A dense photographic and ephemeral record, primarily shot and compiled by Davie Ruecker, president of the Santa Ana-based Crusaders Car Club. Ruecker, an avid autophile, attended shows throughout So. Cal....
A dense photographic and ephemeral record, primarily shot and compiled by Davie Ruecker, president of the Santa Ana-based Crusaders Car Club.
Ruecker, an avid autophile, attended shows throughout So. Cal. alongside his loyal Crusaders. They can be seen in a few images, decked in sharp, slim-cut suits, almost transposed directly from the cover of a Beach Boys LP. The album, apparently compiled to share the Crusaders' adventures with other car-nuts and regional clubs, contains hundreds of photographs proudly taken by Ruecker himself. Shown throughout are an array of customs and hot rods, including a '32 Metal Flake Ford, a '57 Chevy in "pink pearl," and Joe Wilhelm's "Wild Dream", seen at events such as the 1964 Winternationals, the '64 Stock Car show, the 1963 World Teen Fair, and other fairs hosted by the International Car Club Association.
Also present throughout are numerous items collected by the Crusaders; a host of lavish business cards on metallic and pearlescent cardstock from shops throughout the state offering services like "Kandy" paint jobs, nickel plating, and custom flames; a few stickers and decals, including one apparently presented to the Crusaders by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth; tickets and passes for most of the attended shows; and a couple calling cards from other clubs such as the Tridents (of Haywood) and the Pacers (of Orange County.) Ruecker's own calling card is also present.