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History Fenderless roadsters with splash aprons

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by atch, Jul 3, 2020.

  1. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    Occasionally I see pix of roadsters that don't have fenders or running boards but do have splash aprons. I've never had a roadster and probably never will, but I'm liking the look.

    My question: is this something done just for personal taste or is there another reason?

    Also I've never seen this done on a closed car. Have you?


    561036_189394821191129_514946651_n.jpg 68133137e681932cabd9a50314f5a975.jpg 99284435_996807764103030_1354529730497347584_n.jpg PICT1847.jpg PICT1863.jpg roadster fall 001a.jpg
     
  2. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,344

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    Search for older threads.
     
  3. I believe it's done to give the model a a more substantial looking frame like a deuce. I agree on the right car it looks nice.
     
  4. From my experience on a stock Model A, you have to loosen and raise the body to remove the splash apron, (you have to remove the bolts too) so if it was done back in the day it was easier to leave them on when removing the fenders. Today I think it's done to hide the frame. I like the look with them left on.
     
    pprather and gnichols like this.

  5. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    Please give me a hint on what to search for 'cause I didn't find anything. Also take into account I've never had much luck doing searches.
     
  6. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,480

    Joe Blow
    Member

    Type "Model A splash aprons The Hamb" into a Google Search......a lot of them in there. Easiest way to find anything on The Hamb is to search Google......typing in the subject you're looking for and followed by "The Hamb".
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2020
  7. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,480

    Joe Blow
    Member

  8. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It's been hashed over many times over the years but it goes back to the dry lake days when you would drive your full fendered A to the dry lakes, unbolt the fenders and race then bolt them back on and drive home. Or if you were lucky you unbolted them at home and hooked a tow bar on the roadster to tow it to the lakes and run and towed it home.

    I'll have to admit that the look really does grow on you especially when you see one like that all black roadster.
     
    gnichols likes this.
  9. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    Thanx. I've never searched the H.A.M.B. using Google.
     
  10. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    That's amazing. Lots of stuff showed searching it that way. Thanx.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
  11. F-head
    Joined: Oct 20, 2007
    Posts: 1,171

    F-head
    Member

    Here’s my Uncle Bud and a couple buddies in his fenderless with aprons 31, in front of Roseburg High around 1950 B12D8C97-CAC7-4DBF-AA03-FF3EDDAD7805.png
     
    Stogy likes this.
  12. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    I found about 20 fenderless cars with splash aprons; about 2/3 open (nearly all roadsters) and about 1/3 closed (all coupes I think). I'm going to post all of them here just in case anyone else is interested. Here are the open cars:

    012 (4).JPG 28 Tom and Char SD 2.JPG 29 body on mores 002.jpg 277595-1301231309-50921b6c5230da5b409e294d269ce0a3.jpg 305360-1309643632-8aaed4a3424449a1bef0ae7a37dfaf91.jpg 561036_189394821191129_514946651_n.jpg 68133137e681932cabd9a50314f5a975.jpg 012 (4).JPG 28 Tom and Char SD 2.JPG 29 body on mores 002.jpg 277595-1301231309-50921b6c5230da5b409e294d269ce0a3.jpg 305360-1309643632-8aaed4a3424449a1bef0ae7a37dfaf91.jpg 561036_189394821191129_514946651_n.jpg 68133137e681932cabd9a50314f5a975.jpg 99284435_996807764103030_1354529730497347584_n.jpg B12D8C97-CAC7-4DBF-AA03-FF3EDDAD7805.png DSC02998.jpg Mvc-002f.jpg Mvc-002f.jpg nat04401-vi edited.JPG pic1d-vi.jpg PICT1847.jpg PICT1863.jpg roadster fall 001a.jpg SCAN0015.jpg unnamed.jpg
     
  13. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    ...and here are the closed cars:

    a103.jpg DSC01327.jpg Dsc03180-vi.jpg dscf0097.jpg image (1).jpeg image.jpeg image.jpg
     
  14. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    There were a few cars with severely cut down splash aprons that I skipped over before deciding to save them also. I'm not going to go back and spend the time to find them now though.

    Note that some cars are pictured more than once.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
  15. Yes, it's origins are all to do with lakes racing and removing fenders once at the lakes.
    It's pretty easy to understand that after taking them on and off a few times a person would say bugger this and just leave them off if a lakes regular (or poser.)
     
  16. clem
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,188

    clem
    Member

    fwiw:
    we always call them valance panels, with a splash apron referring to the small panel between the chassis rails in front of the front crossmember.
    Maybe it’s a ‘down under’ thing ?
     
  17. chop job
    Joined: Feb 16, 2013
    Posts: 596

    chop job
    Member
    from Wisconsin
    1. WISCONSON HAMBERS

    Roadsters , coupes and now how about sedans.
     
  18. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,344

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    That's always been my thought... you can strip a full fenderd car easily for land speed racing on scene, except for the aprons which will require you to raise the body and loosen the body bolts. That's just too much of a pain. So the aprons were left on to race and then car could be bolted back together easily for the return drive home. Now its kind of a fad, for the look.
     

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