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History Hot Rod History and Photos Dallas Texas 1949 on -Caddo Mills Drag Races

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by KKrod, Apr 6, 2015.

  1. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    I am going to post some rare images of Dallas hot rodding that are from the photo album of Jim Overbey. Jim helped found a hot rod club in Dallas (old East Dallas) in 1949, the Chaparrals Roadster Club. Jim was the founding club president. Fort Worth is 30 miles to the west of Dallas. The "Turtles" car club formed in Fort Worth in 1948.

    Dallas was a city of about 300,000 at this time. Jim Overbey passed away in the 1990's.

    Please feel free to add your comments. That is what will make this a good thread!!

    As a time reference, the Caddo Mills drags began in Sept, 1951.

    Karl Knecht
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2015
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  2. elgringo71
    Joined: Oct 2, 2010
    Posts: 3,823

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    This is going to be good.
     
  3. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    Hwy 67? circa 1950. The hot rodders held time trials on a new stretch of highway east of Dallas. They timed their cars for top speed over a flying 1/4 mile. They also played hare and hound. The hound (hot rod) was sitting still on the side of the highway. The hare (car) would come by at 90 mph and start the stop watch as they pass the hot rod.. The hound was timed with the time it took him to accelerate and catch up with the car. It looks like it was pretty cold that day. Yes it does feel very cold in North Texas sometimes!

    27T.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2015
  4. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    32Cabriolet1.jpg 32Cabriolet2.jpg Hot rods. All that was required to legally drive a hot rod was to have license plates, a taillight, and headlights.
     

  5. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    Bob Berkshire special (built in Calif) and Jimmy Carson '39 sedan (still exists) BerkshireHwy67.jpg Carson39.jpg
     
  6. I'm going to enjoy this thread. Thanks in advance for posting.
     
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  7. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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  8. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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  9. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
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    KKrod
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    Thanks Jimmy.
     
  10. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    Jack Joerns' special. Jack was an RAF pilot in WWII. He was from Fort Worth and was president of the Turtles. He told me what all cars this was built from but I can't recall now. It was built on a Buick chassis and had a full race flathead. This car still exists in very nice condition. I would call this a "sports rod" more than a custom. JoernsSideView.jpg Joerns2.jpg JoernsInterior.jpg JoernsParking.jpg
     
  11. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    These photos are of Jim Overbey and his roadster. Jim was the president of the Chaparrals from 1949-1953. Overbey17jpg.jpg Overbey10.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2015
  12. Wow! Jack Joerns' special is the best proportioned custom sports car (special) I have seen.
     
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  13. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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  14. wow....great stuff - Hwy 67 runs through Cedar Hill which would become another site of an early drag strip of the 50's....Cedar Hill Drag Strip.....others will chime in - thanks again Jim and KK for sharing...
     
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  15. Lone Star Mopar
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 3,811

    Lone Star Mopar
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    Awesome, and thanks for sharing Texas hot rod history ! Chaparrals are still alive and well, I see them around town from time to time.
     
  16. Thanks Karl,,keep um coming...
     
  17. Split bones, dropped axles, filled dashes, chopped stanchions, and channeled bodies...hot rodding was certainly pretty far along in DFW in 1950!

    Really dig the "Dallas" topper in this pic;
    [​IMG]
     
  18. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    Jimmy - I had no idea this car still existed. I went to the hot rod "Power Tour" when it stopped in Arlington in 2013? It was only a few miles from my house and I thought maybe there would be some rods there. I walked up on this car and couldn't believe my eyes. It looks really great in person. The owner is from near Houston. It has a early cadiallac engine in it now.
     
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  19. deadbeat
    Joined: May 3, 2006
    Posts: 655

    deadbeat
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    Thank you for posting,,,please keep them coming ,,,when your ready of course,,,
     
  20. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    1951. These photos are from a "reliability style run. There were some very nice deuce roadsters in Dallas. Most of them were High boy style. The no. 5 car was brought from California. It was owned by Charlie Adams who owned Custom Automotive speed shop in Dallas. Amazingly it still exists. Perhaps wbrw32 will chime and tell more about Charlie Adams and the speed shop as he worked there. It continued in operation into the 60's. AdamsRoadster5.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2015
  21. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
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    KKrod
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    1951 - Unknown roadster.

    Roadster10.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2015
  22. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
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    KKrod
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    more to come later...
     
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  23. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
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    gnichols
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    from Tampa, FL

    Wonderful thread. Many thanx for sharing. Gary
     
  24. Anderson
    Joined: Jan 27, 2003
    Posts: 7,155

    Anderson
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    Another great thread from Karl Knecht!!
     
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  25. okiedokie
    Joined: Jul 5, 2005
    Posts: 4,778

    okiedokie
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    from Ok

    Great thread, keep em coming.
     
  26. dad-bud
    Joined: Aug 22, 2009
    Posts: 3,884

    dad-bud
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    Awesome pics, thanks for sharing
     
  27. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
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    What a fantastic snapshot of the past. Love the Joern's Special. Looking at the background in these pictures of wide open country makes me wonder if this is all subdivisions now?
     
  28. missysdad1
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,305

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    These are the types of cars that really turn my crank. I was five years old in 1951 and have been tuned into hot rods since shortly after that. I've lived through all the "seasons" of hot rodding and street rodding, but it is still these crude "gow jobs" that do it for me. Lets see some more!
     
  29. draider
    Joined: Jul 12, 2004
    Posts: 461

    draider
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    from Texas

    Great thread, hope to see more Texas hot rod history.
     
  30. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
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    I believe this roadster was from Denton and possibly owned by Marvin or Lewis Calvert. Denton is 30 miles to the NW of Dallas. Denton was also a hot rod center. Calvert Automotive. DeuceRoadster.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2015

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