The NieKamp Roadster: A Pioneering Hot Rod Legend

The NieKamp Roadster

The NieKamp Roadster stands as a defining symbol of early hot rodding culture and craftsmanship. Conceived in 1949 by Bill NieKamp, a 43-year-old body assembler and painter at the Plymouth factory in Long Beach, California, this vehicle was built with two goals in mind: to dominate the Southern California dry lakes racing scene and to become a standout at car shows. NieKamp’s journey to create what would become one of the most iconic and historically significant hot rods is a testament to both his ingenuity and the spirit of hot rodding itself.

A Middle-Aged Man in a Young Man’s Game

At a time when most hot rodders were young men in their twenties, Bill NieKamp, at 43, set out to make a name for himself in the burgeoning hot rod community. Working out of his garage, he purchased a 1929 Ford Model A roadster body for just $15—a modest investment that would eventually yield one of the most celebrated custom cars in hot rod history.

Instead of sticking with the standard Ford frame, NieKamp made the bold decision to channel the body over 1927 Essex frame rails, which were known for their strength and durability. Channeling the body—where the frame is lowered to fit inside the car’s body rather than underneath it—was a common hot rod modification to improve the car’s aerodynamic profile and give it a lower, sleeker appearance.

Building the NieKamp Roadster

Though NieKamp handled most of the construction himself, using basic tools and techniques common to the DIY hot rod culture, he also sought the expertise of master fabricator Whitey Clayton, who was well-known in the hot rod scene for his metalworking skills. Clayton fabricated the roadster’s belly pan, hood, and track-style nose—essential elements that gave the car its signature look. The rest of the build, including the floorboard and nerf bars, was done by NieKamp, showing his commitment to creating a unique and competitive vehicle.

Powering the NieKamp Roadster was a 1942 Mercury flathead V8 engine—a staple of early hot rods thanks to its robust design and potential for modification. NieKamp upgraded the engine with Evans heads, a Weiand intake manifold, a Winfield cam, and a pair of Stromberg 97 carburetors, all of which enhanced the car’s performance and made it competitive on the dry lake beds. These components were state-of-the-art in their time, demonstrating NieKamp’s knowledge of performance tuning and his dedication to building a fast, reliable racer.

In total, the project cost NieKamp $1,888.72, a considerable sum at the time but a testament to his careful planning and execution of every aspect of the build.

From Workshop to Showroom: Winning America’s Most Beautiful Roadster

Before NieKamp had the chance to race his roadster at El Mirage, he took it to the inaugural National Roadster Show in Oakland, California, in 1950. Presented in lakes trim—a minimalistic, racing configuration with no windshield and a tonneau covering the passenger seat—the roadster made a significant impression on both the judges and attendees. The craftsmanship, attention to detail, and clean design set it apart from the competition, and NieKamp’s roadster was awarded the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award. This victory was a monumental achievement, as it was the very first AMBR trophy ever awarded, and it placed NieKamp among the elite builders of the early hot rod scene.

This win established the NieKamp Roadster as an iconic vehicle, with a reputation that would only grow in the years to come.

Racing Success at El Mirage

After his triumph at the Oakland Roadster Show, NieKamp focused on racing. Over the course of three seasons, he campaigned the roadster at El Mirage, one of the most famous dry lake racing venues in Southern California. The roadster quickly proved its mettle, reaching a top speed of 142.40 mph in July 1952—a remarkable feat for the time, given the relatively rudimentary technology and conditions of dry lake racing.

By this point, the NieKamp Roadster had established itself not only as a show car but also as a formidable racer. However, rather than selling the car to eager buyers—one of whom offered him $2,800, a significant sum—NieKamp decided to raffle it off. The raffle proceeds went to support a fellow racer who had been seriously injured at Bonneville, highlighting the sense of community and camaraderie that defined the hot rod culture of the era.

The Roadster’s Journey After NieKamp

The raffle winner, a young soldier named Dick Russell, took possession of the roadster and used it as his daily driver. He also raced it at the Santa Ana Drags before selling it to Delmer Brink in 1958. Brink had plans to swap out the flathead V8 for a Buick Nailhead engine, but he never completed the project, and in 1969, he sold the car to Jim “Jake” Jacobs for $1,300.

At the time, Jacobs was an associate editor at Rod & Custom Magazine, and he recognized the NieKamp Roadster as the very first AMBR winner. Realizing the historical importance of the car, Jacobs embarked on a restoration project in 1971, documenting the process in a series of articles for the magazine. This effort made the NieKamp Roadster the first historic hot rod to be restored, a practice that would become more common in the decades that followed as hot rods became recognized not only as performance machines but as cultural artifacts.

Restoration and Legacy

In the years following the initial restoration, Jacobs continued to modify and race the roadster. In 1975, after the flathead engine failed, he replaced it with a 265-cid Chevy V8. The small block V8 remained in the car until 1997, when the roadster was invited to compete in the first Hot Rod class at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance—an event typically reserved for high-end classic cars and luxury vehicles. With the significance of the event in mind, Jacobs restored the car to its original 1950 configuration, installing another flathead V8, removing the windshield, and returning the car to its show-winning form.

Today, the NieKamp Roadster resides in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, preserved for future generations as a symbol of the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and dedication that defined the early days of hot rodding.

Not Just Another Rod

The NieKamp Roadster is not just a car—it’s a piece of hot rod history. From its humble beginnings as a $15 body bought by a middle-aged man with a passion for speed, to its victory at the first National Roadster Show, to its restoration and place in the Petersen Museum, the NieKamp Roadster remains one of the most important and influential hot rods ever built. It represents the spirit of early hot rodding: the drive to take ordinary cars and transform them into extraordinary machines through innovation, craftsmanship, and a relentless pursuit of performance.