Automotive

In Pictures: The Capitola Rod and Car Show

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At the corner of Lawn Way and Esplande, you'll find the very heart of the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show.  There were over 250 cars on display for everyone to admire
This 1953 Chevy Bel Air makes it's entry into the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show
1953 Chevy Bel Air
1969 Chevy Camaro 350 – the first generation of the Camaro
1967 Chevy Chevelle Convertible touted by Chevy as "the driving man's car" in it's day
The interior of this 1963 Chevy Nova has some modern upgrades
The streets are lined with classic and custom cars. There were over 250 cars on display throughout the small town of Capitola
This 1932 Ford Roadster trimmed in copper was a real hit amongst passersby
A lot of time, effort, and money went into this 1932 Ford Roadster with copper trim and highlights
1957 was the first year of its production for the Ford Ranchero. Ford produced over half a million of them, but seeing them on the road these days is a real treat
In the tiny town of Capitola, Ca, the population nearly doubles on the weekend of the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show
In 1964, Ford built the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe for a single purpose: to beat Ferarri in the European Championship. Only six of them were built from 1964 through 1965
Pontiac's Grand Prix line of cars spanned over four decades. This is the cleanest first-generation Grand Prix I've ever seen from 1965
The 1969 Chevy Camaro RS had one major distinguishing feature – the hideaway headlights
This 1941  Ford Pickup is a perfect example of the work and detail that goes into all the cars at the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show
The bed of the 1941 Ford Pickup
The interior of the 1941 Ford Pickup meticulously restored
Capitola, Ca is the home of the Capitola Custom Rod and Car Show
This 1969 Chevy C10 "Action Line" truck was the first to receive the all new 350 CID V8 motor instead of the older 327 CID present in the same second generation of truck
The 1970 Buick Gran Sport was one of the most well equipped cars of its time. Only Cadillac was known for "more comfort" in that era
Richard Petty's (#43) 1984 NASCAR made an appearance at the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show
The 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyline is a mouthful – most people just called it the Skyline
The interior of the 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyline is something to be admired
This is a custom built 1965 Shelby "Backdraft" Cobra
The interior of a 1965 Shelby Cobra
1948 Chevy 2100 Fleetmaster Station Wagon made into what's known as a Woodie with its inlaid wood panels along the sides and rear
A 1948 Chevy 2100 Fleetmaster Station Wagon Woodie ready for a picnic at the drop of a hat
This Chevy Fleetline looks almost nothing like when it was originally produced in 1951. It's been "dumped" nearly to the ground with lowered suspension and wider fender flares
There is no shortage of purple candy flake inside and out of this 1951 Chevy Fleetline
1967 Ford GT500E "Fastback" was the first of Caroll Shelby's GT500 series Mustangs. Nicholas Cage drove a similar car in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds
This 1967 GT500E has a 427 ci stroker V8. That's seven liters for those who speak metric
In 1934, Ford trucks didn't have flashy names like "Raptor" or anything. Instead, this is simple a Model B. Prohibition had just ended the year before, but this ratrod looks to have been built in homage to the days of bootleggers running their contraband as fast as humanly possible
1934 Ford Pickup. No fancy name. No fancy paint. Just a keg in the back as an homage to the days of prohibition when horsepower decided if you escaped the law or not
This 1934 Ford Pickup ratrod was the coolest car I saw at the show. Simple, gritty, and just plain cool. It was restored as an homage to the days of prohibition
This 1934 Ford Pickup isn't much older than the Sailor Jerry spiced rum bottle used as an overflow catch bottle
This 1940 Ford Sedan is one of the most popular vehicles for making custom Hot Rods, as is evident by the massive V8 with a blower
There was no shortage of Cobras at the Capitola Rod and Custom Show. This is a replica 1965 Cobra MKIII Roadster made by Superformance
The replica Cobra MKIII Roadster made by Superformance comes as a rolling chassis. It's up to the new owner to decide what powerplant gets tossed in
At the corner of Lawn Way and Esplande, you'll find the very heart of the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show.  There were over 250 cars on display for everyone to admire
1968 GMC C20.  In orange. With a stick holding the hood open. It doesn't get a lot cooler than that
When your 1931 Chevy 5 Window Coupe isn't enough you make a kid's stroller to match
A 1968 Chevy Camaro completely murdered out. Very slick, very cool
This 1957 Cadillac Deville was so meticulously restored, even the curb feelers are original
The 1957 Pontiac Safari. They also made a four-door version for this 17-ft-long station wagon
The 1957 Ford Thunderbird is a two-seater coupe built to be a "personal car of distinction" in response to Chevy's Corvette. It was made of mostly existing parts helping it break into the mass market of luxury cars.  An option on the Thunderbird were "Dial-o-Matic" four-way adjustable seats, believe it or not
A random fact about the 1946 Ford: while it had an electric starter, Ford still continued to offer a manual starter using the tire jack through the grill to hand crank the engine in case of a dead battery
This 1964 Cadillac Coupe de Ville is just over 18.5 feet long.  Where can you even park that these days besides at the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show?
The interior of this 1964 Cadillac Coupe de Ville was one of the most impressive I saw on the weekend
This 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe sported one of my favorite paint jobs. The 1940 Ford is a popular option for hot rodders and dirt trackers
This is a first-generation 1969 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air 400. This model was the cream of the crop boasting 345 hp while the standard trim Firebird was a mere 175 hp
1939 Oldsmobile Series 60. This model came with a "safety automatic transmission." It still used a clutch to get the car going from a stop, but then would shift automatically while in motion
The Jeepster Commando. In 1968, it was still being produced by Kaiser Jeep to compete with the International Scout, Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Ford Bronco
1953 Chevy Custom, based off the Bel Air. This custom car was on full airbag suspension allowing the driver to lower the car completely onto the ground while parked or as high as 4 in (10 cm) off the ground to drive over speed bumps and such
Another 1940 Ford Deluxe, but as a convertible
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. The Mach 1 designation is the performance oriented  package.  Options for trim, drive train, transmissions, and even suspension made the Mach 1 a dream for gear-heads
The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 was only ever offered as a "fast-back" from the factory
This 1941 Chevy Flatbed Truck was the slickest custom truck I saw at the show.  All very custom
The flatbed's beatiful wood inlay on this 1941 Chevy Truck will probably never see another load again
The cab of the 1941 Chevy Flatbed Truck
You'd never know this car is over 80 years old. The sleek design, the pristine restoration and customization, this 1933 Ford Roadster is a real gem
The interior of this 86-year-old 1933 Ford Roadster speaks to the future. It could almost pass for the cockpit of a modern luxury airplane
Stock ride height was a few inches higher in this 1941 Buick Roadmaster
In 1942, there were a lot of things happening around the world. Back in Detroit, the Lincoln Continental personal luxury cars were being built. This particular one was very highly customized and modernized
The tail-end of the 1942 Lincoln Continental custom
The simple yet effective interior of the 1942 Ford Lincoln
The Corvette has been an American muscle car legend since it's inception. The 1964 Corvette Stingray certainly helped maintain the legendary status.  The interior alone looks like that of a fighter plane cockpit. It makes sense why so many NASA astronauts during the 60's drove Corvettes
This 1939 Chevy Sedan looks a clean, not-over-the-top restoration ...
... and then you look inside the 1939 Chevy Sedan, it's still clean, but boasts an LED dash!
This 1934 Ford Pickup looks pretty menacing. I didn't get to hear it, but with it's big Lincoln V8 with straight pipes, I imagine it sounded pretty menacing as well
Chevy seemed be be a major theme at the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show. This 1952 Chevy Deluxe fit right in
The 1970 Pontiac GTO.  What does GTO mean? Gran Turismo Omologato. It was John DeLorean's idea, inspired by Ferrari's 250 GTO
1970 Pontiac GTO. That front end is iconic and unmistakable
This is the business end of a beautifully restored 1966 Ford Thunderbird – 428 cubic inches (7 L) of American V8 power
This 1969 Chevy Chevelle has an interesting story. The owner's husband had it in 1983. In 1985, he sold it. In 2013 the wife found it sitting in a barn and purchased the car back before restoring it into what you see now, based off a 1969 Chevelle Hot Wheels car ... drag bars and all
This 1939 Chevy Coupe is orange. Very, very orange
View gallery - 74 images

In an area well known for having little modesty when it relates to prized car collections comes the Capitola Rod and Custom Show. Owners from all over Northern California and beyond congregate once a year to show off their wares and New Atlas paid a visit, camera in hand.

By 10 am, over 250 cars and trucks were on display. The owners all converge in the nearby city of Santa Cruz at the boardwalk and make the five-and-a-half-mile drive to the esplanade in beautiful downtown Capitola. The weather couldn't possibly have been more perfect. The setting of Capitola itself also provided a perfect throwback to the era in which most of these cars had been initially crafted.

From toddlers to the pensioned alike, all were drooling along the streets in admiration of the gems that only time, money, elbow grease, and vision could have produced.

Capitola, Ca is the home of the Capitola Custom Rod and Car Show

I've been to parking lot car shows in the past. Rows and rows of cars that all run together, muddled like sardines in a can. The Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show was very different. The entire downtown of Capitola was blocked off from traffic, leaving attendees free to walk the streets, down the blocks, see the cars, talk to the owners, stop at the local shops and eateries, and do it all at your own pace. I was able to see and do it all and not feel rushed or as if I missed that needle in the haystack, as they say.

The streets are lined with classic and custom cars. There were over 250 cars on display throughout the small town of Capitola

If you find yourself in Northern California on a fine summer's day mid June, you should find your way to the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show. Take a stroll through our gallery for a virtual taste of what's on offer.

In an area well known for having little modesty when it relates to prized car collections comes the Capitola Rod and Custom Show. Owners from all over Northern California and beyond congregate once a year to show off their wares and New Atlas paid a visit, camera in hand.

By 10 am, over 250 cars and trucks were on display. The owners all converge in the nearby city of Santa Cruz at the boardwalk and make the five-and-a-half-mile drive to the esplanade in beautiful downtown Capitola. The weather couldn't possibly have been more perfect. The setting of Capitola itself also provided a perfect throwback to the era in which most of these cars had been initially crafted.

From toddlers to the pensioned alike, all were drooling along the streets in admiration of the gems that only time, money, elbow grease, and vision could have produced.

Capitola, Ca is the home of the Capitola Custom Rod and Car Show

I've been to parking lot car shows in the past. Rows and rows of cars that all run together, muddled like sardines in a can. The Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show was very different. The entire downtown of Capitola was blocked off from traffic, leaving attendees free to walk the streets, down the blocks, see the cars, talk to the owners, stop at the local shops and eateries, and do it all at your own pace. I was able to see and do it all and not feel rushed or as if I missed that needle in the haystack, as they say.

The streets are lined with classic and custom cars. There were over 250 cars on display throughout the small town of Capitola

If you find yourself in Northern California on a fine summer's day mid June, you should find your way to the Capitola Rod and Custom Car Show. Take a stroll through our gallery for a virtual taste of what's on offer.

View gallery - 74 images
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