Photo Gallery: Engines from Father’s Day Car Shows

Father’s Day usually gets dad’s hot rod, custom or street machine out of the garage for either a car show or cruise. It’s a century-old paternal ritual that allows performance fanatics to really showcase their hardware.

With that in mind, Rod Authority’s Mike Alexander and EngineLabs’ Mike Magda brought their cameras to local car shows held on Father’s Day and snapped a cross section of engines. They found the usual characters like flatheads, Hemis and SBCs, but there were also some rare standouts like Ford SOHC and a Gurney-head SBF. Throw in some classy looking straight-6s, and we’ve assembled a galley with a wide range of powerplants. You’ll see a twin-turbo, tri-power, 4-packs and plenty of injection stacks. The showcase is also a reminder that carbs aren’t dead, superchargers are still cool and chrome can shamefully be overused. 

The main takeaway from this presentation is that engines continue to be an integral part of a car’s character, and engine covers aren’t. Engine’s should be flaunted, not hidden with plastic covers painted to match the car. Leave engine covers to German imports and devote just as much time and creativity in drawing attention to the engine as any other element of the vehicle.

Enjoy the gallery and pick up a few ideas for your ride. Clicking on any image will bring up a fullsize photo.