I dunno... single piece raw aluminum hood, no hood sides, full wrap leather straps from one frame rail to the other - early style.
One of my favorite hot rodders EVER is this guy: That's Mal Hooper. He was known to be bat shit crazy in the late 1940's and early 1950's - particularly at Bonneville because he would drive just about anything at speed - no matter the risk or certain consequence. He also once beat the ever living shit out of a segregated restaurant owner for refusing to serve one of his black pals. He's a hero. Anyway, I recently got this email: Ryan, noticed you are a fan of Mal Hooper. It made my heart sing to know people remember him. He was a good friend of my dad's and someone I considered family growing up. Funny enough, he too had a flathead powered model-a coupe only his had an aluminum hood with leather hood straps. So yeah, I think I might need an aluminum hood... and I prefer full leather straps.
It's like old-time burlesque. The tease and hints of what lies beneath draw in the attention and create the attraction. Hubba-hubba *wiggles eyebrows"
@Ryan If you want to go bat shit crazy... How about getting that 38 back up and running... Just saying....and for the record. I think the hood idea is a good one if done right, And with your connections I am sure it would be....
Yes, add louvers to that bare aluminum please! I couldn't find a solid panel but you get the idea. HRP
I've always been a fan of doing whatever the hell you want and everyone else can do theirs however the hell they want. I'm also a fan of "having thoughts".
I haven’t had a shred of motivation to touch the ’38. For the last couple of years, my brain’s been hardwired to the race car—tunnel vision, full tilt. But over the past few weeks, I’ve been messing with stupid maintenance on the Model A… mostly trying to get it to play nice with that cantankerous Eddie Meyer intake. Somewhere in that chaos—and maybe thanks to a little roadster I saw at the Round Up—I started thinking: maybe it’s time to shake things up. Nothing drastic, just enough to make it feel fresh again… new to me. The good news? The A’s been on the road long enough now to wear its miles honestly. It’s getting that earned patina—scarred in, not sprayed on. And I’m starting to think I ought to lean into it… let the history show a little more. Have some fun with it.
Not that you care but not a fan of leather straps. Always looks to me like a cheap way to hold a hood down. Louvered hood top with hidden latches.
It‘s funny you‘re having the same thoughts as me… I started fabbing up an aluminum 2-piece hood for my 34 a few weeks ago. I quickly recognized that I‘m not up to the task, so my batshitcrazy friend and bodyman Tobi is taking over from now on. He also is the guy who did the paintjob on the 34 . Must have something to do with the paint fumes , he likes hanging out in the antlers…
Only my view: Full length leather straps just don't look purposeful. (yeah sorry, even on that Bugatti) They look like old man shit – like wearing braces (suspenders) or... bondage gear or something? They're gonna stretch and with no hood sides they'll catch wind + harmonics and buzz at speed. So it's gonna sound like a flatbed trailer with a load of lumber strapped to it. I say full aluminum hood. Piano hinges. Rows of proper little louvers and some smart little overpriced stainless hold downs at the frame rail. They should be sourced from a high end wine-and-cheese yacht hardware catalog
These are buckles which are used to tighten up the straps when they stretch. I’ve been over 70 mph and it doesn’t move or make noise.
I strap down surfboards quite a bit for my daughter... In order to avoid the flutter and buffer, you twist the tie downs to break the air stream and quiet them up. In your instance, the buckles are doing the same thing.
Has a hood side but my boss did this to a 32 Henry hood. Simple louvre styled reveal for the strap wonder what something similar would look for a hood top only
I say do it if it makes you happy, remember the man that you’re fashioning this after didn’t care what it looked like he did his own thing and didn’t care. I’ve added things to my cars and projects from people who influenced me at one time or another. It’s honoring someone who you look up to and that’s what makes it special
I can only repeat advice I've heard here so many times: build what you like and ignore what other people don't like.
Oh... I could give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks. Everyone here should know that by now. I'm gonna play for sure...
The Jalopy Journal
