It seems from my thinking a purpose built fabrication and it was influenced in part by auto racing, car designs abroad or from their presence in North America as things became more intertwined. Especially prior to both WW's international influences were taking shape... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...enized-hotrods.1002926/page-250#post-15507528
As you can see from this photograph, that I shot of Squeek's roadster, years ago, to my eye, he did a pretty good job of making that patch. Same skill level demonstrated on the cut down door, on the Fitzpatrick custom, just to a higher degree of fit and finish. According to the article on the Fitzpatrick custom, the reason the door was cut down, was to make it comfortable to hang an elbow out of the window, same for the passenger door as well.
When I was in my teens I picked up what would be called a piece of junk, the car (for the lack of a better word) featured a 1950 frame,engine,transmission and rear axle, the body was a shortened Model A sedan body that had the top cut off and the doors welded up they were cut down and a wooden bed on the back. the only redeeming qualities was the aluminum heads and the 3 deuce intake and of course it being my junk it sported a coat of red primer (Brushed on no less). With a great deal of effort it actually ran, not great but it did run, It also caught on fire while cruising down the main drag, talk about being noticed! The last time I saw the car was in the junk yard, I only wish I had a photo of it, I think I could contend for the ugliest rodent rod from the 60's. HRP
Not crazy about cut-down doors on Hot Rods, but a few pull the over all look, quite well, like this one!
Thinking back about the fire, I bet it looked like a scene from keystone cops with all the participants bailing out of a still running car, the proverbial term comes to mind, assholes & elbows! HRP
At least from that angle, I think that looks great! I like it. Where's @anthony myrick I'd bet he'd drive it!
I like this thread! My '30 coupster doors were cut down some time in it's life and pipe welded all the way around so the doors don't open. It's not too radical so it takes a second look at the car to figure out what's different. It's just enough of a cut that I can swing my leg over and climb in. I don't know what kind of pipe they used but it feels like it's thick, like chainlink fence posts, but I don't know how they'd bend it if it was. Anyway, I fell in love with the car the first time I saw it, doors and all, so it'll stay the way it is.
I like it a lot. I say it needs matching wheels and tires all the way around. Well of course not slicks in the front. Whitewalls and chrome wheels all the way around. It's cool.
Another shot of Squeek Bell's roadster, as he was painting his number on the side of it, when he was at "TROG" at "FLABOB" airport.
Sneaky one in the back I think some of these larger full fendered cars may have had “pocket” sliding doors. I know I’ve seen a few like that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Darrin ...not really cut down but visually it could have influenced the cutting down...being it had cut down built in...looking at this Darrin even the padded dash and padding waving around the rear area at top of seats may have influenced smoothing the cut area down to provide a soft landing for arms/legs...and other sensitive areas as already mentioned
...this has me thinking if @jebbesen's inspired ressurection and beyond...I have to see where he is with it...it's I believe on a car lot and was part of Wally Parks collection...
And a couple of creations that guys thought enough about the concept to emulate/fabricate them. Easy enough to delete if you want.
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