who won the RIDLER,

[Bob Johnson]

Looking back at the pictures I took, the winning car was the one I took the fewest pictures of. I guess that shows my taste, and how much I know about showcars.

There was a 63 red/orange Impala there, not a contender for the Ridler, but a truely nice car. The builder had grafted a 1960 Ford (?, I still say ford Bob) roof and back glass onto the car then used a 64 t-bird interior to finish it. Such a cool looking car to look at, yet you just knew something major was changed.

believe me it's a 60 Plymouth..look at the bottom of the roof at the back of the rear qtr.window..Ford's doesn't cut back like that..Barry Penfond who built it is a friend of mine..I thought it was a Ford too..He said look again..I saw it then..I liked the interior..the fabrics and the style of the T-bird buckets and the rounded rear seat..only thing that I think might have looked better is the hard back GM buckets that were in the GM bucket seat cars before 62..but they're very expensive now..this was the first car he has done for a customer..he did a 59 Buick for himself in 2002, and a Cadillac a couple years ago..He has real good taste...nothing overdone..The Chevy was a very simple build except for the roof..It had a very cool look..