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Sparks & Steele Roadster House

L.A. Film Location

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Main House
    • Garages
    • Tour
  • History
    • History
    • Picture Car History
  • Info
    • Info
    • Specs
    • Video Tour
  • Video
  • Contact

History of the Roadster House

Built in 1935 on what was originally the “Lankershim Ranch”, the Roadster House is a perfect example of pre-war southern California architecture. Although the build was commissioned by a wealthy Chicago family of 3, within six years of its existence it would be housing a single occupant. That owner would open a successful North Hollywood hardware store and ultimately build one of the greatest early antique auto collections on the west coast of the United States…  all kept under the ever multiplying roofs of the Roadster House property. Fortunately, the tradition of extraordinary work being done on site in both the woodworking and auto restoration disciplines continued when the second owner acquired the property in 1978. The buyer was a fellow leading member of the Los Angeles car community and following in the footsteps laid down was only natural. Because of this unbroken ownership ( linked by common interests ), little has ever been changed in the home and workshop/garage areas since before World War Two. From the well worn workbenches, to the hand tools still hung in place by its first owner, the untouched and untampered with time-capsule feel of the Roadster House is now lovingly curated by…  you guessed it, yet another appreciative vintage auto enthusiast.

1948 -Ray Nelson with his Stanley Steamer
The Lankershim Ranch - North Hollywood
1936 - The Newly Built "Roadster House"
1943 - Raymond Nelson in his backyard.
1953 - Ray Nelson in front of the Roadster House
1956 - Construction Begins on the Big Garage at the Roadster House
1956 - Construction begins on the Big Garage
Ray Nelson in His Newly Constructed Big Garage
1957 - Ray Nelson's Car Collection in the Big Garage
1957 - Ray Nelson's newly constructed Big Garage
1957 - Ray Nelson's newly constructed Big Garage.
Ray Nelson working in the Original Garage
Ray Nelson working on the Tom Mix Cord
The Roadster House in 1965
Ray and Naomi Nelson with the 1913 Stanley
Tom and Laura Sparks
Tom Sparks - 1947
The Sparks Family in the Big Garage - Early 1980's
Tom Sparks - Big Garage - Early 2000's
Sparks & Steele at The Roadster House - 2007
Third owner in the Big Garage.
Current Owners of the Roadster House