Articles

Classic Cars and Street Rods- Articles from The Union

Here you will find articles drawn from nine years I have been writing for The Union newspaper in Grass Valley, CA, about local cars.  At times, the names have been changed to a single initial to protect the innocent. And the guilty. These articles might be changed periodically so that you won’t be bored. Unless you don’t like cars, but that condition can be treated by a generous dosage of quality car shows and the purchase of a hot rod or classic car. ‘Buy two and call me in the morning’. In the mean time, check out www.roaminangels.com for more info on the club.


Killer Corvair

Killer Corvair

About a year ago, John’s ’66 Corvair was featured in this column as a ‘work in progress.’ Now it is featured as a work completed. And a lot happened in that year. John had already installed a 300 HP 5.3 … Continue reading →...
He Could Have a V-8

He Could Have a V-8

While some people might be satisfied with the stock flat six engine in their Corvair, John was not. He wanted a V-8. Now he’s well on the way to seeing his desire fulfilled. It all started a couple of years … Continue reading →...
Alexander Rossi

Alexander Rossi

Alexander Rossi and the Roamin Angels Back in 2008, Roamin Angels scholarship chairman Ron Nevis had a feeling that Alexander would go far in the racing sport. Because of Ron, Alexander received a scholarship for a year to help with … Continue reading →...
Project Pontiac

Project Pontiac

For lovers of hot rods and collectible cars, every car has a story. Such is the case for 20-year Roamin Angel newsletter editor Diane B’s ’57 four-door hardtop Pontiac Star Chief. You can see the car up front and personal … Continue reading →...
Second-Time-Around Love Affair with a Swinger

Second-Time-Around Love Affair with a Swinger

Back in November of 1968, Jim Marchio had his first love affair with a Swinger. It was a ’69 Dodge Dart Swinger that he ordered from the factory. “Most of what I wanted was in the Swinger package,” he reminisced. … Continue reading →...
Timeless ’56 Chrysler 300B

Timeless ’56 Chrysler 300B

For a car to be timeless, it must have a special quality that makes so. It may be its historicity, its body lines, its drive train, the way it feels to drive it or some combination of the four. For … Continue reading →...
Running The Great Race in a 36 Packard Coupe

Running The Great Race in a 36 Packard Coupe

To some people, ‘The Great Race’ brings to mind the 1965 rather slapstick movie starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood about a race from New York to Paris in the early 1900’s. Others might think of the 1908 … Continue reading →...
Driving Miss Sophie

Driving Miss Sophie

As a father-son project, in August of 2005, John Link and son Dustin decided to ‘build a rig,’ a rock-crawler. Dustin chose an early Ford Bronco, no doubt influenced by stories of the one his father had once owned years … Continue reading →...
T-Bone: The Owner-built Hot Rod

T-Bone: The Owner-built Hot Rod

When you talk to Lynn about the ’27 Model T two-door sedan hot rod he just finished, he often mentions ‘designed and built by owner.’ And for good reason.  T-Bone (the name Lynn gave his Model T hot rod) was … Continue reading →...
Inherited Hupp

Inherited Hupp

When J inherited his ’32 Hupmobile Model B roadster, he inherited much more than just a car. W, his father, had loved cars and had a small collection of some very rare ones.  The ’32 Hupmobile (often just called a … Continue reading →...
Better-Than-New ’41 Merc Woodie

Better-Than-New ’41 Merc Woodie

It’s hard to find fault with W’s ’41 Ford woodie.  After all, the paint, wood, interior, engine, etc. are immaculate.  It looks perfect.  However getting the Merc to such a condition was long, hard and costly. It all started four … Continue reading →...
A Model A’s Story

A Model A’s Story

Writing about a car whose owner has no real history with that car can be a challenge.  If that person just went out and bought it, never doing any work on it or even having any work done on it … Continue reading →...
Hot Rodding a ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon- Part Deux

Hot Rodding a ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon- Part Deux

One fun part about writing this column is seeing a work-in-progress become a restored classic or street rod. Since the process can take years, there might be a bit of a wait. T’s ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon was featured as … Continue reading →...
Hot Rodding a ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon- Part One

Hot Rodding a ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon- Part One

In the early days of hot rodding, guys would build their cars from parts donated by several other cars or fashioned from scratch.  The work was often done in cramped garages with not much room to work and no fancy … Continue reading →...
Building a ’33 Ford Hot Rod Coupe

Building a ’33 Ford Hot Rod Coupe

Why does a guy build a street rod that he knows he can never sell for a real profit?  For Roamin Angel B, it’s the enjoyment of the process itself of building the car.  Plus, he says, “I love just … Continue reading →...
In His Merry Oldsmobile

In His Merry Oldsmobile

To say that Roamin Angel J’?s 1914 Oldsmobile Model 54 seven-passenger touring car is ‘rare’ is like saying the 2011 Corvette ZR-1 is ‘peppy’: a gross understatement.  As far as he knows, it is the only one left in existence. … Continue reading →...
Here Comes Santa Claus, in a ’51 Ford Woodie!

Here Comes Santa Claus, in a ’51 Ford Woodie!

When N and I met with Santa at IHOP on Friday after the Roamin Angels’ breakfast gathering, he was a right jolly old elf. “Okay, Santa, why are you grinning like the Cheshire cat?” I asked. He blew on his … Continue reading →...
Dirt Track Speedster

Dirt Track Speedster

Back in the early days of auto racing, Model T Speedsters were popular in racing.  In those days of dirt race tracks, often at fairgrounds, the Model T offered an inexpensive way to get into the sport.  However, Henry Ford … Continue reading →...
Wax On, Wax Off

Wax On, Wax Off

Many of the Roamin Angels are ‘gearheads’ i.e., the type of guys who can rebuild an engine better than new and enjoy doing it, but not all are.  Some are what Steve DeSena terms ‘wax on, wax off’ people, those … Continue reading →...
Bidding on a Buick

Bidding on a Buick

It starts when you first raise your hand.  The auctioneer catches your bid and you are committed.  Then someone tops your bid.  Suddenly someone appears at your side, encouraging you to up your bid.  You raise it.  You experience the … Continue reading →...
Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise

It would make a great story to say that Ken flew over to Hawaii and bought the car of his dreams.  As the old saying goes, close, but no cigar.  After selling his ’55 T-Bird when he went into the … Continue reading →...
Flight Line Fairlane

Flight Line Fairlane

When Roamin Angel Lanny found his ’57 Ford Fairlane 500 in a field near the airport in 1988, it was not exactly ready to fly down the highway.  In fact, it didn’t even have an engine or trans. The body … Continue reading →...
Fun, Fun, Fun in her Ford Thunderbird

Fun, Fun, Fun in her Ford Thunderbird

Car songs of the 50’s and 60’s often hit a chord in the hearts of certain Roamin Angels.  For some, it’s  Hey, Little Cobra. Others like ‘Little GTO.’ Vette owners love ‘Shut Down.’ For Noelle, it’s ‘Fun, Fun, Fun,’ a … Continue reading →...

1 thought on “Articles

  1. I appreciate what you said about dirt track speedsters and how they very popular in racing. I think that finding a hot rod shop is a great way to learn about the history of different race cars. My friend is thinking about finding a hot rod shop in our area, so I’ll be sure to share with him the importance of finding a reputable supplier with experience and vehicle history knowledge.

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