The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 12-29-2008, 08:28 AM

From 1950 to 1955, Robert E. Petersen (founder of Hot Rod Magazine) hosted an annual car show in Los Angeles, CA. Sharing names with a GM series of shows, the "Motorama" featured hot rods, customs, race cars, motorcycles, and other automotive wonders...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

**Beep** · 12-29-2008, 08:48 AM

Wow..........how cool is that. Thanks Ryan.

theflame · 12-29-2008, 10:17 AM

Praise the Lord, Ryan's back. And with a tonne of cool stuff to read! Thanks dude

**JeffreyJames** · 12-29-2008, 10:32 AM

Scanned in at a decent size? Fantastical!!!! Cool find Ryan.

29bowtie · 12-29-2008, 12:58 PM

Thanks Ryan. Those sure show,the amazing parallel development,of the various motorsports,since their conception.

OLLIN · 12-29-2008, 12:58 PM

Very cool artwork on the programs! Was this held at the Pan Pacific auditorium?

Dreamweaver · 12-29-2008, 01:04 PM

Interesting to see a turbocharged diesel was the 1952 Indy pole sitter...traditional

**Dean Lowe** · 12-29-2008, 01:12 PM

My uncle took me to the '53 Motorama. I had the program for years. Even as an 8 year old, the race cars made an impression on me.

NotStockPhoto · 12-29-2008, 01:21 PM

I heara rumor at the Autorama in Houston that it would be called the Motorama next year

autobilly · 12-29-2008, 03:07 PM

Well, there goes the rest of my free time today. Great!

ChevyGirlRox · 12-29-2008, 03:41 PM

Thanks for the heads up, way cool indeed!

This reminds me of the picture in the last issue of Hot Rod magazine of the Motorama/Autorama (whatever you want to call it) in '48 (the show program that spawned Hot Rod magazine). Their mention of re-enacting sounds like a fabulous idea, one I'm sure the HAMB would be behind!

The caption says to see their blog for more photos but I haven't found any yet

NotStockPhoto · 12-29-2008, 03:53 PM

Oh yea almost forgot to thank Ryan for posting really cool stuff all the time

Zeke · 12-29-2008, 04:09 PM

I see you got past your writers block. Nice read Ryan

NotStockPhoto · 12-29-2008, 04:20 PM

I just want to follow ryan around with my camera to shoot half of the stuff he gets to see lol

ehdubya · 12-29-2008, 04:33 PM

Ryan I can imagine your delight at finding that Mal Hooper pic in the 52 centre spread, it's curious the Mabee Spl with Ray's engine was quicker than the tank that year.

stude_trucks · 12-29-2008, 04:40 PM

nice stuff, very nice!

**SuperFleye** · 12-29-2008, 04:38 PM

Great find!! Allot of good reading in those programs! The artwork on the cover is also really bitching!!

safari-wagon · 12-29-2008, 04:53 PM

Quite by coincidence, I was cleaning my desk today & found the 1955 Motorama token that I got a long time ago. It was before my time, but I always thought those shows were pretty cool.

**Cyclone Kevin** · 12-29-2008, 05:17 PM

To all those who think fibreglass isn't traditional, Tell that to Bill Burke.
This is his Ardun Powered (Back Yard made in San Gabriel) Cistalia copied from Robt E. Petersens original. Story goes that Bill borrowed Bob's car for a few hours and splashed mold. Thats how good he was. This car had Ford underpinnings and could run with best of em. I'd say that it's traditional. I'm sure that Bill woud too.

**Deuce Daddy Don** · 12-29-2008, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the "motorama" post Ryan!!!----You mention Greg Sharp, I know him well, I guess he still is at NHRA Museum in Pomona. He is indeed, a walking encycopedia on hot rods, customs, & race cars.
I started attending the Petersen "Motorama" in 1953, where GM had the first Corvette displayed on a 3/4 tilted angle with the hood open so all could see the 3 pot manifold & 6 cyl. engine. The color was white, with bright red upholstery!! This annual event was held at the Pan Pacfic Auditorium across from the old Gilmore Stadium of Midget car racing fame!!-------------Don

12-29-2008, 08:28 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,623	The Motorama From 1950 to 1955, Robert E. Petersen (founder of Hot Rod Magazine) hosted an annual car show in Los Angeles, CA. Sharing names with a GM series of shows, the "Motorama" featured hot rods, customs, race cars, motorcycles, and other automotive wonders... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

12-29-2008, 08:48 AM	#2
Beep Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Highland Village, Texas (Dallas area) Posts: 2,162	Re: The Motorama Wow..........how cool is that. Thanks Ryan. __________________ Beep You haven't lived until you've almost died, for those who have fought for it, life has a meaning the protected will never know

12-29-2008, 10:17 AM	#3
theflame Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cambridge, England Posts: 169	Re: The Motorama Praise the Lord, Ryan's back. And with a tonne of cool stuff to read! Thanks dude __________________ Model Cars Forum

12-29-2008, 10:32 AM	#4
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,934	Re: The Motorama Scanned in at a decent size? Fantastical!!!! Cool find Ryan.

12-29-2008, 12:58 PM	#5
29bowtie Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maple Ridge,BC,CANADA Posts: 4,469	Re: The Motorama Thanks Ryan. Those sure show,the amazing parallel development,of the various motorsports,since their conception. __________________ "Remember Professionals built the Titanic, An Amateur built the Ark."

12-29-2008, 12:58 PM	#6
OLLIN Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,922	Re: The Motorama Very cool artwork on the programs! Was this held at the Pan Pacific auditorium?

12-29-2008, 01:04 PM	#7
Dreamweaver Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boulder City, Nevada Posts: 838	Re: The Motorama Interesting to see a turbocharged diesel was the 1952 Indy pole sitter...traditional

12-29-2008, 01:12 PM	#8
Dean Lowe Alliance Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Verne, Ca. Posts: 2,978	Re: The Motorama My uncle took me to the '53 Motorama. I had the program for years. Even as an 8 year old, the race cars made an impression on me. __________________ .....growin' up leads to gowin' old, then to dyin', and dyin', to me, don't sound like all that much fun.........John Mellencamp 1983

12-29-2008, 01:21 PM	#9
NotStockPhoto Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 2,319	Re: The Motorama I heara rumor at the Autorama in Houston that it would be called the Motorama next year __________________ WWW.NotStockPhotography.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/NotSto...y/151898738611

12-29-2008, 03:07 PM	#10
autobilly Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tweed, Australia Posts: 2,526	Re: The Motorama Well, there goes the rest of my free time today. Great! __________________ RETRO Spec. (tive) -Getting to where you're going by knowing where you've come from.

12-29-2008, 03:41 PM	#11
ChevyGirlRox Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,560	Re: The Motorama Thanks for the heads up, way cool indeed! This reminds me of the picture in the last issue of Hot Rod magazine of the Motorama/Autorama (whatever you want to call it) in '48 (the show program that spawned Hot Rod magazine). Their mention of re-enacting sounds like a fabulous idea, one I'm sure the HAMB would be behind! The caption says to see their blog for more photos but I haven't found any yet __________________ I can fly! Join the HAMB Book Club!

12-29-2008, 03:53 PM	#12
NotStockPhoto Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 2,319	Re: The Motorama Oh yea almost forgot to thank Ryan for posting really cool stuff all the time __________________ WWW.NotStockPhotography.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/NotSto...y/151898738611

12-29-2008, 04:09 PM	#13
Zeke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Clarksville,TN Posts: 1,667	Re: The Motorama I see you got past your writers block. Nice read Ryan

12-29-2008, 04:20 PM	#14
NotStockPhoto Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 2,319	Re: The Motorama I just want to follow ryan around with my camera to shoot half of the stuff he gets to see lol __________________ WWW.NotStockPhotography.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/NotSto...y/151898738611

12-29-2008, 04:33 PM	#15
ehdubya Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mainland NZ Posts: 2,287	Re: The Motorama Ryan I can imagine your delight at finding that Mal Hooper pic in the 52 centre spread, it's curious the Mabee Spl with Ray's engine was quicker than the tank that year.

12-29-2008, 04:40 PM	#16
stude_trucks Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 4,718	Re: The Motorama nice stuff, very nice! __________________ ..and yelled out your going to the wrong place he is a Chevy guy, but they went there anyway. PJ@STT

12-29-2008, 04:38 PM	#17
SuperFleye Alliance Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 1,638	Re: The Motorama Great find!! Allot of good reading in those programs! The artwork on the cover is also really bitching!! __________________ Looking for info on Tom Carroll from Culver City? Click here for more info!

12-29-2008, 04:53 PM	#18
safari-wagon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Detroit 'burbs Posts: 1,171	Re: The Motorama Quite by coincidence, I was cleaning my desk today & found the 1955 Motorama token that I got a long time ago. It was before my time, but I always thought those shows were pretty cool. __________________ www.SinglefingerSpeedShop.com Autorama quote: "Hey, it's those fckyou guys from Downstairs!"*

12-29-2008, 05:17 PM	#19
Cyclone Kevin Alliance Vendor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Temple City, CA. Posts: 2,521	Re: The Motorama To all those who think fibreglass isn't traditional, Tell that to Bill Burke. This is his Ardun Powered (Back Yard made in San Gabriel) Cistalia copied from Robt E. Petersens original. Story goes that Bill borrowed Bob's car for a few hours and splashed mold. Thats how good he was. This car had Ford underpinnings and could run with best of em. I'd say that it's traditional. I'm sure that Bill woud too. __________________ *All Roads Lead to the Broiler!*

12-29-2008, 05:35 PM	#20
Deuce Daddy Don Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bend,Oregon Posts: 2,986	Re: The Motorama Thanks for the "motorama" post Ryan!!!----You mention Greg Sharp, I know him well, I guess he still is at NHRA Museum in Pomona. He is indeed, a walking encycopedia on hot rods, customs, & race cars. I started attending the Petersen "Motorama" in 1953, where GM had the first Corvette displayed on a 3/4 tilted angle with the hood open so all could see the 3 pot manifold & 6 cyl. engine. The color was white, with bright red upholstery!! This annual event was held at the Pan Pacfic Auditorium across from the old Gilmore Stadium of Midget car racing fame!!-------------Don

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