In 1990 when we first moved to Reno from the San Diego area, Hot August Nights was only a few years old and mainly just a relatively small local event with 2 nights of cruising on Virginia Street from up at UNR Parking lot at the Lawlor Event Center where a few picnic tents were set up called “Hamburger Haven”. Maybe 100-200 cars were involved and none of the Casinos wanted anything to do with the HOT ROD Event. Then on Sunday morning a short parade through downtown would happen for about a hour or so and that was the extent of the event. Now after all these years its pretty amazing as to where the event has grown to as an Internationally Known Car and Rock n Roll Celebration.
Over all these years, we have participated with many cars including a few Mustangs, a few Camaros, a few Buick Gran Sports, a Porsche, a 1956 Custom 210 Chevy, an SS Nova and now with a Bug and the ’69 Vette. Unfortunately we didn’t get the 1970 Mach 1 Mustang completed on time to get it out this year and my Fox Body Mustang Road Race Car is starting some modifications to become a Drag Car and is sitting still by it’s trailer and not out this year.
Here are a few pics from our typical spot at the Atlantis Resort of the first few nights this year. Enjoy and until next time………TACH IT UP!!
Nice ’32 Three Window Coupe next to the Vette
Super Sport 1970 Chevy Chevelle with newer upsized SS Rally Wheels
This ’68 Camaro looks nice in Dark Verdero Green and American Racing Wheels
1936 Chevy “Gasser Style” Rod looks ready to hit the Strip
Early Chrysler Hemi stuffed into the ’36 Chevy
A great looking SS 396 Big Block Camaro with the Stock Rally Wheels
Very pristine 1963 Ford Galaxie Hard Top
A Fabulous Looking 1965 Mild Custom Corvette Coupe as the great period correct 70’s and 80’s Cruiser in the era we grew up starting to build these machines…….
Our good friend Matt’s 1966 Ford Mustang Mild Custom Coupe that was just completed a week ago. He got his Stang out but we did not…….Looks great!
For all you Mopar Muscle Fans out there……..Nice looking Plum Crazy ’74 Plymouth Duster “Twister Edition” that was behind us for the evening.
Pretty typical good looking Hot Rods you’ll see at most bigger events like HAN, A ’32 Ford Roadster with the Flat Head V-8 and a ’34 Ford Coupe with Flames….. Both were top notch.
Here’s something you won’t see very often……A 1939 Hupmobile Hot Rod
Cool lineup of some early to mid Fifties International Harvester Metro Vans. Very fun to see these out and about as I remember Dad’s Custom Body And Paint Shop, CUSTOM CRAFT having a paint supplier that was actually called Metro Paints that had a couple of these to deliver supplies back in the day……Classic!
An absolutely stunning 1958 Chrysler Custom in dark candy red brandywine with the Cross Ram Mopar Big Block that had to be one of the best Customs at the Event…..
Cool GMC rodded truck
Always have liked these early Model A Ford Sedan Custom Rods. This one has a blown small block chevy
Bonneville Style 5 window Model A Ford also near our “camp”…..
Our “camp” with the Vette and old Bug
As usual, we will have at least one evening to get some rain showers, and this year was typical. Sitting in the Vette for about a half hour before it cleared up and having to wipe every thing off again…
Very nice 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback with Boss 351 Stripes and newer upgrade wheels
This pic for my wife as she loves Mini’s and we have a newer one she drives daily, this is an early sixties Mini Cooper with the rally stripes and a nice plate with “Hopkirk” on it in tribute to the famous Rally Driver from Ireland, Paddy Hopkirk, who won the Monte Carlo Rally a couple of times in a MIni back in the Day.
A fantastic build here with a 1957 Caddie Hardtop with a Caddie Northstar engine stuffed into the engine bay, The pearl white and argent top looked perfect….
Arguably the most iconic Vette of all time, the 1963 Split Window Coupe.
Being the Muscle Car Fan that I am, I really like these early Chevelles and this was a great example of a Day Two machine from back in the day. 1966 SS 396 Chevy Chevelle with the Big Block hood and correct looking American Race Mags in Marina Blue…….Very Nice!
Please come back for a few more pics from the upcoming Saturday Night of the Show……Thanks for stopping by our site.