Showcasing classic American hot rods, sports cars and Musclecars, and supporting local charities and non-profit support groups, RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA!
Since 1912 the small seaside city of Carpinteria on California’s Central Coast has promoted its designation as the location of the “World’s Safest Beach” – and since 1997 the city has also been touting its Car Guy credentials as the home of the rad Rods & Roses car show. This popular community event has never been the biggest or baddest California car show, but it has always delivered a soothing blend of chilled vibes and head-turning stock and modified show cars.
This year’s show is the 27th iteration! It was held on July 6, 2024 and drew in over 200 cars plus thousands of show-goers from points near and far. There were hot rods, customs, classics, Musclecars, sports cars, imports, barn-finds, low-riders, and one beastly big machine! Since the show’s inception, one of its goals is to raise money in support of local non-profits like Carpinteria Cares for Youth, The Food Pantry, and Hospice of Santa Barbara.
As Saturday’s show wound down, the fun stayed ratcheted up for the annual Carpinteria Independence Day Parade that featured many of the award-winning show cars cruising slowly down Linden Avenue towards the World’s Safest Beach. One of the Old School hot rods that got my attention and serves as our report’s lead photo, above, is this radically customized ’27 Ford Model T High Roof Coupe. Model Ts were the first automobiles mass-produced on moving assembly lines, using interchangeable parts.
This was one of the sweetest hot rods I saw at Rods & Roses. It’s Jerry Friedrich’s Flathead-powered ’30 Ford Roadster and it’s sitting poised for action on Linden Avenue. You might have to be a bit of a fabrication geek to truly appreciate all the masterfully built components and details – like the rare ELCO finned aluminum Twin-Plug Heads, and numerous examples of engineering perfection. But even the average show-goer in Carpinteria appreciated its esthetic appeal. Well done, Jerry!
La Bestioni No. 8 is Gary Wales’ reimagined 1920 American LaFrance fire truck. This magnificent machine is Gary’s 8th Beast – and like No. 1, it’s a tribute to the famous 1910 Fiat S76 Beast of Turin racecar. No. 8 features a fully restored chassis and a 14-liter, water-cooled 6-cylinder motor. One of Gary’s biggest joys is watching his creations bring smiles to those lucky to encounter his Beasts. Sitting up high on La Bestioni is Gary’s constant companion and spokesperson, Kyra. Nice shirt Gary!
BREAKING NEWS!: Surf shop employees spot powerful Cyclone near Carpinteria State Beach! Larry Schuss’ 427-powered ’65 Mercury Comet Cyclone charged the atmosphere out in front of Rincon Designs Surf Shop during RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! This meticulously crafted, hi-performance Merc took the Crown Classics Choice Award!
This pristine ’67 Porsche 911 may look like a nice stock survivor, but owners Mark & Brett Lyons were kind enough to send me a few of their recently completed 911’s specs. Its original 2.0 engine case is fitted with higher compression 2.2 pistons and heads are ported and polished. Plus, high-lift “E” cams, 123 electronic distributor and MSD box, PMO carbs and intakes, and an M&K Stainless steel muffler. Other upgrades include a 901 five-speed trans with J West short shifter, Tarett adjustable front and rear sway bars, MOMO steering wheel, and Scheel-Mann seats.
I wasn’t surprised to discover a Woody within walking distance of the World’s Safest Beach, but I was very impressed with the quality restoration of this stately ’48 Oldsmobile Deluxe Series 68 Station Wagon. Owner Greg Metzgus personally restored his Woody, using his master sheet metal and wood crafter skills to take the pile of weathered original wood parts crammed into the cargo bay of the unrestored wagon and turn it back into the shiny driver that it is today. Olds manufactured only 1,314 of the Deluxe Series 68, eight-cylinder, metal and wood wagons in 1948.
This Sassy Grass Green (1970 Barracuda FJ6 color) Plymouth Barracuda underwent a rotisserie restoration with the apparent goal of capturing the sex appeal and “street brute” swagger of a legendary 426 Hemi Cuda. This car is a 1973 model with a high-performance, dual quad 472 cubic-inch motor producing 550 horsepower. Matte black fender and door graphics and a Shaker hood provide “Look at Me” contrast to the electric paint scheme. Wheels are noticeably not stock. The car is currently offered for sale in Ventura, CA with an asking price of $179,999.
Bill Pitruzzelli’s low and racy ’56 Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster got a lot of love from showgoers at RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! – as well as the Classic Award from the judges. Bill’s Outlaw 356 features an aftermarket hard tonneau with an integrated, sweptback headrest fairing.
I had to do a double-take and then a triple-take when I spotted this classic ’55 Corvette adorned with a rare Bubble Top. As the story goes, GM styling chief Harley Earl commissioned approximately 20 plastic bubble canopy tops for the ‘54 Corvette, most of which went to special customers and dealers. A handful of aftermarket companies produced Bubble Tops and, while pretty cool looking, almost all had fitment problems – allowing water and wind to enter the cockpit. Another “small problem” was that the bubble top raised interior temperatures. Not cool!
This Satellite is not from the gang at Space X but rather it’s a mid-size model from our friends at Plymouth. Finished in Snakeskin Green this ’69 Plymouth Satellite gets its propulsion from a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 crate engine mated to a Tremec TKO 600 5-Speed transmission. This car and the ’73 Hemi Cuda were brought to RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! by the same seller. $119,995 is the Take It Home number.
By today’s standards, Ronald Root’s ’58 Corvette looks somewhat tame and reserved. No carbon fiber chassis, no rear wing, no 800 horsepower motor, and mercifully, no $1,000,000 price tag. Still, 66 years since its appearance on the showroom floors, this C1 Corvette still quickens my pulse, still makes me wonder “Is it for sale?” So, thanks Ronald, and thanks to all of you Car Guys for being the custodians and proponents for these automotive gems!
I want to close this Car Guy Chronicles West Coast report with a little challenge. Now I’m sure many of our readers will get the answer right away – but I’m willing to bet some of us will have to take a minute or two to decode our memorization process and retrieve our stored enthusiast minutiae from behind those massive memory banks of passwords, cousin’s names and mixology formulas. OK, so the question is, “What car’s interior is this a photo of?” Bonus brainiac points if you get the year, make and model correct!
Words & Photos © Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/
For more information on the RODS & ROSES BLOOMS AGAIN IN CARPINTERIA, CA! show, please visit https://www.rodsnroses.com/
This milestone represents Singer’s careful but steady growth since its founding in 2009. Singer now employs over 600 people across world-class teams in California and the UK. On behalf of its global clientele, Singer brings together beauty, craftsmanship and innovation.
Founded in California in 2009, Singer has become famous for its celebration of the Porsche 911. The company undertakes bespoke restorations for owners of the air-cooled cars.
