Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show 1962

The poster for the 5th annual Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show.

A wide view of the 1962 Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show, held April 6–8, 1962, inside the National Guard Armory in Washington DC. The floor is filled wall-to-wall with customs and hot rods, carefully arranged under indoor lights, each car positioned as part of a larger visual conversation about style, craftsmanship, and ambition. Among the displays were some of the most famous show cars of the era, including Ed Roth's Beatnik Bandit and Cushenbery's El Matador. Their presence placed the Ram Rods show firmly on the national map, but the image also reveals something deeper. Alongside headline cars were dozens of regional builds that reflected East Coast priorities, refined customs, strong club identities, and cars built to compete, cruise, and be judged. Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.

A photo of Bob Bissell's Street Scene taken at the 1962 Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show. Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.

The 5th annual Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show was held April 6-8, 1962 at the National Guard Armory in Washington DC.

Cars Attending

James Karcher's 1950 Ford Convertible