The So-Cal Odd Squad Car Club: Round Pegs in Square Holes

There are thousands of automotive car clubs littered across the United States. And every one of these groups is filled with passionate enthusiasts, eager to share their industry knowledge, build plans, and favorite products. But while it’s great to have a place to mix and mingle with like-minded folks, sometimes you’re looking for something just a little less… mainstream. Challengers, Chargers, Mustangs, Camaros—who cares already, right? These are great cars, don’t get us wrong. But you literally can’t drive more than a few square miles without seeing multiples of each. Even when you step back to the classics, it seems like everyone is doing the same thing to try and stand out. Don’t believe me? Head out to any car show across America and you’re bound to see the same cars over and over again. That is, unless you happen to come across the Odd Squad Car Club.

No Rules, Just Fun

“The Odd Squad Car Club has always been more about the people and less about the cars,” says the club’s website. “The club has no dues, no required attendance, and no car criteria other than pre-smog American cars (preferably not muscle cars).” The LA-based car club aims to break the norm by bringing together a diverse collection of unique classic vehicles that you don’t get to see on a daily basis.

Let’s face it: modern car culture seems to have everyone on the same track, especially with Mopar right now. What made Mopars cool back in the day was the fact that not many people were into them. Now, it seems like everyone who likes muscle cars is driving a third generation Challenger and every network television series is sponsored by Dodge. The kind of car culture the Odd Squad Car Club celebrates is the same thing that originally drew people to Mopars. It’s different. It’s refreshing. They do things you simply don’t see every day.

More People Club Than Car Club

“The kind of car you drive is much less important than the kind of person you are,” founder Blake Weddington told Hot Rod Magazine. “The only real requirement is that your car be older than 1965 to keep the club more about traditional hot rodding than muscle cars.”

So, what could one who attends their meets expect to see? Weddington himself drives a 1939 Ford Pickup. The truck is incredible, not because it’s a premium restoration but because it wears its patina, rust, and bumps proudly—much like war medals on an old vet. Plenty of other old pickups and classic customs can be spotted at an Odd Squad Car Club event—both in rat rod finish or show quality shine.

Important Work

What are the benefits of restoring, preserving, and praising unpopular “odd ball” automobiles? We know that muscle cars, both classic and modern, are performance titans. But no matter how cool or capable something may be, seeing it every day will render it stale. By exposing ourselves to something outside the norm, we learn something new, celebrate something different, and gain a little perspective.

Besides, many of these “unpopular” models are pretty impressive in their own right—both in design and performance. And like an endangered species, if we don’t make an effort to preserve what little is left of these unique specimens, they might just disappear. Then who would admire them?

Perhaps most importantly though, is that these rides speak for their owners. Just as the Odd Squad says its club is more about the people, so is car culture in general if you think about it. Regardless of the year, make, model, or build, we all share the same passion: a love for all things automotive and sharing those experiences with people who feel the same way.

Changing the Status Quo

The late but great Steve Jobs once said, “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.”

This could well be the manifesto for the Odd Squad Car Club. Weekly gatherings may be filled with cool cars and wacky customizations, but the real focus is the people coming together to celebrate offbeat or forgotten trends. Like dice, car culture has many sides and each one needs to be appreciated in order to truly enjoy it. Whether you’re into muscle cars or foreign trends, we urge you to check out what these guys are up to. By doing so, you’ll get a chance to understand earlier build types and unique takes on performance. You will also get the opportunity to see a healthy, happy community of car lovers spending time together. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what it’s all about?

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