Ryan Cochran's A coupe and Kevin Silva's A sedan.
If there's one show I've wanted to attend for the past few years, yet never quite managed to get to, it's the Lone Star Round Up in Austin, Texas. I'd seen various reports and heard nothing but good things about the show from friends who'd been, and seeing as I lean toward the, ah, more traditional side of things, I was sure I'd make it out to Austin someday.
That someday happened this past April, and I wasn't disappointed. Sure, the event has grown over the past seven years and moved venues a few times, settling at Travis County Expo Center-which is huge enough to host a national event, so I figure the Round Up's safe for a couple more years, at least!-but despite the size of the daytime show, the evening festivities still center on Austin's South Congress Avenue, in, outside, and around the Kontinental Club.
With cruising going on into the early hours, and people just hanging out on the sidewalks or in the numerous bars and restaurants, there's a distinct party atmosphere to this event that's missing at many others. A few blocks west of all this action, South Austin Speed Shop also threw an open house Saturday night, providing live music and yet more action for an already overly packed schedule.
Daytime action at the Expo Center was just as much fun, with a swap meet new for this year, as well as bands playing on the outside stage, a cacklefest with front-engine dragsters and Altereds, and even a minibike race inside the huge barn. But R&C is a car magazine, so we'd best concentrate on them, and what better way to do so than with five pages of pictures from the show?
Host club the Kontinentals had a bunch of its members' cars parked near the entrance to the show, and Joe Cabral's '29 sedan was pretty much the first car we saw. It remained one of our favorites throughout the day. With just the interior to finish, this 'un's going to be killer. | 
We showed you a rear shot of Aaron Grote's Atomic Punk bubbletop last month, so here's a front view. Is that Hemi outrageous, or what, perfectly accentuating the over-the-top yet perfectly proportioned appearance. | 
Eric Carter's '27 T coupe runs a Model A frame, spindle mounts, and eight carbs atop that 6-71 blown small-block. It occurred to us that there's a great percentage of blown rods in Texas, possibly because gas seems cheaper there than other states, maybe? |
The Koller '29 is another survivor from years gone by. This Model A made the trip from Milwaukee, and it was the first time it had been at a show since the late 1960s. | 
Jim Baker's '47 Merc coupe is certainly a rarity, and carries off its custom touches with aplomb. Rolling with the Kustom Kings, Jim's finely sliced Merc hails from Sherman, TX. | 
El Gato Grande is Paul Wright's homage to the one-man Modifieds from before World War II. With a 90-inch-wheelbase and owner-riveted frame based on a Los Angeles Iron Works chassis, the bodywork is all hand-formed and hand-riveted, using a cut-down '35 Ford car grille. |
This scalloped '30 coupe was a long way from its Barstow, CA, hometown. The Round Up seems to draw attendees from across the country, thanks to its central location, which made for a neat mix. | 
Bob Merkt Sr. made the trek from Wisconsin to be in Austin with his '29 A. The channeled roadster had all the hallmarks of an old-time rod, and we especially dug those driving lamps. | 
Los Barons club member El Marko brought this fine '29 out from Kerrville, TX, to join the fun. Liberally drilled back plates keep the front brakes cool. |
You may have seen it in the full feature on the Rod & Custom Web site, or come across it burning out on YouTube, but Bob Bleed's '32 is a true survivor car from back in the day. We love the gauges in the firewall and those crazy headers. | 
We really dug Sanchez's '56 Ford F-100, with its kustom touches. Did you notice the Chevy bed? | 
Jim Pendleton's lakester definitely has an Indy-car-meets-hot-rod theme going on here, with its single seat, Houdaille shocks, and belly pan under the chassis 'rails. The LaSalle grille really suits the look, as does the straight-six under the hood, complete with 12 plug wires. |
Another Kontinentals member and Austin local, Steve "El Jefe" Wertham, showed his '36 kustom in flat black, bringing to life that old Robert Williams' painting of a Westergard-style '36 in flight. Except it was stationary. | 
Looks like all the '32 Tudors are in Texas, huh? Ron and Michelle Whited's sedan still had all its hinges and handles yet sported a filled and ribbed roof panel. | 
Mark Herbin's Galaxie is an exercise in restraint, minimal body mods letting the red 'flake roof speak for it. Of course, the matching red interior with silver piping tied it all together in fine style. |
We seriously doubt you could get a '54 Chevy lower than Nathan Hale's, but then again, someone will doubtlessly prove us wrong. The flat-body-with-painted-roof look is a popular one. | 
We hung around hoping to speak to George Jezek, as his '32 Ford Tudor looked like it had plenty of stories to tell, but no luck. Stock-bodied, but fenderless, and still with un-split wishbones, it ran a hopped-up motor and steelies. | 
David and Laura Webber's '31 Ford features Pontiac taillights, Radirs, pie-crust slicks, and 6-71 blown SBC, but the neatest part for us was the rollbar with removable diagonal floor bar. |