In the 1950's, Rod & Custom Magazine did a series of road tests on a number of different Hot Rods and Customs. Through these tests, they'd measure things such as zero-to-60 times, breaking, top speed, etc... It was cool because these were tests that... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
"and the well kept car was as free from squeaks and rattles as it was the day it rolled from the factory nearly nine long years ago." This is something you don't hear from my generation.
I've always enjoyed those. They are fun to read. One of my all time favorite ones, although much later, is the comparison between Gray Baskerville's '32 and Jim Jacobs Tub.
55 Chevy with a 3 speed bone stock was 0-60 at 9.7 seconds and 17 seconds in the 1/4 mile. That Caddy was a waste of time.
But its a Cadillac. Filet mignon to a good cheeseburger, is how I'd assume cool guys of the day would compare it to a chevy.. Although the chevy was new and exciting.. Either way I think its rad. I'd like to see more road tests on our cars..
Before they install one of their advertisers bolt-on-what-ever they need to get hard numbers and do a before and after comparison. Dont show me a disk brake job and just tell me it stops better. Give me the 60-0 with four wheel drums and the 60-0 with the discs. Hot Rod has been doing a lot of this lately, I just wish R&C would do the same. Real road tests for real cars that get driven like that Caddy.
Makes me wonder when my 49 motor was put in my 46 Cadillac. It’s got a 40-50 ish Mopar radiator setting in it to help keep it cool
"In any case, the February of 1955 issue featured a Valley Custom built 1946 Cadillac powered by a blown late model overhead" Equivilant today of putting in a supecharged LS series engine into an older car, novel idea! My 46 caddy is well over 4000 pounds and getting a modern engine as well. I bet mine will be able to hit 120mph pretty easily. I think mine was around 4500 pounds new, but that flathead and trans had to be close to 1000 pounds. About killed the trailer that I loaded it on!
brilliant jc, just brilliant. I can imagine the thrilling conversation on a 200 mile drive with you. Of all of Harley Earl's marque's this Cad comes as close to the benchmark '40 Ford coupe's looking like it's going 120 mph while it's standing still as anything I've seen. Does anyone know if it survives?