By Jim McGowan
| The '05 Hot August Nights was actually cool with a little rain. Unusually cooler weather made the event even more pleasurable, and Reno was packed with cars, parts and people from all over the western states. The Just Dashes crew migrated north from LA to participate with a 1965 Olds Cutlass convertible and some tents for camping at Lake Tahoe. Armed with their Brownie box cameras and Superman lunch boxes, the gang covered all aspects of the event for your viewing enjoyment. So crack a Yahoo, kick back and enjoy lots of cars from several bygone eras! |
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Here's the main cruising drag in Reno. Literally thousands of vehicles of all shapes and sizes cruise into town for the long weekend event.
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Here's the view, looking north, from the top of Harrah's hotel at Lake Tahoe. It's a favorite winter and summer vacation spot worth visiting if you're in the area.
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Blown, flamed and bright yellow, what more could you ask for in a street rod truck? |
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Looking very much like a Camaro/Chevelle drag race, two Bow-Ties cruise the boulevard.
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A purple Merc with purple undercarriage lights and "Purple Haze" blasting from the 8-track. |
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A bright red RADIO FLYER wagon on steroids! Try pulling this one around the swap meet. |
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Speaking of swap meet, there were literally tons of parts, well maybe pounds of parts with tons of rust available at the swap area. Where's that Radio Flyer when you need it? |
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It was a dark and stormy…afternoon! A little rain dampened the spirits for an hour or so and disappeared toward New York. |
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There was a huge indoor car show with a sampling of almost everything automotive on display. Obviously part of the Just Dashes crew is surveying the scene. |
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Need a stock 50's Chrysler for cruising'? This big fin beauty in shiny tan wowed the crowd. |
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A gold resto-mod bubble top Olds was for sale. There isn't enough room here for all the zeros in the asking price. |
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This tri-tone Fifties Packard ragtop seemed as large as some banana republics, and contains just about as much steel. What, no fox tails on the antennae? |
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Here's a radically customized Riviera in the for sale area. These cars have become very popular with the custom crowd in the last decade. |
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Flatheads Forever as evidenced by this "seen better days" Model T touring. The missing rear door provides easy access, and parking lot dings are never a problem. |
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Fifty-six Pontiac dwarfs a Mustang notchback on the cruise circuit. It's amazing how much car design changed in only a decade, as visually demonstrated here. |
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Could this be a Swiss chalet on wheels or just the Thirties version of the family SUV? Got wood? |
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This '60 Buick ragtop is flawless. Being big fans of fifties fins, we'd love to own this beauty! |
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A black Model T touring and '61 red 'Vette roadster appear to be doing a least 100-mph, but relax, it's just an artsy blurred photo. |
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At first we thought this was a restored classic, but check out the modern tires, it's really a resto-rod. |
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How's this for a flame job? If the blower was any taller it would need flight path warning lights. |
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Hot August Nights isn't just for four wheeled vehicles. This retro looking cruiser could proudly mix with the street rods and muscle machines. |
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One of the smaller Reno showgirls came to the parking lot to check out the cars. Fortunately for us she wore her show outfit, wow! |
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Several street rod woodies' made the show. This early Fifties model was a knockout! |
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Back outside at the swap meet we discovered several gas pumps looking for a new home. We definitely had fuel pump envy, but they wouldn't fit into the Cutlass. |
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More FLAMES! This '32 highboy was up for sale, just sell your house and drive it home. |
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Obviously, you must be getting the idea that there were a lot of street rods for sale as well as cruising the boulevard. You're right, they were everywhere! |
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What's seventy-three years old and bright orange? This two-door street rod of course! Another one we wish we could have brought home. |
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