Event Coverage Found a link to old show in 1983, were you there?

Before everyone gets all bent about NSRA, I perused these photos and there are quite a few traditional hot rods in them. This was 1983 in OKC at the fairgrounds. I was there. I was a Sophomore in high school. I couldn't afford the entry fee, so I had to park outside.

There were probably 5,000 cars in attendance. Billet hadn't swept the hobby yet. It was just starting.

Most guys were running big and littles with straight axles. It's funny that the cars didn't really change that much. I was envisioning the whole tweed/heartbeat graphics era. There are even some traditional customs scattered in there. Most cars look to be more along the homebuilt versions.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1983-nsra-street-rod-nationalsa-look-back

Slide 98 has a shot of Mr. Obrien's delivery. @59BuickWagon

 

My little brother and I went to one of the OKC NSRA Nationals, but I would guess it was more like 1986-ish. I remember it being ungodly hot.

 

I was there!!!!

Hot Rodding was a different world back then.

Saw my first real Midwest thunderstorm with really large hail. That was crazy to this California kid.

 

I went down there for the Nats in 1991, it was really hot then. I did get to meet Don Montgomery and talked with him for some time. He was a great guy. Also got the whole set of his books directly from him and he signed them.

 

The SW Nats are this weekend. It was 104 yesterday.....I don't know what wrong with scheduling it in May/June

 

Yup, back then it wasn't just an ocean of cookie-cutter '32 Fords.








No offense intended to my unimaginative, cookie-cutter driving friends.

 

I see Dennis!

I also see a LOT of cars I remember from the magazines in those days.

And, I have always said car shows need to bring back the driving events!

 

I was there! My dad's 38 coupe received a Top 25 award at the event. Sadly, while I remember many of the cars in the link you posted, my dad's car was not in the link. But I do have pics from the event, and he even got his picture in the Daily Oklahoman.

 

Very cool Dan.

 

This reminds me of @Spoggie

 

Notice --> NO (or very, very few) 5-spoke American Torq-Thrust (and similar ) wheels at this event. LOTS of wire wheels!!
This confirms my recollection that Torq-Thrust were NOT popular in the 70s through the mid/late 80s

 

I was surprised at how many wire wheels there were. I didn't remember that. I am an aluminum slot and steel wheel guy.

 

Nice. Thanks for posting.

 

Square headlights on a T bucket were never cool....

 

Nope.

 

Great memories. Thx
Square inset headlights, over size rear axles, aftermarket spokes, and best of all man’s short shorts.

I too am surprised of the qty of traditional styles.

 

Seems that the cars were raked more than now days.

 

Great link.

ALL THE WIRE WHEELS. I actually like the late 70s wire wheel look. I was 6 at the time and didn't see it first hand, you guys that did probably got burnt out on it.

Most of the cars with resto-rod look were built from very solid complete high quality cars.

This caught my attention, 1983 this must have been the cutting edge, emergence of smoothy-boydster look. Middle car is more of a custom rod.

Was this look out prior to 1983 ?

 

Yes, surprised at the number of tru-spoke style wire wheels.

 

All I remember about the 80’s is tru-spokes.

 

I believe the car on the left is the Vern Luce Coupe built by Boyd. It was on the cover of Hot Rod in July 1981. Center car was in some magazines around that time as well, was powered by a 326 Jaguar V12 with a full tube chassis. Car on the right is Jim Ewing's "Super Bell Coupe".

 

And, at the ‘83 nats, the Vern Luce coupe was the ONLY car there that looked like that!!!

 

I dig this one.

 

I didn't make OKC in '83 but I did make DesMoines in my 56 Poncho. No tru-spokes for me!

 

This made me scratch my head. Looks like they radiused the front fender opening. Something looks off.

 

looks like they either stretched the nose or moved the wheel opening back. There’s definitely more yardage in front of the wheel than stock.

 

Front wheel openings are too far back. Looks like the front was lengthened ahead of the openings... Chassis swap?

 

Looks like they used Merc fenders and hood with a Ford grille. Moved the wheel opening back to match stock Ford wheel base.

 

It’s not a flattering look regardless.

 

Toronado 455/FWD frame swap? The only reason for that look, IMO