Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair

Hank Fournier's 1936 Ford at the 1958 Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair. Photo from the New England Hot Rod and Kustom Historical Society Photo Collection.

A photo from the 1958 show printed in Rodding and Re-styling January 1959. Photo by Alex Walordy.

A Squires of Chatham car club display at the 1958 Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair. Squires' desert scene, containing two custom cars, won best group display award at the show. Photo by Alex Walordy.

A poster from the first annual Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair. Photo courtesy of Tim Makrush.

Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair 1959

Cars Attending:
Nick Dunkavich's 1940 Hupmobile Roadster

Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair 1958

The Hot Rod & Custom Car World's Fair was held by Joe Kizis and his crew in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Bob Muelke was Joe's sidekick during the show, and together they handed out more than 80 tropies and awards. As usual, Joe Kizis also introduced a few brand new winners and their cars into the rodding and restyling fraternity. More than 100 cars attended the show, and thousands of fans came to check them out during the week long show. A few of the consistent show winners, such as Bill Scott's Special, Lamb's Coupe and McFarland's Deuce were midding, as they were propably preparing for the ninth annual National Autorama Joe was producing in March of 1959.

Cars Attending:
Hank Fournier's 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Ronald Asal's 1949 Chevrolet Convertible
Wally Savage's 1949 Mercury
Mat Porcello's 1952 Mercury
Butch Flobeck's 1954 Mercury
Stan Makrush's 1955 Chevrolet Convertible
Paul Semenick's 1955 Mercury
Chuck O'Malley's 1956 Dodge
Frank Balzano's 1956 Ford
John Hychko's 1956 Ford - The Coronado
Roy Senior's 1956 Ford Victoria
Sam and Carl Lombardo's 1956 Ford
Anglo Vacco's 1957 Ford Convertible
Phil Sowa's 1958 Chevrolet Impala