Photography by The Authorne of the greatest pleasures of owning a hot rod or custom is the freedom to pack your bags, top off the tank, and hit the open road with a fun destination in mind. There’s nothing better than the sound of a fine-tuned V-8 as it moves though the gears while putting down the miles to one of the East Coast’s largest events. For the 22nd year, the NAPA Auto Parts Syracuse Nationals played host to some of the country’s hottest hop-ups at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse for the three-day horsepower festival packed with an endless schedule of cool things to do.
Once checked in at the host hotel it’s a short hop to the fairground to start the weekend as you cruise into the venue, motoring on perfectly paved roads across 360 acres packed with classic architecture and livestock barns. Once settled, it’s easy to stroll the grounds and check out literally thousands of the coolest hot rods, customs, classic trucks, and muscle cars that will make your head spin. The Nationals staff has taken plenty of care in setting up an array of festivities packed into the program, starting with their Syracuse Signature Showcase featuring plenty of cool mini events into the main feature.
It was a perfect sun-filled weekend for an endless stream of the East Coast’s finest hot rods and customs to cruise to the New York State Fairgrounds to celebrate the 22nd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Syracuse Nationals.The new exposition center hosted a perfectly balanced group of cutting-edge show cars, all carving a path up to an area reserved for the hottest ticket in town. The Winfield Award, presented by legendary customizer Gene Winfield and sponsored by Meguiar’s, focused on competition of the Winfield Select Six, generating truckloads of excitement throughout the weekend. This year’s award winner was the glamorous ’53 Ford Customline known as “Monroe” owned by Jeff Jones.
Finally, the Syracuse Charity Brush Bash brought together many of the world’s top artists participating in a three-day pinstriping and panel jam to be auctioned off, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Central New York. It was truly a memorable weekend and we can’t wait to check it out again in 2023! You can see more at rightcoastcars.com.
It’s an exciting moment when our great friend Gene Winfield announces the winner of the coveted Winfield Award to the custom that brings the perfect balance of design and innovation to capture his attention. This year’s winner was Jeff Jones with his dramatically restyled ’53 Ford Customline glowing under the lights to thrill the crowds all weekend long.
Some cars just have the look, like this very subtle light gray ’36 Ford coupe that’s been tastefully lowered, classically pinstriped, and set to roll on steelies with wide whites accented by Cadillac Sombrero hubcaps.
There’s nothing more wicked than a jet black ’56 Chevy 150. Doug Klett of Plainville, CT, set the stance with CPP 2-inch drop spindles and coils while a 287ci small-block Chevy filled with a Comp Cams stick and Sealed Power pistons spins the tires.
The Dorman-Koopman ’32 Ford AA/Street Roadster runs a supercharged ’57 Chrysler 392ci Hemi capped with four-port injection, linked to a four-speed Hydramatic and ’57 Olds rearend.
You rarely get to see a ’57 Meteor Ranch Wagon—especially one this cool—with a combination of amethyst and crème vibe by owner Matt LaButte from Canada. The two-door body lines and unique grille are but a few of the standout details.
Brian Wisniewski, of New Jersey, wowed us with this Deuce sprayed in deep green with its chopped windshield, black wires, and bias-plies. Power comes from a Flathead, while inside you’ll find vintage Stewart-Warner dials and a classic pleated bench seat.
Denis Dagliere, of Connecticut, worked his magic on this stunning ’51 Ford Shoebox covered in lustrous gold accented by crème scallops, adding a fully louvered hood and rolling on wide whites with custom caps.
Rich Perez of R.P. Interiors brought his freshly finished ’50 Pontiac Chieftain sporting a perfect 4-inch drop with Tribal Turbine caps from Speedway Motors and wide whites. Power comes from the original straight-eight.
Slammed ’63 Chevy wagon owned by Jim Chapin, from Canada, drenched in orange pearl with gold flames, rolling on five-spokes with Chevy small-block power.
Killer lime green ’37 Chevy packing a ferocious six-carb-fed Olds Rocket V-8 laced with plenty of attitude.
Tony and Donna Jobson’s ’49 Chevy is all-custom with its chop, shaved body that’s dipped in black suede with hot licks. Wide whites with Caddy caps topped by Shannon cones give a custom touch.
Jay Laughlin nailed the look of his ’30 Ford coupe with a well-balanced chop, Deuce grille, PPG Royal Maroon body, and black steelies with Firestone/Coker rubber. A Ford 351C packs a punch while a black leather interior provides plenty of comfort.
Kevin Kaiser’s Deuce sedan sports a Buick Nailhead capped by three-deuces, dropped axle with split ’bones, Guide-style headlights, and steelies with Firestone/Coker rubber. Gold Rush gloss and a brocade ’n’ crème interior sealed the deal.
These chopped sedans showcase the diversity of rodding while they both sport full fenders and a classic rake; the rearmost one has a definite ’80s feel, while the one in the foreground is ’60s show-rod style with its custom-molded rear, frenched Caddy taillights, and wild body color.
Ford Model A woodie wagons are always a perfect hot rod platform.
Patrick Hart’s ’30 Ford coupe with its devilish green patina showcases a hammered roof sitting on Deuce ’rails with split ’bones matched to a dropped axle and finned aluminum Buick brake drums. Bite comes from a two-pot-fed V-8.
The ’60 Buick LeSabre owned by Danielle Korek was recently completed at Korek Designs. A custom-blended PPG gloss showcasing a fully restored body, 3-inch drop coils from Jamco, wheels by Curtis Speed Equipment, and a full leather interior by R.P. Interiors.
Derek Mitchell’s ’47 Ford coupe was everything you could want when hitting the open road.
Effervescent orange Henry J Gasser laced with attitude thanks to go-fast goods pushing plenty of thunder through its fenderwell headers.
This ’36 Ford sedan body arrives at the next level thanks to a chopped top, smoothed body and running boards, custom hood sides, big brakes, and chrome turbine-styled wheels on low-profile rubber.
Burt Turner’s ’30 Model A was packed with lightning holes and louvers to accent its blue patina body while a set of yellow steelies added flash and cool bits, like Guide-style headlights and a traditional drop-axle frontend to make it cool.
Chevy ’52 Bel Air was a triumph from the factory, making them a great base for rodding, which is easily seen in this subtle blue and crème model packing modern GM power and rolling on BFGoodrich radials.
This year the Syracuse Charity Brush Bash brought in artists from all over. Their talents created one-off items to be auctioned benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Central New York.