Out of the 48

Out of the 48 — at least that’s the way it was in the Rod & Custom little pages for a few short years. With the addition of the hot one (Hawaii) and the cold one (Alaska) in 1959, the United States gained land mass, but lost an eye-opening section in one of its top rodding magazines.

These small spreads, usually situated near the rear of the 66-page package, invited R&C readers on a cross country exploration of fellow rodders’ machines.

Staying true to the magazine’s masthead, the section covered a variety of rods and customs. Although these cars weren’t always feature quality, they illustrated what the home-builders were wrenching on and likely driving daily.

Much like the “Our Readers Write�? section, “Out of the 48�? is an indispensable resource for anyone yearning for a hearty slice of yesteryear.

So on this Independence Day, sit back, relax and raise your glass to the common man — somewhere out in the glorious 48 (sic).

-Joey Ukrop

Note: For those H.A.M.B.ers in Alaska and Hawaii, stay tuned…