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Art & Inspiration What Makes a Hotrod a 'Special'?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Speedy Canuck, Jul 7, 2015.

  1. My second grade teacher said that I was "special." in retrospect I was standing in the corner and I am not sure it was a compliment.:confused:o_O:oops:
     
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  2. rsg2506
    Joined: Mar 6, 2005
    Posts: 360

    rsg2506
    Member

  3. lucas doolin
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 540

    lucas doolin
    Member

    Not to engage in the argument of what constitutes a "special", thought I would contribute a picture of a car that exemplifies the term - HAMBer rodncustom had a uber talented grandfather who built one and very aptly applied "California Special" script from a special edition Mustang. Enjoy! California Special.jpg
     
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  4. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    The oldest "Special" that used that name in England, that I recall offhand, was the Higham Special 4th in a line of racing specials built by putting a WW1 aircraft engine into a prewar Mercedes chassis. Built by Count Louis Zbrowski, they were used in competition and on the road. The first three were called 'Chitty Bang Bang'.

    A car had to have a name to be entered in races and if it was not a factory model the custom was to give them new names, often joking like Chitty Bang Bang or Ikanopit. The Higham Special was bought by Parry Thomas and renamed 'Babs' after his girl friend. He was killed in the car while trying to break the Land Speed Record.
     
  5. dodge35
    Joined: Feb 9, 2010
    Posts: 111

    dodge35
    Member
    from kentucky

    I had a 1950 Buick Special once.
     
    Special Ed likes this.
  6. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    To me a special means lettuce 59c marked down from 79c - Jack Benny
     
  7. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,344

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    Two things going on... A "special" is one that doesn't fit the rules. It's a "modified" so to speak or one-off design, but it can't race in any of the established classes because it's not legit. Although there were some rules, the ultimate "Specials" were probably CANAM cars - that class had almost no rules and were essentially run-what-you-brung monsters. Or... it's a vehicle that is just NAMED a Special - after a person, sponsor, builder, pretty girl, place, city, state, etc.. This kind of special could be a car of any type or class - from a production car, to a custom car to a race car (or airplane, boat, etc.). There are a couple of generic HAMB threads about the first kind of Specials, but not necessarily about cars with "Special" in their names. But it could be both depending on the car. Gary
     
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  8. Fingers
    Joined: Feb 23, 2005
    Posts: 118

    Fingers
    Member

    I have always considered a special was what the sports car blokes called a hot rod
     
  9. Rusty Karz
    Joined: Feb 11, 2005
    Posts: 299

    Rusty Karz
    Member

    I just got a new book entitled "American Road Race Specials 1934- 1970" by Allan Girdler. They are totally cool but not really HAMB type cars.
     
  10. Donald A. Smith
    Joined: Feb 19, 2011
    Posts: 272

    Donald A. Smith
    Member
    from Brook In.

    Well my Boat tail speedster is Farm Boy Special the name is self explaning. Don on the farm
     
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  11. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  12. v8flat44
    Joined: Nov 13, 2017
    Posts: 1,211

    v8flat44

    Now a 57 Buick Special was special.....i think .Specially if ya like Buicks .
     
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  13. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    I thought it was a just a slight upgrade term used by GM, while Ford used the word Deluxe more often.
    Didn't the Model coupe come out as a Standard and Special?
    I guess every bodies car is special to them and some just need to tell it to the world more than others.
    It is a bit like threads we see started on this Forum where they are titled the Official this that or the other.
    I'm damn sure they are no different to any other thread and surely not authorised officially by the management...
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.

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