Seeing the streets of downtown Reno packed with street rods, muscle cars, classic trucks, and other assorted varieties of specialty vehicles is a sight that brings enthusiasts from all over the country.
Hot August Nights is a weeklong celebration of America’s best hot rods. The first Hot August Nights was held in Reno in 1986. This year’s event, the 31st annual Hot August Nights, attracted approximately 6,000 vehicles to Reno and the adjacent city of Sparks. Downtown Reno is the hub of the event, but it’s only one of numerous locations where the action is. The fun continues at many of the area resorts, as well as smaller hotels, drive-in restaurants, shopping centers—virtually any spot with a parking lot. Many of the Hot August Night participants make the rounds, and spectators might see their favorite vehicles at different locations throughout the week. Many of the local resorts sponsor their own judging and give out their own awards, typically in cash. An ambitious car owner with a worthy car can end up winning at several places. In addition to the show ’n’ shines, each location features vendor displays, live music, and driving activities.
Hot August Nights is one of the events where STREET RODDER awards winners in the Painless Performance Products Top 100 program and Ford Performance Best Ford In A Ford program.
Reno in August is the place to be. There is no other car show like Hot August Nights.
The Hot August Nights Cup
The most coveted prize at this event is the Hot August Nights Cup presented by Downtown Reno. The vehicles that compete for the Cup represent the top tier of street rodding—Ridler and AMBR contenders and other superheroes of the specialty car universe. Fifty vehicles are pre-selected to compete and are displayed in downtown Reno. Judges then choose the 10 finalists, each of which receives awards. Only one wins the big prize. In 2017, builder Steve Mank, builder Eddie Potestio, and show promoter Reggie Tibbets served as judges. They chose the 10 vehicles shown here and picked Bruce and Peggy Wanta’s 1936 Packard, built by Troy Ladd from Hollywood Hot Rods, as the Hot August Nights Cup Best of Show. See detailed coverage of these 10 finalists at hotrod.com/articles/the-top-winners-in-the-2017-hot-august-nights-cup-contest.
The “Mulholland Speedster” rides on a figure eight shaped frame and features unique independent suspension components. The Lincoln V-12 runs Hogan heads and is topped with a Latham-Hogan supercharger. The top flips 180 degrees into the deck.
This wild Shoebox combines race car, early sports car, and custom car elements. The Novi Indycar-style wheels were built from original Halibrand castings. The Shaver Racing Engines Lincoln 368 is topped with rare Hilborn injectors converted to EFI.
Every modification made to the classic 1957 Nomad body enhances the car. The “Shomad” got an Art Morrison chassis, LS7 Corvette engine, and a long list of body and interior modifications, including a 2-inch chop and leather-covered front and rear bucket seats.
The “Berlin Buick,” is based on Rob’s concept and design. The oval window Beetle’s back seat was eliminated to make room for the electronic Hilborn-injected 1961 Buick 215 small-block V-8 engine. The tube chassis features independent suspension.
The Nomad sits on an Art Morrison chassis and is powered by a Jack Gibbs 409 engine with Inglese injection, backed up with a Gearstar 4L80E transmission. The grille opening was customized with mesh. The custom interior is covered in red leather.
This factory steel Model A, built by Andy Leach, wears a 6-inch chop and Paleozoic Blue paint, with a distressed leather interior. The ARDUN OHV aluminum Flathead is fed via a classic S.Co.T. blower with a Winters quick-change rearend in back.
The Camaro is modified with widened doors and fenders, and a bunch of scratchbuilt parts, such as the hood, grille, front bumper, and functional air ducts. A 441ci Magnuson-blown LS7 engine makes 1,000 hp, backed by a TREMEC six-speed transmission.
The two-tone Chevy, built by Steve Chapman, features a small-block Chevy crowned with a trio of two-barrel carbs. The two-tone paint is beautiful, but peek underneath to see an incredible polished and plated chassis and suspension.
The truck’s exterior mods include frenched headlights, shaved panels, and a remote-controlled bed floor. The engine compartment holds an injected Chevy 502 big-block. The chassis includes a Mustang II–style frontend and four-bar rear. Plush leather fills the cab.
The “Copper Cadillac” is well known from TV’s Bitchin’ Rides. The chopped, slammed, and lowered body features candy Brandywine paint, copper trim, and bullets everywhere. An Art Morrison chassis was specially built for the 454 Ram Jet–powered car.
Painless Performance Products/STREET RODDER Top 100
’60s GM Truck Front Crossmember
Tired of those squeaky steel-on-steel “A” frame bushings in your 1960-1966 GM truck? The crossmember from a 1974-1986 truck will bolt right in with only a couple of holes that need to be drilled. Are rubber A-arm bushings now in your future?
There is no shortage of awards at Hot August Nights. The Top 100 prize package (a cool jacket, plus magazine and web coverage) isn’t as lucrative as the big money prizes given out by the Hot August Nights Cup or by some of the casino resorts around town, but the glory that accompanies a Top 100 win is unequalled. We hope these 10 winners agree. For more photos and videos of STREET RODDER’s picks, go online to http://bit.ly/2htzrCc.
1937 Chevy Pickup | Dale & Rozanne Buck | Mesa, AZ
When Dale bought the truck from his father 49 years ago it was a workhorse, used it to haul stuff, for transportations, dates, errands, and family trips. Now it’s packed with a supercharged 383 stroker engine with dual carbs, riding on a modified MII front suspension and Chassisworks rear, and Mickey Thompson wheels and tires. The body and bed feature more than 25 modifications, including a one-piece hood and shaved sheetmetal, finished in tangerine and cinnamon paint. The cab is updated with bucket seats, Mooneyes gauges, modern audio, A/C, and yards of brown leather.
1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille | Larry Hanson | Gig Harbor, WA
Larry bought his mile-long 1959 Cadillac 17 years ago, from the son of the first owner, who died. The 63 Series Coupe De Ville had been parked for 28 years under a carport. The rusted Caddy was torn down for a frameoff rebuild and most of the sheetmetal was replaced. Bob Salstrom helped with much of the heavy lifting. Now the candy purple Cadillac looks and rides better, powered by a dressed-up 454 with a 4L60 transmission. The interior combines modern elements, like digital gauges and a contemporary steering wheel, with classic two-tone tuck ’n’ roll Naugahyde.
1936 Ford Club Cabriolet | Michael Mongiello | Eagle, ID
We don’t see many 1936 Club Cabrios, especially one as nice as this one. Only 4,616 were produced, and Michael believes there are only around 200 in existence today. This one was purchased from the original owners in Minnesota, and was street rodded with help from Griffin Rod & Customs, Danny Ingram, and others. The custom Dayton wheels were painted Tacoma Cream to contrast the Cloud Mist Gray (a 1940 Ford color). The lighter color is also used for pinstriping and on the valve covers and air cleaner cover on the Chevy 383 stroker engine. A Glide bench is covered in deep brown leather.
1940 Ford Coupe | Ken Machado | Reno, NV
The reddest street rod at the Atlantis Resort was this homebuilt 1940 DeLuxe coupe, driven from Ken’s house, 2 miles away. The car was inspired by the Flathead 1940 Ford coupe Ken drove in high school (and drag raced in B/Gas). This time, Ken built his car strictly for the street (and shows), and with features not available in his teenage years, including a 480hp LS3 engine backed by a 4L65E trans, and a TCI suspension. Sheetmetal changes include the big-block firewall and low-key rear wheeltubs. Ken’s coupe won the Best Street Rod prize at the Atlantis in addition to STREET RODDER’s pick for Top 100.
1952 Ford Victoria convertible | Jay & Dianne Skow | Quincy, CA
Jay and Dianne’s Vicky is a true custom survivor. Jay used his lawn-mowing and newspaper route money to buy it when he was 15. He cut off the top when he was 16. After Jay’s 45th high school reunion, Dianne encouraged him to redo the car, which had been ignored for 42 years. The body-off rebuild was done with old-school components, such as the 1957 Thunderbird 312 Y-block with triple 94s. Fatman and RideTech components are out-of-sight suspension upgrades. The shaved, nosed, and decked body has 1958 Lincoln headlights, a 1958 Buick grille, and inverted 1956 Packard taillights.
1965 Chevy Impala Two-Door Wagon | Richie Valles | Agua Dulce, CA
The idea behind the wagon was to combine the looks of a GM concept car and the style of a ’60s custom, with some lowrider flavor. It had belonged to an old woman in Hollywood who used to drive it to Vegas to see Elvis perform back in the day. Richie redid the car at his shop, Unique Twist Auto Body in Burbank, converting the body to two doors, chopping the top, modifying the front and rear, and adding Buick Skylark wheels. Suede covers the 1966 Impala seats. The 327 engine, in old-time custom tradition, was left simple. Richie took a chance with candy magenta paint, and people love it.
1933 Willys roadster | Vaughn Veit | Buffalo, MN
Vaughn’s car collection includes every body style of 1933 Ford. This rare Willys is one of his non-Fords and probably the rarest; only 71 Willys roadsters were built that year, and very few remain in the United States. The car turned up in California and was built from rusted parts at Roy Brizio Street Rods. The Flathead runs Navarro heads and intake, and a pair of Stromberg 97s. Underneath, an Art Morrison chassis modernizes the ride. Sid Chavers finished the interior. The painted wheels are one-offs built by Curtis Speed. Vaughn recently had the Willys in our photo studio. Look for a full feature soon.
1956 Chevy Nomad | John & Sheila Emacio | Chattaroy, WA
Three days after winning its Top 100 award, this 1956 Nomad took Fifth Place in the Hot August Night Cup contest. In 2011, John and Sheila won Top 100 with a different 1956 Nomad. That one was silver and black with an LS6. This one runs a Jack Gibbs 409 with Inglese sidedraft injection and a Gearstar 4L80E. The car was built at G3 Rods and sits on an Art Morrison chassis. The wheels are from Billet Specialties. Billet aluminum side trim is from Atomic Machine. Dark red leather was used throughout the interior. John calls it a “finessed hot rod,” and says the white paint highlights the car’s build quality.
1954 Hudson Metropolitan Convertible | Ted Whipple | Reno, NV
Yes, there are Hudson Metropolitans. Built by Austin, Metros were badged as Hudsons in 1954 when Hudson merged with Nash. Ted bought his from the original owner’s widow, and builders Ken Carford and Ricky Ruiz helped him resurrect the rusting car. MG Midget suspension parts support the stock frame. The 2.3L Ford engine was donated by a 1985 Mustang II with a C4 trans behind it. JBM wheels measure 14 inches. Interior touches include the vinyl and tweed covered bench, Stewart Warner gauges, and a Moto-Lita steering wheel. Ted drives it a lot, shows it a lot, and answers questions a lot.
1950 Chevy Fleetline | Mitch & Pam McDonald | Foresthill, CA
In addition to pro-built rods, we like to recognize “real world” owner-built street rods, such as this 1950 Fleetline. This was a two-owner car when Mitch bought it from a friend five years ago, and began modifying it to his taste. Now it features a one-piece windshield, a filled hood, and a mild rake—with a dual-carbed 427 Chevy big-block engine for plenty of power, a Heidts IFS frontend, and four-bar rear. The beautiful interior includes SRT Challenger seats upholstered in black and tan leather. Five-spoke Americans measure 17 and 20 inches and roll on a set of Pirelli tires.
STREET RODDER Magazine’s Best Ford In A Ford
A 1929 Model ATudor With Factory Steel and Homebuilt Style
YEAR: 1929
MAKE: Ford
MODEL: Model A Tudor Sedan
OWNER: Blayne & Karen Brokens
STATE: Idaho
We were at the Peppermill resort when we spotted Blayne and Karen Brokens’ homebuilt 1929 Ford Tudor sedan, black and shiny as a pair of wedding shoes, but with genuine hot rod attitude—a nice rake, just-right chop, and Ford power.
The full-fendered Model A had been street rodded by its previous owner when Blayne and Karen bought it and brought it from Minnesota to Idaho. That was 20 years ago. By then the sedan was ready for some updates and upgrades. The interior was redone with two-tone gray leather upholstery, a Lecarra steering wheel, VDO gauges in the 1932-style dash, and a JVC audio system in the overhead console.
The factory steel has a 4-1/2-inch chop, a filled grille shell, and lots of louvers in the hood top and sides. A 4-inch dropped I-beam axle with Posies springs enhances the stance. Aldan coilovers suspend the Ford 8-inch rearend. The BFGoodrich tires are mounted on Weld Pro Comp five-spoke wheels.
To keep Ford power flowing through the Model A, Blayne kept the 351 Windsor that came with the car, rebuilding it with Edelbrock heads under Ford Motorsport valve covers, and an Edelbrock intake under a Holley carb. Ford introduced the 351W almost 50 years ago, and Ford Performance still offers Boss 351 crate engines based on this time-honored engine.
Blayne and Karen drive their Model A at local cruises around Pocatello and to farther-away shows such as Hot August Nights, where they won the STREET RODDER Best Ford In A Ford award presented by Ford Performance.
Read more about Blayne and Karen Brokens’ 1929 Ford at hotrod.com/articles/hot-august-nights-2017-homebuilt-1929-tudor-wins-best-ford-ford.
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