Steel Roadsters
More on the Grand National Roadster Show:
After looking over the 350+ cars at the show, I think I've plucked the next big trend from the show — bare, brushed steel bodies. Paint is great, but there were at least ten cars displayed in bare metal, and they looked awesome. Some were there as a demonstration of craftsmanship, not really intended to represent finished vehicles, but I think some were gorgeous enough to be considered completed works. Over the past few years, some of the younger builders have been rejecting the high gloss finish, billet aluminum looks of the high end pro builders, and have reverted to a home-garage-style "Rat Rod" aesthetic, with rattle can flat black paint and Von Dutch-style freehand pinstriping. Well, like the serpent that eats its own tail, the hot rod world has become inspired by the Rat Rods, and now some of the pro builders are incorporating the matte finish into their work. What's left for young builders but bare metal? The great thing about this look is that it hides nothing — you can't get away with bondo or filler or ugly welds. You can't camouflage the lines of your car with paint, or emphasize details with artificial shadows and fades.
Keep watching — a whole new era of craftsmanship is about to erupt.
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