Hot Rods With a Hood or without?

When several of my fellow club members meet for lunch on Thursdays my pal Gary showed up in his '34 Ford coupe without the hood, I had never seen the car hoodless but he said he needed it off to do some repairs, I thought the car looked pretty cool without the hood.

It got me to thinking how many of you prefer your car or truck hood-less, or with a hood?

I feel certain most have a opinion on what type of car or truck looks better with a hood a hood and what doesn't, photo's of your cars or trucks to make your point would be cool. HRP

 

33-34 running a 33-34 grill looks better with a hood top. If it's channeled and running a 32 grill they look good either way.
It's the flavor of the whole build that determines the hood looks better on the car or left in the garage.

 

I like hoodless on my A.

 

I have just the top on my 34 truck because the 348 is so wide it sticks out the sides. I like it with the motor showing.

 

To my mind anything after 34 (well maybe 35) without a hood looks like it should be in the shop getting work done on the motor. An early hot rod does not necessarily need a hood.

 

Depends on the car for me. My '37 Chevy pickup currently has a Jimmy 302 inline six and I prefer the full hood. When I re-engine it down the road with a Latham superchargered Buick 322 Nailhead, the sidedraft Carter carbs will not fit the confines of the hood. I'm still debating with myself over the hood sides. Eliminate completely or fabricate hood blisters. Haven't decided on headers yet and that may make the decision for me.

 

I agree, an earlier car the hood is optional although I prefer with the top. Later cars not so much. Bonus with the early car it's not a commitment , what look do I like today.

 

Pretty much have to run at least a hood top here in Florida. Rains to much. (Assuming you drive your car in the rain.) Nice thing about a hood, you can always take it off.

--louis

 

No hood for now. I’d like to try and make one down the road.

 

I voted hoodless, which definitely is my preference on an early hot rod. Hoodless and fenderless! I prefer having the engine sitting out there naked and proud!

But I recall reading about a car club back in the 40's - 50's, and the club rule was going without a hood was fine for around town, but club road trips required hoods installed. I thought that was an interesting insight into those days.

 

how else ya gunna see where all your money went...............

 

Well running a bellybutton would definitely form my decision. But if it’s an early OHV that too would be a driving factor.
Now with the 37 I went both ways with the VIB.

 

A hood would be sinful on my son's hot rod.......

 

Oh I don't know about that. Depends. I like mine both ways and I ran it mostly this year with it off. Got just many favorable coments as I did with it on. Hemi is pretty hidden on, where with it off more of it is out in view, which a lot of folks seem to like. Would like to post pic's but not HAMB friendly.

 

I don't mind a good looking "girl" going topless!

 

Topless is for a different day & thread. HRP

 

Hoods belong in jail!

 

NOOOOOOOO!Can't tell what that topless creature is.

 

My old beater looks much better with a hood, I have the stereotypical sbc and it's not dressed up so I retain the hood, It is a original 25 louver type. HRP

 

Don, If my engine looked that good I wouldn't have a hood on my car ether. HRP

 

HRP, should have said "hoodless". My only excuse is that I've been "unsupervised" going on two weeks! Wife is away tending to her ill sister.

 

Depends on the car in question.
here is mine with the hood

and almost the same angle without the hood

I had to take off the hood to re-jet the 97's. Looks cool "sans hood" but I prefer it with the hood top. No sides ever, nothing in there I want to hide.

Oh, and no hood scoop! (sorry, different thread)

 

Ok, you strayed in the mind, of the other hot rod"thing" in life...

.....so, let me explain the whole deal with no hood at all, on a hotrod with a cooool assed motor..

"What if John Holmes always wore pants?"

My hood top will never go back on, and I do drive in rain, and got caught in a snowsquall... but I will never be seen without pants.

.

 

Bandit, I vote yes on hood top on your rod.

 

Depends, and I'm not talking about waterproof undies either.
For the most part I'm partial to the full hood look, but I'll give a pass if I see a nice car sans hood as long as it has a good looking engine.
There is one situation where a hood can completely throw off a cars look, that is when the hood to cowl matchup is off or the grille shell is either too high or too low and the flow lines of the hood are interupted.

 

^^^^^totally agreed! I spent 3 months making sure my hood didn't ride "uphill".

 

me too...

 

A friend of mine had this car some years back and I always thought it looked good without the hood sides on.

 

No hood. I have one but , I can not bring myself to chop a hole in it. LOL. Blower needs to be in the wind.

 

Hood top