This year we covered the Ultimate Cruisers Veterans Car Show 2023. It’s a benefit car and motorcycle show in Mountain Home, Arkansas for area Veterans at the Ultimate Auto Dealership. We volunteered some of our photo/video services and spent the day in the hot sun checking out cool rides, listening to great music, and getting in our steps in because it turned out to be a massive car show with a lot of walking involved to cover everything. The event is done by Ultimate Auto Group and Cruisers of Mtn Home. The effort raised $6,112.00 and will be split between 4 different local organizations.

1) Disabled American Veterans - Twin Lakes Chapter 30

2) Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary - Twin Lakes Unit 30

3) Fleet Reserve Association - Twin Lakes Branch 251

4) U.S. Veteran Outreach in Gassville, AR

Here are the official winners

Best Under Construction :

Russ Murray 1967 Chevy Nova

2000s - Current :

3rd place - Austin Qualls 2003 Ford F250

2nd place - Stace Kerley 2005 Ford Roush Mustang

1st place - Scott Stuewe 2019 Chevy Corvette

80s - 90s :

3rd place - Christy Vielbaum 1989 Chevy S-10

2nd place - Ron White 1980 Chevy C/10

1st place - Earnie Owen 1987 Ford F150

60s - 70s :

3rd place - Chad Coble 1967 Chevy Nova

2nd place - David Chamberlin 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1

1st place - David Culp 1965 Chevy Impala

40s - 50s :

3rd place - Don Lovick 1948 Oldsmobile

2nd place - Travis Swanson 1951 Chevy 3100

1st place - David Coble 1956 Chevy Nomad

30s and older :

3rd place - Marshall Taylor 1937 Ford 3-window coupe

2nd place - Al Knack 1938 Chevy Master Deluxe Coupe

1st place - Anthony Burmingham 1930 Ford Club Cab Pickup

Teen Driver :

3rd place - Jason N Joy Ford 1985 GMC 1500 Sierra Classic

2nd place - Liberty Davis 1979 Lincoln Town Car

1st place - Dylan McBride 1985 Chevy Silverado

Daily Driver :

3rd place - Sean Hargrave 1969 Chevy Chevelle

2nd place - Jeremy Root 1970 Chevy Camaro Z/28

1st place - Caleb Miller 2015 Chevy Tahoe

Motorcycles :

Domestic - Jeff Crownover 2020 Indian

Foreign - Greg Ashlin 2015 Honda Shadow

Best Paint: Don Lovick 1948 Oldsmobile

Ultimate Choice: Ron Thomas 1957 Chevy Bel Air

People's Choice: Austin Qualls 2003 Ford F250

Most Unique Vehicle: Paul Smith 1942 Ford Rat Rod

NiNi & Poppy’s Side Hustle Best Veterans Owned Vehicle :

3rd place - David Culp 1965 Impala

2nd place - Jim Brown 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28

1st place - Paul Smith 1942 Ford Rat Rod

Best of Show: David Culp 1965 Chevy Impala

Although the official winners have been picked, I took the liberty to create some photographer’s choice awards (Top Ten).
(Bragging rights only, sorry).
Scroll to the bottom for the video.

Number One

**Owner - Jimmy Shay - 1946 Dodge Rat Rod**

Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for Rat Rods, or because it was off by itself a bit, but this ride stuck out to me. The green and yellow paint are the perfect mix of hues to compliment the rust-colored experience points found along the metal. Of every wonderful vehicle at the show, there were a few that I just really wanted to get in and cruise, and ultimately it was this one I most wanted to hop on the bypass in. The gear ratio probably has me looking for straight stretches with no traffic and a can of spray paint to mark out the 1/8th mile. Photoshop allowed me to really push the paint on this to bring out the swirls of color in the mid-day sun. The photo below is in truer to-life color. What a cool Rat Rod!

"Georgie the Rat" started as the final rat rod project by Robert Cook. Robert Cook was a Rat Rod fabricator out of Kansas City, MO, who had built Rat rods previously. This was his last project before his passing. Unfortunately, he never fully finished it. The current owner bought it as a father/son project. It just needed some wiring and mechanical work to finish it off and make him into what he is today.

Engine - Blueprinted 383 Stroker with Holley 750 Double Pump
Trans - Chevy Turbo 350 with small stall converter
Diff - 4:11 gears, Suregrip Rear End - 8 3/4 dodge mopar out of a 1967 Coronet.

Number two

**Owner - Farris Brotherton - 1927 Ford Model A**

It’s all right here, from the Model A, to the motorcycle, to the .50 Cal mounted on the teardrop. There is a slice of history everywhere you look here. The owner encourages all veterans to sign the car with their name, rank, and where they served.

The 1927 Ford Model A was a major redesign of the Model T, which had been in production for nearly two decades. The Model A featured a more modern design, with a four-cylinder engine, four-wheel brakes, and hydraulic shock absorbers. It was also available in a wider variety of body styles than the Model T.

The Model A was an immediate success, and Ford sold over 4.3 million units during its production run. It helped Ford to maintain its dominance of the American automobile market, and it also helped to popularize the hobby of hot rodding. The base price for a 1927 Ford Model A was $385.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get in touch with the owner to get more details, once I do, I’ll update the article.

Number Three

**Owner - Greg Thorpe - 1953 Chevy 3600 3/4 Ton**

The Chevrolet 3600 truck was a full-size pickup truck produced by Chevrolet from 1949 to 1959. It was available in a variety of body styles, including a two-door pickup, a four-door pickup, and a stake bed. The 3600 was powered by a variety of engines, including a 235 cubic inch inline-six, a 265 cubic inch V8, and a 327 cubic inch V8. The 3600 was a popular truck, and it was used for a variety of purposes, including work, transportation, and recreation. It was known for its durability and reliability. The 3600 was discontinued in 1959, and was replaced by the Chevrolet C/10 truck.

This particular truck, a 1953 3/4 Ton Chevy 3600, was an Arizona family truck for most of its life before undergoing restoration. The truck looks original but is equipped with a lot of modern upgrades like A/C, suspension, power steering, power brakes, and we can’t fail to mention the upgraded power plant, a 383 Stroker. Greg Purchased the truck from Mecum Auction about three years ago. He has since had the truck painted by Bob Vilager of Ozark Mountain Classics, and a new interior installed by local Dywaine Black.

Greg says this one is ready to drive across the country.

Number Four

Everyone out there loves a Tri-five Chevy, (Tri-Five Chevy refers to the 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevrolet automobiles) but what made me stop in my tracks and rate it so high on my list was the car coupled with Rat Fink under the hood! Rat Fink is a cartoon character created by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth in the 1950s. He is a rat-like creature with a sinister glare, razor-sharp teeth, and bulging, bloodshot eyes. Rat Fink became popular among the hot rod and custom car culture of the 1960s, and his image was often used on T-shirts, posters, and car decals. It’s a fun bit of car culture and history that many younger show-goers won’t recognize. Rat Fink is a significant figure in American car culture, and his influence can still be seen today. He is a reminder of a time when car culture was more rebellious and anti-establishment, and he continues to be a popular figure among fans of hot rods, custom cars, and lowriders. The Tri-Five Chevys were designed by Harley Earl, who was the head of design at General Motors at the time. Earl was known for his bold and innovative designs, and the Tri-Five Chevys were no exception. They featured sleek, aerodynamic styling with large fins and chrome accents. The Tri-Five Chevys were powered by a variety of engines, including the 265 cubic inch V8, which was introduced in 1955. The 265 V8 was a popular choice for performance enthusiasts, and it was available in a variety of configurations, including the fuel-injected Tri-Power option.

This 57 Chevy has been modernized with a 96 LT1 paired with a 4l60E. The mods continue with disc brakes, an upgraded suspension, and air conditioning.

Number Five

**Owner - Chris Dutchover - 1967 Camaro SS/RS**

What’s not to love? A first-generation numbers-matching Camaro with the coveted SS350 AND RS package. You don’t see too many with the original wheels and paint and the fact that this one is all original except for the pinstripe…makes it a top 5 in my book. How quickly we all forget the beauty of a black vinyl top! I reached out to Chris to learn a little more about his car. Like Chris, the 67 SS/RS combo has been a favorite of mine from the muscle car era.

The SS package was a performance package available on the 1967 Camaro. It included a number of features that improved the car's performance. The RS package was designed to give the Camaro a more upscale and sporty appearance, and it was a popular option with buyers. The combination of the RS package and the SS package (which added even more performance features) made the 1967 Camaro one of the most desirable muscle cars of its era. This Camaro only has 95,000 original miles. Powered by a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 295 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. This one was lucky enough to be paired with a 4spd manual. The SS350 RS Camaro was equipped with a number of performance features, including heavy-duty suspension, wider tires, and four-wheel disc brakes.

Owner Chris Dutchover is a disabled veteran, is married, and has four children. He signed up with the Marine Corps and served from 2006 to 2010 on active duty with two deployments to Iraq with the third light armored reconnaissance battalion. Chris since has used his G.I. Bill to pursue his passion as an automotive technician.

When I started asking him about the history of the car he told me he would have never been able to obtain this car on his own but that it was his dream that his step-father made a reality for him. Chris told me that his step-dad has been in his life for 26 years and has known forever of his dream car, and one day his step-dad made that car a reality for him.

“My parents came to visit from California at the beginning of May and they told us when they were almost here. We were expecting them to come in in a rental car. I see the car road on my street and I say that’s a nice 67 Camaro then it pulls into my driveway I go out to see who it was and it was my mom and stepdad. Mom is recording from the passenger seat and my step-dad gets out, I say what in the world? Whose is that and where did you get it? He points to me and throws me the keys. I was completely blindsided by it.” Chris Dutchover

Chris plans on attending a lot more car shows and he says the kids love going for rides.
It just goes to show you that you never know the story behind some of these cars, and the stories can often be more interesting than the car itself.

Number Six

**Owner - Chris Kinkead - 1965 Chevelle Malibu Wagon**

Off all the cars at the show, this one actually tied my first-place spot for the car I most wanted to jump in and cruise. I spent a lot of summer days wrenching on Chevelles as a kid because it was my dad’s favorite muscle car. Though my dad was interested in the SS, drag cars, and the hot rods this wagon really stuck out to me (I’m more of a cruise with my dog kinda guy). The Chevelle Malibu Wagon was a full-size station wagon that was produced by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1977. It was available in a variety of trim levels.

The sliding black glass, the cargo rack on top, the simplicity of the paint, and the roomy design, make me nostalgic. Loading up the family for that summer vacation in the wagon, the American Dream, the coveted road trip. I imagine myself cruising out West in the fall weather where I’m not asking too much of the A/C, the radiator, or the clutch fan that I meant to switch to electric decades ago. There is something special about Wagons that calls to the heart of every adventurer, wannabe power cruiser, or family man rocking modern metal against his will. Grocery Getters have always been the unsung heroes of the classic car crowd, apart from the Nomads they’ve never gotten enough love. However, if you try to find a Malibu Wagon like this one today, you may be surprised how hard they are to find now.

From the owner: “The car is a 1965 Chevrolet Malibu wagon. It has a 230 L6 and 3 speed on the tree. The front has been converted to discs and it has been dropped. It was purchased just east of Saint Louis a few years ago after looking at countless cars as a family classic. Found it and fell in love. The Veterans car show 2023 was its first debut as we have moved around a lot and finally are back home.” - Chris Kinkead

Number Seven

**Owner - Jeremy Root - 1970 Z28 Camaro**

Split Bumper Camaros used to get overlooked for the first Generation Camaros but now the rarity of this design has made it highly sought after among enthusiasts. The split bumper Camaros were only made for four (1970 to 1973) years during the 12-year run of 2nd generation Camaros. We don’t speak about the 74 to 77 Camaros (joke). Younger car show attendees won’t likely remember 70’s regulations that led to major changes with bumpers and emissions equipment. This was at least one reason for so many rapid design changes in the early 70s. The Z28 option was a high-performance package. It was powered by a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 360 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. The Z28 came standard with a four-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and had a top speed of 118 mph. The Z28 was designed for racing, and it was very successful in the SCCA Trans Am series. In 1970, Z28s won the manufacturers' and drivers' championships.

Jeremy’s Z28 has been modified with extensive upgrades.

Number Eight

**Owner - Richard Guillory - 1965 427SC Cobra Replica**

This specimen is a factory-built replica of a 1965 427SC Cobra. It was a special order car built by Superformance in Port Elizabeth South Africa under license from Shelby Motors. HyTech is the parent company and also builds current Cobras for Shelby Motors. The car was delivered to the Port of New Orleans in December of 2003. The engine is an original 1968 428 FE Cobra Jet built by Parham Motors in McDonough, Georgia.

The 1965 Shelby Cobra 427SC was a high-performance variant of the iconic Cobra sports car. It was powered by a 427 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 480 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. The 427SC could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and had a top speed of 170 mph. It was available only as a roadster and featured a fiberglass body, independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. Only 31 427SCs were built in 1965, making it one of the rarest and most desirable Cobras ever produced.

Number Nine

**Owner - Greg Parttridge - 1976 Pontiac Trans Am - 92,000 Original Miles - 400SB**

The 1976 Pontiac Trans Am was a high-performance muscle car produced by Pontiac. It was available with a 400 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 200 horsepower. The Trans Am was known for its styling, which included options like a shaker hood scoop, rear spoiler, and/or T-tops. It was also featured in the popular movie Smokey and the Bandit. The second generation of Pontiac Firebirds was produced from 1970 to 1981. It was a major redesign from the first generation, with a sleeker, more aerodynamic body. The second-gen Firebirds were available in three trim levels: base, Esprit, and Trans Am.

Number Ten

**Owner -Ken Jarman - 1979 Mercury Cougar**

Nothing like driving a heavy car from the late 70s to remind you just how far we’ve come. I used to hate these kinds of cars. My dad always seemed to have one around in the ugliest green color you could imagine. It was that ride that I would get to drive to school, while grateful, I never parked too close to the high school. Fast forward a few decades and I’m enamored with the shape this Cougar is in. I appreciated the spinner on the steering wheel, the 8-track player, and of course, the fuzzy dice. 1979 was the final year of the third generation of the Mercury Cougars. It was a stylish car with a comfortable interior. The Cougar was also available with a variety of options, including a sunroof, a power-operated top, and a premium sound system. The Cougar was a popular car, and it sold over 100,000 units each year from 1974 to 1979.

As they rolled out of the show, Pat Benatar filled the air delivering powerful vibes. The kinda jam that makes you throw the column into first, thank God for stall converters, and hope the transmission holds on.

Event Video

There you have it! The top ten as far as photographer’s choice awards go. I hope you enjoyed the write-up. The great thing about automobiles is the uniqueness that comes along with everybody’s preference in style, art, color, and purpose. I couldn’t get to every car or even half the cars for proper photos. I encourage everyone to write this event down on next year’s calendar.

Regards,
Derek Huber

(Huber Media Co Team - Derek Huber / Skyler Fox)
These photos are for the community, take any photos you like with or without credit.

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