The Jalopy Journal

**Jive-Bomber** · 09-20-2011, 09:49 AM

That's a really tough question to answer... And totally subjective. There have been so many clean, iconic covers from Hot Rod magazine that came out during that early golden era from 1948 to 1958. Most of you know the first issue came about in Janua...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

Malcolm · 09-20-2011, 09:55 AM

My favorites are definitely the early black and white, single image covers.
Enough so, that I have a few of them framed and hanging up at home and here at my desk at work.

Malcolm

**ThirdGen** · 09-20-2011, 09:56 AM

I like the innocence and simplicity of the late '40s, but the mid to late '50s is ICONIC, and is what pops into my head when talking about early Hot Rod mags.

and this is my favorite issue:

Deuces · 09-20-2011, 10:03 AM

I have one from '54 I believe... I need to dig it up.

**JeffreyJames** · 09-20-2011, 10:19 AM

Here are some of my personal favorites. I like the early ones because they were really clean and simple but also drew the view into a daze. I love the moment on them which they cut back on in in the mid 50's.

Here's one I always look back to as being a favorite from the mid 50's....

And had the Lloyd Baken coupe been on the cover alone and not with the the dragster (as much as I love that dragster) I think it'd be in my top 3.

BeatnikPirate · 09-20-2011, 10:23 AM

I spent a lot of time fantasizing over this one in highschool.

**JeffreyJames** · 09-20-2011, 10:24 AM

I do have to say that the late 49 covers where they switched over to a more playful logo with a drop shadow behind are very much loved my me as well....

Lastly I think this cover that Ryan commented on a few weeks back might be the most striking cover in their early years and maybe of all time. This thing doesn't look like a magazine cover, it looks like a War Propaganda Poster. It makes you feel like you want to rally around a cause.....and that cause just happens to be the pursuit of speed.

Dirty Dug · 09-20-2011, 11:18 AM

Interestingly, the October 1957 Hotrod is addressed to Jim Warter. He was a northwest drag racing icon in the 1960s. He was about 15 years old in 1957. How did that magazine end up back east?

**LSGUN** · 09-20-2011, 12:08 PM

I love all of those covers but for me this IS the one:

**HemiDeuce** · 09-20-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdGen

I like the innocence and simplicity of the late '40s, but the mid to late '50s is ICONIC, and is what pops into my head when talking about early Hot Rod mags.

and this is my favorite issue:

My April 1960 Hot Rod has a different cover, I didn't think they did different covers back then.

stanlow69 · 09-20-2011, 12:12 PM

This One. An action photo from 1955.

Dirty Dug · 09-20-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdGen

I like the innocence and simplicity of the late '40s, but the mid to late '50s is ICONIC, and is what pops into my head when talking about early Hot Rod mags.

and this is my favorite issue:

Is that a real cover? The '32 roadster looks too much like Ironbuyer's car which is a recent build. Also, I doubt a rust bucket would have been on the cover of Hotrod back in the '60s.

Muttley · 09-20-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdGen

I like the innocence and simplicity of the late '40s, but the mid to late '50s is ICONIC, and is what pops into my head when talking about early Hot Rod mags.

and this is my favorite issue:

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiDeuce

My April 1960 Hot Rod has a different cover, I didn't think they did different covers back then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirty Dug

Is that a real cover? The '32 roadster looks too much like Ironbuyer's car which is a recent build. Also, I doubt a rust bucket would have been on the cover of Hotrod back in the '60s.

BTW, May '52 gets my vote.

**hotrd32** · 09-20-2011, 12:30 PM

I've always loved this one.........

**Dean Lowe** · 09-20-2011, 12:31 PM

I like the early Hot Rod covers from '48 to '58. But for some reason January '62 is my favorite.

spiderdeville · 09-20-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSGUN

I love all of those covers but for me this IS the one:

hell ya

jipp · 09-20-2011, 12:43 PM

one thing is for sue.. they did enjoy putting belly tankers on the cover. now a days its 32 this or 32 that. heh.
we lost half our hotrod magazines in a move in the 90s.. little pages etc.. our collection is up today from 1999 dec - 2012... such a shame.. o well. thankfully i got to read all them old magazines cover to cover so ill never for get a lot of them cars iv seen.. def made a impression.. one of the trucks that come to mine was a model A, think it was at good guys event in 1976?? with a nice wood flatbed and full front fenders with running boards that stop little ways past the cab.... that truck was so kick ass.. will never forget it

home the people who got them after we moved did not just trash them that would of been a shame all the little hot books should be in peoples collection not the dumpster.
chris.
chris.

Mike White · 09-20-2011, 03:33 PM

Girl crossing street in front of Dick Flynt Roadster

**HemiDeuce** · 09-20-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muttley

BTW, May '52 gets my vote.

Yes boys and girls, we've been photo shopped.

**Jimmy B** · 09-20-2011, 03:36 PM

My favourite.

equal 2nd

My favourite custom Hot Rod cover

09-20-2011, 09:49 AM	#1
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Moraga, Ca Posts: 2,421	The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? That's a really tough question to answer... And totally subjective. There have been so many clean, iconic covers from Hot Rod magazine that came out during that early golden era from 1948 to 1958. Most of you know the first issue came about in Janua... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

09-20-2011, 09:55 AM	#2
Malcolm Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 6,110	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? My favorites are definitely the early black and white, single image covers. Enough so, that I have a few of them framed and hanging up at home and here at my desk at work. Malcolm __________________ www.instagram.com/hoesing

09-20-2011, 09:56 AM	#3
ThirdGen Alliance Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wales, ME Posts: 453	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I like the innocence and simplicity of the late '40s, but the mid to late '50s is ICONIC, and is what pops into my head when talking about early Hot Rod mags. and this is my favorite issue:

09-20-2011, 10:03 AM	#4
Deuces Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 11,410	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I have one from '54 I believe... I need to dig it up. __________________ *** God Bless the U.S. ***

09-20-2011, 10:19 AM	#5
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,934	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? Here are some of my personal favorites. I like the early ones because they were really clean and simple but also drew the view into a daze. I love the moment on them which they cut back on in in the mid 50's. Here's one I always look back to as being a favorite from the mid 50's.... And had the Lloyd Baken coupe been on the cover alone and not with the the dragster (as much as I love that dragster) I think it'd be in my top 3. __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

09-20-2011, 10:23 AM	#6
BeatnikPirate Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Media, Pa. Posts: 1,273	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I spent a lot of time fantasizing over this one in highschool. Attached Thumbnails

09-20-2011, 10:24 AM	#7
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,934	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I do have to say that the late 49 covers where they switched over to a more playful logo with a drop shadow behind are very much loved my me as well.... Lastly I think this cover that Ryan commented on a few weeks back might be the most striking cover in their early years and maybe of all time. This thing doesn't look like a magazine cover, it looks like a War Propaganda Poster. It makes you feel like you want to rally around a cause.....and that cause just happens to be the pursuit of speed. __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

09-20-2011, 11:18 AM	#8
Dirty Dug Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Edmonds,Wa,USA Posts: 3,014	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? Interestingly, the October 1957 Hotrod is addressed to Jim Warter. He was a northwest drag racing icon in the 1960s. He was about 15 years old in 1957. How did that magazine end up back east?

09-20-2011, 12:08 PM	#9
LSGUN Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: TX Posts: 1,104	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I love all of those covers but for me this IS the one:

09-20-2011, 12:12 PM	#11
stanlow69 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: red oak Posts: 1,045	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? This One. An action photo from 1955. Attached Thumbnails __________________ You don`t understand, It`s not all about the money.

09-20-2011, 12:30 PM	#14
hotrd32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: WA Posts: 2,640	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I've always loved this one......... __________________ "Life ain't no dress rehearsal"

09-20-2011, 12:31 PM	#15
Dean Lowe Alliance Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Verne, Ca. Posts: 2,978	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? I like the early Hot Rod covers from '48 to '58. But for some reason January '62 is my favorite. __________________ .....growin' up leads to gowin' old, then to dyin', and dyin', to me, don't sound like all that much fun.........John Mellencamp 1983

09-20-2011, 12:43 PM	#17
jipp Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Arizona Apache Junction Posts: 1,117	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? one thing is for sue.. they did enjoy putting belly tankers on the cover. now a days its 32 this or 32 that. heh. we lost half our hotrod magazines in a move in the 90s.. little pages etc.. our collection is up today from 1999 dec - 2012... such a shame.. o well. thankfully i got to read all them old magazines cover to cover so ill never for get a lot of them cars iv seen.. def made a impression.. one of the trucks that come to mine was a model A, think it was at good guys event in 1976?? with a nice wood flatbed and full front fenders with running boards that stop little ways past the cab.... that truck was so kick ass.. will never forget it home the people who got them after we moved did not just trash them that would of been a shame all the little hot books should be in peoples collection not the dumpster. chris. chris. Last edited by jipp; 09-20-2011 at 12:49 PM.

09-20-2011, 03:33 PM	#18
Mike White FNG Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sonoma Calif. Posts: 18	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? Girl crossing street in front of Dick Flynt Roadster __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum

09-20-2011, 03:36 PM	#20
Jimmy B Alliance Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tweed Valley, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,093	Re: The best Hot Rod magazine cover of the first decade? My favourite. equal 2nd My favourite custom Hot Rod cover __________________ I don't paint by numbers. Hot Rods of the Dry Lakes Era jimmy

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