Hot Rods Is there any 25 and under guys building cool hot rods?

Having a conversation the other day about how the next generation isn't grasping what we do and is pretty much tuned out hahah..

But I believe there are some good kids out there that are getting into it..that are talented already.. Who are they? Let's see what you do and hopefully we can expose them or you to other youth to keep this hobby alive...


It's important to pass this culture on..

 

My adopted little brother fomoco kid has a kool ass 35 ford 3window he was buildin but then he bought himself a house and started his own fabrication business so its been on the back burner. If anyone has time look up his build build thread and give him shit to get back rollin on the project.

 

Im 19, built this 60 Ford P/U and am building a 63 Fairlane with my buddy whos also my age. I work at a hot rod/restoration parts store - Graffiti Alley..

 

well im 18 and I'm really into old cars, I always have been, me and my dad. we rebuilt a 1950 gmc from when I was 11 to when I was 15 1/2 and I still drive it everyday. its a resto mod. not really a hot rod. and I'm currently restoring a 1956 Cadillac . but my next project (which I have bought its on the backburner till the caddys finished) is a 1951 buick that WILL be a hotrod. just thought id share what I'm up to even though its not strictly traditional hotrod

 

I'm 25 and currently re-doing my '48 IH pickup. It's not quite traditional mechanically but aesthetically it fits. I've enjoyed hot rods and cars for as long as I can remember. I never had anyone around me that was into this stuff so Everything I've learned is 90% self-taught and I have a loooooonng ways to go. I worked in a resto shop for 3yrs and now I switched gears into collision work. For a little over a year I've been a combo guy doing paint and body work in a large production shop.

 

Grandson is 3 and collecting parts. Bob

 

Does it count if you are 30 and behave 18?
And been ad it since 16?

 

That's the same boat I'm in.

 

Depends on how you "fudge" the numbers mate!

Most of us were under 25 when we started building cars [ some are in their 70's and still haven't finished it yet ]

 

They aren't bad kids or tuned out, it's gotten too expensive to own and maintain a modern vehicle much less build a hot rod or custom. Lots aren't bothering getting a license. When minimum wage was $1.25 that would buy 5 gallons of gas, now maybe 2. Cars are expensive to buy, operate, and insure. They are no longer easy to work on - they don't need to have maintenance performed very often is the flip side, but God help you if you do.
Plug changes used to be no big deal, maybe a beer or two. Now 8 hours isn't unusual. I can't drink for 8 hours anymore.

Cars are a lot safer but have sophisticated engine management systems, anti-lock brakes, air bags and I don't know what all. The culture of cutting teeth on lawn-mowers to mini-bikes and go-karts seemed to have died by the 80s. When I was growing up everything we kids did was outside from dawn to dusk. Today neighborhoods look like a neutron bomb went off - they are all mostly inside.

 

My son @R.Otto is 25 has his own shop and has had his 62 Pontiac Catalina since he was 14 and bought a 27 Rpu that @titus started. We had it at TROG but didnt participate. Next year it will be ready.

 

I am a little above 25 (33) I am building a 30 A pick-up, and their are a few others in this age group building.

However they are few and far between, so many people my age just don't seem to care about old cars or history in general.

When I drive my 53 Chevrolet very few young people even look at it.

As far as getting in the car life style (it is more the a hobby in my eyes) I don't remember a time my family (Dad Mom & Myself) don't go to races, swapmeets,or carshows when I was growning up.

I was in the pits at my frist 1/2 dirt track race when I was 3 months old!

To show you how much things have changed the auto teacher ( a guy in this early 30's) brought the I.MC.A. he crews on for the students to work on as a threat.

They want no part of working on it!

I would have loved to work on a racecar in my H.S. auto class.

A link to my build-

ww.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/my-261-chevrolet-6-in-an-east-coast-model-a-truck.976419/

 

I know the feeling. People my age don't get "it".

What is a I.MC.A? Sorry my ignorance

 

I think that you could swig a cat without hitting a young man (or lady) building some pretty smooth stuff on this site.

Now if you really want to know go on face book and post the question this way, only under 25 respond and what is the sickest chit you are doing. LOL

 

I will be the first to you this an expensive way to spend one's time.

However my father and mother are semi-retired, They work in the local Vo-Tech. My father works in in the welding class.


He talks about the students coming to school with high dollar cell phones and that many have several pairs of shoes that several hundred dollars, and when he tries talk to them about cars or racing they just turn on their heels.

Very sad I just ate that stuff up when I was in school I still do come to think about it.

 

I'm 24, building an AV8 roadster. It's a 29, A frame, 50 merc flatty, 39 trans, 40 rear, 40 ford steel wheels.
My only other vehicle is a 56 Chevrolet 3100 I built about 3 years ago, it has been my daily since, 60 miles a day with a 283, stock trans, 64 rear end (12 bolt), dropped stock axle, four wheel drums on bias ply firestones.
My girlfriend (22 y/o) and I also built her a truck last year, a 51 Chevrolet 3100 bomber, she digs lowriders and bombs. 235, 64 three speed/rear, 4 drums and eventually bias white walls. Along with body/paint, bumpers, and more lowering.
I agree with the expensive part, most people my age are starting families and couldn't afford hot rods even I they understood it. Luckily I met a girl that wanted an old car and dog family just like me. Our trucks do not look how we want them to yet, they are not finished, they are just at a drivable and still enjoyable stage on their way to being finished.
At 24 years old, old cars is pretty much all I know, I'll keep it alive until I'm gone!

 

Here are the trucks, I tried to post them in the other post, wouldn't work..

 

Wow what a great bunch of guys you are! Thank you for keeping it going.. I'm very impressed with what you guys are up to.. It's very inspiring for me see this it makes me want to build shit .. I think it's safe to say that all of us on here wish we were in our 20's building hot rods cause no matter what age you are we are trying to emulate that same feeling at least I am hahaha..

Thank you.

 

To answer the OP's question, if there's not, we're screwed.

 

I'm trying do build as much of it as I can while I'm young. I learned all this from my dad and grandpa, and I've seen how much 20 years slowed them down. Thanks to the old guys for creating this and keeping it alive for us!

 

Haha I have a 18 year old brain and a 63 body that needs work..

 

I would love to see more guys and girls my age get into some type of auto racing, building and driving old cars, and hot rods.

However think ( fear) guys like myself and @D.Lee are in a shrinking minority

 

I'm 39 and I feel like my generation was the last of any kind of workers , obviously some exceptions have posted some nice rides here .....

but tell the younger people it will take them a year or more to build a hotrod and their head explodes... They look at you like your crazy ,Everyone wants it now , everyone wants it cheap , nobody wants to work for it , I have noticed the trend in the last 7 years selling parts and project cars.. Especially in so-cal

 

Pictures wouldn't load in my original post. Also the current state below.



I am also trying to get my building done while I'm young since life tends to always slow down the process. I have other projects lined up but need to get my IH on the road to make space.

 

15 and I'm building a 32 ford 5w with a 392 Hemi, 471 blower, 37 lasalle trans and QC of course with the help of my Dad.

 

I just turned 26 a couple months ago..hopefully that's close enough to jump in here. I've had an OT c10 since before I could drive. I'm currently building a 39 Chevy 2 door to be my daily, also have a 26/27 T roadster (or what's left of a touring) body waiting it's turn.. I'm also the 'lead' on my dads 31 A sedan build.. And plus, I'm collecting parts for a 30/31 A coupe build. Between full time work, raising a 5 year old, and getting married next year, time has been a little hard to come by. But as much as I love these old cars, I wouldn't trade the time I have with my family, so I'm ok with my projects taking awhile to see the road. I hope my son takes an interest in hot rods or something similar, he loves working on stuff and helping me 'fix' stuff. So I'm trying to carry the torch and hopefully pass it on at least one more generation.

 

I'm 25, turn 26 here shortly. But have been into hot rods and customs my whole life, grew up in the backseat of a chopped '50 merc. I picked up my first project vehicle at 14, an OT bagged truck. Then moved to a 30 A sedan at 17. I recently got my first complete build on the road 3 years ago, 29 A roadster on deuce rails. ( its not quite done yet, but driveable, with the help of my dad and brother) Just picked up a '40 ford coupe that is partially completed and am working on finishing this to enjoy. It's tough not to be into old cars since I ve been involved in it since I was born and I'm thinking I always will be! Wouldn't have it any other way. Here's a picture of my current cars.

 

I think the handwriting is on the wall. Of course, there are still some young guys who are as passionate as us old dogs, but percentage-wise, the number is small. When I was a kid in the '50's we flew model planes and built HO gauge train layouts. Most kids now days wouldn't have a clue what that stuff is. The guys on the Model T forum are asking the same question...who is going to want this stuff after we're gone?

 

Hey 30TudorSedan. that's a NICE pair of hot rods!! I'd say you are definitely keeping the word alive.
Thanks!!

 

30TudorSedan, very cool roadster man.