Women in Hot Rodding

Women in Hot Rodding

In the 1980’s and 90’s it wasn’t all that uncommon to pick up a hot rod magazine and find a bikini clad broad spread out on the latest feature car. As the “traditional” scene has begun to take hold more recently, it’s just as common to pick up a small ‘zine featuring a “pin up” spread complete with 50’s tattoos, perfect posing, and all the right clothes. In both cases, high heels are a staple. For whatever reason, I prefer a story told by dirty shoes rather than high heels.

I have no idea where the two pictures in this post came from. I found them hiding in the depths of my hard drive where they were labeled as last modified in 1999. Their composition obviously dates them much older – I’d guess early 50’s if I had to. In any case, I love the stories they tell and figured you guys might as well.

The first (lead) photo is my favorite. Set at a dry lake somewhere, a hot rodder leans on the hood of his hacked up ’29 roadster while chatting up a couple of girls. Both girls have found the shape of his cut down roadster doors to be perfect for lounging. The photo is taken at the perfect angle… You can’t see either of the fairest kind, but you don’t have to. These girls aren’t accessories, they aren’t easy, they aren’t trophies – they are motivation.

The second image (above) tells a much different, but just as compelling story. This girl has no interest in chatting up some lowlife hot rodder with more grease in his hair than his gearbox. Her intense glare shows off her absolute lack of regard for anything (even the half smoked cigarette hanging out of her mouth) other than her mission – to one day go fast.

Still, my favorite part of the photo is her shoe hanging just below the frame rail. It’s a stylish affair that shows off the fact the she hasn’t lost any femininity, but it’s well worn from walking the rough and dirty salvage yards of the day. I can just imagine her putting her right foot on the 7.50 Firestone to hop over and in the T body – can’t you? That’s how shoes get dirty.

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