Antique & Classic Cars Blog

One of the first things a box store or a stadium asserts for some financial assistance to come to your neighborhood is all the money it’s going to bring in.

Most of the time walking the fairgrounds I was thinking about horsepower and the sweet sound of 8 cylinders arrayed in a V, but it’s hard not to think of gasoline too as what brought every car to this place, as well as into the world. What would it cost to give each car a full tank of gas?

If for ease of calculation we assume roughly 10,000 cars on the grounds (there are more), that each one or its tow vehicle bought at least a tank of gas averaging 15 gallons, and that the price per gallon was $4 (might have been a little less), these drivers from many states paid $600,000 at Minnesota’s pumps.

The first gathering that became Back to the ’50s, says the MSRA website, involved about 200 friends and their cars getting together in St. Paul when American Graffiti was in the theaters. If that meant 200 cars in 1973, putting 15 gallons in each one would have cost about 15 (gal.) x .40 ($ per gal.) x 200 cars = $1200.

Let’s flip the prices. Putting 15 gallons in 10,000 cars at 1973 prices would cost $60,000 instead of $600,000 (40 cents versus $4 per gallon). If 200 cars had to buy 15 gallons at $4/gallon in 1973, it would have cost $12,000.

Maybe in 50 years, there’ll be a big gathering at the fairgrounds called Back to ‘08–ten thousand bicycles lining the streets. Many of these are pedaled there. Others come on trailers towed by other bicycles. I’d go to that too.

Most of the people cruising the state fairgrounds today had beautiful cars to do so. I went over with my buddy Angelo from the paper in his convertible RX7, and while we did not awe any fuelie Vette drivers with its rotary power, we did have the top down.

There are more than 10,000 cars there, so glimpses is what we have room for here. (Ten thousand photo uploads would not endear me to the tech folks behind this website, nor could I finish the job before next year’s Back to the ’50sl.)

It’s nice to look for something different and continental kits are a little off the beaten path. This Catalina reminds us that in 1959 a trunk the size of New Jersey was not enough; the kit frees up the space of the spare tire.

This T-Bird will fit in the Catalina’s trunk without its own continental kit, which is why many owners fitted them. Gas was cheap enough then that getting thrown in someone else’s trunk wasn’t as good a deal.

This Ford likewise goes continental. Between having the spare in the way of opening the trunk and dealing with one of those tiny spares modern cars use that do not fully stand in for the flattened tire but do allow others to laugh at your misfortune, I’d go with the kit.

Rat rods, or art cars as some people call them because of the creativity, are a fun new addition to shows of old iron. This is mostly a 1930 Model A Ford built from two such cars once partly submerged in a North Dakota Lake–one upside down, one right-side up.

Josh Schock eyed ‘em for years until the ground dried up enough that it would be reasonable to recover them. He tracked down the land’s owners and, not being hot rod fans, they were happy to have them gone.

Schock built it up with a 2×4 steel frame, 1940 front end (with 1930 front wheels), 1969 Mustang rearend with (1956 Merc wheels), 1939 Ford sedan 3-speed ‘box, and a flathead motor from an old grain truck. The manifold and carbs were pieces he’d collected over the years.

Back tires came off eBay and are original late ’50s bias plies. The seats he built, styling them after WWII surplus bomber jump seats.

Some builders drive comparatively primitive vehicles like this all the way from other states, but Schock trailered this one. He’s had it to places up to 75 miles away, but for the longer hauls, he notes “it’s not too comfortable.” It’s in interim condition right now and he’s looking to better work the body and roof.

When it comes to fearsome iron from the ’50s, Rambler leaps to mind. Possibly. Not to most minds, but someone’s. Or maybe no one’s. This car just looks cool and is unlike most on the grounds. Different can be cool.

This Rambler wagon, like most things in life, goes better with a chocolate malt.

Angelo homed in on this early Continental, which as a proud Italian himself, reminded him of Sinatra’s car. Unfortunately I did nobody much of a favor with the quality of this photograph. The sun was pretty much exactly in the wrong place–but it’s a cool car.

Working on a book on unrestored cars has made me think more about adverts like this: the early Ford depot hack attached to this sign has been reconstructed, retitled, and totally restored…yet it’s advertised as an “original truck.” It may have many of its original parts, but I think of something like this as more “correct” than “original.”

BelAirs virtually define the 1950s–so much so that even though I love them, I didn’t photograph many today. Yet this one with matching-color boat seemed like a neat pair of classic toys.

One of the biggest car shows on the continent kicks off today at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. My sources say drivers were lined up by 4 a.m. to get in and get a good spot to park and party.

Anybody on Twin Cities area freeways last night surely saw some collector iron rolling into town. People come from around the country and from other countries to take part in this massive car show and celebration.

I’ll be there in a black Star Tribune T-shirt and my now somewhat grungy red cap. If you see me (Photo linked off my name to the right of the main page on this blog), please say hello, tell me what cars you own and like and any other comments about the show, the blog or the local car scene…. Thanks and thanks for stopping by here.

This blog kicked off with last year’s Back to the ’50s, one of the largest car gatherings in North America, hosted by the Minnesota Street Rod Association.

If you like classic cars, this is a must-see event covering virtually all of the vast Minnesota State Fairgrounds. If you love hot rods and customs then it’s a double must-see event.

This event is so big that several years ago a friend came to visit us from England just to get a taste of this event. He was blown away.

To see every car, you’d probably have to come all three days, though some people–those with long drives especially–start to clear out early on Sunday. If you see no other classic car gathering this summer, this is the one to hit. It is one of the great celebrations of the American car.

Fun, fun, fun.

It’s over. The coolers are empty, the chairs are packed, the rods are back in their respective states, driveways, garages and carports. It’s the Ones again—or whatever you call the first decade of a century. The Fifties are gone for another year.

The Star Tribune hasn’t had a presence at the event before and it went pretty well. Thousands of car fans thought a classic-Buick bedecked calendar-poster would make a nice bedroom, shop or garage wall addition. A few folks stopped by to say a kind word about my car writing for the paper, and some left with my book, Dream Garages. Thanks to all of you–and to Paul Brand**(see below) and WCCO for having me on air for a bit of car gab.

Those who know this show know it’s one amazing experience, filling the venerable Minnesota State Fairgrounds completely with nearly 12,000 cars. Loosely (under)valuing these cars at an average worth of $10,000 means event-goers got to feast their eyes on over $100,000,000 in vehicles, all in one place.

You can’t see them all, you can’t talk to everyone, you can’t get all the good stories and photos and tips. No chance. But too much of a good thing is better than too little. At least here.

Paul Brand asked me if it was legit to just buy a car and come here knowing nothing about how to work on them. He was goading me, of course, having fun. There are always plenty of wrench turners to trade stories with, but if you just love the ’50s– had your first drive or date or kiss or, uh, other fun stuff, during that era, it’s a dear one and you don’t have to be a shade-tree mechanic to love its cars and music.

It’s not at all uncommon to have two or three generations on hand sitting, talking, reminiscing about the days when cars boasted style and craftsmanship and artistry from every piece of steel and brightwork.

Another remarkable thing about this gathering is the goodwill and mutual respect. Over three full days, tens of thousands of people baking in the sun, contained by the crowds, immersed in burbling engines sniffing exhaust fumes, I heard not one harsh word. Saw no fist fly, no shoving, no shouting, no strutting. No clash of egos.

The people at the show ranged in age from infants to elders in their 80s or beyond and in income by many zeroes. No one cares. That’s the beauty of the car hobby. It isn’t about class, it isn’t about “success,” it isn’t about schooling or background or age or income or business or looks or where you live or where you came from or where you’re going. It’s about machines. Beautiful machines that moved our parents and their parents and their parents. Machines that shrunk the nation and pulled the mountains and the seas and the winding coastal highways within reach of most any family with a desire to see this vast country.

It was a great collection this June. Amazing. A truly fine gathering of cars and car enthusiasts. Thanks to everyone who brought a car or just laced up a pair of shoes to come and take part in this event.

Back to the ’50s is one heckuva show.

**My friend Paul Brand, host of AutoTalk, was giving away signed copies of his book, How to Repair Your Car, to attendees who donated to the Scott Townsend fund. Scott has helped Paul at remote broadcasts for many years. This past winter, Scott was struck down by ‘Guillain-Barre Syndrome,’ which left him completely paralyzed and on a ventilator. He is now able to breath on his own and is making slow progress towards recovery, but faces at least a year of hospitalization and therapy. If anyone left the show a double sawbuck ahead and would like to contribute to this fine gentleman’s medical expenses, please send to:

“SCOTT TOWNSEND/AUTOTALK FUND”
c/o WELLS FARGO BANK
7000 BASS LAKE ROAD
CRYSTAL, MINN. 55428

The Fifties had some great cars and great music. But let’s face it, a lot of people buying, driving, wrenching and dreaming on the car scene weren’t around in the 1950s. If fond memories of drives and dates and races fuel the hobby, how do you keep it going year after year?

Ya get younger people involved, of course. The Rochester Student Street Rod Association is one connection between today’s youth and yesterdays rods. President, Ilya Leontovich, says the kids got involved indirectly. The school had a program where area residents could donate a car, which the school would then sell to raise money for things like shop equipment.

One of the vehicles that came in was this ’64 Ford truck. Rather than spiff it up and sell it, someone (like maybe Gary K., a former mechanic who now teaches) got the idea of rodding it as a project for the kids. The idea took off.

Today about four Rochester area schools are involved. Students (and recent graduates) participate and work on the truck. They’re forming a limited liability partnership to own it collectively, with some strict rules about driving records and obeying the law. Sponsors dig on the idea too, and have donated lots of parts and expertise to help the young motorheads turn out a mighty fine truck. Beats video games.

For younger drivers, this big-scale slot-racer-style track provides a little high speed fun and wheel time. If you can’t drink beer, you don’t have your own rod project to talk about and source parts for, a little track time is a pretty nice diversion.

We’ve all seen the amazing concept cars crafted for the dazzling Motorama shows in the 1950s. Manufacturers teased us with these cars and solicited public feedback, but seldom did they build the vehicle in display form. A lot of these magical cars went back to a Detroit special vehicles department and disappeared—crushed at top brass instruction, or maybe scuttled out a back door to become a subject of myth and lore.

Such was the case with the original Nomad show car, crafted from the first generation Corvette. Evidence suggests the original is gone forever. But this one is very, very, very close. Zane Zander has gathered every detail and photograph he could gumshoe on this car. This is his loving recreation.

With a few minor compromises—air conditioning, shift knob (the original had no evident shifter–and no engine), steering wheel center—this car is as identical from every angle, including the ribbed top, chrome-stripped tailgate, and unequal-split seat, as Zander could make it.

A few people ask whether it’s a Blue Flame six, the original Corvette engine, under the hood. Nope. It’s a small-block Chevy V8. The show car had no engine at all though, so call no foul. This is one stunning tribute to the true predecessor of all those fine Bel Air-style Nomads oozin’ cool at the fairgrounds.

Creativity is busting the fences outta the fairgrounds, yet a few things manage to stand out. How about these rat rods that sit on the ground. Not sit on the ground like ‘how do they clear speed bumps?’ No. Sit on the ground like… Sit. On the ground.

This Farmall-fronted rod sits pretty low. Does it drop till it stops, pavement level? Dunno. Owner wasn’t around. Way sweet though. Whatever fields he crossed, ticks he braved, barns he peaked in and parts, dollars, dogs or tools he traded for the pieces was worth it.

Chad Kolman was relaxing in a folding chair behind his Unlucky Speed Shop rod. And it was on the ground. Sitting. Couple secrets for doing that. Air lift is one. Gets this eye-grabber up to a couple inches clear for lapping the fairgrounds. She’ll go 7 up, plenty for any sane driving. Not that all of it’s that. I asked if it did highway speeds–dumb question given the Kansas plate. He’s had it up to 130, so the answer’s yeah.

The other secret is a frame rail dropped 16 inches behind the motor and channeled into the body. That’s what allows it to sit on the ground.

This rod started with a body he bought here last year. Hauled it back to Kansas City behind his ’55 Olds. Built this prize in 5 months, with help from ace-welder friend, John Vestel. Apart from the welding—some of which Kolman did after some lessons from Vestel—this one’s all Chad.

Lotsa people tried to give him ideas on what to do and he told ’em all no. He had in his mind exactly what he wanted. Pretty good mental sketchpad, Chad. He’s buildin’ two more. If we’re lucky (or Unlucky), they’ll make the fairgrounds.

Go ten steps at this show without seeing something interesting and you’re probably on the phone or trying to keep ketchup from dripping on your Back to the ‘50s shirt.

Here’s a couple more interesting rides–some stock and some what stock would have looked like if the car weren’t an owner creation instead of a manufactured model.

Ah yes… Remember the ’55 Chevy El Camino? Neither do I. Chevy didn’t get around to building that model until 1959. But the raw materials were there earlier. This Pre-Camino uses a station wagon rear end, flawlessly blended to a Bel Air by Bob Peterson from New Brighton in 1966. Currently enjoyed by owner Steve Kovacovich.

Check this ’39 Buick. Switches on the stalks are nothing new today—here’s a very early implementation of that idea: a toggle switch on the column shifter with a single red-lensed bulb. Flip the toggle up for a left turn, down for a right. The little red light flashes so you don’t go 100 miles with your blinker on.

There’s lots of beauty on the outsides of these cars–curves and chrome and fins and vents. But carefully peak in when you can because classic dashes can serve up as much art and innovation as any panel or bumper. Check the conical main gauge on this ’61 Chrysler 300 C. The rest of the gauges and switches, including the clear steering wheel, are just as alluring. Mmm hmm. This is why classics live on…

The fins on the 300 deserve a second look too. Think George Barris had one of these around the shop when he designed the Batmobile?

The car is your canvas. That’s the beauty of rods and customs. What the manufacturer did can stay. Or go. Or a bit of both. You can find another like it, or sorta like it, or totally different. Take your plasma cutter, your welder, your filler, your english wheel, and bend and shape and weld and don’t stop until it looks like what you had in mind… or drew on a cocktail napkin… or saw in a comic book in the 1960s.

Steve & Melissa Gerhardt’s ’51 Ford is a nice showpiece of the customizer’s art. Fifty-one blue oval it mainly is, but not those fins. They came off a ’56 DeSoto. Steve bought the car with much of the metal work done but it wasn’t finished. He did up the interior. Check those door pulls and the gauges across the dash.

Flames are commonplace ’round the fairgrounds late June, but metal flames cut out of the hood? That’s customizing with a little help from air resistance. Huh? Well, the hood blew open and bent it. Gerhardt coulda sourced another one. What fun is that? Instead, he had a friend work it a different direction–into cut-out flames. Removing some metal created a bitta space for a high-rise intake and dual quads. And a coupla gauges–more gauges–too.

The Gerhardts run with the Old Flames Car Club, which has about 30 members. They’re based in the Prior Lake/Savage area. Another OFCC member is Jesse Novak, who likewise had some fun with his ’30 Model A sedan. Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle in Addison, Illinois, did his chassis but Novak’s poured some time and love into this one too. That’s a ’53 Mercury cop car flathead under the hood, sourced for $100–though not in that shape!