The middle of June in SoCal is reserved for the L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Swap Meet, where hot rodders can gather and talk or hunt for that missing set of cowl lights.
Photography by THE AUTHORt’s Father’s Day weekend, and in Southern California that means you can count on spending some time at the Pomona Fairplex for the L.A. Roadsters Show & Swap. As if on cue, the weather was sunny and pleasantly warm, prompting the crowd to wear plenty of sunscreen and large-brimmed hats alongside event T-shirts, a tradition that dates back nearly 50 years.
Thursday is a setup day, but as usual, swappers were present, and a lot of selling and trading was taking place. Friday marked the first official day of the 59th L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day Show & Swap Meet, featuring nearly 600 swap exhibitors in full force and a flurry of activity. There were about 300 roadsters and over 500 specialty cars (pre-1985) on display, making for an enjoyable sightseeing tour through countless hot rods. As always, Saturday serves as the second day of the two-day show. The activity in the swap spaces slowed down, but a majority of the roadsters and specialty cars arrived, drawing a good crowd of spectators.
In 1960, the inaugural year for the L.A. Roadsters’ first Father’s Day gathering began. The club was founded in 1957. Between 1961 and 1962, Jim Travis directed attendees from a card table set up in front of the Hollywood Bowl to the Great Western Exhibit Center. At that time, hosting a “swap meet” within Los Angeles city limits was illegal; the Great Western was located in the county but not within the city. The name was changed to “parts exchange” instead of swap meet before reverting back. From 1963 through 1966 there was no show, but in 1967 it resumed and continued until the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. In 1980, the show was relocated from the Great Western to the Pomona Fairplex due to plans to demolish and repurpose the Great Western. Initially, it was a one-day show, but starting in 1981 it became a two-day event (Saturday and Sunday) and remained that way until a few years ago when it shifted to Friday and Saturday. Sunday is now a day off to give all those fathers and grandfathers some time with their families. (The show has been held at the Fairplex for 43 years.) One of the great traditions at any car event is the presentation of the “pewter” mug to roadster owners who bring their cars out for everyone to admire. However, around 1982 through 1984, a single 1/2-mug mounted on a plaque was awarded instead. For several years, a roadster show plaque was given out that could then be placed on your 1/2-mug wooden plaque.
While the show may not be as large as it once was, it remains a fantastic two-day event, rich in history and memories. SoCal hot rodders of all types still view this as the place to be on Father’s Day weekend—at least on Friday and Saturday. Next year should be one of the bucket list shows, as it will be the 60th, and that’s saying something.
Scott Lorenzini is behind the wheel of his AMBR-contending 1932 Ford highboy roadster, which turns heads at Southern California events with its looks and performance.
Ralph Castor (Aces Car Club) of Modjeska Canyon in SoCal drove his metal-finished 1932 Ford highboy roadster, featuring 1939 Ford teardrop taillights, a four-spoke Sprint Car–style wheel, Auto Meter gauges, and a hot rod steering column; no tilt here.
If Mike Curtis’, of Orange, CA, 1936 Ford phaeton looks familiar, perhaps it’s because you saw it at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show, where it was an AMBR contender—running a Flathead with faux-ARDUN Twin-Plug heads; sure are cool looking.
You probably can’t tell by this photo but let’s call this a 1932 Ford highboy “hybrid sedan delivery” as it does have a functioning third door in back but also side glass.
Sid and Lori Chavers from Carlsbad, CA, showcased their Deuce highboy, which features 1950 Pontiac taillights and the vanity plate BOP TOP. Duh! Inside, an engine-turned dash insert houses Classic Instruments, along with bucket seats, a Nardi wheel, and the desirable three pedals.
A cool-looking 1932 Ford highboy roadster pickup with shortened bed, painted in flat black with gold-tone scallops and white pinstriping, belongs to Scott Schnabel of Lodi, CA. The valve covers are lettered “Teleroadster,” while the shift knob resembles the headstock of a Gibson Telecaster guitar, featuring its tuning pegs.
We notice the Opposing Cylinders Newsletter fenderless coupes all around us—indeed, everywhere. The foreground coupe features a 1934 hood, while the background coupe showcases a 1933 hood. These hot rods are drivers for real hot rodders.
This 1932 Ford channeled pickup, powered by a Flathead, showcases the perfect stance. We particularly admired the unique axle design featuring both “large”- and “small”-diameter drilled holes. The rubber is 5.00×18 and 8.20×18.
There were the traditional hot rod vendors, such as SO-CAL Speed Shop, with legacy owner Peter Chapouris IV. Peter V will be on scene in a “few” years.
The swap meet always has plenty of material for the next project. Someone went home with this Model T roadster body–in a few years, this will be in the “show.” 
Nowadays, the swap meet features later model offerings, such as this 1962 Chevy “bubbletop” with a 409-powered Bel Air.
Lots of early Ford drivetrain material, adaptors, transmissions, starters, and so on, were present and for the offering.
This 409 features valve covers indicating 380 hp, signifying it is the 1962 variant. The dual four-barrel edition of the “Ought Nine” was rated at 409 hp.
In the world of hot rods, gauges are a crucial detail. It’s essential to have the right look, which can reflect both the era of the build and the identity of the manufacturer. Oh, there are so many gauges to choose from, and there were plenty more available at the swap meet.
During Stoker’s Hot Rod Shop’s open house on Thursday, we spotted this 1932 Ford roadster. Dick Brooks built this Deuce in 1954 and owned it until his death in 2024. It’s currently for sale, operates well, and remains “as it was built.” A genuine piece of hot rod history.
Scott Smith from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, showcased his 1933 Ford channeled coupe, featuring a 392 Hemi. Look for the article in an upcoming issue of Modern Rodding.
The gasser look, complete with radiused rear wheelwells, always works on a 1955 Chevy. Inside, bucket seats, a rollbar, no rear seat, a dash-mounted tach, three pedals, and the traditional oversized throttle pedal carry the theme.
Hey, it’s SoCal, the land of Corvettes, so running across this iconic 1963 Corvette split-window is perfectly normal. While it appears stock, it has been “tinkered” with.
Bob Salazar of Buena Park, CA, was on hand with his T-bucket, a 1922 roadster pickup loaded with a chrome accessorized small-block Chevy.
Dale Grau of Rice, MN, is no stranger to Modern Rodding readers, as he has had other rides featured. This 1932 Ford highboy roadster pickup is powered by a Chevy straight-six, complete with a finned Offenhauser valve cover. We will dig out the photos for this feature and show them soon.
Jerry James of Claremont, CA, showcased his 1936 Ford convertible sedan, powered by a Flathead engine equipped with a pair of Stromberg 97s atop a Tattersfield high-rise intake featuring a Hexagon air cleaner. The 24-stud Scareger Automotive Engineering cylinder heads further enhance the rarity of this V-8.
Scott and Nani (Maui Classic Cruisers) brought their Deuce highboy roadster from Kahului, Maui, in Hawaii. We confidently guess that they didn’t drive the entire distance. Welcome, and we hope you enjoyed the weekend. The lei across the hood is a nice touch.
The “Kugels” are synonymous with the roadster show, street rodding, and land speed racing. Jerry and sons Joe and Jeff were on hand while Mom Judy and sister Jerilyn; all have been longtime contributors to the show, as well as Kugel Komponents and, of course, racing. This Muroc roadster limited edition, built by Kugel Komponents, is a family driven affair, powered by a MagnaCharger-equipped LS, reaching 223.425 mph at Bonneville back in 2009. We have read that Jerry has driven the car to 225.000 mph.
This 1932 Ford highboy roadster pickup, complete with half a tonneau in place, was seen cruising the grounds. What caught our eye was the powerplant—a very rare Ford Boss 429 often referred to as a “Shotgun” V-8. Introduced in 1968, it was a two-year run, but its legacy lives on.
Talk about attitude. Louis Strands, from Orange, CA, showcased his 1932 Ford highboy roadster, which features a 4-71 blown SBC engine, an engine-turned dash insert, Stewart-Warner gauges, a four-spoke Sprint Car–style wheel, and a hot rod column. Rear rubber is 9.00×15 Radir Dragster grooved slicks.
Bob Mohler (Rusty Nuts Street Rods) of Yucca Valley, CA, showcased his 1932 Ford phaeton, which has been around for the past 30 years under three different owners. Each owner added their own touch, sometimes with running boards and fenders, and sometimes without.
Fabian Valdez of Vintage Hammer Garage showcased this effort, and it was a hit. What makes the swap area so interesting is that you never know what you will encounter. Here is a chop top in progress, allowing you to see where all the cuts were made.