Hello, Earlier in our Los Angeles County surf adventures, (Up PCH past Malibu Colony...) there was a discussion on the LA County Line Surf Spot and a cool restaurant destination spot for surfers, hot rod/cruisers, and motorcycles. (Neptune’s Net opened in 1958) The first two originally out numbered the last group, but since those early days, the multiple motorcycle groups have multiplied like bunnies gone wild. The first time we went there, an order of a great lunch and drinks took several minutes for a hot meal on the beach across the street. Sometimes sitting on the outdoor area was nice, too. But, as popular as it got, it did get crowded fast and it took forever to get a nice lunch. So, we provided our own and that was better, since we could surf from the early morning drive from Long Beach, get out around 1030-11 and have lunch. Then when the masses went across the street, the surf peaks were less crowded and the fun began again. After lunch, it was time to move on in our itinerary or head for home. One day, we spent the week consecutively surfing the County line surf spots from the San Onofre entrance area, at Upper Trestles to Los Angeles South County Line at Seal Beach, then the Los Angeles county line surf spot, aka “county line” near Malibu. Then to finish the whole scenario, we went to Rincon to the Santa Barbara county line, for a final campout and a colder Northern surfing experience. Jnaki Each spot had waves and each spot was a little different when we surfed there. But, how did the Flathead Ford Sedan Delivery do in the three day campout road trip? It ran like a top and since we were dead tired at night, the enclosed back area offered us uninterrupted sleep. Despite no mattresses. (Plenty of towels and sleeping bags.) My Flathead motor was notorious for needing oil, but never dripped or had any types of leaks. Nor, did it burn oil out of the tailpipe or burn oil on any part of the exhaust system. Our clothes smelled as nicely as it did when we got in for a short trip or a long trip like the county line surf trip week. It was one of those puzzling things that just happens. One expert Flathead mechanic in Long Beach was stumped. So, I took it to our resident mechanic expert in Los Angeles. He kept it for several days and came up with a total rebuild with new parts to cure the problem. It would take weeks and the cost was prohibitive for us teenagers. So, as long as I kept putting in reclaimed oil, it ran as fine as an underpowered motor could offer. Thousands of miles of continuous driving did nothing and it just kept on running… for 6 years of fun experiences… Note: My wife and I stopped many times during our 1967-70 long road trips up and down the coastline. With our El Camino and the 327 powered sedan delivery. During those times, it was still less motorcycles and more travelers and surfers/beach folks. The food and the great location was the big draw. As the latest road trip we took prior to the pandemic, it was 90 % motorcycles and a crammed in small parking lot. We kept driving to stop at other great coastal restaurants near the Malibu point break. YRMV
Seen over in Kauai, back 12 years ago when my wife Kelley, turned 50 years old. This very cool 1948, I.H.C. ( CORNBINDER) woody wagon, from what I am told, is very well known there on the island.
@41 GMC K-18 Hello, That is a cool woody. The odd thing was, the real estate office is on the main highway on the North Shore of Kauai, in Hanalei. Follow the road to the West and one comes to a dead end trail head to the Na Pali coastline adventures. The highway goes all around the island back to the South Shore and the town/airport. The office was located on the main turn off to head to the pier and surf break of Hanalei Bay, Kauai. (behind the woody in the photo) Our friend’s houses were on the next block heading to the bay. Obviously, it has changed over time. But, when I first took those cool photos, the area was a few older homes and lots of open property. The photo of the mountain in the background was one we saw everyday we were staying in the A-frame roof house. Since it was empty property, we inquired and it was for sale. Zip bang… instantly, we made an offer and it was refused. Then we called the local bank our friends did business with and they said... "Sorry, you are out of state folks." No loans available. Well, we were going to be residents if we could buy the property. But, they could not see the future. Then we called our own savings bank in So Cal and our family friend, who worked there, told us the same thing. "Sorry, it is out of state property and no one is going to give you the loan to purchase it." Jnaki So, we just enjoyed the rest of the month in the local environment surfing great waves, traveling and enjoying the island amenities. Different photos from another source allowed us to see an overhead photo to show the close distance to the water. A hurricane hit, two years after we left and all of the roads were flooded up to 6 feet high. The Rambler sedan was hitting the top of the house garage roof when the waters pushed it up. The garage was under the house, just built with the high tide waters that were expected, so close to shore. YRMV
Hey @jnaki So cool that we both have photographed that very cool I.H.C. woody wagon. I am looking forward to returning to KAUAI at some point in the future. Thanks from Dennis.
Hello, I was the first to see this old woody getting some service done on the pristine surf wagon. But, there was no time to get out the digital camera and do a quick photo. My wife and I were going with the flow of the traffic and I would have started a confusion in those driving lanes. So, we moved on and thought it will be around the coastal area sometime or other. It was an unusual old woody. But after we finished our errand day business, we drove home back near the official old woody sighting. As luck would have it, it was still getting some repair work done. With two heavy duty floor jacks and stands at the ready, and the jacks near the rear of the woody, it was safe to assume that a replacement tire was called for in this instance. The spare wooden spoke wheel was leaning on the wall and ready for his/her turn at keeping the old woody on the road. Digital camera with a Leica lens and clarity. Jnaki Sometimes we are at the right moment for a nice photo and other times, we see an old hot rod cruising down the road going the other way… It is a random thing and a fun game for both of us folks when we are on the road. YRMV Note: Come to find out from a neighbor, the old Oldsmobile Woody is a popular attraction at the local Cars and Coffee events on Saturday morning. So, it is a weekly driver, not a "Garage Queen..."
So, what makes this 1932 sedan a surf vehicle in these modern times? Hello, Beachfront parking spots are hard to find when the surf is pumping just a few steps away. A lot of folks come to check out the waves from the clifftop parking areas and others, park as close to the access point and go surf for a few hours. In 1963-64, nice looking 4 door sedans were also a part of the local Huntington Beach surf scene. The photo shows several teens across the street from the world famous, Golden Bear Restaurant and entertainment center that show cased the hottest rock bands of the time, on their So Cal touring events. This parking spot was one of the most sought after places as it allowed a ringside seat/unobstructed view to the waves on the South side of the Pier and beach below. Recently, my wife and I were visiting the beach and saw an old car parked at the end of the spaces. By the time we were ready to leave, an older 30-40s guy (versus the normal hot teen surfers slashing the waves...) walked up to the 32 Ford sedan in his black wetsuit and dripping short board. We thought he was going to go to the nearby sprinter van parked in a spot, two spaces over. But, he stopped and opened the rear door of the 4 door 1932 custom hot rod. He then, took out a towel and proceeded to dry off. For the action of a modern surfer and this old hot rod in terrific shape/build, was an eye opener. The majority of cars, vans and trucks parked in the whole coastal parking lot were modern cars and not a hot rod or old station wagon among them. But, on this day, this 32 sedan drew much attention as we drove away. Jnaki We were surprised at the quality of the build of the 1932 Ford 4 door sedan. The look was stock 32 appearance, but the tell tale header pipes below and heading out toward the back says otherwise. It was too bad we could not stay longer and hear the rumbling on the start up. Old hot rods and real surfers still exist. It certainly was not a board on top of an old car cruising around in Iowa... But, with the proliferation of modern "Wave Parks" in many inland landlocked cities across the world, who knows... The cost of the custom hot rod and the high cost of inland "Wave Parks" could co-exist... This 32 sedan was right on the So Cal coastal area and fit the modern scene of free waves out in the ocean shoreline... These days, the short board could be safely stashed inside of the sedan. Back in the early 60s time period, it would had to have been tied to the roof as the boards were 3-4 feet longer and heavier. The old 63-64 photo above, will attest…YRMV
Cool old cars in a public, ragtag parking spot near the southerly San Diego Freeway adjoining the Camp Pendleton property. Hello, For a long time in the early 60s, the Camp Pendleton property is/was the longest empty coastline that drew hundreds of folks with proper permits to be on the grounds in various specified areas. Public use was allowed, as long as a military operation or later, the Western White House was not occupied. But, the surfers kept coming into the property to surf the best waves on the coast. Our dad once got a permit to do his surf fishing in two separate empty areas a little farther south during a non-conflict timeline. He was allowed to even drive onto the military base and park in the beachside location. The Provost Marshall’s Permit opened the gates for easy access to the beach. That was a once in a lifetime access to the fairly secluded beach, just south of the famed surf spot. Even the Boy Scouts Organization got a permit to use a larger campsite for a gathering at one location on the base. But, that backfired as the location was called Las Pulgas. It was a nice area, just off of the freeway going North/South. Easy access, plenty of open paces and a gate for easy comings and goings. The term pulgas means “fleas.” And, there were and always has been a massive amount of fleas at this location. So, no more National Boy Scouts events since. Jnaki But, on a normal day, use of any beaches was not allowed. Marine patrols used funky beach buggies to sweep the popular surf spots to “arrest/detain” unsuspecting surfers that did not have the proper permits to be on U.S. Government property. Specifically, surfers… no one got the proper permits and contests were not the monthly item as it is, today. So, we surfers had to park far away and walk in the freeway trail to the marine property and almost run down a dirt trail to the beach, about a mile away. Then a sprint down the high tide line to the lower part of the beach and the pristine waves. Or walk two to three miles from the security of the state park up the beach in the local city/state park property. There was a time when we adventuring surfers tried to find a way to get into the military property in the northern region of the base. Several chained/locked gates always frustrated the efforts. Then, one day, we decided to be one of the users of the locked gates for a simple access to the dirt paths leading to the beach. But, we just had to get there so early that it was totally dark, since there were no street lights available. Now, we hid our cars in the jungle and no one ever found out where they were well hidden. Some tried to follow us back to the cars, but knowing this, we always wandered down the railroad tracks until they gave up following us. We were usually the first to arrive and last to leave in the dark. Driving on the dirt roads leading back to the gate was an adventure, in itself. YRMV Note: As the year rolled on, the various side street parking at the end of the public streets adjoining the military base became parking fodder for those that wanted to surf the Northern Camp Pendleton property. Legally, the waves were public property and public access is usually measured at mean high tide. (highest the surf rolls up to the sand and the lowest it goes out at low tide) The middle ground is public property. But, when the marine soldiers on those funky beach sand buggies are seen coming down the beach from the marine property access on the sand, everyone runs for cover. Or panics, due to not wanting to be swept up in the :raid of the public beaches and waves. At first, it was a comedy of errors, grabbing a 45-50 pound surfboard and running down the beach until one actually gets to the "legal" wire fencing at the northern end of the two long mile beach and various surf spots. Now, that spot was on the same sandy beach and the waves were next to and sometimes breaking inside this imaginary line in the water... wait, there is no line in the water...That is what the military used to think and arrest folks they caught on their side of the sand. A lawyer friend told us that if we were in the water knee deep, technically, the military could not arrest us. It was public property past the mean high tide line. But, no one could tell the soldiers chasing surfers all over the beach and into the water. The soldiers usually went up to their shins and gave up, as we paddled away, in to deeper water. All kinds of "force" was used to get those surfers off the beach or temporarily "arrested" and driven to the Provost Marshall's Office on the marine base. For all of the times we got chased, we never got caught, even when we were 10 feet away paddling out into deeper water from a mad dash from the sand. Wow, those were fun times... Yowee!!!
@jnaki you bring back memories of me and my wife riding our tandem bicycle down from San Onofri through Pendelton to Oceanside. We had to show our ID to prove we were U.S. citizens. In later years Pendelton had an RV park. One night critters climbed up into the still warm engine compartment of our RV and chewed through the engine harness causing dead cylinders. Thanks to the help of a nearby auto parts store owner / racer he let me strip and solder everything back together to get us back across the country. SAVE TRESSLES!
Hello, One day, my wife and I were driving down this tree lined street and saw up ahead, an old woody with a couple of surfboards on top. So, out came the digital camera to record some action. The woody was nicely finished and accelerated quite nicely. When it stopped, we were able to get a closer look and was surprised to see this: It was a Packard woody close up and personal. Wow, what a surprise. Jnaki But, as rare as a nicely finished woody is, this one had one good safety measure that I instantly saw from a good following distance. A third brake light that was inconspicuous when driving, but, the instant the pedal was pushed, a bright beam perked up my view of the rear of the woody. The third brake light did its job and made me aware. YRMV one of a kind...
Hello, Due to the under powered Flathead motor in my original 40 Ford Sedan Delivery, when we wanted to surf Dana Point, we first parked in the Doheny Beach Parking lot. It was a simple place packed almost daily in the summer. It was due to the main inland freeway exiting right onto Dana Point and the coastal route through Doheny Beach. We usually came down the coast line from Long Beach via Coast Highway and ended up at Doheny Beach parking. But, one day we were surfing and my board got away from me on a big white water rolling day after the swells and peaks. So, my board went all the way to the dinky rocky beach. As I got to the dinky rock beach area, I needed a rest, so, I sat around looking at the tall cliffs, south to the crowded surf line and massive amounts of cars parked along the beach, etc. But turning around I had to walk around this tall cliff if I wanted to see up the coastline. The tall cliff stood out so far into the water that those that were at Doheny Beach and parking areas could not see around the tall cliff blockage. So all they could see was the Killer Dana. Not the inside cove rocky beach area. And the only photo of a 56 Chevy 4 door wagon with the Long Beach locals that showed up almost everywhere… even Baja, Mexico. It shows an original station wagon from 1962 that was found in most parking lots along the west coast during our times. classic photo by LH... I knew we could park at the cove area near the Killer Dana surf break. But, with all of our stuff packed in the sedan delivery, the weak motor did not have enough to get to the top of the steep entrance//exit drive up the hill. At the time, there was no road going South along the base of the cliff, like there is today. S0, we were relegated to walking on the small rocky beach around the cliff and go up the shoreline to get to a paddle our spot for some superb wave peaks. It was never crowded, due to the long rocky walk in and out. Why did the surfers from the cove parking lot not surf there? If it was breaking with shoulder high waves, the Killer Dana surf break was a little larger and more consistent. Jnaki The times we went to the Killer Dana surf spots, we had a great time in those larger waves. Some of the waves allow us to ride them all the way past the short pier and into the rocky shoreline. But, now, the long walk up the rocky shore was not worth it, but the daunting paddle up the shore was also a big pain in the neck. When we parked our Flathead 40 Ford Sedan Delivery in the D.P. Cove parking lot, the direct walk was to go along the rocky shoreline back South toward Doheny Beach. But, when we were ready to leave, we had to get the longest running start from inside of the parking lot, taking the last curve and going up the steep exit road. We started in 3rd, but immediately had to shift to 2nd and by half way, we were in first for the long slow crawl to the top, with me trying to get as much horsepower out of the Flathead motor. We could not stop or back down as the road was too steep for that maneuver. So, we dissipated the weight and crawled to the top of the hill. A walker on the same road would pass us by as they made their way up and out of the steep hill, Cove Road. It was always a slow adventure going uphill. Note: So, in order to get farther outside to make sure we were not going to get whacked with the “set of the day,” we were on the current breaking waves with some favoritism to being the farthest outside. We hated being caught “inside” when the bigger sets came rolling in at the point. But, while we were sitting on our boards, we could not help but see several small houses perched on the top of the cliff’s edge. Red arrow shows exact location of the house facing us as we were sitting “outside” waiting for the next set of waves. Even after the harbor was put in place, sometimes sneaker swells do come in to show the power of mother nature and what was once a pristine surfing spot. During the various high tides and storms, its beautiful power sometimes causes problems for the surrounding coastal cliffs. The spot is still active, right below this viewpoint high up on the cliff, next to the road to the only houses built onto the top of the cliff. These three, local, classic hot rod surf cars can usually be seen in the parking area next to the above surfboard location. Note 2: So, one day a photo story comes up, locally. The remodeled inside of one of the houses perched on the side/top of the cliff, while we were down below surfing, was shown in a local photograph. With some of the best view along the coast + inside of a house on the clifftop of the Dana Point Headlands, it is still scary as the landslide happens below…YRMV
Doheny State Beach with the San Juan Creek flowing out to the ocean located to the right. In this old photo, the entrance road stopped at the sandy beach. There was no boat harbor, to the left, until 1970. No surfing at Killer Dana Cove beaches along the tall cliffs starting in 1967 when the rocky breakwater was started. Hello, The Doheny State Beach location is a good spot for beginners and folks that like a low key surf spot. Usually, it breaks during the Summer with the onslaught of southern hemisphere storm swells attacking the Westcoast surf spots facing south. Doheny is one of those spots. When the swell is not huge, but gently rolling along the coastline, the small waves attract all kinds of surfers. Sometimes, a rare storm perks up and a random swell comes sneaking up the coast from the south. So, we all knew the season starts sometimes in the spring/summer, but if any word or notion was telephoned to us, we were on our way south to Orange County from Long Beach. In the most recent celebration, the current Jetty driveway allows folks to drive up to and past the surf break. There is a small parking spot that is for the long rocky jetty users, for fishing or just sitting. But, now, it is a parking spot for surfers. They park and a short walk across the long two lane road and in the water they go. Normally, the surfers paddle out to the small but consistent waves breaking along the rocky jetty. But, when it gets a large southern hemisphere swell, the break is farther out and the walk/paddle is extended, if one can get through the large white water walls rolling into the beach. Jnaki This surf spot is called Doheny State Beach, officially. But, for regulars, it has many names given by the surfers. One of the most odd name given is “Do-Ho,” It is even in the famous surf song, “Surfing USA…” “All over Manhattan (inside, outside, U.S.A.) And down DOHENY WAY (inside, outside) Everybody's gone surfin' Surfin' U.S.A” In current times, since it is a California State Beach and Park, there is a wide open area for commercial rentals of the park facilities. The largest users are the daily surfers and campers, but yearly, the big name rock concerts have begun to pop up with the biggest names in music playing for the audience. We used to sail out in the ocean waters, in front of the music blaring during those early concerts for free access from the water. Others would set anchor and just sit and bob around while the music was being played. Before all of those conveniences, the beach was right next to the parking area and lots of folks rolled right up to the berm, park, walk several steps and went surfing. The 1940 Ford Flathead Sedan delivery was a regular at this beach, until we started noticing better waves around the jutting out, cliff side rocky shoreline. One of our high school friends had just purchased a 51 Plymouth Station Wagon. It was a used car and he could afford it based on his job and savings. So, the surfboards were stacked into the rear opening with ease. But, as we all found out with boards stuck in the back of an open station wagon or sedan delivery, roaming noxious gasses that smelled like exhaust is noticed. But, back then, we knew the carbon monoxide was the “killer” culprit,” so we took caution when we smelled the exhaust fumes. We knew somehow, the fumes of CO were odorless and if/when we smelled gas fumes, it was there. So, roof mounted surf rack was the next logical step. Now, all that was needed was gas money and some cans of oil. Around our high school and at the beach, he really wanted this version: Then, at least, he could cruise without surf racks as a normal station wagon, teenage cruising machine. But, as teens, we saved what we could so we traveled to places South of Long Beach for weekends and if enough money was saved or earned, made the two+ hour drive to Baja, Mexico surf spots. So, a black custom paint was thought of, and highly sought out, but not in the immediate “to buy” list. Note: On our many road trips to the Los Angeles South Bay area for surf movies and surf trips, we knew that the Dewey Weber Shop always had a similar Plymouth Station Wagon parked out in front of the shop. YRMV
Great history, thanks. I have been there several times but I wish I could have seen it before the harbor, when it was still all natural. I bet it was absolutely beautiful; it still is.
Hello, We drive by there almost weekly. Yes, despite the crowded area, it still is beautiful and the waves are the fun type daily, until the larger swells come in during a south swell. Then it gets a little more powerful and for some, not so much fun. The ocean, the beaches all give our mental state, an aura of calm, peaceful state of mind, nowhere else can provide. Our business, sailing for years and errands take us back to that area. We started in 1959-60 and have come to this South Coast beach area since moving from Long Beach to Orange County. It was a growing area in the beginning, with wide open spaces and still cows roaming the vast hillsides. Our old house was in one of the early tracts in 1963 and has gotten packed with the passing years. The surfing locations have changed, but the constant waves have hit these shores before us and will continue to come rolling in to bash the next brave souls that challenge mother nature. The ocean has gone through changes and the beach has gotten better for the state’s efforts to keep a clean beach and waters. Each year, water quality testing continues and Doheny used to get poor ratings due to the flow of inland waters coming out to the ocean every time there is a rain or two, coastal or far inland. All rivers empty into the ocean at one point or another. A warning is for all who visit or surf in those waters. After a rain, is not the best time to go surfing. The waters at Doheny are polluted from the flow of the San Juan Creek from far inland communities. As a matter of fact, any river that empties into the ocean is polluted during and after any rainfall. So, a warning to those visitors anywhere near a river or creek. It takes many days for the ocean to swirl around and take care of business of a clean ocean and shoreline. Jnaki A peaceful spot to sit and ponder the ongoing lives of all of our family and friends… with views (almost a 360 degree view) and straight sightline facing South to the San Diego coastline. My wife and I have no complaints about the harbor. As we sailed out of the docks inside of the harbor in many of our old sailboats over the years. Yes, several surf spots were taken and at the time, it hurt to see it happen. But, if this location was not built, the pristine Monarch Bay Cove with its jutting out cliff point around the Headlands point, was the next location for the vast harbor in future designs. So, no more Salt Creek Point/Gravels/Middles waves would have been possible, below the current Ritz Carlton Resort Hotel location. YRMV was here a lot of times from 1960 to 64. then this El Camino was there for some surf to the 65-66 years.
Hello, As our itinerary is usually heading for the beach at one spot or another along the vast So Cal coastline, my wife and I usually see our fill of surf transportation. Our own history of coastal cruising goes back to 1966 and it has changed. These days, a lot of large sprinter vans show up and spend the whole day at the beach. Most popular beach locations are usually crowded during the summer and into the fall/winter months, it is a haven of local folks to enjoy fairly empty beaches and waves. But, being in So Cal, we actually get to see old hot rods cruising along the Coast Highway and sometimes, we are treated to a cool one parked at a surf spot. No internet copied photos of surf cars for us. No staion wagons with an old longboard on top 1000s of miles inland in Iowa, either… Our vision is filled with actual surf transportation, almost every time we are out and about. The coastal drive is always worth doing, since it gives us a great feeling from the old days as 20 somethings and these… “old folks” days of enjoying the great outdoors. Back in March of 2024, my wife and I were visiting a local surf spot and saw an old car parked at the end of the spaces. By the time we were ready to leave, an older 30-40s guy (versus the normal hot teen surfers slashing the waves...) walked up to the 32 Ford sedan in his black wetsuit and dripping short board. We thought he was going to go to the nearby sprinter van parked in a spot, two spaces over. But, he stopped and opened the rear door of the 4 door 1932 custom hot rod. He then, took out a towel and proceeded to dry off. “For the action of a modern surfer and this old hot rod in terrific shape/build, was an eye opener. The majority of cars, vans and trucks parked in the whole coastal parking lot were modern cars and not a hot rod or old station wagon among them. But, on this day, this 32 sedan drew much attention as we drove away.” We were surprised at the quality of the build of the 1932 Ford 4 door sedan. The look was stock 32 appearance, but the tell tale header pipes below and heading out toward the back says otherwise. It was too bad we could not stay longer and hear the rumbling on the start up. Old hot rods and real surfers still exist. It certainly was not a board on top of an old car cruising around in Iowa... But, with the proliferation of modern "Wave Parks" in many inland landlocked cities across the world, who knows... The cost of the custom hot rod and the high cost of inland "Wave Parks" could co-exist... This 32 sedan was right on the So Cal coastal area and fit the modern scene of free waves out in the ocean shoreline... These days, the short board could be safely stashed inside of the sedan. Back in the early 60s time period, it would had to have been tied to the roof as the boards were 3-4 feet longer and heavier.” Jnaki That was then and this was a few days ago. Perhaps, the news of a large swell coming down the coast was enough to go surfing. A custom 1950 Ford sedan was parked in the same spot as the 32 sedan, almost a year ago. A nice choice of a great new build from the hot rod builder/active surfer in So Cal. Thumbs up for sure! And... why is something sticking up in the engine compartment? We will know soon...YRMV
1965 327 powered Chevy El Camino Hello, During the late 60s, the 65 El Camino took over the surf trips locally, as it was very handy to drop the surfboard in the back, strap it down and take off for the surf spots down the Coast Highway. Since I sold my Flathead sedan delivery to a surf shop back in 1965 and the new El Camino helped me get to college and back many times, it was a new beginning. Phoro by Vnak I met my wife in our local Long Beach college in 66 and we have hit it off since then. After college, there were longer distance road trips in the El Camino without surfboards, and when the surf was good, the Baja, Mexico trips became only a couple of hours away. Sleeping in the back was a guarantee snuggle as the feeling of being out in the open cliff side empty beach area was a little disheartening. Far from the nearest town, the city or any sort of communities along the highway was a mile or so away. So, the empty cliff top was a scary place at night. No lights, only the stars and moon as well as great surf rolling in all night and day. Those road trips were fun and the 65 El Camino served its purpose. Then as we moved along in our hot rod journey, we got a 327 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery for our road trips and yes, an obvious place to spend the nights. Jnaki All along this time period starting in 1969, on our way home from the southern surf spots down in San Clemente, including Camp Pendleton, we usually were hungry on the long road home. So, we noted several spots with great food. But, in keeping with our simple low cost lifestyle, we had to find places that served great lunches and dinners for our long road trips at the end of the adventures. If it was in the afternoon, then lunch time it was. But, if we stayed longer, we were on the hunt for a nice dinner location. One of the favorite spots was a nice restaurant in Newport Beach called the Spaghetti Bender. It drew a ton of surfers and locals as the meals were outstanding. The parking lot was almost a who’s who of hot rod surf cars and station wagons. As the old cars or hot rods were parked in the visible lot from the highway, we knew who was having dinner, inside. The red El Camino started the stop overs once we tasted the meals offered. Spaghetti at its finest. So, for the next few years it was a daily given, to stop in North Newport Beach along PCH to get a nice dinner as we drove by the location. When we moved to a real house, we were now farther South and the trek up the coast was still on our road trip menus. Once the taste was ours, it was a continued stop when driving to Long Beach or a separate drive North from our small home. Again, the hot rod cars/station wagons were still in the lot. But, now, our 327 powered sedan delivery took the primary transportation to and from that portion of the highway road trips. Sometimes on our way to visit our mom in Long Beach, an hour away, other times, visits to friends along the route up the coast. 327 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery Jnaki It was a nice place to bring our son when he came along and as a toddler his favorite was spaghetti. It was a “two-fer” on those occasions. Across the wide parking lot was a long line of small shops for all kinds of businesses. the first building had a specialty product that drew our son and his tastes for us to take him there. So, as long a we were shopping in the nearby store, we planned a nice dinner at the Spaghetti Bender Restaurant. The draw was an Army surplus store and for many years, our son saved his money earned to buy Army stuff for his play activities. As interested parents, we like going to the particular store. For many So Cal residents later on, there was a definite draw to this shop. Out in front, chained to a giant light pole was a camouflaged Army off-road vehicle that made folks stop to look and investigate. We could not drive by on our way to Long Beach without a stop at this parking lot and shop. The old shop is now long gone, but the memories still linger. But, as sad things come and go, for 55 years, the restaurant across the parking lot that drew a lot of surfers, their cars/station wagons and of course our El Camino + later the 327 powered sedan delivery is slated to close in March of 2025. So, the last few weeks of being open is fast approaching and time is short for this icon of restaurants that served the community. Especially, the surf community as a unusual parking spot for a lot of local surf cars and other forms of surf transportation. YRMV The Spaghetti Bender 1969 slated to Close March 2 …
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachments/3386771890_66cb65d5ed_c-jpg.5864273/ What is the maroon woody?
The Jalopy Journal
