Here are a couple of pre-war A's. One really nice, the other cunsidered junk [at the time!]. Two of my favorites.
Early forties, 1940 NYS plates. East coast creation by Dick Saunders. This began life as a Marmon Sixteen sedan and an Auburn Boattail. It has been radically transformed several times since then. This car ended up in a small piece in Motor Trend mag in the July 1951 issue after the body was moved to a Marmon Sixteen powered Packard chassis. Later the Marmon Sixteen was removed and the car was fitted with a bored out Packard twelve. Mr. Saunders later added twin superchargers to the Twelve. The same Twelve cylinder is still in the car, but the Superchargers are not. This car appeared in more magazine articles in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. A Leipzig museum in the '90s. Monterey in 2007. 904080 More information in my profile. Vintageride
amazing, looks like the middle of nowhere..... colorado and baldwin ave today is parallel with the 210 fwy and surrounded by civilization. socal during the first 50-60 yrs of the 20th century is fastenating.
Fantastic thread!Thanks to all who've posted pics. Any pics of Model A roadster pick ups? Thanks, Mark.
post war, '47-'49 larry shinoda's rpu rpu from Eagle Rock, Ted Colley Trompers SCTA... photos courtesy of his nephew
40's hotrods Generally have 2 different styles: Pre war: Alot of 4 bangers as the flathead was still relativly new and most were still in use in cars. Those that had flatheads used early 2x2 manifolds. Aluminum heads were not very common and usally the racers had them. Keep in mind that most of the hot rods were roadsters. using deuce rails with a model a body was starting but rare as most were still running model A's on A frames. post war: Lots of flatheads with 2x2 manifolds some were running 3x2s but only the hard core guys. Aluminum heads were more common but still not as common as in the 50s. Cars had a small drop to them and more juice brakes. Deuce rails were more avalible and becoming a more popular conversion. Coupes and customs were just starting to gain acceptance. I could go on and on on what is period correct. But one thing I do know is that: If you think white walls and red paint is 40's your stuck in the 50's!
Awesome. This is the time I aimed for with my coupe. Although you don't see many model A coupes hotrodded in the late 40s.
See Slim Pickens post (#44 on this thread) for a peek at a booklet that she wrote about the dry lakes trials of 1946, 1947 and 1948: Veda Orr's New Revised Hot Rod Pictorial published in 1949 by Floyd Clymer. Woman was way ahead of her time. I found a copy at the Pomona Swap Meet about 20 years ago. I don't know if anyone has ever reissued it.
Great stuff guys. Very cool to see. I'm doing an A banger rod right now. Was thinking of keeping it at least kinda correct. Good inspiration.
Mph? Well Bob Rufi held the record at 140 mph in 1940. Stu Hilborn streamliner was the first to go 150 mph post war. Anything over 100 mph was respected. Late 1940s they were nudging 200 at Bonneville.
Um. Double that. Ever heard of the Pierson Coupe? In 1951 it was running 151 El Mirage and 165 at Bonneville powered by flathead.
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