(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) – Saturday was the only time we ventured inside which is really odd for us. Usually we make it a point to go through the whole building on one day and make short visits on others. We got so busy with the swap meet and walking around outside we just let it slip. That said…we did walk through the West side of the main facility to see the builders’ showcase offerings. These are typically high-end and interesting builds showing off some new trends and excellent craftsmanship.
The 409-powered ’69 Camaro was slicker than I expects and refreshing to see something other than another late-model drivetrain swap. Check out the detailing and cleanliness of the Y-block-powered gold Deuce tudor. How sweet it is. The engine detailing and presentation on the red bubble-top is amazing. Making a LS swap look this awesome in an older platform is no small feat and this one pull it off in a major way. The Tealbird might be everyone’s cup-o-tea, but to me it was well thought out and built on the great styling of these cars.
The blown Ardun-powered A-bone is not how they did it in the old days, however, it definitely has some traditional touches and the contrasting, subtle tones really made you take a closer look. Pantera. Hard to improve on something this cool and in arrest-me red no one missed seeing it. Muted colors seemed to be a theme this year and so goes the highboy ’32 sedan. Check out the rear tire tuck on this thing. The whole car looks like an exercise in restraint though it still stood out.
Enjoy these photos from inside the Exposition center. Follow along as we head back outside.
