Three famous hot rod coupes are on their way to the 23rd West Coast Nationals. The original “California Kid”, Jake’s ’34 and the Super Bell Coupe will be on-hand at this year’s event. Better yet – they’re being DRIVEN to the event by the Slover family and Frank Morawski – owner of the Super Bell Coupe.

Next year is the 35th anniversary of Pete & Jakes. The So-Cal to Pleasanton boogie will help jump-start the celebration. The three cars will be photographed, on their journey, by Steve Coonan and the “Rodder’s Journal” crew.

The coupes of Pete Chapouris and Jim Jacobson first gained national prominence when they appeared together on the cover of the November 1973 “Rod & Custom” magazine. Many remember it as the “Chicken Coupe” cover. The story goes that a Hollywood producer was on vacation with his family when he saw that issue; and, he had to have Pete’s flamed coupe as the featured vehicle in his movie “The California Kid.”

The bright orange Super Bell Coupe, built by the late Jim Ewing, toward the end of the 1970’s, was a groundbreaking chopped and channeled coupe that featured a track roadster nose over an extended front end. What was unusual about this car was that it was powered by a trio of engines, including a big block Chevy, small block Chevy, V-6 – all Ewing trademarks, as he loved to change things up.

Coonan is salivating at the chance to photograph all three original cars.

“The cool thing about all three of those cars is that they returned the scene back to traditional hot rodding and away from the resto-rod thing that was going on in the early ‘70s. They really practiced what they preached, too. Those cars were regularly driven across country to hot rod shows. They were pioneers and road warriors,” said Coonan.

The plan for the West Coast Nationals road trip is to leave the NHRA Museum on the morning of Friday, August 21, 2009, then roll into Pleasanton later on that evening. The photos from the road trip will appear in Issue #47 of “Rodder’s Journal,” which goes on sale Thanksgiving week.

Look for the coupes in a special display on “Windmill Hill,” in the center of the Pleasanton Fairgrounds Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23.

Also, be sure to stop by the Grundy exhibit to receive a fast and accurate quote on your hot rod or custom. Mike Gosciniak and Bethanne Michael, out of the Grundy corporate office, will be on-hand to answer all of your collector car insurance questions.

Story from Goodguys Rod & Custom Assoc; edited by Becky McLaughlin, Grundy Worldwide.

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