During the ‘70’s “malaise era” of vans, imports and kit cars, Gray Baskerville carried the traditional rod and custom banner. His words are still true 47 years later. All credit goes to him and Hot Rod magazine.
Ol Gray years ago said " Stance is everything " It may not be everything but it is extremly important. The pink with black flames A M B R contender has the stance of a loser. Nose up in the air.
I remember reading that in 1977. For the mostpart they are still words to live by. Don't clutter up your ride with crap just to be adding crap. I see way too much of that with guys who think Lowrider Magazine is a mainstream custom car rag. Especially the current crop of GM AD truck guys. If you run fenders put some thought onto it and run wheel/tire combo that fits those fenders right. You can scroll dowm FB marketplace anywhere in the country and find a rod for sale that has wheels and tires that just do not fit the car right. He went about it in a kinder round about way than I would but still hit the point of pick a theme for the build and stay on that theme end to end and top to bottom. Most Hambers who have been into rods or customs for a long time get that but a lot of new to the hobby guys or gals are clueless.
One of the number of things that hurt that car's chances. Too much personalization rather than presentation. Too mant things sticking out like a sore thumb rather than blending and working together as one unit. On any build no single component should stand out and take your eye away from the total vehicle at first look. First you see the unit as one then you stop and sort out the details.
Every vehicle I've ever had that vehicled Gray would have referred to as a bitsa. Needless to say I've heard many johnny cash jokes over the years lol
Yer Old Dad knew what he was talking about. His roadster is as timeless as it gets, primer warts and all!
Hey Mr. 48. Have you seen the build pictures of the Tulsa Roadster? Lot's of cluttered up crap on the inside. On the outside the popular now days is the radius rod covers. Serve no purpose what so ever. Not functional so I call it pussy esthetics.
I didn't want to put a picture of the Tulsa roadster with my reply because the mods might delete it for being non traditional.
YEP, I have to chuckle about 'ol Gray, he never painted his rear fender (primer spot), so he could not display hi '32 roadster at LAR show, cause it was "Unfinished".
I miss his writing, always enjoyed it. He was almost 100% spot-on. I'm fairly surprised, although happy, that Gray gets accolades here. Seems most don't know that he advocated heavily for STREET Rods, *on* the street. For that matter, so did Tom Medley, LeRoy Tex Smith, among others. Hit or Miss was/is a very good article. Marcus...
Hate to throw a turd in the punch bowl, but that piece strikes me as "I have a deadline and need to get my copy in ASAP."
The man had a way with words, I always admired him and his writing and agreed with most of his opinions on hot “street” rodding. His articles were very readable to me.
The Jalopy Journal
