We are excited to have the Daggers Orange County Car Club joining us at the August 12, 2012 swap meet, as our Featured Car Club. Daggers is a small, but unique club whose members enjoy building, customizing, chopping and painting any pre-1965 vehicle and then building and customizing them some more. When I met some members of the club a couple years ago at the Mooneyes Xmas Party, I can’t remember which I noticed first, several slammed, custom pick-ups or the guy with the 10 inch tall pompadour hovering around one of them. None the less, I had to approach him to find out what their club was all about. His name is George Tantardini and he is the owner of a 1953 GMC pick-up, which he custom painted blue metal flake with white scallops. George told me that the Daggers formed in 1996 as a greaser gang and has endured many changes over the years, but their ambition has always been to represent the club with their customs and hot rods and enjoy the brotherhood they have formed. The only requirements to join the club are that you own a pre-65 vehicle, enjoy going to shows and spending time with the club. Most members are from North Orange County and are regulars at the Pomona Swap Meet, the Mooneyes shows, as well as many other local shows.

George’s ’53 GMC

Daggers seem more intent on working on cars than showing or talking about them. The club is fortunate to have such a talented group of members whose skills range from mechanics that have access to shops, a professional car painter in George, who owns Tantardini Custom Paint and they have Russell, who is a pinstriper and metal fabricator and has done most of the work on the cars in the club.  Tony or “Muffles”, as the club knows him, has his own muffler shop. I’d say this club’s got some pretty good resources for all their projects. George tells me that the most recent project completed is a custom 1930 Model A and that a member’s custom Buick pick-up always draws a crowd. The Daggers were featured in the 50th issue of Ol’ Skool Rodz Magazine, where you can see some of their work.

Although the Daggers enjoy working on cars, they also enjoy hanging out with each other and other car enthusiasts. They plan to do just that when they host the Daggers Car Show on August 25, 2012 at the Rio Vista Inn, 200 S. Rio Vista St., Anaheim, CA 92806. The event is free to all, with live music, trophies and plenty of nice cars.

George says, “You’re not made a Dagger, you’re born one.” So come meet them in August and check out their rides to see if you’re made from the same mold. They’ll be parked on the Main Aisle in the front of the Vintage Show/Sale Section. If you would like additional club information or looking for some custom paint work, see George Tantardini or call him at (714)335-8227.

– Matt Zarzana

Daggers enjoying a recent event.