Art & Inspiration "Hot Rod" By David Perry

Bought it when it came out...still displayed on the coffee table...a true classic

 

I have had that book ever since it was published,I thumbed through it again a couple of days ago. HRP

 

Thanx for that Ryan.Good read.

 

Thanks for bring David back to the light. I first saw his work in Street Rodder magazine, it was the same time as I was trying to make my mark in photograpy/journalism. I was shooting 'pictures' but his photos were ART!. His work had a great influence on my own later work, his use of light and burning of the edges to surround and highlight, amazing. I was lucky enough to meet him at Bonneville and later at Paso, I am sure I babbled.
I remember seeing him at Paso when he drove his roadster for the first time, at the park he posed with one of his friends, BFG and was quick enough to grab one shot, it was harder with film cameras back then.
Years after his book came out, were also lucky enough to actually drive one of his subjects, the Brew 102 53 Ford.
David, where are you now?

 

Great read,Ryan.In fact,you inspired me to buy another copy on Ebay just now.A perfect Fathers Day present.

 

That book was an eye opener. Epic. In the truest sense of the word.

 

Bought it when it came out. Still pull it out every once in a while for inspiration.

 

While I can't admit I've never seen or heard of the book (i.e., I have a copy in my library), I do admit that I haven't looked at it for probably 10+ years ... So thanks for this "reminder" to dust it off and have another gander at David's wonderful images!

 

ok ill be the first, Ryan , thanks for making.me say that. Is there a prize for first???

 

Always loved the pic of the blonde in her fire suit...

 

Never seen them before, but I sure dig them. I'll be on the lookout for it...

 

I'll admit I've never seen or heard of the book.
I will check it out when I get a chance.
Is it OK for me to say I never understood the sense of the slicked hair and rolled up jeans thing ?
It all seemed sort of dumb to me to see the youngsters trying to imitate a period like that.
But that's just me.
I can certainly appreciate the cars and the art of the photography.

 

Uh huh.....

 

I have a couple copies.
Bought two when first out.
One gets pulled out once in a while.
The other will come out when the first one wears out.
one of the things that got me was when I saw the picture of the hands checking the cuffs,
I have almost the same exact tattoo in the same place..

 

Yeah, that's a good one. I've also re-lived the pict. of the dude enjoying a Miller after a hard and hot day in the garage. Love that pict. as well.

The one with the Betty sitting on the tire of her '33 is also boss.

 

I haven't looked at my copy for years either, I'll have to pull it off the shelf when I get home tonight. It along with the original "Hot Rod Deluxe" made me realize that I wasn't the only young guy interested in traditional rods and customs.

 

Found ya....!

 

Oh jeeze, another book I gotta buy now. Thanks Ryan.

 

It's a great book, but I beg to differ that the traditional thing was just getting started in 1997. From my experience in Washington State it was alive and well before then. More like the mid to late 80s. Sure there was the stupid crybaby doll and billet crap that dominated at that time period, but traditional cars and like minded folks were around. In some ways I enjoyed it more then because it wasn't the "in" thing.

 

A lot of this is a lifestyle for many folks....much like the tuner crowd has their music and style, the new generation of " bikers" like their beards, red wing boots, and 70's style stoner rock, many of the traditional car people carry the " traditional style" into their lives. Look up Royalshifter...dude has a killer Kustom...and a killer period correct mid century home, complete with period correct furnishings.....different strokes for different folks..at the end of the day we are all " car folks"

 

I'm as guilty as anyone else. I haven't seen the inside of this book in a number of years. I never did own my own copy of it...I just looked at other people's copies. Took care of that this morning and bought a copy on ebay. This morning there were two copies on ebay...now there are none. Guess I'm not the only one.

 

Perry's book can lead one into different directions. Somehow, someway while looking up D. Perry's photography I stumbled upon the name of a photographer from the '50's named Bruce Davidson. While following that lead, I found out Davidson was also a photographer who would follow different "outsiders", in particular, gang members.

Sometime in the early '90's, Davidson put out a book called Brooklyn Gang which is now out of print. I was lucky to score a copy of it at my local library's book sale for $1.00. When I look at Davidson's work I see Perry's and vice versa. It is amazing how much emotion, feeling, etc. a picture can convey without ever having to say a word.

 

Need to pick one up, maybe an early birthday present (Sept. is right around the corner)! Thanks

 

The Blond was the daughter of a one time partner of the land speed Salt Circus 28 roadster. Burt Lesage (sorry about the spelling if it is wrong) who is a well know Western Artist akin to Remington.

 

Like a "Venus of the Salt Flats"

Funny, I pulled this book out and flipped through it about a month ago. K6