A few years ago, I was browsing the September, 1956 issue of Rod Builder and Customizer and stumbled across something I had never seen before or since in a hot rod publication of any kind - a wanted poster. It struck me as odd not only because of the... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
I was an 11 kid in Texarkana when the Phantom Killer was at large. We were told to keep our doors locked in the day time as well as at night, this in a time when no body ever locked their doors. The papers and radio said no to open your doors to anyone that you did not know. The whole area was paralyzed with fear as he was very indiscriminate about who he killed and gruesome to boot. My cousin was 6'-6" tall and wore a size 13 shoe, he was taken in and had to have his alibi verified even though he was only 18 years old.
Very Interesting!!!!!!!!!!!! My question is after the murder where did he find the time and the torch to heat up the springs to lower the car????
Very cool thread. I live about 25 min from blue island and was born there decades ago before it went to $hit. Good chance the guy is dead now.
........It could have been P.F. Jobe who lowered the car and not the murderer. Just 'cause he was elderly doesn't mean he wasn't a hot-rodder. I mean after all, he was driving a "hot-rod" of it's time. RIP, P.F.
Hey HRP, are you sure about that? With all the "know-it-alls" on here, I would think there was no one over the age of 30 on here, lol Fryguy
"Those damned hot rodders". An expression we've all probably heard at one time or another. This story also parallels the plight of drag racers, where any STREET RACE gets labeled a DRAG RACE by the media, and it makes all legitimate drag racers look bad. I'm always sending an e-mail to the TV news, radio news, or the newspapers whenever I hear, see, or read about one of these so called, drag races on the street. My message to them, STREET RACING IS NOT DRAG RACING, so don't call it that; call it what it is, STREET RACING. Even the new Discovery show, Street Outlaws, refers to what they do as STREET RACING. Butch/56sedandelivery.
Last night, sadly enough an 18 year old kid was killed 'drag racing' in cape cod, a BMW suv he was driving hit a tree, the other car a Camry I am intrigued by this Hot Rod / Murder story...be nice to see it solved
Hmmm...Flattop haircut? Scar on one cheek? Heated springs??? Sounds like a hot rodder to me. FBI was on the JOB! We could catch this guy! Heated springs spell Hot Rod DNA to me... ...Masked...Silver bullets...rides a white stallion...travels with an Indian?
Hmmmmm, sold a stolen car out of state in 1955. I guess the paperwork was a little lax back then. I wonder where the car is today
I think you have the makings for a new hot rod reality show there Ryan! I am sure Velocity would pick it right up. About half of their shows already make we want to go out and kill someone...LOL! Nice post.
that squad car looks a little old for 1955, probably was cops that committed the murders and blamed it on a hot rodder. Never trust a cop! LOL
haha a truer statement has never been made a little off the subject, im thinking you are trying to throw us off.....when was the last time you were in blue island dueced up???? hmmmm
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