I love all cars in general but I would like to see the hamb stick with a 50 plus year old style that way it makes more of a traditional type car. I just want to see the site stay where it is old timers that lived the era and then the younger gen picking up the torch and cranking out some awesome rides. A wild T-Bucket from 1973 I think is totally cool but I don't really want to see a 1993 billet street rod as its just still to new of a style to be nostalgic over (I was cutting my teeth in street rodz when those cars were new and I don't think I will ever really like them).
I despise deliberately built rat rods. For example putting a Cummins diesel in a Model A just isn't right or rebar spider webs turned into seats. For that matter Ford 2N tractor seats used in a hot rod just aren't right. I do however like ratty ass hot rods where are the fit and finish isn't perfect but it was hand built to be driven and driven hard at that. When I was in my early twenties and the rockabilly / traditional hot rod scene was really starting to take off (that's crazy, as that was 25 to 30 years ago now, wow!) I thought it was cool as hell that guys in their early twenties were building traditional hot rods out of the cast of junk from the billet street rod crowd and I remember the old-timer shunning the younger crowd for being wild lol that was a lot of fun and I would imagine some of those cars could be considered a rat rods by the mainstream Hot Rod Street rod crowd but I don't think I would personally call them that. Airbrushed rust, tons of skulls, tractor grills, diesel engines are rad rod type stuff.
Don't worry, when you see the monster it becomes and slam the door shut, you will piss off a TON of people!
You mean my photo of a '20s Dodge bucket that was deleted because of radial tyres might be allowed? Heavens to Murgatroid. What's the world coming to?
Not sure why this should cause an uproar - there was already the Antiquated sub-forum for things which did not fit into the main forum and the world did not end. The way I see it if you don't like OT rods, just avert your eyes. The main forum remains as is and all is good.
What’s with all the LS engine hate by the way. Those things make some serious horsepower at a decent price. (And they burn gasoline) Isn’t that a big part of hot rodding?
When i first posted the comment that inspired the one you quoted, the picture in my mind was a 30’s 40’s car with a turbo charged LS with 20” wheels. I’ve got nothing against the LS in the right place ( in my mind)
I don't hate them per se, but they are being pitched as the end-all solution to powering everything and are cheap to swap, when that isn't necessarily the case. Matt at Nailheadbuick.com sums it up well in my mind: https://www.nailheadbuick.com/post/the-ls-swap-fad-and-styling-continuity Beyond that, they are essentially the modern 350/350 solution. Fine for a lot of stuff, but not for any of my current projects. I am not opposed to using one in the right project. (Mostly things that came with an SBC).
I usually hate change, but hell lets see where this goes. The LS is doing to the SBC what the SBC did to the flathead.
I'm confused about the reluctance to consider change on a forum dedicated to...changing things. I'm all for it, really.
Before dissing later model Camaro/ Firebirds, for the Off-Topic group, cars like the Harry Bradley designed, Dave Crook built Firebird fit! I say bring on some classic street freaks as well...
I think this is great! First a big thank you to @Ryan and @Moriarity. Don't get me wrong, I still love my traditional rods and customs, but in 2024 building cars like these is a fleeting dream for many. The price of cars and parts are making it very hard for many people. They love the older stuff too, but just can't do it. A number of years back I built a few traditional customs, but in the last decade or so I've lost many friends that were a big part in putting these cars together. Our club is a small group that had many skill sets and that's how we were able to build what we did. But, after our painter and our bodyman passed away, and a few of the younger ones left because life got in the way or to pursue other interests, the ability to pull off a traditional custom became a lot harder as being able to pay the pros to do work was never an option. The few of us that remain shifted gears a few years back and turned to "late model" customs. Late model being a kind of goofy term as the cars we are building are at least 35 years old. We drive our cars to shows, many a few states away, and the ability to tow them isn't something we can do. None of us can afford a trailer and a powerful truck to pull them. But, even though our cars are newer, we do employ traditional body mods, and bigger wheels will always be taboo with us. Basically we are putting a traditional custom style spin to a newer car. Many people don't like it, yet many do. We still go to and support the traditional shows, and enter when the cutoff years will allow. I will say that it annoys me to go to a show that is supposed to be for customs and has a cutoff year, and I see totally stock cars in there. Yet a "modern" car with shaved everything, custom taillights, skirts and so on isn't allowed because of the year of manufacture that it is. But, what can you do? The car scene has changed a ton since I joined the HAMB. I've been here for 28 years, and in that time I've seen it go from being easy to build a traditional car to almost impossible. For example, I bought my '62 Buick Wildcat for $900.00 in 1999 and I drove it home. It was far from perfect, but it ran and was complete. Today, a car in the same condition is more like $5K now, and that's a four door, not a two door hardtop. I know that wages have gone up, but they haven't gone up as fast as car prices, and that is what I think is causing the younger set to do other things than "old cars". I'll admit I don't like a whole lot of what the kids are doing with newer cars, but at least they are in the game. Without them the car hobby would be gone in no time, and it may eventually go away anyway with what governments and tree huggers are trying to do. But, 'til then we'll keep building and cruisin'. Life is too short not to..........E
I guess for those who have no self control and can't stop themselves from looking through an Off Topic section this might annoy them. But if someone is offended by a OT section simply don't look at it. I probably will occasionally look, and if I don't care for what I see I'll just stop looking there.
If a 1950s hot rodder went to 2024 junk yard, saw a blown hemi hellcat, Ford coyote, or alumin7m LS, would he still want his 1950 flathead? Remember as a kid following local hotrodder, 1950 Ford 2 door with radical flathead. One nite in garage ripping all apart for sale, ask why? He said raced a 56 Chevy, had him in first gear, shifted, & the Chevy went right on by. Bought a caddie studebaker - studalac.
Can I move my build thread over there? https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/frys-fifty-five-build-thread.1215517/
I love the HAMB....always have. I see what you're trying to do with this. Won't venture into the rabbit hole any time soon. The changes you have made in the past have worked out great. Only change I have wished for is a search feature for the classifieds. So you don't have to search 60 pages to find a certain item. (of course, unless it already exists and i'm too stupid to know where! lol)
I would like to suggest that instead of labeling it "off topic hot rodding" maybe something as simple as "Newer Hot Rodding" with a clarification accompanying it stating its for vehicles,motors, and modifications which don't fit the pre 66 guidelines of the Traditional section. Sounds a little more welcoming to new comers..........and they will tread into the traditional area just out of curiosity......
Oh great, another time suck to read through, lol. Don’t get me wrong, I dig it, big time! Some of my pre 65 cars had wheels from post 65 so now there’s a place.
Bob, There’s actually a much better search feature for the classified ads found on google. You just have to know what to put in the search box. Example: Pull up google and install this…. 1937 ford bumper: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forums/parts-for-sale.47/ Just put your search part in front of the address. Like this. 1934 fender: Colon on the end. Example….. https://www.google.com/search?q=193...F6gCHpgDF5IHATGgBwA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp
I've been developing a framework for automotive history around the idea of the Contested Age of the Automobile, which I usually take to be 1934-1989. The HAMB's focus era overlaps very closely with the first half of this period. Perhaps this new venture could deal with the second half? The book-ends are the introduction of the Chrysler Airflow and Citroën 7CV Traction Avant in 1934, and the end of Citroën 2CV production in 1989 — though I'm undecided if it shouldn't also include that last desperate British renaissance around TVR, Ginetta, etc. in the '90s: though that fizzled into today's sort of crap without any clear end date. I see the intervening period as one of battling automotive paradigms: and the wrong one won. I reckon the automobile reached peak concept in 1930 and peak execution probably some time in the '80s. I'm not sure if a cutoff date is the best way to deal with the new forum, but I would hate to see it overrun with post-'90s stuff; and more importantly with post-'90s design philosophy.
I start my Google search by typing The HAMB then subject then the word thread. Works every time, you still need to scroll down and weed out the thread that appears most relevant as there are many like-subject threads on The HAMB.
Let me help out here. Please read the Boss’ post again ^^^ Don’t know why this is confusing. Like someone said here earlier, it’s no different than talking about vintage guitars or radios on the Antiquated sub-forum.
To be honest ,,,,I think it will be great ! My reasoning,,,,there are thousands of people that need help on their off topic stuff . This will be a whole other board,,,,,if you don’t like it,,,don’t go there . Because,,,,,there are some of the most knowledgeable people here when it comes to cars,,,,Period ! This will give the less experienced guys a way to get help on their machines,,,,,no matter the cutoff date ! Just think how many guys have already passed away that their knowledge is gone . Much of that could have been applied to later model stuff,,,,,and now it can ! Also,,,,,now let’s be honest,,,,,,I know there are many here that would love to help already. But,,were afraid to step over the line ,,,right ? Our young people need a helping hand,,,,,we need to offer a friendly hand back now . One more thing,,,different direction,,,,,,,I’m assuming now that the electronic OD transmission stuff,,,and all the electronic ignition stuff will be handled over on the new board ! Oh yeah,,,,I want to say one more thing,,,,Tunnel Ram,,,,will be allowed on that board ! Lol . Tommy
Can't find something I posted yesterday with pictures of my son's 56 Chevy and a Billet wheel..........Did they get deleted from the "Off Topic" thread..........?
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