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Hot Rods Why do people call...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Mike VV, Feb 21, 2017.

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  1. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    Why do people aluminum wheels, "Mag." wheels ? While it used to be the latest "buzz" word to sound cool, or a sort of hold over from the heydays of when Halibrands were on every race car worth its salt,
    Hasn't that day come and gone ?

    Real magnesium wheels are few and far between today. When you do find them (new or old) many can't afford them (new or old..!).

    Just curious...

    Mike
     
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  2. BadgeZ28
    Joined: Oct 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,165

    BadgeZ28
    Member
    from Oregon

    I think so. The term has been used for many years.
     
  3. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,816

    BJR
    Member

    Kind of like "Scotch tape" instead of cellophane tape. Or give me a "Kleenex" instead of give me a tissue.
     
  4. topher5150
    Joined: Feb 10, 2017
    Posts: 3,338

    topher5150
    Member

    same thing as every driving a Honda with a NOS
     

  5. Same as when people refer to starter drives as a Bendix..not accurate, but mostly accepted and known as in automotive lingo.
     
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  6. Xerox machines instead of copiers.
    "Rebuilt motor'' (engine). Watered down commonly accepted inaccurate terms.
    The rear ARE's on the '57 are true magnesium wheels. Fronts aluminum, so I'm half right? Lol
     
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  7. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    I guess because the ad agencies told us to.....

    ansen ad.jpeg
    It didn't seem to matter to them whether it was made of magnesium or aluminum or steel or ??
    cragar ad.jpg
     
  8. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Seriously, they had to call them something and the term Mag definitely came from the magnesium race car wheels that they started making.

    Then the term just became a common used term to describe a non factory aftermarket wheel. Afterwards the factories started using the term for factory alloy wheels.

    What's the big deal ? Would you rather they were called those shiny fancy round things that my car didn't come with ?
     
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  9. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    why do people call anything anything? why do people call Hot Rods Hot Rods? because we just make up the language as we go along and change the meaning of words to fit what we want them to. why do we call megnetos mags when they are not made of magnesium?
     
  10. Back in the early days that's what all aftermarket wheels were called. HRP
     
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  11. Flathead Dave
    Joined: Mar 21, 2014
    Posts: 3,959

    Flathead Dave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from So. Cal.

    Because we want to. Been called mags before most of us were born. Why does Sylvester call mice, meeces? Or Mr. Jinks, even.....
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
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  12. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Wasn't too many years ago you'd hear people call any old hot rod Ford a "roadster".
     
  13. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Or a dune buggy :D
     
  14. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,345

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    Mag wheels are made of magnesium. The are strong and light... but flammable. Safer, and cheaper, wheels in the same designs could be made with aluminum or other alloys. I think the term mag just stuck, referring to high quality, top of the line wheels. And for the most part, you can't easily tell the same size mags from aluminum wheels, unless you weigh them. Remember, too, wire wheels were once the ideal, but they proved too weak as racing speeds got higher, especially in all the forms of racing were there was heavy cornering, like ovals and road racing. Gary
     
  15. traffic61
    Joined: Jun 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,545

    traffic61
    Member
    from Owasso, OK

    At least they're not calling them "rims".
     
  16. MO_JUNK
    Joined: Jan 22, 2006
    Posts: 1,197

    MO_JUNK
    Member
    from Rolla, Mo.

    Why do people (including me) say motor versus engine?
     
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  17. bowie
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,098

    bowie
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
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  18. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    Oh oh................
     
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  19. B Ramsey
    Joined: Mar 29, 2009
    Posts: 646

    B Ramsey
    Member

    Because you put motor oil in it?
     
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  20. brad2v
    Joined: Jun 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,652

    brad2v
    Member

    Beat me to it. I dunno why, but the modern "rim" thing drives me particularly nuts.
     
  21. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon


    Daddy
    Yes son
    What's a rim job:eek:
     
  22. When a word is used in the vernacular for a period of time it becomes part of the lexicon.:eek::D
     
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  23. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,816

    BJR
    Member

    A friend of mine drives a lexicon.
     
  24. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Douglas, you are so far away from being right I don't know where to start. o_O:D:eek:
    However, it did remind me a good dick joke. PM'ing you with it.
     
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  25. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Oh goody, another dick joke!
     
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  26. BigDogSS
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 979

    BigDogSS
    Member
    from SoCal

    Interchangeable. Motor mounts, Motor boat, MOTOR's Auto Repair Manual, Department of Motor Vehicle, etc.
     
  27. Mine too, he just got in a multivernacular accident.
     
  28. ..................Might not have happened if he were in a Smart car.:D:eek:
     
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  29. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    We almost need a HAMB dictionary link to understand some of the posts. If I ever the word Dizzy in reference to a distributor somebody hit me with a lugnutremovaltoolthingy.
     
  30. He didn't. Mr. Jinks called Pixie and Dixie, "meeses"
     
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