Classic News And Notes Of Interest...
SO-CAL Speed Shop Opens New Store In Spring, TexasPomona, California-SO-CAL Speed Shop is proud to announce the opening of a fourth store in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Specializing in classic, hot rod, vintage car, and truck parts, the new SO-CAL Speed Shop will recreate the theme and ambiance of the original SO-CAL Speed Shops. Established by Alex Xydias in 1946, the first SO-CAL Speed Shops fueled the need for speed experienced by young men returning from World War II who found excitement behind the wheel of a stripped down Ford streaking across the dry lake beds of Southern California.
Located at 6721 Klein Cemetery Road in Spring, Texas, (25 miles from the center of Houston and less than 10 miles from the airport), the new store will be a retail outlet for the SO-CAL Speed Shop New Traditionalist(tm) line of hot rod chassis and related parts. SO-CAL also manufactures and distributes numerous other hot rod hard parts, including motor accessories and transmissions, collectibles, and clothing.
Brad Lindig, a spokesman for the Burroughs and Lindig families who will be operating the store said, "There's long been a need in Texas for a speed shop that meets a number of enthusiasts' needs-everything from the quintessential '32 Ford hot rod frame to replacements parts for a classic Chevy truck.
"Our grand opening is scheduled for Friday, September 27, in conjunction with the Long Horn Heritage Rod Run to be held in Old Town Spring that weekend. We welcome all enthusiasts to come along, sample Texas-style hospitality, and have a good time."
For further information regarding the Texas store, contact Brad Lindig at: (281) 320-1212, e-mail info@so-calspeedshoptx.com, or, check out their new Web site at www.so-calspeedshoptx.com.
Roger Brown's Candy StoreSome guys really do have it all. Roger Brown not only owns the great-looking '56 F-100 on this month's cover but also holds the titles to the two trucks in the background. Come to think of it, Roger owns the "background" too! He calls it Brown's Oyl Company, and we thought you deserved a closer look.
"After collecting 'petroliana' and automobilia since 1965, I decided I needed a place to house it all," Roger says. "Brown's Oyl Company was built in the style of a 1930s service station and Buick dealership. The front is filled with gas pumps and display cases featuring car signs and auto collectibles. The garage bays house a '46 Ford woodie, '36 Ford wrecker, '34 Ford 1 1/2-ton grain truck, '31 AA Texaco tanker truck, '36 Buick Roadmaster, and antique John Deere tractors."
Of particular interest to our readers will be Roger's "work" trucks. The '34 Ford grain truck has been a street rod since the '80s and sports a small-block Chevy, dropped front axle, disc brakes, and an '80 Ford dualie rear axle. Roger owns a woodworking business (Roger Brown's Heirlooms in Wood), so he rebuilt the oak bed himself. The '36 Ford wrecker has been in Roger's collection since 1995 and is basically restored to original condition, right down to the flathead V-8. Likewise, the Texaco tanker truck, which came from North Dakota, has also been restored to original condition.
"My next projects are also housed here-a '31 Ford AA (to become an ice truck) and two '56 F-100 small windows," Roger continues. "I'll run out of years before I run out of projects!"
Based near Greenville, Tennessee, Roger's collection is privately owned. And while he can't take time out of his workday to show individuals around, he will open the facility to small groups for a modest fee.