Since Del Mar is pretty much in our backyard, it makes it one of the more "preferred" events to travel to. Who could resist a drive down the coast under clear skies with 70-degree weather anyway? On top of that, the Del Mar Fairgrounds is probably one of the better venues to hold an event of this magnitude. And, when you factor in that Solana Beach is practically walking distance from the grounds and the majority of hotels, well, you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody with any major gripes (except that maybe the show wasn't long enough!).

So, for the third consecutive year, we found ourselves right in the middle of all the action at the Goodguys Eagle One Del Mar Nats. And due to the success of the previous year's program, CUSTOM RODDER continued its Top Ten awards, as well. Now, we know not everyone comes just for the awards, and Goodguys knows that, too. For that reason, they provide added "to-do's" like: a huge Mecum collector car auction; a separate car corral for those just looking to sell their cars for a set price; a swap meet for those hard-to-find goodies; an enormous lineup of vendors hocking everything from rod parts to hot tubs; and, of course, that good old fairgrounds gourmet cuisine that'll rob your wallet in no time (albeit the Goodguys have nothing to do with that!). But for most, it's the cars, and there were plenty of 'em in Del Mar this year.

If you didn't catch the sneak peek posted on www.customrodder.com not too long ago, take a look at just a sampling of what the 2003 Eagle One Nats had to offer.

SoCal custom aficionado Bud...        read full caption SoCal custom aficionado Bud Rogers came down to Del Mar via Riverside in his two-shades-of-lime '55 Olds 98. Though his latest is really on the mild side, Bud's been known to cruise some of the coolest '60s-style rides around.

Trucks can be custom rods,...        read full caption Trucks can be custom rods, too, although we tend to leave them for Classic Trucks to take advantage of. Such is the case with Bill Raper's '54 Chevy from Peoria, AZ, which CT snapped up. The gold five-window runs an LS1 and rolls on Coddington billets.

If you were in the mood for...        read full caption If you were in the mood for a bidding war, the Mecum auction was where all the action could be found. From dilapidated first-gen Corvettes to finished cars like this two-toned Caddy and even early, handcrafted wood boats, if you had money to spare, what you were looking for was probably there.

For those not really in the...        read full caption For those not really in the mood for an auction, you had the option of scouring the swap meet on the east side of the race track, or if you were feeling a little more "spendy," the car corral to the west was full of great deals like this clean Rivi (which was rumored to be offered for well under 10K!).

Along with his concept T-bird...        read full caption Along with his concept T-bird displayed at the Ford Racing and Performance Parts booth, Chip Foose brought down comedian...

...Christopher Titus and his...        read full caption ...Christopher Titus and his latest four-wheeled toy, his '56 Chevy speedster, "Jestter."

Rick Heckman's '61 Chevy from...        read full caption Rick Heckman's '61 Chevy from San Diego is one bad mutha! It's powered by a GM big-block, but not of the Bow Tie variety--try a 500-cubic-inch Caddy! Sitting nicely on Americans, the black beauty also features white tuck 'n' roll and a cool tube grille.

Who says you can't mix "Gasser"...        read full caption Who says you can't mix "Gasser" and "custom" in the same sentence? Maybe it doesn't have a chopped top and it surely isn't slammed on the ground, but you'd have a hard time finding anyone who objects to Pat D'Ambrosio's "hot" '57 Corvette from Bothall, WA!

It's hard to beat a Rivi when...        read full caption It's hard to beat a Rivi when it's sittin' low and pretty like Bobby and Carole Edem's '63 from Fullerton, CA. The panel fades and pinstriping add nicely to the car's period look, as well.

The only reason that picking...        read full caption The only reason that picking the CUSTOM RODDER Top Ten at Del Mar was difficult was simple--there were so many clean customs like Randy Haapala's fresh '61 Chevy Nomad. The sunset pearl and black wagon from Lake Elsinore, CA, features leather interior, a small-block 350, and 18-inch Intros.	Man, you can't beat candy...        read full caption Man, you can't beat candy apple red when it's sprayed as perfectly as this! Randy Clark's Hot Rods & Custom Stuff in Escondido, CA, gets the applause for the efforts on Gale Griffith's '51 Chevy hardtop. Expect to see a feature on this Top Ten-winning killer kustom in an upcoming issue...soon!	Recognize this old Ford? Unless...        read full caption Recognize this old Ford? Unless this is the first time you've picked up CUSTOM RODDER, then you know all about "Lo-Liner." Builder Andre Carey brought Jim Rydelius' '60 Starliner down south for the weekend, and in doing so, went home with a Top Ten award to boot!
While airbags are all the...        read full caption While airbags are all the rage these days, Santee, CA's, Roger Honey ain't buying into all the hype--he drives his '50 Merc this low, all the time! The homebuilt features an early-style pleated interior and the original drivetrain.	Another future feature, Steve...        read full caption Another future feature, Steve Bryant's '56 Chevy Nomad was a no-brainer for a Top Ten award. The Paradise Valley, AZ, resident completely updated his lime green wagon with a fuel-injected 502 big-block, 4L80E overdrive, '96 Impala front suspension, full leather interior, and torque-arm rear suspension.	Irvine, CA's, Richard Diamond...        read full caption Irvine, CA's, Richard Diamond had a who's who of the rod industry contribute their talents in building his '51 Merc. Folks like Bill Hines, Eddie Martinez, Dick Dean, Ken Ginnings, and Barry White all pitched in to make this rag-topped custom what it is.
A past CR feature vehicle,...        read full caption A past CR feature vehicle, but never a Top Ten recipient, Tom Pagano's '59 Ford Ranch Wagon is a good example of what a modern custom rod is all about. Personalized body mods, updated drivetrain and suspension, and an almost Euro-inspired interior give the wagon style, but the experimental metallic paint truly sets it apart from the rest.	Anthony Martinez picked up...        read full caption Anthony Martinez picked up Top Ten honors with his homebuilt '50 Chevy Fleetline. Now, when we say homebuilt, we mean even to the point of spraying the car at his house--which you'd never be able to tell by looking! Other features include a SBC/4L60/9-inch drivetrain combo, Coddington five-spokes, and a caramel-color interior.	Ralph Weaver's '50 Olds is...        read full caption Ralph Weaver's '50 Olds is proof that you can have power and comfort all in one car. The coupe's LS6 puts out an estimated 500 hp, while the leather interior keeps the Huntington Beach, CA, resident nice and cozy on those coastal cruises.
You may recognize Rick Clutter's...        read full caption You may recognize Rick Clutter's '57 Bel Air from its debut at the NorCal indoor circuit this past winter. The over-the-top Chevy, built by Superrides, features a blown 434ci small-block, full Vette suspension, handbuilt interior, and House of Kolor Lime Pearl.