….



…but the scenery was intersting.



Didn't take too long before we'd covered more than a couple of states and arrived at Papa John's Louisville Cardinals Baseball Stadium for check in.



As we rolled in, Mike was just getting down to ground level after a hard morning at work in the registration booth.



My Boston based pal Skip was also there, with his hemi powered mobile store, trying to sell some more of his infamous T Shirts.



Liz was MIA, still upstairs instructing the men on how to go about things, once she joined us it was time to cruise over to the fairgrounds and catch up with the rest of the club.



There's always some interesting stuff at Papa John's that requires closer scrutiny before the event officially commences.





Heck, Mike’s Chev is pretty cool too, especially when parked alongside a MOPAR coupe.



This '37 Terraplane coupe has a secret, it's not what it appears to be.


It's a coupe utility!  The pick up box is on rails and slides in and out as required.
Hudson even offered a canvas top and mattress so it could be used as a camper.
Pretty cool huh?



This '40 sedan delivery is exactly what it appears to be.





Not so many T buckets at the Nat's in recent years, you see more of them on the west coast.



Unibody Ford pick-up was a long wheelbase model.



High stepping '39 Chevy is a bonafide old racer, ran under the banner of 'Street Sweeper, during the Gasser Wars of the 1960s.



Now it's just a mild mannered street rod.



This guy was whizzing around overhead for the entire weekend, we figured he was the event security.



Big old MOPAR is straight enough for some shiny paint but I’d leave it as is.



The owner of this AMX was last years give away car winner, his missus was cruising in the red deuce roadster.



Ed parked the wagon next to a kindred spirit with strong family ties.



Early MOPAR wagons have gained huge popularity in recent times.



This is one of the better ones.



Of course MOPAR Muscle, never goes out of fashion….



……especially when you have a multi carbed high output 440 Magnum under the hood.



Some cars are just classy, without any major effort.



Some are still packing trends from years past.



Little red roadster had a familiar vibe.



Once we'd checked in and caught up with our buddies on the fairgrounds, it was time to head back to the motel.  So we tracked down Hot Rod Liz and before we knew it…..



…. we had us a convoy.  Albeit one with a gap from the runaways to us more casual cruisers.

Back at the motel, there were more interesting machines.



Last year the owner of this '36 Cevy sedan was driving a '33 coupe.



Bill has moved up from his silver '48 Chev pick-up to this sedate looking Chevelle.  It looks pretty, sounds bad-ass, pulls like a locomotive!



Beneath the hood is stroked 502 bow tie big block hooked to a Tremec five speed, with 4.11s in the 9 inch rear.  
It’s all class and hauls arse!



For the record, Nova is/was the Chevrolet compact body,







Chevelle the midsize……





….and Impala the full size.  





This one hasn't changed in the past twelve months.



This one is a fresh car and the owner wasn’t at last year's event.





Likewise this neat '37 Chev wasn't at our motel last year, but it's been on the road a while.



This one was kinda cool for a wagon, big block engines have that effect I guess.



This one has been carting my backside to NSRA Nat's since 1990 and it's still as bad-ass as it ever was.

The gasser trend is getting stronger and I even counted 4 Henry Js at the Nationals, three built to that theme and two a little more streetable.



I like this one this, but I think a shade other than grey would work better.



I especially like all the stock trim.



However, I'm not so sure flat black works so well.



But it do look tough.



Silver doesn't look too shabby on this little Henry.



Of course the graphics do help somewhat.



Orange pearl really looks the goods,



Coming or going.



Of course if you're going to be so bold, you have to go all the way.

So now, it's back to the main game and the first order of business on day 1 before the crowd arrives, is to cruise indoors and check out the give away car and what the vendors and rod shops have been up to.

To get into the mile long vendor hall requires walking past the show cars, which can take some time because some of them will take your breath away.



The fellow on the left in this shot is Jim, one of my St Louis Street Rod Association clubmates and he owns an awesome '40 Ford Pick-up that you’ll see soon.



Some of them like this wagon from Herculese Motor Co will even take your wallet away!



Yup, for a lazy $175k you could have driven this puppy home.



Of course we all have to assess and measure up the give away car, to be sure we can drive it home after our winning ticket is drawn.





Inside the vendors hall there's lotsa stuff to look at and empty your wallet.



Need some new tin bits?



Much more stuff for the later models this year.



But the early cars are still in the majority.



Seems Milner has fallen on hard times, cleaned up his piss yeller coupe and is advertising it for sale.



This is the best replica of the iconic movie star as you'll ever see and the price is quite reasonable.



Speaking of icons, this pair have been around forever, but despite a bit of rod rash they are holding up well.




The working CNC machines on display had a big crowd around them all weekend. However, the prices were a bit high to warrant getting one for the backyard shed.



This stuff is not gunna stay shiny for long once it's installed under your new ride.



And this has to be the meanest vintage Peterbilt on earth.



Alloway built Fleetline aint too shabby in the mean lookin’ ride stakes either.

If you're looking for a '40 Ford coupe, my cousin Dennis has one that’s as close as you'll ever get to a brand spankin new car. But unlike the Ikea version, you’ll need more than an allen key to assemble it.



Looks as good as an original to me and according to the catle-dog all parts interchange with original Ford bits.



These guys didn't quite get their display car done in time.



The display cars can be quite an eclectic mix, from old Inter pick-ups…



… through vintage highboys,



……. high horsepower rat rods………



… to superb deeelux coupes.



And of course shiny pick up trucks.



And if you wanna impress your neighbours, why go for the double cab baby when you can have have the biggest triple cab late model monster on the block?



Apparently this old Corvette won a few races back in the day.



Used a 327 Feulie to whip the big boys.



This is not a 327.



Another pair of deuces.



And a '37 coupe that never was.



A model T hot rod.



And to beat two of a kind, three deuces.







I liked this one the best.



Honest Charlie was doing a roaring trade.





Edelbrock's mobile store had it all.



Coker Tyre displayed their new bias ply blackwalls…..



…. and DOT approved, street legal dirt trackers……



… whilst Dakota digital had a mountain of high tech dash panels and dials.



Here's yet another deuce coupe.



Need a chassis, the yanks have way too many choices.





Can't weld?



Then get the bolt in kit,





Or give bobby a call and he'll build a nasty sumbitch for you.



Or any of the other rod shops who will do it from mild……



…wild.



Here's one for the Pontiac fans.



And one for the lovers of trad styled kustoms.



Did you say vintage hot rod?



Then there's this fine mix of vintage styling and new technology driven by a Potvin front blown small block Chevy.



That's the blower you can see behind the grille.



Concieved and built by Larry Erickson many years ago I believe it's now owned by The Petersen Museum. Note the magneto sticking out of the firewall.



Radiator is trunk mounted above the gearbox and final drive unit.

So, with the vendors and new stuff out of the way it was time to venture outdoors and into the swap meet area. Prices here are generally pretty high but there's always a few bargains and I'm sure plenty of room for negotiation, especially on complete cars.



Always lotsa Neat Old Stuff that's just nice to look at…….



….and tempting to grab, even if the prices are a bit steep, just coz ya may never know when you'll need it. Or you just like to tease your buddies by having a hunk of unobtanium in your stash.



At $24,000 or best offer, this Dodge Wayfarer convert seemed pretty good value, even if not a common or popular model.



It was all there and everything worked.



This '38 Plymouth lotsadoor was not as nice but seemed solid and with minimal rust, it was also complete.
The running boards were inside with a few extra bits and I'd call it a bargain at $3,800 OBO.



Same year Ford pick up had seen the hard life but was straight and solid where it counted, priced at $4,250 which I'd think is OK considering the demand for this model at present.



Lotsa folks had license plates bundled up in pairs, the more desirable years with big money on them, as they can now be re used on old cars.



On the Chevy side this '42 is a rare model and was very good condition with no price shown, so it could have been a bargain or a high priced jewel.



Nearby, this '32 model was on offer for less than half what you'd pay for a same year Ford in similar condition.



The tailamp dude is a regular and I'm always amazed by how many lenses he has for so many different and even oddball cars.



Here's one that had me scratching' my head, $950 plus a whole bunch of work to make the dials work and in some cases readable. Inside there were numerous vendors selling an identical reproduction for less that $300, complete with brand new gauges. I guess patina and originality still has a great deal of value.



Need a grille for that Westagard style Kustom you have been planning?



Looks like this trucker has been doing some serious shopping, there was more stuffed in here each time we walked past.



Rare I guess might be a good word to describe this '36 Lincoln Zephyr, fresh paint and $60K price tag put it out of reach for many. Was also missing a few parts….. good luck finding them.



For just $12,500 you could have this rusty but straight Deuce pick-up, all it needs to drive it home is a wiring loom and new floors, four banger was said to run good.



One of the better buys had to be this '41 Buick coupe.
Has late model drivetrain, suspension and brakes, good paint and upholstery, pretty much a hop in and have fun deal, for $28k but the seller said he'd consider significantly less.



Fourteen and a half could have you driving home in this post war Ford Club Coupe.



This '52 Plymouth is pretty much stock with just a few mod's…….



…whilst this '51 model has a serious chop, Oldsmobile headlamps, Mercury tail-lamps and many other upgrades.



….plus a souped-up flatty sicks under the hood.



Asking price on the '52 was only $19k and a call to the seller was required to get what I'm sure would be a much higher number for the '51.



It was pretty nicely done, inside and out.



It seems that since all the old Fords and most of the Chevy's have now been found, all that's left is the MOPARS, here's a pretty nice late '30s Dodge….



Asking price…..had been crossed out so many times it was impossible to read, so I figure the seller didn't want to take it home.



I really liked this Packard, straight and complete, engine ran like a clock and it's a fairly uncommon body style….



….at $9,500 OBO it would make a fine long distance touring car with just a few minor upgrades.



I don't remember what price this had on it and for some reason didn't record the card, but I do recall it had lotsa folks just shaking their heads and walking away.



Some of the heavy work had already been done on this late forties Dodge coupe, but it was also on offer dirt cheap at $2,850 OBO.



Maybe a '37 Dodge pick-up is more to your liking, only $5,500.



The same money could buy you a pair of magnesium wheels, complete with servicable tyres.



Or maybe you'd like a pair of rare Keystones for your old muscle car.



Quite a few Falcon's, but this was the only Mercury Caliente at the swap, no price shown, so probably another expensive one as it's also a tad on the rare side.



If you just wanted to spend money, you could have this original '34 Ford grille for more, yes I said more than the asking price of many of the complete cars on sale.



Swap meet dealt with, it was time to head back to the tent for a nanna-nap, before dinner.

It's a new day, Mike and Liz are in a big hurry to get out of the hotel and down to the fairgrounds….



Me and Ed caught up at the freeway off-ramp.



and followed them into the grounds.







and eventually arrived at the St Louis Street Rod Association tent, our digs for the weekend.



This guy seemed to be following us.



Club members parked in front of the tent



whilst visitors and late arrivals pared opposite.



Over the years, it's proven impossible to get all the attending members to the tent at the same time so we did the group shot when there seemed to be maximum attendance, which is about 1/4 of the club members who were actually there for the weekend.



Jim parked his newly completed truck at the kerb….



I really like it.



White is not a colour I'd have used, but as has been shown so many times before, sometimes it's just right.



This thing could start a new trend, for white hot rods.



So with the family portrait attended to, it's time to wander aimlessly around the grounds checking out the cars. One of my favourites was this mid fifties factory built, Dodge Motor Home.



The body is made from that new fangled fibreglass stuff and the finished mobile homes sold through the Dodge Dealer network.



The interior is just as cool.



The plasma screen and microwave oven somewhow don't seem to be right.



Just up the way was this trio of trucks.



This, believe it or not is a '48 Plymouth.



Of course we all know what this one is.



But do you know what these Things are?



My old buddy C Cruz, has more miles on his '36 Chevy S/D than he cares to think about.



This was a sweetheart '49 or maybe '50 Chevy convert, they all look the same from this angle.



This is a badass Chevy Camaro, one of only a couple at the event.



Don't think you could get any more separation between styles..



Interesting colour scheme on this '37 looked fantastic.



One of the SLSRA club member vehicles.



This '36 Ford Tudor has undergone some major surgery.



And it actually looks pretty good as a restlt.

Just another old hot rod, but what's that atop the engine?



It's a supercharger driven by a modified starter motor!



Unique set up with multiple carbs is said to generate free hors pressure, but the owner thinks he know why it never caught on.



Here comes the bucket brigade!



What can I say, like who in their right mind would fit a '57 frnt bumper to a '55?



Desoto Kustom has new grille, Packard tail lamps and a serious top chop.



Started life as a Chevy sedan, now kinda unique, colour might look good on Raymond's Henry J.



One very nicely flamed '38 Chubby coop.



Just another Hemi powered '34 Ford highboy.



Good to see a previous give away car being used as it was meant to be.



Fordy deluxe convert was resplendent in candy apple red.



And speaking of red, this Willy was super cool.



With the right stance and all the original trim etc, I didn't even notice somebody had stollen the wheel caps.



This Valiant is actually a Dodge Dart.



This Chevy is very blue.



The more of theses big late forties Chevies I see hot rodded, the more I like them.



This one has been on the road for a few years now.



Not quite identical twin Chevies.



Yet another radical low ride.



MOPAR was definitely the style leader from the mid fifties to early sixties.



Look again, when was the last time you saw a 3 window '38 Chev coupe?



This one isn't made of wood, but I'd park it in my garage any time.



It's just a really neat little car.



It seems 'Murrican hot roders have discovered multi door cars and their worth when there's more than two people along for the ride.
The big ones make really goo long haul cruisers and have lotsa room for the family.



They really don't look so bad…..



…...even when they are brand X



And if a car based unit is too small, there's always the Chevy Suburban.



There's strong evidence that lotsa brand X stuff is out there and available.





None of it looks as bad as we once thought it did.





When was the last time you saw a Zimmer cruising down the street?



But of course the old standby models will always remain.



T model stuff remains plentiful and why not, since so many were built.



It's hard to imagine that only a few years ago, the late forties and early fifties Chevrolet's were so unpopular with rodders.



For just $29K you could have driven away in this Oldsmobile Convertible, it was in very good shape and everything worked perfectly……..



……even has rear fender skirts and a continental kit.



One of the weird things is that we Aussie desire a 3 window Ford coupe and ours all had 5.
On the other hand our same year Chevys were mostly 3 window and in the US the Chevies of that year are mostly 5 windows.



Need to deliver some stuff, this should do the job.



This '57 Chevy stopped everybody in their tracks, not because it was radically modified or such, just that it was so perfectly straight.



The owner of this willys decided that it was easier to leave the hood off, because after he'd cut the hole to clear the engine bits, there wouldn't be much left anyway.



Don't think I've ever seen so many of these Things in one place at one time!



Little shoebox coupe was simple and sweet.



Same year, different approach.



My St Louis SRA buddies love their Jeeps, I've lost count of how many are in the club.

After our early morning stroll around the parking lot it was time to check out the Pro's Pick area. This is where all the trophy hunters go if they want the pro's to choose their car for a prize. Makes it easy for the folks giving out the awards and puts all the top shelf machinery in one place for the speckledtaters to check out.

The automatic hood on this truck was cool to watch open as it first appears normal then switches to tilt forward.



Looks closely, since there's a whole bunch of work fine into subtle modifications on this thing.



Closed cab T pickup too tight for you? then try the Extra Cab version, it's really roomy.



Since 'trophies' are awarded for more than just showiness, there's plenty of variety and lotsa cars that have been driven lotsa miles on display in this area.



This is an old custom that's been re-customised more than once during it's life, anybody guess what it started out as?



If you said '57 Chev, then give yourself a cupie doll.



The Gasser look is 'in' this year, this was a good effort but just misses the mark….



…whilst this '37 Chev had it pretty well sussed, right down to the blown Hemi.



But this guy hands down nailed it!



From any angle you cared to look!



This early Barracuda seemed to be filled with people every time we saw it and we never saw it parked.



I’ve photographed this Willys previously, but it's just such a sweet thang that I can’t have enough pictures of it..



And like the gasser, it's pretty much perfect from every angle.



I think it's a good thing that there were not so many rat rods this year and some that were previously, now appear to be a little more civilised.



As good as any show car I ever saw and he drove it all over town.



Thirty two Chev coupes are not common, even more uncommon, is to see one done in the lowboy style.



It was nicely proportioned and the interior appeared to have been designed for highway miles.



Model A Tudor had stunning paint job, that doesn't show quite so well in the photos………..



….and this guy was just showing off!



Moredoor cars were everywhere man!



289 badge gives this one away as a regular Fairlane coupe with some nice mod's and the look of a Thunderbolt.



And as you'd expect, a few AMC products were spotted at various primo locations around the fairgrounds.



Some kids will never be late for skool.



And some people just get everything right, even when they are trying to be subtle.



Dunno if it's a Fiat colour, but it works, especially when it has pristine '40 deluxe coupe metal under it with the perfect stance and wheel, tyre combo.



This '39 wasn't too shabby either.



Nor was this '33 Plymouth sedan.



Likewise this '39 Chev sedan delivery.

For dinner on Thursday evening of the Nat's we usually gather up all our buddies from wherever they came and head for The Outback Steakhouse. It's always fun because none of the staff ever get the chance to interact with a real Australian, they only know what they've been taught at the induction program and most of that is wrong. There's also a lot of interesting cars in the parking lot.



Not interesting enough for ya, than how about this pair?



There's a few that are more common.



Ford Galaxie convert was nice.



Later model even more so.



With a big block crate engine under the hood, this '56 Chevy convert was not as docile as it looks.



However, it sure was purdy.



Two-tone Tudor was wearing replica AC Cobra wheels.



Just a neat and reliable family hot rod.



This one has a twin right here in Oz.



Didn't see too many of these '38 Cabriolets kicking around the place.



'37 Sedan delivery was a pretty cool bit of kit.



It has a nice rear end and I figure would be very versatile.



This one was was equipped with ultra rare genuine Ford script fog lamps.



Different paint treatment on this model A pick-up.



Likewise this '54 Chevy.



Once there were none and now it seems every second Deuce Coupe is a Chevrolet.



I reckon this old Buick would be one cool highway queen.



Big and comfy, with room for luggage, what more could you ask for?



Next morning I swapped seats, now I’m travelling in the Chevy as I have for more years than I can remember clearly.



Looks like we're following a sister car, '40 Chev sedan delivery.



Lotsa traffic today as we enter the grounds, that means more people to meet and more cars to look at.



OOPS! lost the other sedan delivery.





Almost there, but we really should check out this shiny black '40 Ford.



Arrived at SLSRC HQ and now we're ready to play.



Early in the day and some folks have started havin fun without us.



Getting the stuff outta the trunk can be a challenge for some.



Others just park their model A and wander off to check stuff out.



Looks like somebody stole the hubcaps offa this one.



Anybody fancy a little art deco style?



The front is even more intricate and stylish.



Look closely, this is NOT a '48 Plymouth.



This is a colourful truck



Proof that '41 Fords take a little customising quite well.



That big decklid looks great all smoothed off.



Same make, same model year, same idea, different body style…….



I think I prefer the coupe over the convert.



Another fine wagon with no wood on it, Safari is Pontiac's take on Chevrolet's Nomad theme.



A Chevy Suburban is great for moving lotsa people.



Did I mention the gasser theme is 'in' this year?

Interesting '34 Ford sedan delivery, the skirts are one thing, but with all that carrying space inside, I don't understand the need for a luggage rack and trunk.



Proof positive that keeping it simple works a treat.



This IS a '48 Plymouth.



I know most of you think this is a Dodge Pheonix, but it's really a much newer Plymouth called a Fury.



One of the nicest Studebaker Pick-ups I've seen.



Caddy tail lamps work a treat.



Rare and most likely very valuable too, Hemi and 4 speed Dodge Super Bee convert.



It's not often you see a customised '48 Ford but this one is quite tastefully done.



The roll back front section in the Carson style top is a neat touch.



When God made the 1934 Packard, he was just showing off!



As my buddy Don once said, India has the Taj Mahal, China the great wall, but we have the '60 Impala, WE WIN!



A '40 sedan delivery could come in handy.



Big cars with four doors are great for hauling the family or your buddies.



I think this is a mid fifties Dodge pick-up, it appears to have broken suspension.



Subtle two tone treatment works well on this model 40 coupe.



Black is perfect for the Chevy hardtop with Pontiac trim mouldings.



Yet another pick-up with broken springs, they must have overloaded it.



This is one trick truck.



Once a fire appliance, it's been gutted and turned into a hot rod hauling ramp truck, clever huh?



This is a Valiant convertible.



What do you all think of this thing?



Tall and fat, sounds a bit like me, but I'm not for sale.



I guess this guy has no friends, coz friends don't let fiends drive stock!



Interesting paint treatment on this late forties Tudor sedan.



Yellow works perfectly on a mid '30s Willys.



My old buddy Bob K was cruising the grounds in his custom convertible which was once a coupe.



Another fine Packard.



This was just a neat little hot rod.



In sympathy with the pick-up maybe, the suspension of this '54 Chevy seems to have gone on strike.



And another Buick, this time with classy dual side mounts.



Dodge sedan delivery has been subjected to some major surgery with a serious section job very well done.

Hot Rod Liz usually drags a little Mullins trailer behind her T bucket, but it broke an axle mount before she left, meaning all the stuff she needed had to go in the passenger seat, because the bed is filled with battery and fuel tank. Since she had to be back in Manitoba, Canadia, some 1/500 miles away, for work on Monday morning, that meant leaving around noon on Saturday. So we all laughed as she raised the top and loaded up her car……..



…. then we laughed even harder as she twisted and turned her way into the driver's seat.



Mike and I slid into the Chevy and we all headed off in the direction of the fairgrounds….



… in Aus a view like this might make a hot rod driver nervous.



…. but he was just clearing the way for us and we were on the fairgrounds around 6:30am.



I figured since we were so early, I could join the crowd at the gate and get a few shots of the cars rolling in..



This one is kinda cool.



And this one is all MOPAR.



They came one buy one…….



….and two by two.



There wuz tall ones….



…..and short ones.



Some like this early sixties Studebaker Avanti, were not so common.



Others were a little the worse for wear.



Some had big muscles for hauling ass.



Others had big muscles for hauling stuff.



Some were stock….



…but most were not.



Some were silver…..



…others were sweet.



Some were classy……..



…. and others were Imperialistic.

This would be the best looking and constructed Anglia I've ever seen on the street.



The last of Ford's pre war four door Convertible Sedans



There were two of these rare Dodge Town Cars on the fairgrounds, this was the least subtle of the p[air.



A very classy ride.



I've liked this '41 Buick Special since the first time I saw it many years back.



Not sure what make and model this is but it's very clearly early sixties MOPAR.



Did I mention the gasser look is a big trend at present?



Don’t think I'd be buying parts from this guy.



Don't see too many of these nowadays.



These are a lot more common.



Speaking of common.



and another….



…….and yet another….



Did I say you don't see many C Cab?
Maybe I was wrong.



I'm sure I mentioned the gasser look was popular.



As too are the little early fifties MOPAR wagons.





Although I think the early fifties metal woodies from Chevrolet, were the most popular long roof.



This was the only Kombi I saw all weekend.



Speaking of the only one, there was just this one 1932 Studebaker present, unless I didn’t notice the others.



And another Thing!



Graphics on this Pontiac GTO were straight off the model car box art.



Think this is what's known as one tough A.



Thik this guy might have left the gas station without paying.



Another rare '42 model.



Nicely done mild kustom.



And yet another MOPAR!

Here's another view of that tasty '38 Cabrio from the Outback Steakhouse.



Another green car, this time my friends Dennis & Sue O'Briens '32 Ford Panel Delivery, the world's hardest working hot rod truck.



This isn’t the same car I showed earlier in the Pro’s Pic area, it’s a non identical twin.



The KISS principal at work again.



I have no idea what possesses some people to do what they do, but a Sunbeam Alpine gasser? Straight axle and all the other relevant trimmings are there and Maxwell Smat is turning in his grave.



I think this bus is based on a REO Speedwagon..



One more classy Packard.



Don't be deceived by the Packard bits, this is not what it seems to be, look closely and you'll see the MGB in there.



Nash Ramblers are becoming somewhat popular.



Shoebox Fords have always been so.



Please correct me if I'm wrong but I'm thinking this is a '1935 Chrysler.



And I'm pretty sure this is a '41 Dodge.

Big Mike was really impressed with this White COE Truck.



On the other hand I was impressed by another Studebaker Lark.



Hard to tell from the fromt but it's clear this is a customised '56 Merc, not a Cusso.



This is an early fifties Oldsmobile.



Hey Swifty, this is what pink looks like. ;-)



Rare '37 Lincoln Zephyr is pretty slick.



Take a close look under the hood of this Jeep, some of these guys are as bad as the willys boys.



Here one for Dave P.



How low can you go?



The one deviation during the rest of Saturday was an hour or so I spent supervising the model car building program.
Revell donate the kits and we give em to kids and help them build the model to take home.

It's a fun familyy activity.



And it involves the boys and the girls.



Some of the dads take it a bit seriously tho. :-)



But the kids all take pride in their finished model.



This young lady was so serious and she got each decal perfectly positioned.



Dunno what happened to the kids on this table.



Model building out of the way it was back to kicking tyres. Or in this case, slicks.



This is about the 2nd nicest '36, 5 window I know.



This '40 is up there with the best.



I'm thinking this is a '32 Buick Vicky, bloody nice unit it is.



Another smoothed and painted '48 Plymouth, with matching tag along.



Another example of keeping it clean and simple.



Different brands from the same year, have more than a little in common style wise, dryvetrain and suspension wise they were completely different, but this pair are pretty much twins beneath the metal.



Yet another bloody Falcon 'Gasser'!



And a gorgeous Packard Eight Saloon.



Nocely customised Shoebox with Pontiac grille and side trim.



Welcome to non Ford territory, Two Studebakers, one Plymouth and an Oldsmobile.

About as classy as it gets without moving up market to Cadillac is the 1948 Buick Riviera convertible.



A truck on a truck on a truck, way cool.



Pretty radical '35 Ford three window.



I'm pretty sure this is a '34 International Pick-up.
Don't see many of them around.



I like the photograph.



And yet another Hemi in a deuce.



More MOPARS.





I spotted two mid fifties King Midgets, like this one.



This was the only '48 Pontiac four door I spotted.



This was a sweet '40 Tudor.



A few of these Dodge pick-ups were present, but only saw one van.



hey Joe, here's another colour option for Henry.



Caddy was low enough before the top chop.



I'm pretty sure this is what's meant by the term' overkill'.



I love the neat and oddball commercial vehicles.



Just coz I like model forties with lotsa doors.



I also like a this Pontiac Safari.



And this '37 Chev Pick-up.



'48 Lincoln Continantal makes a cool cruiser.



This mid thirties Packard is like the one in the swap meet, but it appears to have a lower roof line.

Here's another tough Anglia.



Unfortunately my new medically induced sugarless diet means I gotta stay away from this guy.



Like you, I have no idea!



But this I do know, it's a '54 Lincoln, slightly customised.



A variation on the '48 Lincoln Continental.



The only Edsel I saw at the Nats.



One of the few rat style machines we spotted.



Nice '37 Ford.



And yet another bloody MOPAR!



last year this Willys delivery van was on a trailer in the swap meet, this year the new owner was cursing with a big grin.



Here's a couple of different angles on the neat little yeller Anglia.





Yet another obscure delivery unit.



At least this one is better known to most of us.



And lest anybody think nobody likes a T bucket anymore…..



I kinda liked this Fordy coupe, think it was the combination of wheels, tyres and colour.



This throwback to the late '60s was just so neat, a cross between T bucket and dune buggy.



Steel bodied Fiat had a vaguely familiar look to it.

The NSRA giveaway car was drawn on Saturday arvo in the stadium where the evening shows and Sunday trophy presentations are held.



Of course the car was displayed there for all the 'contenders' to get a closer look.
Sunday morning this space would be covered with all the award recipient vehicles.



For us, Sunday was time to head back through the late morning fog, to St Louis.



Once out of Indiana it cleared up and we had an easy run home.



Caught up with a few of our St Louis SRA clubmates on the way……..



…...and joined them for lunch at a gas stop we don't usually make.





Stories exchanged and bellies filled, we hit the road again….



Now you know the secret, Santa's real name is Ferdinand!

……….

This guy was out spraying the weeds in his garden…….



…and we figured it better to run the gauntlet………………..



……rather than wait an hour like these poor buggers, whilst another mile or more long train slowly rolled through the level crossing.



We didn't really, that one was parked waiting for more cars to be attached.



There was a little more hot rod traffic than we usually see on the way home.



These guys still had quite a ways to go.



Colour matched protective unit and funky headlamp covers work for me.



Although I dunno when your car has a boot big enough to swallow the queen Mary, why you need a trailer?



However, since we were almost home, it don't realy matter.



Soon enough we were 'arrived' and had the Chevy up on stands to see why the fan shroud had developed a nasty rattle.



No major problem, just lost a retaining screw, so we dragged Mike'se daily (no you don't really want to see it ) from the other side of the garage and headed off to dinner.



We could have taken the roadster but it was a bit grubby.



On the way back, we dropped in to see how Carl was getting on with his latest project.



Because I was late leaving Oz, I didn't get as much time in St Louis as usual, but we sitll managed to get a bit of garage crawling done.

First stop was Mike's cousin's body repair shop where they are working on a few interesting things.



Pontiac GTO is a rare 421 and four speed car.



Even rarer is this NASCAR special edition Turbo 400 inch Trans Am.



Paint and decals are factory original.



As is the unique interior.



They also had a few Mustangs in the shop.



But the most special car was this……….



That's a 560 cubic inch 'Mountain Motor' and the guys have been struggling with getting the 6/71 blower to pump enough air pressure to feed it.
So since they can't go any biger on the crank pulley, or any smaller on the blower pulley and the injectors have no trouble suppling as much fuel as it can burns, the blower will be swapped for an 8/71, possibly already done.



The plan is for it to be the world's quickest and fastest street legal Edsel!



It's just too kool for skool! :mrgreen:



One of our StLSRA club mates gave us the keys to his garage, just coz I haven't been over to check out his Corvettes, there's also a couple or three Fords in there too.



This Stingray Roadster…………..



….. is a factory 427 car…….



…. and of course it has a Muncie four-speed!



This '63 Split Window has the big fuel tank……..



….and a four speed backed 4bbl 327.



It's just the right shade of red.



Fear not, there's also another one here with Fuel Injection and of course a four speed.



However it's a '64 and the later model beneath it is a limited edition '50th anniversary unit.



The workshop space is quite neat.



Yup, that blue nose with the white stripe is a late model Ford GT.



There's two four post hoists………



………and room to move around.



The storage area out back, is a little more cramped and Mike did mention that this Mustang convert is a rare one too, with GT spec 289, four speed, pony interior and a few other trick bits.



This is also another rare combination of parts from the Ford options list.



However, I think this matching numbers Shelby convert' is probably the coolest of Paul's galloping Henry's



All done with garage crawling, we headed back to Mike's where some of the gang were waiting to take us to dinner.



A choice of two Buicks to ride in on a balmy summer evening in St Louis.
Tough choice, which one would you choose?



Big Mike's '59 Invicta seemed somewhat more inviting that the Rodamaster wagon.



The offer that I could drive made it a no brainer……… so I did, smiling all the way.

Man 'o' man there are some awesome rides there, so much inspiration, I'm insanely jealous of you mate, that must have been a ball.
I was going to pick a favorite but there are too many to call. What warms my heart though is the popularity of the Mopars, great to see.
After all is read and said, I have to say I wet my pants when I saw Ed's 62 Signet!!!! I have an Aussie 4 door 62 Val, a family heirloom, but I would sell the missus to get one of those Signets!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to make this huge post Carps, fuggin brilliant work

Glad you appreciated it 'Cuda, I'm lucky that I get to travel more than most and usually always manage to fit a bit of hot rodding activity into each trip.  I also do this trip every two years as a vacation and sometimes I manage to make it for the in between years too.

There's more if you wanna see it, including some aeroplanes, some trains, a little bit from the wild west and even the artistry of the Bugatti family, which was kinda special and a privelidge to be allowed into the private museum that houses it all.

UnfortunatelyI got word that Mrs C (yeah, she lets me do this without encumberance) had been taken ill, so I cut it short by hal;f and returned home, had I done the planned 5 weeks, it'd be a genuine epic story.  

Do you have all this on a photo-hosting site, I'd sure like to see any other pics you got?

WOW, like TJ said, such an array of vehicles and so many Mopars,  thank you so much for posting up all these pics mate, very much appreciated, THANK YOU!!

thanks for takeing the time to post, hope mrs Carps is on the mend

Thanx Mrs C is doing much better although she's had a few setbacks along the way.

So since I guess some of you are ready for sopm more, here goes………

I departed St Louis to get to my pal Don's shop in Central Californiawith plenty of time left for our long drive north east across the desert, to Bonneville.



I don't usually do this trip in daylight, so it was a good opportunity to have a better look at St Louis and the US of A from the air. The arch is just visible near the centre of image on the banks of the Mississippi River.



Further out it becomes clear from the number of crop-circles, that aliens really have landed here.



Since my ‘plane was due to land at 3:00pm and that's when folks start arriving at the NHRA midweek cruise, I was keen to monitor the L.A. traffic to make sure I chose the right freeway to get me quickly to Pomona.



Since I'd promised to meet my L.A. pal Ron there, it was important not to be late and the traffic appeared to be moving along OK, so I was feeling good.



Even the major interchanges appeared clear, so I figured it would be a relatively quick trip. Of course I was wrong and by the time I got to the 405 Freeway, the entire network was gridlocked, so what should have been a one hour trip, took almost 3.



By the time I finally arrived, most of the cruisers had left for home, but at least Ron was waiting patiently. Although he was getting hungry.



After a quick greeting, I grabbed the picture taking machine and captured most of what was still there.



At least I didn't have to worry about the crowd, just the long shadows.



Nice little Plymouth Duster makes me wonder why we don't see more of them.



Late model coupe was neat.



'57 Ranchero, just badass!



Willys was on fire.



Guess this guy was all ready for the upcoming swap meet.



This one is a bonafide old hot rod.



Has matching door on the opposite side.



This Anglia seemed to have a nasty streak.



I like the wheels on this orange Deuce.



T Tub in the style of Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth.



Has a largish power-plant.



But seemed to be comfy enough as a driver.



Of course, Californians have also discovered the Falcon Gasser look too!



Street legal drag slicks, suggest it see's a little strip action.



The Chevy guys here have been doing it for years.



Nice little gen 2 Barracuda.



However, I'll take a '70 Roadrunner as the king of MOPAR Muscle Cars any day.



Of course a banger powered Model A Vicky probably goes further on a gallon of gasoline.



The cops arrived right behind me, this looks like it would qualify as a replacement for Ford Australia's Territory.



Hey Toad! Is that really you driving that beautiful car?



Yup, it's cooler that Daryl Starbird's 'Superfleck Moonbird'! :mrgreen:



Chevy was a few days off having the top chop finished.



Pick-up was a cool looking commercial.



This one was looking a tad hotter.



Not often you see a full length pick-up box on a fender less model A.



and this, is simply a class act.



This one too.



However, this one defied logic and maybe even common sense.



I still can't believe the CHIPS stopped, gave it the once over and then just drove away.



I also would not believe, unless I had seen it with my own eyes, that two guys got in….



…. started the engine…..



…. pulled out on to the roadway and drove that sucker away!



Ron and I then headed to our favourite restaurant and grabbed some dinner.