An estimated 12,000 people strolled Linden Avenue in Carpinteria on Saturday, July 2, to view more than 200 American classic, hot rod, and custom cars at the 19th annual Rods and Roses Car Show. Participants at this sold out event hailed from several Western states.
Especially popular were a couple of vehicles displayed by The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. There was a 1900 Overland Custom covered wagon manure spreader, built by George Barris and given as a birthday gift by Bob Hope to John Wayne. Spectators also marveled at Petersen’s 1959 Chevrolet Pickup Triton, a custom combination of a 1959 Chevrolet El Camino and a 1960 Cadillac Eldorado.
Michael Hammer brought out three custom restored cars from his collection: a 1929 Ford Custom Tudor hot rod, a 1951 Chevrolet Delux Custom “lead sled,” and a 1957 Chevrolet Gasser. He, along with his custom builder Andy Lowry, were on hand greeting the car enthusiasts. The Tudor was a five-year project, the other two each took two years.