Hot Rod Exposition 1948

The official program for the first Hot Rod Exposition.

A newspaper ad from The Los Angeles Times, published January 18, 1948, promoting the upcoming Hot Rod Automotive Show at the L.A. National Guard Armory. Among the highlights was the unveiling of 'The Car of Tomorrow,' a belly tank streamliner built from a P-38 drop tank and powered by a rear-mounted Mercury engine. The show, organized by the Southern California Timing Association, also featured live construction of a hot rod, trailers, campers, and cutting-edge technology displays.

Hot Rod Exposition 1948. Photo by Hot Rod Magazine

Celebrity Colleen Townsend poses with the giveaway 1932 Ford at the 1948 Hot Rod Exposition. Photo by Hot Rod Magazine

Bob Estes' 1927 Ford Model T Roadster at the first annual Hot Rod Exposition.

The first Hot Rod Exposition was held January 23–25, 1948, at the Los Angeles National Guard Armory, located at Exposition and Figueroa. Organized by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), the groundbreaking show brought hot rodding out of the dry lakes and into the spotlight. Over the course of three days, the show drew an estimated 55,000 visitors, and attendance was so high that, according to Hot Rod Magazine November 1948, some spectators had to be turned away for safety reasons.

A Pioneering Event

The 1948 show marked a major turning point for hot rodding, establishing it as a legitimate and organized movement. For the first time, the public could view an array of purpose-built hot rods, speed equipment, and streamlined machines up close, all under one roof.

The Door Prize Roadster

One of the highlights of the show was the construction and giveaway of a complete 1932 Ford Roadster, built live on stage over the three-day event. The project was led by Lou Baney of the Gophers Car Club, with help from SCTA Road Runners members Harvey Haller, Bill Burke, and Rulon McGregor.

Built entirely during the show using parts supplied by exhibitors, the roadster featured top-of-the-line equipment including Kinmont disc brakes, which were considered among the best braking systems available at the time. The car was completed just as the show came to an end, and was awarded to Nelson Morris, the lucky winner of the show’s first Door Prize.

The Car of Tomorrow

Among the most talked-about vehicles at the 1948 Exposition was a futuristic streamliner dubbed The Car of Tomorrow. Described as “part airplane and part automobile,” the vehicle was constructed using a belly tank from a P-38 Lightning aircraft and the frame of a Model T. Powered by a rear-mounted Mercury engine, it represented the cutting edge of postwar hot rod design.

Built by a member of the SCTA, the sleek speedster had already clocked 139.21 mph in recent speed trials, and further modifications were expected to push it even faster. The car, valued at $4,000, was completed on the final night of the show as a live demonstration of safe construction techniques, with support from the Los Angeles Police Department and Board of Education.

Featured Displays

The 1948 Hot Rod Exposition also featured:

• A Columbia Deluxe Trailer worth $2,000
• A Kenskill Kustom Kamper
• A Symphony Television Set
• And numerous custom-built cars and aftermarket performance parts from leading manufacturers

These exhibits reflected the growing market for recreational and performance-oriented automotive products in the booming postwar economy.

Cars Attending:
Roy Aldrich's 1922 Ford Model T Roadster
Bob Giovanine and Chuck Spurgin's 1925 Chevrolet Roadster
The Granger Brothers' 1927 Chevrolet Roadster
Bob Estes' 1927 Ford Model T Roadster
Harvey Haller's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster
Randy Shinn's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster
Charles Clark's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster
Doane Spencer's 1932 Ford Roadster
Nelson Morris' 1932 Ford Roadster - The Giveaway Car
Robert North's 1932 Ford Cabriolet
Dave Glotch's 1934 Ford Roadster
Lee Grey's 1934 Ford Roadster
George Barris' 1941 Buick
Bob Rufi's Lakester
Stuart Hilborn's Lakester