New Rod & Custom!

Sometimes you get wayyy more than you planned. Started off today while I was getting lunch and inside they had a news stand. Grabbed the new Rebel Rods and you can imagine how that went. Also picked up the latest Rodder's Journal later today, and it looks to be the usual high quality.
But the most unexpected surprise of the day came late at the local liquor store where they had the latest R&C on the shelf. This is the one I have been waiting for with my good friend Lynn Bird's car on the cover. I told my good friend Kevin Lee about it almost a year ago, but with Lynn just recently finishing it, all the pieces came together for the final photo shoot. I wasn't even supposed to write the story, but fate stepped in and let me pen this one about my friend's car. The sad part of the story none of knew a few weeks ago was that the magazine company would let Kevin go unexpectedly before the magazine hit the stands. So ends an era with Kevin and myself both contributing to Rod & Custom- a magazine that has been a big part of both our lives since we were kids. I'm both excited and sad as I look at this new cover- now we both move on to the next hand life deals us. Thanks Jim

Edsel was a Hot Rodder!

It's such a shame that one of the greatest minds and visionaries in the automotive world will forever be synonymous with an automotive failure. Edsel Ford was so much more than the namesake of the 1958-1960 FoMoCo fiasco. His personal projects were always exciting and used great design flair. His personal speedsters were just one of many great styling studies.

Tom McMullen: Hot Rod & Street Rod Hero

Tom McMullen must always be remembered for his immense contributions to hot rodding and automotive publishing that still resonate just as LOUDLY today as ever! Tom put together one of the most recognizable hot rods with his flamed black '32 Roadster and birthed the whole Street Rod phenomenon in 1972 when he published the first issue of Street Rodder Magazine. Tom stayed deeply involved until his untimely death in a private plane crash. A hero of mine for the last 35 years, and will continue to by for the rest of my life! Thanks Tom!

A Hot Rod Volkswagen?

We have been seriously considering the possibilities of building a SO-CAL Speed Shop Bug, and from the response on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/socalspeedshopla and "The Garage" message board http://traditionalspeedandkustom.com/thegarage/index.php?topic=1011.0 we think we better do it soon!!!

Supporting the Troops

Got a note today from a deployed soldier that said they were having trouble getting items shipped to them. Just wanted to put the word out that SO-CAL L.A. will do whatever possible to help get our soldiers in foreign lands whatever they would like to order while they are out defending our country. Thanks go out to them! Jim

FREE SO-CAL Speed Shop Gear!!!

Giving away FREE stuff on Facebook with SO-CAL L.A., next one tonight at 9PM (Pacific). Stay Tuned for more FREEBIES! Thanks Jim

Congrats to tonight's DUAL WINNERS- Troy Garner and Jim Rivers. Thanks guys!

NEW Steel '32 Coupe Bodies at SO-CAL L.A.!!!

Yes, that long awaited moment is FINALLY here! The first batch of new Steel 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe bodies are almost ready to go home to their lucky new owners! Just kidding, photos are of a pair of ORIGINAL chopped 5-windows currently getting massaged at Jeb's Metal & Speed located in the same building as the SO-CAL Speed Shop Los Angeles in Long Beach, CA. Jeb has a very cool group of hot rods going together that also include a really nice '39 Ford Convertible that will be an early style custom.