The Tri-5 Dork

We have a traitor amongst us gentlemen. He was a diehard hot rod builder. You’ve probably read and followed many of his threads and learned from his seemingly endless talent. I’m not gonna give you his name. I don’t want to force him out of his closet… His parents should hear the news from him – not read it on the largest hot rod and custom publication in the world.

So, let’s just call him Aaron.

Ryan: Dude… You are soooooooo a tri-five dork now.

Aaron: Not really. I just like them and they look better stock than they do all customized and what not – Especially 55’s.

Ryan: Nothing looks better stock Aaron. You know that in your heart of hearts.

Aaron: Show me one ’55 that looks better customized than it does stock.

Ryan: Take that ’55 you are working on now. Restore it to the nines. Make it a 100 point restoration. You there yet?

Aaron: What are you getting at?

Ryan: Now… It’s stock. Perfectly. Looks good, right? Good and clean.

Aaron: Yep.

Ryan: Now, lower it four inches all the way around. Presto! Better than stock.

Aaron: Not really. It just looks lower.

Ryan: How’s that Betty Boop collection of yours coming?

It looks as though Aaron might be a lost cause. I can hardly believe it myself… I blame the state of modern parenting mostly. Divorce. Drugs. Alcohol. All that and rat rods too. Aaron has lost his mind and his common sense. This post is an effort to bring him back.

I could have easily featured one of the more renowned tri-five cars that have hit the pages of Hot Rod or Rod & Custom in the past, but that would be too obvious, too easily put off as mainstream moulding. Instead, I decided to look for a car that many might not have seen. Something that was hidden in the pages of past… Something subtle, but with the power to change Aaron’s will.

Bingo! The November, 1957 issue of Car Craft Magazine featured a two page spread on Wally Ruby’s jet clean ’55. Other than what might be construed as a silly grille treatment, it’s as close to as perfect as I can imagine.

Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Aaron.

………………….