2008 brought out a variety of unique classic cars and customs that hadn't participated before. The South Texas Car Club always puts on a good show but somehow this one just seemed a little better. All the more impressive given that the show at the Live Oak Civic Center near San Antonio always falls on the first weekend of the new year. Here are some photos of the outstanding cars at the 2008 show.
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A 1953 Chevy pickup holds a special place in my heart. It was the vehicle that brought me to Texas for the first time in 1971. Trust me, the one at this years Live Oak Car Show was much nicer. For starters, it had all four fenders attached. |
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The 1932 Buick is just one of the very special cars at the 2008 show. Just seeing a classic car like this takes you back to a time in America when owning one was a pretty big deal. The Great Depression had slowed car sales dramatically. This car has that look that really makes a statement. |
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By 1938 the economy was improving and a Chevy pickup was a reliable choice for both farming and business. The original bed certainly didn't look a good as this first class resto mod. Two tone paint really accents the body lines on this truck and is carried into the modern fuel injected engine. Inside the color contrast is continued with wood grain dash, steering wheel and door trim. |
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| The 1954 Studebaker Champion is a car that has wide appeal for guys doing restoration projects. The lower profile gives it a more sporty look than it's contemporaries and modern drive trains seem to work well. When it's done right like this one it seems almost easy. | |
| For many years the Chevy Nomad Wagon has been growing in popularity with classic car enthusiasts. This 1955 presented in an original appearance is the start of the Tri-Five Nomads boom. | |
| Back when customer service was still important to business you might have had a visit from a TV repair man in a 1958 Chevy Panel Truck like this one. Although it probably didn't have hot rod look and performance of the "Wired" truck at the show. | |
I guarantee you never got a delivery in the 1960's from a 1959 Chevy El Camino like the total custom on display at Live Oak. Everything about this car says first class, from the lowered stance to the innovative placement of the gas cap, hidden behind a electrically articulated tail light. The monocolor bright orange paint is carried throughout the engine and only the tan upholstery stands in tasteful contrast. |
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| This 1960 Corvette is another example of the top notch restorations that the South Texas Car Club signed up for 2008. Outfitted with a modern Corvette engine and detailed to the nines, any car lover would have to admire this beauty. | |
| At the beginning of the muscle car era a 1963 Ford Galaxie could be ordered from the factory with some serious performance upgrades. This one was delivered with a 406 CID engine, twin 4bbl carbs and a manual transmission. It has it all, plenty of room inside and plenty of horsepower under the hood. | |
| For 1967, Pontiac offered it's iconic GTO in a variety of configurations, from mild to wild. The classic lines were covered in a variety of colors and vinyl tops were still an option. Ronny and the Daytonas sang about the 3 Deuces and a 4 Speed. Whether it was a hardtop or convertible, automatic or stick shift, a 67 GTO turned heads where ever it went. | |
| GM was serious about muscle too. The classic 1970 Chevelle on display is proof of that. Dressed in resale red with a white vinyl top, this fine example also sported the white rally stripes that let you know it was a mover. | |
| MoPar muscle was also represented by an award winning 1974 Dodge Charger. This was a full size car with full size horsepower. Clad with black vinyl top over stunning red paint, you can tell this was a serious performance car. | |
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| Consider all the ways hot rod builders have taken this basic platform and created true works of automotive art. One example being the award winning Tall T-Bucket street rod dressed in yellow on display at the Live Oak Center in 2008. |
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| 1932 was a watershed year for automobiles. That year Ford introduced the Flathead V8 engine that would power it's cars for the next 30 years. Famous gangsters preferred the V8 for making a fast getaway and even today, there are die hard fans of the Flathead. The Deuce as it has come to be known is so popular with street rod enthusiasts that entire car shows are dedicated to it. You can see endless varieties of roadsters, high boys, coupes and convertibles in every color from unpainted rat rods and black primer to the latest high tech colors from today's paint manufacturers. |
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Between the revolutionary Model T and the muscle cars of the 60's, brands and models came and went. The stylish two tone Hudson was pure 1950's with spacious interiors complete with all the amenities. The Hudson Hornet enjoyed racing success at Daytona but like so many others it wasn't enough to allow the company to survive. Many fine examples have survived and occasionally you'll find one for sale at auction. |
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The 2008 new years show sponsored by South Texas Car Club stands out as one of the best they have done in terms of the variety and quality of cars displayed. And that is saying something considering the all the fine shows they put together every year. |
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