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History History of shaved door hinges?

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Eldonius, May 4, 2020.

  1. Eldonius
    Joined: Apr 15, 2020
    Posts: 62

    Eldonius
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Who knows the history of door hinges being shaved on hot rods? How far back do examples of this go?

    IMG_4352.JPG


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    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  2. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    I think the first car was the McGee roadster shown on the cover of Hot Rod in 1948. But that certainly doesn't mean it was mainstream after that. It's actually a fad from the "smoothie" movement of hot rodding starting in about 1983. Proliferated by Boyd Coddington, and a sure way to make your car look like a fiberglass repro. Commonly done in the 90's with a glue in windshield, a filled/ribbed roof, rubberless runningboards, and monochromatic paint on everything that wasn't milled aluminum.
     
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  3. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,128

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I would imagine it was more inspired by dry lakes/Bonneville racing, rather than "style"...especially after WW11 when a lot of returning GIs had learned something about aerodynamics.
     
  4. Eldonius
    Joined: Apr 15, 2020
    Posts: 62

    Eldonius
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Another reference I found attributed this practice to Harry Westergard and custom lead sleds. Harry, having died in 1956 would at least indicate it was a practice (albeit maybe not a common one) in the 50’s. As noted, the earlier and famous McGee ‘32 Roadster from 1946 also had shaved handles and hinges. Pre-dating Westergard, it would seem perhaps McGee was the first, and Westergard builds indicate that it was done by some others in the 1950’s as well. Perhaps Coddington brought an old modification more mainstream (as did fiberglass knock-off’s), but it appears the fact remains that this was indeed done in the late 1940’s and in the 1950’s. With this historical context existing back to the 1940’s, I’m not understanding why there seems to be a bias to not do this on a hot rod? I’m just looking for historical context in keeping hot rods builds to being 1965 or prior hot rod practices. Seems odd if that only includes what 80% or even 99% of people did back then in building their cars.


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  5. Eldonius
    Joined: Apr 15, 2020
    Posts: 62

    Eldonius
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Ya, that makes perfect sense. I think I’ll go digging through some lakes racing and Bonneville archives. Thanks!


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  6. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    I would welcome anybody to post pics of any cars with hidden hinges built before 1980. Westergard, Bonneville, or John Doe's, I don't mind. Educate us. Search those old magazines and AHRF.
     
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  7. Kan Kustom
    Joined: Jul 20, 2009
    Posts: 2,739

    Kan Kustom
    Member

    I don't know for sure about all of your statements but the filled ribbed roof had almost nothing to do with fiberglass cars and was very rare on one. The filled ribbed roofs were steel cars with 60's station wagon grafts long before fiberglass bodies were the norm.
     
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  8. Someone must have bumper their heads coming up from pulling some tools in the garage and bang, there goes those hinges, I know I have!!
    Good Challenge @alchemy I swear I seen a post lately with a lakes car with hidden hinges. I have to find it now.
     
    kiwijeff likes this.
  9. The Nitti roadster
    F930BDBE-F1E5-4014-9ED4-68E5386551B4.jpeg
    Kustomrama photo.
     
  10. The Nitti roadster in the 50s
    CAC630C3-623F-4842-BB20-2D0EB9AEA1FC.jpeg
    Shaved hinges are traditional. Never confuse this with a billet laden street rod modification.
     
  11. Another possible example from Westergard
    92B563DC-5669-40A9-9F3C-7F032BF4229A.jpeg
    Photo from Kustomrama
     
  12. Eldonius
    Joined: Apr 15, 2020
    Posts: 62

    Eldonius
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  13. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,442

    goldmountain

    Fiberglass seems to have given shaved door hinges a bad name.
     
  14. Murphy32
    Joined: Oct 17, 2007
    Posts: 753

    Murphy32
    Member
    from Minnesota

    Ummm-


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  15. Kan Kustom
    Joined: Jul 20, 2009
    Posts: 2,739

    Kan Kustom
    Member

    Just my thoughts but I feel hidden hinges came about shortly after newer cars started using them. There were probably not a lot of guys doing it because fewer had the desire to modernize than those that just wanted more performance. It's the same today. More build for performance with less regard for look's and is what explains the custom culture that does the opposite and is proportionally a smaller group, not meaning either is right or wrong. Just different tastes. Anytime common practices are not seen in magazines it is usually because the magazines are a business to sell magazines and they show content to draw the masses. This doesn't mean that many rodders that were not featured were not doing otherwize. I have always been influenced by the magazines but have also done many modifications that were never seen in magazines and I am pretty sure I am not the only one. I have always thought long before fiberglass cars were the norm that protruding hinges were something to get rid of that did nothing for the looks of a smooth steel body as was doors that flapped over the body. I can only assume that Henry Ford felt the same way as he flush fit the front edge of a Model A door then the whole door on a 32. Then began hidden hinges a little later. Seems he was doing the same improvements that us latter rodders started doing on the cars he hadn't thought of these ideas yet. Filled roofs and the list goes on and on. I am only unhappy with the same things he was.
     
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  16. My first job was a local custom/rod shop around 1990. We did all the stuff popular then. GM sub grafts, ugly wheels, suicide doors, shaved everything, painted chrome.......
    17 years later I’m in another hot rod shop. They had a very good library of old magazines. Got to do some cool homework looking at styles and modifications through the years.
    A filled top and shaved everything does not turn a car into a “street rod”
    It’s the overall vibe or style.
    Whitewalls on a billet laden car looks odd. Billet wheels with a flathead and tuck and roll interior looks odd. Or whitewalls and steelies on a S10.
    Customizers have been using the same tricks for decades.
    I was into mini trucks (building one currently). Shaved handles was a must.
    Learned how to do that from a guy shaving handles in the 60s. Passed that skill to my students.
    Who knows what they will do with that decades from now.
    Same concept. Different vehicle with a different style.
    It’s not necessarily what modification is done but how all the modifications create the cars overall look or feel (vibe) plus overall proportions.
    Hate to tell you, but there were some sharp streetrods and billet rods built.
    As well as a lot of ugly ones.
    Just like traditional built cars.
     
  17. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    OK, the Nitti roadster makes two. :cool:

    The 36 roadster pic is too blurry to tell.

    I don't think the Bonneville racers pictured had HIDDEN HINGES, they had no hinges. Those racing roadsters probably had the doors welded shut, and the coupe probably only had a working door on the other side.

    But I'm still willing to look at all the vintage pics you guys can show us. Not saying that it's gonna make me feel any better about hidden hinges, but maybe you can convince yourself. ;)

    In the end it's your car and you can modify it in any way you see fit.
     
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  18. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,324

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california

    Most of by friends that went with " hidden hinges " wished they hadn't .
    Go & hang a big heavy coupe door on two hidden hinges & tell me how good , over time .it opens & closes ! Roadsters are a somewhat different deal .
    When chopping a 32 / 34 coupe , just keeping the top hinge makes for a better hanging / closing door .
    Tradition or not , doors are happier with their original hinges !
     
  19. Murphy32
    Joined: Oct 17, 2007
    Posts: 753

    Murphy32
    Member
    from Minnesota

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  20. I guess it depends on what hinges. Suicided a 40 ford. Shaved the Ford, replaced with late 40s early 50s mopar hinges. Worked great but a ton of work. Does the mopar hinge count as factory hinge?
    We made a custom set for another car.
    Had issues if allowed to swing open hard.
    It’s not just hinges but reengineering the door frame as well.
    I don’t think the amount of effort to do it correctly doesn’t add that much to the finished car.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
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  21. I'll always love that Pete Eastwood comes here. Gospel.

    .. I have some Fred Larsen roadster photos. Some from here .. Jimmy B. Kustomrama, etc. Just a fan.

    Something about an east coast guy, with arm sleeve tattoos, racing Bonneville, & working with Shelby .. in that time frame .. is bitchin'.

    Screenshot_20200504-130629_Chrome.jpg

    Screenshot_20200504-130733_Chrome.jpg

    Screenshot_20200504-121645_Chrome.jpg

    Screenshot_20200504-131043_Chrome.jpg

    Screenshot_20200504-131121_Chrome.jpg
     
  22. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,324

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california

    I have the original of this photo .
    It was given to me by Blackie Gold, that's his roadster on the right .
    They all have stock hinges .

    Blackie gold.jpg
     
  23. E50AA14D-9CC2-4B12-B6BD-B991D735C6CC.jpeg A trunk is a door, kinda.
     
  24. Rand Man
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 4,860

    Rand Man
    Member

    I believe shaved door hinges started with the original hot rods: dirt circle race cars. Doors were welded on and a couple pounds were saved. I don’t have the time to post photos, but please don’t think they came out in the billet era.
     
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  25. Murphy32
    Joined: Oct 17, 2007
    Posts: 753

    Murphy32
    Member
    from Minnesota


    No shit…. ya coulda fooled me-


    ...but now that I look closer I can see the passenger side hinge on his car-
     
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  26. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    Are you saying these have hidden hinges? I can see the hinges right there!
     
  27. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    Shaved off hinges ala racecar is not the same as hidden hinges. And I know it wasn't invented in the billet era. But I do know it was popularized in the billet era.
     
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  28. Murphy32
    Joined: Oct 17, 2007
    Posts: 753

    Murphy32
    Member
    from Minnesota

    OK you're right - deleted.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  29. What does that change.
    It was done back in the day.
    It’s being done right now in a shop somewhere.
     
  30. 37D0446B-4A25-4B86-91CD-F1EC51341F30.jpeg
    Photo from Kustomrama
     
    lothiandon1940 and Murphy32 like this.

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