Hot Rods 2 different times 1950’s 2000’s

That’s what I thought, I was thinking it was a truck body?

excited to see what you do with it either way, it’s a killer car keep us posted!

 

That car looks great, but one thing cough my attention. Is the rear tire sitting behind the wheel well, if so why? Maybe it is the camera angle and shadow, just wondering. Bob

 

I'm still lost here. Was there a question? Looks like a Hamb approved hot rod. Are you saying you want to put a flathead in it?

 

Early 50's? It's just tooo clean.
Needs some road dust.

 

Uh, it makes you feel 20 years younger now, what's going to happen when you finish it the way you want, Childhood?

 

I like the car and if you’re worried about what powers it…..leave the hood closed; it’s no one’s business but yours. Many were lowered in the front with dagoed axle but not quite as low as yours to me and from the side photo it’s hard to see where it is placed. I’m glad to see the body over the frame. Channeled is fine if it’s your style… just not mine or anyone I grew up with in the 50’s.

 

If that isn't what you wanted, why did you build it that way?

 

It definitely centered. Just a bad pic

 

No just add more of the old parts I have collected. Have a bunch of 53-55 corvette parts that I have collected. The want to chrome a bunch of stuff.

 

It’s not done in my head. The car doesn’t even have a paint job. It’s a rattle can rust oleum job.

 

That thing is tits! Enjoy it as it is... Wait until you wear it out... then re-build it... It'll give you plenty of time to think about what you want (or don't want) to change!

 

Sounds great

 

It's a very cool car as it is @08racer, however if it doesn't meet your vision change it.

I find irony in this statement, everyone I know my age early 40s to early 50 who was into period correct hot rods in the late 1990s/early 2000s are still into them we wanted and still don't want anything to do with Tuners, "Donks" big diameter wheels, have flat out distain for billet and flat out hate that rap hip-hop shit!

Look at the Choppers and Shifters they are as hardcore for period correct hot rod and customs now as they were then.

We may have outgrown the Brylcreem, Primer and Mexican blankets but we are just as hardcore for period correct cars now as were then.
I have moved away from hot rods back to oval track racing, I am currently building a Model A tudor as period correct to the early to mid 1960s as I can. Stock Model A frame rails, 40 font axel, vintage Halibrand Champcar Q.C, 48 Ford backing plate, vintage Aluminum Mich. Safety Racing hubs/drums modern safety roll cage, fuel cell, tires.

However, many of the guys who were in their late 40 to mid 50 back then who were worshiping Boyd and Billet in the late 90s early 2000s who sitting in their lawn chairs behind their Pro-Touring with Mercedes headlights complaining about how all the young guys with cars in primer with vintage engine, and whitewall were ruining hot rodding.

These people trying to take credit for bringing traditional hot rodding back and getting on soapboxes pontificating how every car that doesn't meet their standards isn't traditional while standing in front of their fiberglass bodied car, on an Art Morrison chassis with 4th generation Corvette front and suspension, an LS-ES-E-I-O, high back bucket seats, billet tilt column but since it is flat black and on whitewalls it's traditional!

Now before I catch heat there were guys like my dad who remember what the cars were like and thought the hot rod revival of the late 1990s was great!

 

I don’t care whether you’re a billet guy or someone who scours 50’s magazines to see what was used and then go find every piece thinking they created something from a different time. I lived in the 50’s as a teenager and read the magazines and ads to scrape up the money to buy parts I liked. Many of us did just that and when a better part came along we saved and bought that and threw the old one away or gave it to someone else. 99% never stayed the way they first were built and the “barn find” that are really popular today probably had 20-30 changes before it was finally “stored” and forgotten.

Today at 79 I don’t want a leaking 1956 transmission or brakes I need adjust every thousand miles or less. What’s wrong with disc brakes-safer MC’s, AC and a radio with Bluetooth. I don’t want bias ply tires either that don’t track worth a s**t on new highways.

I definitely don’t sit around and say how great things were because for many us they weren’t. Yes we look back the fun times but having a family, buying a home, never calling in sick, try to save what we could, and keeping a used car running to get to work was way more important.

At retirement, many who had done the above, finally had the money to build the car they wanted and now the best stuff was way different than the products we had to choose from “Honest Charlie”. That’s what they did.

I don’t pay much attention to what’s said by older or younger guys and I guarantee I don’t badmouth either. I admire old engines, and use them, I don’t like the use of the alphabet soup letters new engines but they did what we would have done in the 40-60’s if they were there. There’s nothing wrong with a closed hood.

As the title of the post says 1950’s 2000’s different times but actually not that different in theory/practice. Some “memories are a little foggy and younger guys needs remember “they didn’t live it”.

All need to hold our tongues at times and live and let live. There will never be a winner…

 

Amen, Brother!

 

Well there's one thing about living in a small European country, we don't have these arguments between the members of the different car clans because our authorities make no distiction about us: they hate us all equally

But seriously, at the end of the day you build the car for you and just like jimmy six said above, there are certain things which were not so great back in the day. Where I live disc brakes and an overdrive are no luxuries - well not unless you're prepared to only cruise slowly on deserted back roads. I built my car to deal with our roads - it's not a pro-tourer and where I can, I use mods which anyone with a Comet could have in 1964. But where not, I just would not post on it here because we have rules. Really very simple.

@08racer : by the way, in my eyes, your car already has a 10/10 cool factor as built!

 

Looks good to me. And what's wrong with rattle can paint jobs? Easy to touch up. And if it's a small block Chevy, and you want older, get a 327 or if you're crazy like me, a 283 and swap it in. I went so far as to get a set of first generation stamped valve covers with the Chevrolet script on them. Makes a big difference in the era of the look...

 

I think this is kind of a lame attitude. I can get into any car someone's poured their time and passion into. Doesn't matter if it's something I'd build or not. Building a car is awesome. A lot of lowriders and tuners and muscle cars come through my shop for state inspection, to borrow the lift, or just to hang out because we've taken care of them.

The guys that have rolled up their sleeves to bring their dream cars to life are just as fired up about my little banger T even if it's not something they'd build... they love to talk about busting knuckles all the same. We have a common thread with all of them. I know I sound like a total hippie but you can't spread the sickness if you turn your nose up at fellow gearheads 'cause of what they started out with.

Keep the HAMB for what it is, absolutely... but respect the passion wherever you see it.

 

WOW !, 08 racer, a very kool kar ! You have created a period perfect fifties hot rod.
Like your Granpa, I turned 16 in 1957. I was born in Washington DC. I could have driven home a '32 Ford roadster for $100 to $150, popped the flattie and sold it to Clinton Scrap Metal for $1.50 which would buy six gallons of Sunoco. Hurst saddle motor mount and a JC Whitney adapter,, coat hanger throttle linkage, coat hanger to hang the Porter steel packs...........here comes the but >> drove home a '50 Chevy Bel Aire hardtop instead, stood on the cowl with a 14 pound sledge hammer and beat in the firewall for the 283 V8 right valve cover clearance. Drilled and tapped the bell housing to mate the '50 trans. My neighbor worked in North East Ford body shop so I had he braze and lead emblems and handles. '57 Chevy white. I used 6 volt Chevy starter solenoids to open the doors, hood, trunk........all '50s high tech stuff.
Eventually I opened Street Rod Works on Capitol Hill, Washington DC where I would install a 283 in your Deuce for $50, you supply the parts. Mom's coat hangers ruled.
Rosina & my dates were cruizin' the Hot Shoppes, Tops, Hiboy, Mighty Moes lookin' for a street race.
Eventually '32 to '34 Fords, Chevys, Buicks flavored my tongue. Much fun, met many great Car Nutz.
'32s have been our fave, Chevy powered.
Every day we walk into the garage, we turn 16 !
Have fun. Happy Holidaze.
Cruizin', Jim & Rosina Mothershead, since 1958
We also jitter bugged on two teen TV shows and won. Also teen clubs. We still rock on a weekly basis at 80 & 82.


In 1976 I woke up to '32s

 

460 motor?

 

08racer, you built it right how could you want it any other way !

 

toss me the keys! let's go for a drive!

 

WOW !!!. What a kool kar ! Period perfect !
In 1957, I turned 16. First car was a '50 Chevy Bel Aire hardtop. Did a 283, mild custom.
At that time here in Washington DC, you could drive home a '32 roadster for $150.
Finally in 1978, I woke up to '32s...........cruized many since.
Look at the palm of your hand, move up to the wrist, see that black vein = grease in the blood.
Every day when I walk into the garage I turn 16............going on 83.
You are following your dreams like I did. Good job.
Happy Holidays.
Jim & Rosina Mothershead