(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) – The Finale. Swan Song. Adios. After 55 years of producing this show the legendary Carl Casper is calling it quits. We have covered this show for a handful of years now and are sad to see it go. Unless someone else steps up to orchestrate another show like this a major void will exist in the winter car show season. If you don’t know much about Carl Casper, I suggest you do a few Internet searches and learn some. He is a lesser-known contemporary of George Barris, Gene Winfield, Darryl Starbird, and many others. Though you may not know the name many of the cars he built are readily recognized. Some are shown in this gallery including the 1965 AMBR winner ‘Ghost’. Carl never sold any of his creations so over the years we’ve managed to see many of them on display including his top fuel dragsters. His first custom, Empress, is shown below which he completed while still in high school. Many of his creations ended up being reproduced as scale model kits, some of which are still available. Carl is also responsible for a number of movie and TV star cars such as the A-Team van, K.I.T.T., and the General Lee.
Some other cars in this gallery can’t go without mention. The 1928 Hupmobile owned by Kim Little is an absolute gem. With its aluminum straight-8 engine and gleaming finish it is a real display of style and class. The details and features on this thing are amazing. Lastly I must point out one of my favorite cars of the show – the Gold, fenderless ’34 Ford sedan. Wow it’s such a treat for the eyes. I really hope the opportunity arises to see it outside in natural light – and that I remember to put the memory card in the camera.
Enjoy and stay tuned for more. We captured a bunch because this is the end of a great, yearly event.
