Clean and Channeled- The DeFillipi Roadster

Before it was the Ricky Nelson Roadster, before it was even Tony La Masa’s metallic green show car, it was built by the rarely-credited Ray DeFillipi. I would argue that this clean and simple earlier version in Fire-Engine Red is the more tasteful one, and that’s because it was built so right the first time, with skillful attention to detail put ahead of flashy modifications. The early 50s Southern California period hot rods just hit that sweet spot of simplicity and restraint as evident here in DeFillipi’s ’32: No cycle fenders, no wild pinstriping or goofy nerf bars yet. Before the first Corvette motor was even built, the Flathead V-8 was still the most noble choice of power plant, dressed with finned heads and twin carbs, of course. Ray channeled her just enough to look purposeful, but not have the seat and steering wheel sitting too far above the beltline. The ’40 Ford dash and steering wheel completed the perfect package, and survive on the car to this day, still clean and channeled.

Check out the Hop Up article from April of 1952 that I’ve scanned below for more details on Ray’s Roadster:
(The last picture is the La Masa version from 1960, just so you can compare the changes.)