Sparks & Steele Roadster House
L.A. Film Location
Roadster House History
Built in 1935 on what was originally the “Lankershim Ranch”, the Roadster House is located in North Hollywood and is a great example of pre-war Southern California architecture. This Spanish Colonial home was commissioned in 1934 for $5000 by car collector and Chicago transplant, Raymond E. Nelson. Ray opened a successful North Hollywood hardware store and as a hobby, he built one of the greatest early antique auto collections on the West Coast. To house his growing "museum" of steam cars and other Brass Era cars, Ray began building additional garage space at the Roadster House property. After Ray's death in 1974, his wife, Naomi, sold the home to fellow vintage car collector and restorer, Tom Sparks and his wife, Laura. Tom was a leading member of the Los Angeles car community and continued Ray Nelson's devotion to all things vintage cars. Because the Roadster House has always been owned by car collectors, little has ever been changed in the garage and workshop areas since it was built in 1935. From the well worn workbenches, to the hand tools still hung in place by its first owner, the time-capsule feel of the Roadster House is now lovingly curated by its newest owners, the Steeles.
