When I was just a kid, say 1965, my mom's dad, Grandpa Ted, caught wind that I liked old hot rods. He said, "They used to get those Model Ts just a-buzzin'...you'd be surprised."
With a face like this, who wouldn't want to step on the gas for some thrilling speed? Hello, In Norman and Oklahoma City, this roadster probably drove all around the countryside. It was probably doing what we did with our hot rods and cruisers, today. Except that, they had 4 cylinders and funny looking wheels, but miles and miles of empty roads with less traffic than today. It was “two seater time” until the family started to grow. Then, it was ditch the roadster or RPU and get a real family sedan for the daily drives. Hot rodding was probably done, but the great grandfather never let on that he jammed the pedal on those empty highways in the 40s and 50s. Our extended family had relatives all over the Norman-Oklahoma City region. Some are still around in their houses from back in those 40s days. My wife grew up in one big house in OKC and walked to school… “through rain and snow, daily…” to her elementary school, Putnam Heights Elementary. Her family went back and forth from So Cal to OKC and ended up in 1955 with a two door Chevy v8 sedan for those long trips. We have all heard the old timers tell about walking to school in the rain and snow… Well, it was done in this area with regularity in the late 40s and 50s. But, hot rodding in those 20s cars and early 30s roadsters /RPUs is a not what you would find in a family photo album or notes. As human nature has shown us, though, there is always the “need for speed…” Jnaki Yea! Great, great grandpa! ”Let's 23 skidoo before the cops come!”
The Jalopy Journal
