Hot Rods If you could pick a car that epitomizes the word "Hot Rod" what one car fits that bill?

Boy howdy @fiftyv8
I don't like every car from that era but the McGee car has many subtle mods and doesn't have that "trying too hard" look you see nowadays. The trunk lid treatment is what I like the most and I bet a lot of people completely miss this modification.
I really wanted to do this on my car but decided against it mainly out of respect for what this car stands for, that and I didn't get a warm feeling from people when told I was building a glass bodied car.

 

I opened this thread with a firm idea of what a "Real Hot Rod" was. No doubt in my mind.......then I read 10 pages of pictures and comments.

I love so many different styles of cars. I read this whole thing and agree with most of them. Some do absolutely nothing for me, others knock it out of the park. That's what I love about cars, so many options to enjoy or walk past.

I didn't see what I consider the ultimate hot rod, hopefully I'm starting on that build now. At least in my mind.

SPark

 

Quintessential Deuce. HRP

 

It's all a matter of taste and opinion guys, if we all liked the same thing the hotrod scene would bore us to death.
My personal view is the 40-41 Willys Coupe is the best looking car ever hotrodded.


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There's some fantastic cars in this thread.

Its such a subjective thing and we all have favourites; there's no wrong answer.

I love all eras and styles from the dry lakes era to the 50s and 60s show rods and gassers but I've always gravitated to drivers or dual purpose cars than all out show or race cars. I dig the raw pre WWII/Pearl Harbour style roadsters and coupes and the era immediately after ie: the dry lakes era style of car

The history of this time has always been a huge influence on me and I guess my rides kinda reflect this so Ive tried to mould my roadster in the same vein, perhaps the way it might have been done by someone with little dinero and a lot of elbow grease along with mech brakes etc. A nice cam, some shaved stock heads, a souped up ignition and a slingshot intake with headers/duals along with cheap paint. Stock dash, an early tach, wires etc.

Here's some recent pics at a recent beach racing event down here

 

My 37 Ford was a Hot Rod when top was chopped in 1948 .

 

There are too many. But for me, all the predecessors led to one of these two. In order
The Gamell coupe

And the Kid


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Saw this at LSRU. Screams Hot Rod !to me.


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yes. i agree.

 

While these 2 cars may not be what shaped hot rodding, or be everyone's idea of the perfect hot rod, they are what probably saved hot rodding in their own ways. These 2 cars on film were probably seen by more "non-rodders" than any other hot rods on the planet and that spread the word. Good or bad it happened. The "Milner Coupe" is the reason I ordered a 4" chopped '32 5 window a few weeks ago. Ordered my chassis the week before that and saw the "California Kid", it's nicer in person than pictures can convey.

SPark

 

Brian Kohlmann 31 Chrysler.....now running fuel!

 

Dave Stuckey's "Lil Coffin"....hot rod on multiple levels.

 

I would say the Jack Caroll 32 5 window coupe is my idea of the perfect hot rod.

I’ve been seeing it at local shows for years and I always end up mesmerized by that perfect traditional look.

 

Nice choice. Welcome to the Hamb.If this is your idea of the perfect hot rod,I think you will fit in well..

 

A flamed and louvered 32,33,34,40 ford! Of course i'm biased.

 

Maroon, dark Blue, dark Green, 40 Ford, 3 window coupe. Black interior, rolled seats. With a small block Chevrolet with tri power and a Magneto. Turbo Hydramatic or a 4 speed Hydro..

 

Easy Survey...

 

What one car fits the bill? The OP asked?
I don’t know, why don’t I just post 20 or 30 bitchin hot rods because I’m too lazy to ask myself this difficult question. Of course it is hard to pick just one, but at the end of the day can’t you get it down to your personal top five or ten? Of course you can, so then just pick one.

Or you could start a thread that asks for your top ten or so. Guess I’m a little bent out of shape this morning, I don’t know, just find it a bit irksome....
Oh wait! How about this one? Or hold on, I just thought of another one! Damn, forgot about this one!

 

Heres mine

 

That was easy . . . next question . . .

 

Gene Adams ‘50 Olds

 

Great choices , I haven't noticed Vic Edelbrocks or Norm Grabowsski. They have to be part of the conversation

 

Yep!!!!
Squirrel picked mine!!
6sally6

 

No other choice.

 

For me, if there is one car that is the quintessential, bad ass hot rod, I would have to say it is the 15oz Fuel Coupe...



The Mooneyham & Sharp 554 Fuel Coupe would be a very close second...

 

View attachment 5084836 My 31 Chrysler CM-6 Coupe. The hemi on gas made a thousand horse power at the tire on the dyno. It can switch to 80 percent nitro on the fly. Its regularly street driven. On the track it has gone 6.80/ 198 mph. And it pulls a trailer on Drag Week. View attachment 5084836

 

Actually Stan ( @Stan Back ) the car in your avatar cuts a pretty big slice of the "Hot Rod" pie. Just clean and as smooth as silk. I think I have seen a full size pic of it at one time or another. I probably said something negative about it but if I did I was probably lying.

 

Easy.

 

To me, a spartan, fenderless coupe epitomizes the term "hot rod". With a hot motor, (especially if it's a Hemi) multi carbs, calliope stack injection, or blower, looking like it's ready for action.