History Australian Historic Hot Rods

They are coming in singles now. We have been given permission to go driving this weekend so I guess all the hot rodders are out there and not on computers. Taking the Riviera out this afternoon for a cruise.

 

Just taken the Dodge out for a run around the block this morning............a few less cobwebs in both it and me...........lol........that wrecking yard in Bathurst........was that the one as you come into Bathurst on the left, behind the large park?.......I went to it in 1972 with a mate, I could tell that the Frod vultures had picked over most of it tho' there was still a lot of non Frod stuff.........Cooma in NSW & Dalby in Qld were the best I've ever seen..........andyd

 

Yes Andy , it is.

 

Prayers sent to Reg

 

A couple of random shots and then a series from Coffs Harbour Run 1972 courtesy of Bill Jansen.
Also an interview relating to the first picture with Dave Duncan.
https://www.whichcar.com.au/feature...r4YFDchpTEnIQcKEkLkw-lk_jeW6V9NX5Fzxtw9Cazi3E

 

Some better pics of Coffs Harbour 1972 with an article and then some cars

 

One more random shot shot that wouldn't load before.

 

Yes, I have that magazine. One of only 6 issues published.

 

Hey @andydodge , what ever become of this ?

 

Ah..........our misspent youth comes back to haunt us..............lol.............Bruce fitted a triple carb Tattersall intake with 3 Holden carbys but only the centre carb connected and a modified set of Holden sideplate extractors, 6x14' chev wheels on the front to give it a severe rake & the van and me in the 40 Dodge went to the 1975 Nats........the van had something like 5 or 6:1 gears in the diff and would give a GT Falcon a run up to 10mph..............after that it peaked at about 50-60mph, it was a slow trip to the Nats & back.............lol...............Bruce kept the van but started to concentrate work on his custom 51 Chev sedan, he moved to Springwood in the Blue Mts and he eventually sold the Van in the mid 1980's to a guy in Ryde or Carlingford in Sydney who was a well known Chev nut............by that stage it needed a proper resto as we really only gave it a quick go over to get it back on the road, the timber framed body was starting to come apart ..............I have no idea of the guys name who bought it......funny thing is a few years ago the US magazine Collectible Automobile had a feature on a 1936 Chev Panel Van identical to Bruce's and it seems that whilst the body was made by Holdens in Oz, from the cowl & windscreen forward it was genuine ex USA and was a 1936 FB Series model, not as most people thought a 1934 or 35.........no idea what ever happened to it since it was sold........have attached a couple of colour pics of the Van and one taken at the 1981 Mildura Nats with both Bruces 51 & my 40 Dodge.......regards, andyd

 

Thanks Andy, I remember seeing it around in the early 70's & often wondered what happened to it. It was a pretty rare beast in Ozz.

 

Some more from FB. The first one of the Lively Set movie is significant as that was the first Hot Rod Club I joined here in Brisbane back in 1968. It had been recently formed at that time when I had purchased the 29 Ford roadster. Maybe a few repeats here of the same car but not necessarily the same situation.

 

I have a question regarding Australian Rodding World magazine.........May 1965 was the 1st issue, I have May 65, June 65, July 65, August 65, Sept-Oct 65, Jan 66, Feb 66, Apr-May 66, June 66, Jul-Aug 66, Sep 66, Oct-Nov 66 and Jan 67......13 issues in total........the 1st 10 are the standard magazine size(10&3/4 x 8 & 1/4"), the last 3 are smaller( 9 &1/2 by 7&1/4") but larger than the "little" magazine size.............Jul-Aug 66 & Sep 66 are both missing their covers but all the rest are reasonably clean and intact........was January 1967 the last issue?..........andyd

 

It's the last issue I have also, pretty sure it was the last .

 

I had a mention earlier that Rock N Roll Reg was very ill and the driveby for him had been cancelled as he was readmitted to hospital. Have just been notified that Reg has passed away. He was a
character in the car scene. That sidevalve had twin turbos!!!

 

Thanks Paul
we just heard the news
Prayers to Family
Noel

 

Thanks for another shot of the George Clark coupe; I've been kinda fascinated with this car ever since I saw it in the April '64 (USA) Rod & Custom.

 

George actually lives in Texas now & is still heavily involved in Drag Racing.

 

A few posted on FB today. The dash plaque from 1975(not mine) is for the first Nationals I attended with my 29 Model A Tourer. When we left on Sunday it poured rain for hours until we had to find somewhere to stay for the night.
The yellow bucket is Greg Thomsens who has great hot rodding and drag racing history here in Brisbane. He also puts on the monthly coffee runs I post regulary. They have been off for a few months while we deal with Chinese Virus stuff.

 

A few more listed today. The Model A roadster(first picture) is the one I purchased in 1968. That is a photo with the builder of the car,Evan and wife Sue. Must be early as still has the cross over exhaust manifold on the 272 Y Block. Later Evan made a set of extractors and side pipes.

 

Love this early builds from u guys - you built as you could - glad y'all kept them going !

 

Some more

 

Add some more

 

Keep it up. Hope you can shame a response from the Canadians.

Sent from my SM-T350 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Some more with history. The Gatt brothers were into hot rods with T buckets, coupes and drag racing in a big way. Ben Gatt also built a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and the link to that is here as it is not "historic".
I remember getting the supreme compliment from Ben when we attended the Sydney Meguirs Hot Rod Show and I had the Hudson showing for the first time and Ben had the Lincoln. Someone asked him if he had a choice of cars to take home from the show which car would it be. He said I want the 48 Hudson. Here is the link to the Lincoln Zephyr. I think it used the glass body from Terry Cooke in USA (Art Deco)
https://www.throttlextreme.com/dumped-benny-gatts-1939-lincoln-zephyr/

Some other interesting shots are the Essex by the Murray Brothers (this appears in earlier photos here) in its original form and then another fully fendered along with a T Bucket the brothers built but not finished by them I believe. It is still around owned by someone else but seldom seen.
Other pictures here are a 32 roadster from Brisbane area, another 32 owned by John Philpot who is a well known Brisbane rodder now living in NSW and still building cars, my old friend (RIP)Junky Kev's
32 roadster after it had just been painted maroon. Kev came to my house probably late 67 to see a 34 roadster basketcase I had and I joined their club The Lively Set in early 68 after purchasing the 29 Roadster. Also another 1926 Essex, this time a pickup with a Studebaker engine.
Also here is a US 34 Coupe in ealry 70's. That was rare here and the body was different to the Aussie
5 window body.Last is a 34 coupe at Castlereagh Drags in 1965

 

A later Gatt brothers effort at Castlereagh.

Roo

 

Mighn't get away with that name now with the PC police out there.

 

Here are more from various FB pages. Some photos from maybe late 70's early 80's and you can see that by the hair styles and clothes.

 

Light on today. This is a 35 Coupe and some comments suggest it is on a Customline chassis. The front end certainly looks like that and it is running a Y Block so maybe a donar car. the last picture shows what it later became.Now a traditional rod.

 

Great history there, thanks for posting it all.