New Years Day -- Brooklyn, 1968

Sometimes, Williamsburg can look like a time warp. Happy 2011 everyone!

Rat Rods invade Brooklyn!

Today was the 10th annual "Kustom Kills and Hot Rod Thrills" show, organized by the Rumblers NYC Club. The venue was really fitting for this type of car: The show is held underneath the BQE (Brooklyn Queens Expressway) in Williamsburg. It sort of looks like the kind of place the Sharks and Jets might have had their rumble in West Side Story. The predominant color for cars and for attire (preferably leather) was matte black. Most of the 100 or more custom cars in attendance were sinister looking rat rods rather than Kandy Kolor Kustom Konfections that one might associate with Biggy Daddy Ed Roth or George Barris. There were tons of chopped and channeled coupes, and many had elaborate pinstriping that was really impressive to see up close. People were really dressed the part too. Plenty of Jesse James lookalikes and Betty Page wannabes. I found the number of tattoos a tad excessive, but then I am more used to the concours crowd with their tight asses and straw hats. The best part though was that there was a Rat Rod barber who had set up shop amidst the cars, and you could get a ducktail haircut right on the spot if you wanted! There were plenty of custom bikes in attendance and there were folks of all ages, from the local hipsters to older guys who probably built some of the original rat rods back in the old days. It was a lot of fun, and the sounds of burnouts and drivebys reverberated under the expressway every few minutes! Click the pic below for the whole badass gallery!