Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show

The poster for the 5th annual Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show in 1962.

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.

The show program for the 4th annual Ram Rods Show in 1961

Ram Rods Rod & Custom Car Show was held by the Ram Rods Car Club of Silver Spring, Maryland. The first show was held at Wilson Pontiac in Silver Spring in 1957. The show progressed rapidly, and expanded to include Mann Oldsmobile in 1958 and 1960. As the show became better known, the number of cars and spectators grew, and for the 1960 show, approximately 8,000 spectators visited the show in order to see more than 50 cars that were on display.

Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show 1964

Cars Attending:
Bob Hagerty's 1931 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan - Jade East

Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show 1962

The 5th annual Ram Rods show was held April 6-8, 1962 at the National Guard Armory in Washington DC.

Ram Rods 4th Annual Rod and Custom Car Show 1961

The 4th annual Ram Rods show was held May 12-14, 1961 at the National Guard Armory in Washington DC.

Cars Attending:
Ed Roth's Outlaw
Paul May's 1927 Ford Touring
Red Nace's 1931 Ford Roadster
Richard Johnson's 1931 Ford Tudor
Milton Lamb and Alan Lamb's 1932 Chevrolet Coupe
John Wessells' 1932 Ford Pickup
Bob Berwager's 1934 Ford 3 Window Coupe
Henry Fitting's 1934 Ford 5 Window Coupe
Robert Howes' 1939 Ford Coupe
Tom Sanders' 1939 Ford Phaeton
Jerry Downing's 1947 Chevrolet Coupe
Irvin Moore's 1950 Ford
James Karcher's 1950 Ford Convertible
Richard Zadnoga's 1951 Chevrolet
Wayne Engle's 1951 Chevrolet
Les Dunham's 1951 Ford Convertible
Tony Bruskivage's 1952 Lincoln Convertible
Charles Anderson's 1953 Ford
Richard Korkes' 1954 Ford
Anthony Abato's 1954 Oldsmobile
Mickey Bock's 1956 Buick
Fredrick Frei's 1956 Oldsmobile
Winn Guthrie's 1956 Pontiac
Ronald Schmidt's 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Joe Tutt's 1957 Chevrolet
Paul Wirt's Experimental Car

Ram Rods 3rd Annual Rod and Custom Car Show 1960

For the 3rd annual Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show more than 50 cars were displayed. Approximately 8,000 spectators visited the show.

Ram Rods 2nd Annual Rod and Custom Car Show 1958

For the 2nd annual Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show, the show had expanded ro include Mann Oldsmobile.

Ram Rods 1st Annual Rod and Custom Car Show 1957

The first annual Ram Rods Rod and Custom Car Show was held at Wilson Pontiac in Silver Spring, Maryland.