History Very ugly, but kind of cool

So here's another weird old photo... it's not a hot rod, it's just old and sort of brutal. But I kind of like it.

I saw this a couple of days ago in a photo album of a friend of mine who has been into cars forever. I figured I should share this image, even though it's ugly.

Enjoy!

Kevin

 

Looks like one of those built from instructions in Mechanics Illustrated or something like that in the fifties - I think they used a '32 sedan, took off the body, zeed the frame at back and built a new body like that one.

 

There was some pretty cool homebuilts that came out of these magazines and they are what they are...

after this exercise it was onto the real thing...



https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2010/05/18/build-this-100-mph-sports-car-for-under-500/

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/a-hand-crafted-midwestern-sports-car/






https://barnfinds.com/1951-mechanix-illustrated-roadster/

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@huffreport here's one that I posted a while back in a thread I'm wondering if you have had a look at? If you haven't I think you should...links to that thread are below these pics...



https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-30#post-11694640

@Hollywood-East had on several years ago and it was sold and it ended up in TROG



https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-17#post-11391208

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This another one of those, "caption this", photos?
Hey kid, if you have't had a tetanus shot recently, get away from that car!
This is a still from the first "Cars" movie, you know, the original 1939 version.
I don't know who looks unhappier, the kid or the car.
I hate it when Grandpa leaves the farm for his annual trip to the city, and has to take me with him.
Yes officer, I'm walking the line, touching my nose, but I ain't taking the fall for this old, drunk car.

But seriously, I think it's just someones creation, built from a bunch of scrap parts and pieces. NO Mechanics Illustrated was involved in any way, shape, or form. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

None were great beauties... but at least they got you into making your own cars! Gary

 

Tough to love that one. Maybe the kid did actually build it.

 

This is what you did with spare time before there was TV, computers, and cell phones. Bob

 

I totally agree with you Bob,many guys in the past have dreamed of designing & building a one off car and didn't let the the access to metal working tools or skill level stop them from actually accomplishing their task with varying degrees of success.

I'm confidant some of these men went on to inspire others and magazines like Popular Mechanics & Mechanix Illustrated helped feed the flame.

We look at these crude creations that lack esthetic beauty and we know that some one poured their heart and soul into their car and they are a tribute to individuality much like what we do today. HRP

 

Is that kid holding a hammer? Couple a guys on here that hits cars with hammers. Childhood photo?

 

The front end sort of looks like an old steam locomotive with a big cow catcher out front.

 

Were any cows actually caught? Cow Plow would be more accurate. Bob

 

These cars remind me of old board track race cars. Very cool. Here is a video of some racing in the 20s and 30s. Maybe the first Kustoms ever.

 

Did somebody say "early r-rod"?

 

Did you notice the cars in the first part of the video were traveling counterclockwise? HRP

 

Looks like a pretzel stick with a bite or two take out.

 

Very refined but possibly inspired by the Mechanix type jalopy drafts



Posted by @ratamahata
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-30#post-11676919





Posted by Hamber @slv63 again draws a likeness to the Mechanix inspired rolling log look...
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-29#post-11673522

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Posted by Hamber @volvobrynk yet another example
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-30#post-11676919

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https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-46#post-12373556




Posted by Hamber @nochop his Uncle ran a Hot Rod Shop in the Philippines
strikingly similar to the above illustrated racer
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-40#post-12254578



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That front end has the perfect look to eliminate getting cut off in commute traffic. Love it.

 

https://k2rev.blogspot.ca/2015/12/1951-ford-mi-sportster.html​

 

ive always seen post about the mechanix illustrated sports car build , had to go look up a copy of this magazine on a used book site , now i can at least read the article lol

 

Those were handmade home built cars designed by people who actually built a car as opposed to 1-800- send it to me types which is not relegated to just the street rod types.
The following statement may ruffle a few feathers but buying a Brookville or any other brand quality body shell and purchasing parts from Speedway is a 1-800 send it to me traditional build.
Wonder if there had been a HAMB back then if there would have been a thread on cup holders?
Ugly or not I have a lot of respect for those old home builds

 

OK, do that's one of the most interesting videos I've ever come across here. Thank you for sharing that... unfortunately I think somebody probably died in that crash.

 

It was a very dangerous time for motorsports and there were many moments in that footage that were potentially lethal. A great many of these vintage racing videos do contain serious accidents. I guess we give those who died our thoughts. Still not easy to watch...they had very little protection.

That particular video was almost 20 to 30 years prior to the period of these Homebuilt Hybrid Hotrod/Jalopy/Racers.

It was still dangerous but safety changes were already happening.



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Its ugly for sure, but has a cool vibe to it.
I'd drive it over a Prius any day

 

I like it, looks half done, homebuilt and maybe wrecked. If not wrecked and they mounted the headlights crooked - even better. Ready for a bonzai run down a dirt road.

 

https://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex...ilt-sports-carhot-rod-at-gates-salvage-video/

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Back when I was a kid there were two machine shops in town where the owners built their own cars. Shorty Johnson had a two seat roadster, Dutch Lazky built a steam car. I was probably about eight years old and I remember Dutch had the engine on the bench and hooked it up to the air compressor in the shop to show me how it worked.

 

No pics by chance Bigdog...? What was the name of the shops...I can search a bit...