Roadster

The Eugene Von Arx Special of California. Built in 1940 by Bungholers of Hollywood member Eugene Von Arx Jr., the Eugene Von Arx Special is a rare prewar custom roadster that fused dry lakes performance with high-end coachbuilding. Designed and hand-formed by Eugene's father, an alum of the Walter M. Murphy Company and Don Lee Coachworks, the body featured Art Deco styling, 1937 Chevrolet and 1937 Oldsmobile lighting, and a split Duvall windshield. The chassis was crafted by Frank Kurtis using twin 1939 Chevrolet frames, and the car was powered by a rare Riley OHV-equipped Ford flathead V8. It recorded a 114.4 MPH run at El Mirage in May 1942. In August 2025, this early piece of California hot rod history returned to the spotlight, offered at Mecum's Monterey Auction.

A Roadster is a lightweight, open-top car with no fixed roof, side windows, or rear quarter glass—built for style, speed, and the pure joy of driving. In the world of hot rodding, roadsters, especially Ford models from 1928 to 1932, became the ultimate platform for performance and personalization. Stripped-down and hopped-up, early roadsters dominated the dry lakes and drag strips, earning their place as icons of American speed culture. Builders often favored them for their simplicity, low weight, and timeless lines. To this day, the traditional hot rod roadster remains one of the most beloved and recognizable symbols in the scene.