Before and after examples at the Grand National Roadster Show

The photos don't do the beautiful color of this Dodge any justice

These photos only start to imply the gorgeous candy brandywine color that comes out in the light

Dan Keene's 1955 Dodge Sierra Suburban, the U Neek

The Strange Story of the Vanny Van Art Car

The internet is a strange place and sometimes interesting people email me with interesting art car submissions. The Vanny Van is one of those art cars that was submitted to me covered in hand written notes and stickers put on by all kinds of people along the way.

The Story of Vanny Van
Year one
I was born in some kind of car baby making factory called Dodge. It was 1999 and I was a BIG baby. They named me Ram, which was good because at my first Dealership School I was scared. The ride there was great! We didn’t even have to walk at all. A big, long, huge truck carried me and a few others to our new school. We were all excited. I got to ride on the top which was AWESOME!! So many different cars and people would drive past us. I smiled and waved at all of them.
When we got there I met so many kinds of cars, new and old. The old ones would teach us about patience and how you can tell what families are good families and the bad ones that won’t take good care of you. The Rusty Ones, as we kids called them, would tell us of their great adventures around the United States. How some have had many different families and how they have waited a long time at Dealership School to have new ones. They passed their time with their teachings. As the days would go by, me and my friends would meet new and learn about all kinds of people. Many of my friends would get new families and be off in their new lives. My first year I waited.

Hot rods, rat rods, and customs on the grass at the GNRS

The hub caps really set this hot rod off

The barber chair was there for sale, but if it had been part of the truck's custom build I think that would be awesome

1924 Dodge that was customized in 1947 by Bob Ferguson in Coronado, San Diego

Harley Freeman's '24 Dodge... barbwire, bullet casings and flash supressors

Con rod for a shifter, and a Speed King drum pedal .. right on. Plus, a Blastolene sticker

Above, a speaker cover. I like it

Big Daddy Don Garlits Swamp Rat special edition 1995 Dodge Truck, only 180 made, only 15 on the west coast, here's the best of them, only 36k miles

This is number 128 of 180, they were mostly ordinary trucks that went to Mark 3 that put in upgraded interior, and the decals. All of the Garlits specials got the swamp rat waving the flag on the quarter panel, but few or no others got the flames on the front fenders. They came with the 360 Magnum, and a 4 barrel. 220 Hp, Mike wanted more, and upgraded with headers, and nitrous.

This is number 128 of the 180, and yup, it's for sale, because Mike is getting a Cadillac truck with the Corvette engine.

This is the 3rd I've found in San Diego, the others didn't have the flames of course. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/07/swamp-rat-edition-of-dodge-ram-well.html