Went to the Tulsa show again this year; last time was 2009. Overall, a good show and well worth the trip. Thought I'd share some pics. Gorgeous restored Squarebird. The Kookie Klone - first time I'd seen it live. Very well done. Hard to imagine what it must have been like to see the real one in the 50s when it rolled out for the first time. There were some very nice 60s pickups there, this Chevy was one of the nicer ones. Don't know what there is to say about the Take Out T that hasn't been said already. The detailing on this thing is amazing. I don't know who won the 20K, but I figured it was between the T and Trepanier's 300B. Doug Weigel, who won last year's Go for the Gold, brought this...uhh...thing to this year's show. Winner of my personal "WTF?" award. One growing trend appears to be more really nice 60s F-100's. This red one was probably the best of the group. Trepanier's '56 300B. I have a 300B total project in the garage, waiting its turn. This thing is intimidating as hell. The only 'cool factor' mine will have over this one is that mine will have its original Hemi. Seriously - quality on this car is incredible.
This Model A coupe greeted us at the entrance. Really nice candy job, and the grill shell is from the owner's dad's first car. Starbird's latest. Personally, I'm glad the guy is still building cars. I have a feeling that this car uses parts from the last iterations of the Lil' Coffin before it's resto to 1962 form. Recognized this one from Street Rodder. This is another one that you really have to see in person to appreciate. Nicely chopped F-1. Starbird's grandson, Dakota Wentz, built this pickup in Custom Cl***ic Trucks magazine. Completely awesome, and well detailed pickup. The kid has talent.
Cliff Starbird's "Starship," built around 1980. What's amazing is how well this car has held up over 30 years. It started as a '72 Camaro, and I'm pretty sure this is a re-do of a sectioned and candy red '72 Camaro he did in about '77. Taking an up-close look really reveals the craftsmanship on this car. A really well done '55 Chevy pickup. Very well done chopped 4-door Merc.
Yellow and black '58 Cameo was straight as an arrow. Great flaked roof on this postwar Chevy. This guy's truck and display had an Oklahoma Sooners theme. Them Okies love their feetball. Posies' '56 Ford Wagon still looks great. This one's been around, in this guise, for a long time. I'm guessing a late '70s build. Underhood was a chrome Chevy; the candy red job still looks great. I'm building a '67 Charger and got a few ideas from this one. Former Tom Bigelow USAC sprinter. Didn't get a complete pic of this one, but this car defeated Tom McEwen in a match race at OCIR in '68. Was restored to pristine condition. Very nice Willys. Wife and I looked at this one and immediately thought of the "before" of the Rick Dore/James Hetfield Auburn from last year's GNRS. Bob Reed's Deuce sedan, featured in the current Street Rodder.
The blue on this '55 Chevy looked deep enough to swim in. This '60 Imperial was one of the Go for the Gold contenders. Heavily customized and painted by Gene Winfield - this was one of the stars. Notice that the exhaust tips are inserted in extra taillight bezels? It doesn't come through well in this pic, but the paint on this '56 was a really nice lavender pearl. Another chopped Merc, this one a 2-door. And last but not least, very nice little Deuce 3-window.
I forgot to note - I got to meet Kenny Youngblood, one of my three favorite hot rod designer/artists. I met Thom Taylor at SEMA. Now, Steve Stanford completes the three. Blood is a hell of a nice guy.
I love '60's Imperials. That one is about **** ugly! The wheels don't fit well, fenderwell headers on a custom? Yuck. Beauty is subjective, I know... Sorry...
I'm afraid to ask but who won the $20K? Kool pics. Thanks for posting them. I thought the show was better then it had been in years. Number of cars were down but the quality was a lot better. Happy Trails, Mick
Lar, I thot you saw all these cars...??? Just didn't take any pics of them...??? BTW, Racewriter, thanx for the huge pix... R-
I only took pics of what I liked or wanted to make fun of Rog...the rest of those cars didn't interest me.
I see...and yet, you ask to see more pix...??? I dunno, even if I was to go to a show, for free, I'd make sure I walked around and looked at all the cars instead of looking at pix of them...including those black cars that are in a show... R-
The '56 Chrysler 300 was the big winner, $20.000. But if you look closely the paint on the right door does not match the rest of the car, appears to have been re-painted. I thought the '34 Ford Cabriolet was easily the best of the Fine Nine and should have taken the $20,000. The Chrysler was said to have more than $1.2 million invested, 1080 HP at the rear wheels, Nascar engine with two turbo chargers.
It's good to see he picked a decent car for the award this year. I didn't think they were capable of that. I know the picked the right cars the first 2 years, then it just kind of went downhill from there.
If it cost 1.2 million, can I safely ***ume he built if for someone other than hmself or his Dad...??? Anyone know who put up the money for it...??? R-
I didn't walk the whole show because usually the same cars are here year after year and usually parked in the same spots, but not always, and the building is so huge you can put 1000 cars in it = tired feet... I go to see a few new cars, but mostly to hang out with my friends.
Don't know who it was built for but it is one of my all time favorite Troy built cars. The detail is unreal and I'm thankful that someone had the money to build the car. Got the chance to hang out with them and they took us around and pointed out everything that was done to the car. The engine compartment is just way kool. Twin turbo'd, 1100 horse power of fun. They said the guy drove it 350 miles to a track, drove it all day and was doing up to almost 150 mph in the straight away hauling three other guys. Then he drove it back home. Very kool!! Checkout the web site and click on the link for better pics. http://www.radrides.com/gal.htm Thrilled that someone won the show that we were not ashamed of....It was one of the reasons that I went back the next day. Happy Trails, Mick
The owner is Roger Ritzow. He is the same fellow from Wisconsin that Troy built the '32 Ford Roadster for that was one of the top 75 Deuces of all time.
Racewritter, are you sure that '67 Charger has a Chevy in it? I've got a buddy who knows the car and he says it had a late hemi in it. It could have changed, just curious.
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