Here's an old hot rod name for you â Tom Cobbs. It's not a household name by any means. In fact, you can read both "The Birth of Hot Rodding" and "Dry Lakes & Dragstrips" (two of the best historical studies on early Hot Rodding) from cover to... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
One of the best sources on Cobb's early technical career (before the crank-mount blower period) is a magazine story covering the development of the roadster/coupe through three flatheads developing the top mount 4-71...it has about as much tech as you get in the earliest magazines, and considerable material on the thinking/development process as this thing evolved into a very fast car. I can't post the citation til tomorrow as it is at home...but it is in a magazine actually famous for its cover pic, two guys working on the Ray Brown '32 roadster. Someone here must have a copy to scan in...
I haven't seen that article, but will look for it... You know what year? It's interesting, half of the media you find on Tom Cobbs has his name spelled as 'Tom Cobb'. The other half it is 'Tom Cobbs'. I can confidently say the latter is correct.
Man, how does a man of such importance not get the attention that he deserves. I can't believe that I have not been reminded of his accomplishments and contributions to what we do on a daily basis. What a cool sorty and I can't wait to read more. Damn it! That 1956 version of the Pierson Bros. coupe is slick. And the shot at the salt with all of them lined up is painstakingly beautiful. Viva La Hamb!
Ryan, get Kevin to post it...sent it to him in a packet of belt-drive blower stuff. Will look at the original and post citation tomorrow...no techno to post anything, though.
haha, that is some funny stuff right there. Good writing, Ryan, and I look forward to reading part 2 next week. Keep up the good work!
I have it - I'll find it tonight. Scanner is busted so I'll need to figure that out. But as Bruce said it is a great article.
Ryan, I really enjoy your literary prose. And this article is mesmerizing to read. Very enjoyable and enlightening!
Oh Man! That's the best read for me in a looong time! I love this kinda stuff. HotRod, R&C, and especially the Rodders Journal are really getting good at reporting on the forfathers of the HotRod genre, but NONE of 'em are doin' it better than what I see here! I'm looking forward to the second part...REALLY! -Greg
Great history lesson, photos, and well written, Ryan. Really looking forward to the next installment.... '22
legend.... as a slight question of detail.....the carb arrangement of the leading photo...anyone have a few photo's of the linkage's & mount on the 4/71? Its very similar to the Navaro layout, and keen to see how he made it work... Cheers, Drewfus P.S. great read Ryan, look forward to seeing/reading more....
Great read Ryan, I love that "Double Threat Coupe". The next instalment is eagerly anticipated! Perhaps a little O/T, but of interest to some is the fact that Buddy Fox is an example of a "tatted" early Hot Rodder.
I didn't see any mention of Tom's famous "tank" lakester. He started with his standard blown flathead and then went to a blown Olds and ran over 240 with that combination. The lakester was a true work of art with a tube space frame independent rear suspension and the big blown Olds for power. He did like the GMC blowers! Rex
Here's a copy of a historical document graciously donated by the Lancaster Guild for Early Ford Education. Goes into some nice detail of the carburetor setup. Really cool. Check out the accelerator pumps. First carburetor in line has a bell crank which works the second pump via extra pump rod. The rest is in the attachments.
One of my favorite stories is when Tom Cobbs and Fran Hernandez, Raced at Goleta Drag Strip. Tom had the blower, and Fran had the Edelbrock tuned Nitro snortin flathead. If I remember the story right there was alot of smack talk before hand, by cobbs, The Edelbrock guys beat Cobbs then loaded their car on the Trailer and left. What a glorious time to be a Hot Rodder!! Jimmy White P.s. Tom Cobbs should have more recognition, Kudos to you Ryan for posting this. P.s.s. Vic Edelbrock and his crew (Bobby Meeks, Fran Hernandez) and the rest of them are high on my heroes list.
Dude, I was so excited about this that I made my post then read the article after DUH! I am also the same guy that tries to put something together without the instructions. Needless to say Fran & Tom and all those guys are heroes!! Jimmy White