History Vintage odd ball stuff, super deep channels, weird engines, strange bodies etc...

Now that is maximum weird!!

 

Lions 1959
"pics and/or real info... or it did not happen...." taken from the automatic transmission post:

Hello,

When we were teenagers and 20 somethings, there was nothing we would not at least try to fix ourselves. We used to rebuild those old LaSalle three speed transmissions, because there were a ton of used ones available and parts were always around, especially at the nearby Terminal Island Surplus Yard near the big bridge. But, it was relatively simple.

An automatic transmission was a different ball game. There were several teenage cars that had automatic transmissions, and they took them to a place called Stu’s AE Transmissions in Northeast Long Beach. That shop could fix or replace anything in any car. The shop was famous for their complicated rear engine tiny dragster. A mini sidewinder with an SBC motor for power.

But, for every day transmission woes, even the families of our friends took their big sedans to Stu’s Transmission shop to get their automatic transmissions fixed.

Jnaki

But as simple as driving an automatic transmission car, we did make a cool automatic transmission floor shift lever. But, we stayed away from any internal problems or repairs. That northeast Bixby Knolls transmission shop was so close and the work done there was top quality, so they had cornered the market for many years.

I went to the Stu’s Transmission Shop many times with other friends, but never had to have any service done on our teenage hot rods. When we got the C&O Stick Hydro installed in the 58 Impala, that small shop in Torrance/Gardena was an automatic transmission shop bar none.

They had all sorts of auto trans in various states of being worked on and torn apart. Plus, below the counters were complete modified transmissions to fit every stock car or race car. That C&O Stick Hydro Transmission worked well without any problems from 1960 to late 1964 when I sold the 58 Impala to a friend. They, too, knew their stuff.

Here is a creative solution to using an automatic transmission in a rear engine sidewinder dragster. SBC powered. Designed and built by Stu’s Transmission Shop.
Lions 1960

PREVIOUS POST:

When we saw this silver rear engine race car at Lions, we knew where it came from, in northern Bixby Knolls. The race car was built at Stu's Transmissions in NE Long Beach, just past central Bixby Knolls. That place was a gathering of almost anyone with transmission problems or set ups. The mechanics there were very good and popular with the drag racers and street cruisers/racers. Out of all the different transmissions in our high school group’s sedans, at one time or another, they were all in Stu’s Transmission parking lot and shop. Stick shift transmissions, automatics, old and new, were all serviced at Stu’s.

In this NE Long Beach locale, there were plenty of outstanding shops that catered to the drag racers and home builders. From Stu's Transmissions, to Henry's Machine Works for axles/frame mods, etc. A great tire store and alignment place, as well as several muffler shops for the custom pipes and exhausts, were all within a block or two along Cherry Avenue. (just North of the famous Cherry Avenue Drags location) We all knew the location and directions on Cherry Ave, South meant the drags location, North meant the hot rod shops.

We were fortunate to be able to drive a short distance to give our business to those shops and mechanics. It was a hot spot just north of Bixby Knolls. Jocko's Porting Service was also nearby.

This unusual race car was a fan favorite, just because it was unusual and rather odd. The noise it made was not like a 671 supercharged SBC motor (like our 292 SBC in our Willys Coupe,) but an ordinary SBC with long, straight pipes that made a different sound.
Bixby Knolls ... Stu's Transmission Shop race car...
For some reason, those 8 pipes made kind of a bee buzzer noise and not the heavy throated rumble of a supercharged SBC motor. The engineering was there, it ran well in its class, was a fan favorite, but dropped out of the scene rapidly. Luckily, we were there in 1959-60 to record some of the only runs made by this little dragster.




Stu’s AE Transmission rear engine Sidewinder race car

 

^^^ that is the car Johnny Cash was inspired by^^^

 

From 1936. Cool shapes and cool white sidewall tires as well!

 

This has got to be the most radical, unsafe, useless, over-done, ill-conceived chop in the history of chops!!



But damn, I luv it!!

 

My brother had a 41 Ford. I always look to find a really nice custom one. This is not it.

 

I wonder if the guy that added the third taillight is getting royalties? That black thing has to predate 1986 when 3rd brake lights became mandatory...

Just saying

 

Since you brought it up, it is for sale, FB Marketplace. Redmond ,Or.

 

The yellow clown car, was for sale at the Portland swap-meet a number of years ago.

 

Wait a minute. Isn't that the Cat in the Hat's car?

 

My dohc hemi cross flow 300 ford 6 is about as odd ball as I’ve seen

 

much?

 

Dutch inventor racecar builder and racer Maus Gatsonidis who also invented the speed camera .

 

At least this thing has a rollcage. That's gotta count for something...

 

I love this thing, totally my kind of deal.

 

It is just a little off in proportion, but I kinda like it..

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yikes.... the first one is almost understandable...
the SECOND one... just make it a convertible and be done with it

 

Here's some weirdness from northern California. A local body shop owner's shop truck that passed through my hands a few years ago.

 

That one looks like it was well-loved! Not bad in concept or execution, actually looks quite functional. Getting in and out might have been a chore to get used to.