Temecula's 37th Annual Rod Run

The Temecula Rod Run rolled into town and we were excited to be able to attend. This event draws classic car enthusiasts and thousands of visitors to Old Town for one of the city’s most beloved and iconic happenings.

It is a celebration of automotive history and craftsmanship and showcases over 550 pristine classics and under-construction projects, including Model A’s, T-Buckets, T-Birds, Roadsters, and so much more.

We began our day by ogling the talents of the Suicide Kings Car Club. This is a community for 1961-69 Lincoln Continental owners to get together, share the love of these classics, and enjoy the brotherhood that comes with the experience. What a bunch of nice guys. I think the club's name must be derived from the term suicide doors .These unique back doors got their name because of safety concerns. They were hinged at the rear, meaning if a vehicle was moving and the door suddenly opened, a person leaning out to close it could be flung out into traffic, essentially causing a self-inflicted accident. Yikes.

Every car was great but there was something extra special about this one. RMD Garage, based in Long Beach, is a custom shop known for their work on classic and custom vehicles, including this spectacular 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible named Grey Pearl. Interestingly, the 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible was the first four-door convertible, from an American manufacturer, after WWII. It was a luxurious car with a simple, high-quality design that appealed to the elite. This car is rare. Only 3,330 convertibles were sold out of 32,000 Continentals in 1964. LBJ had a white-on-white one he used to drive around his Texas ranch. Gorgeous car!

How about this 3 Horse Power posse? I loved seeing them moseying through town.

I have a thing for hearses. This 1956 Miller Cadillac Hearse/Ambulance is the only one known to exist. With 550 HP it will get you where you need to go. This tagline made me smile, Ask Us How To Arrange Your Final Ride.

This very cool 1972 ambulance holds the Guinness Book of Records title of The Longest Journey by an Ambulance. It was recently earned by a team who drove from Hollywood, California to Hollywood, Florida, covering a distance of 3,233 miles. The journey took nine days and was completed by two doctors to raise awareness for first responders and the importance of emergency medical services education. Many vehicles in car shows have stories to tell and we delight in listening to them.

This beauty was created at Temecula's own Gotham Garage. Owner Mark Towle is a car mechanic, car and motorcycle restorer, and automotive designer. The shop has built props for movie studios and television shows. The shop itself starred in Car Masters: Rust to Riches, an American reality television series on Netflix whose premise revolved around the crew from Gotham Garage. I had no idea!

Okay, I loved this little car. I want one! The Fiat 1100 is a small, family-friendly sedan that was produced by Fiat from 1937 to 1969. The 1100 was known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and comfortable ride, making it a popular choice for families and businesses during the 1950s and 1960s. I don't know how big one's family could be but oh my gosh... carina!