Love this thread. Here's a handful of recent shots of my 32 taken at a recent beach sprint event down here....runs a souped up '37 21 stud, 39 trans, 32 rear and mech brakes. .
Keep it up guys! This thread has been going strong for a couple years now! Amazing photos and stories that all of you have contributed to. Thank you all for keeping the spirit alive!!!
All my favorite hot rods are from the 40s, they look so tough, raw and REAL. This is my AV8 I've been building for a couple years, I was aiming for the feel of the 40s. The flathead is a 50 Mercury so it's a little modern for the rest of the car, but that might change in the future.
I knew Ide find you on the HAMB eventually.. any plans to lower the headlights or will you keep them high? I personally like the high look. -Trey Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The high headlights have a 'goofy' look that sure grows on you. Modern build style and aesthetics dictate low slung headlights, but this fits the look and era you're going for. Good on ya!
Thanks! I'm definitely keeping them up high. I actually had a guy tell me "the headlights must be down low to be a hot rod, otherwise it looks like a farm car" so I call it The Farm Car now.
My 86 year old grandpa that raced the lakes said in Pasadena where he was from the cops hated chopped down roadsters. He would get headlight tickets for them being to low so he would go to the next town and a block away he would change his back tires to the front to raise the front end up high enough to get the ticket singed off then drive around the corner and switch the tires back. Back tires were taller. Ha lol I laugh everytime we talk about it and so does he. High headlights are as traditional as Apple pie. He said the headlights had to be 14" high to be legal if he can remember right he says.
On an aside, check out the missing brakes (backing plates & mech brake mechanism) on the car in the front corner of the pic on the salt. (1st pic about h/lights)
Good catch. That's weird. Maybe something broke. Or maybe they just didn't finish rebuilding them before the weekend.
Ah possible. That's a good thought as well. Every pound helps. Though, that seems like it'd be a real pain in the ass, taking them off and putting them back on, just to race. You sure wouldn't catch me doing that. haha
Here is mine - built in the early 40's . . . still running mechanical brakes and 32 suspension. The engine is a very hot 42 Merc. I had the interior redone in an early 40's custom style - distressed burgundy leather. I've had more fun with this old hotrod than any other . . . it is just old, dirty, weathered and pretty much the way that "Earl" built it (except for a much hotter engine - he had a stock 100 HP 59AB in it). Here is the dash and steering wheel (I've touched nothing here) - and you can see the old vinyl that was in it . . . probably a weekend job by 'Mom'. LOL
That cabriolet is a neat car. Looks to be very well preserved. The paint missing on the hood looks like a tire or something sat on it for 50 years! Any idea what caused that ring shape? Is that the original paint on the car?
Gene doesn't read the HAMB. As I know it built over many years using original parts steel of course, does have a later flathead. Gene knew the gentleman who built it and had to convince him to sell. Gene and his brother sold their Bonneville roadster and Gene went looking for a 40's style. No lowering and US Army blanket sewn seat. Can be seen every Saturday at Donut Derolicks in Huntington Beach.
I think the ring was caused by what you mentioned - an old tire on the hood or a tube. The car appears to have a couple coats of cheap enamel over the original black paint in most places. Areas like the interior, firewall, etc - are all original paint. I just did my best to preserve everything I could on it -- when Flop repaired some metal on it (lower quarters), I blended the new paint into the old . . . came out pretty good.