Register now to get rid of these ads!

Featured History Tom Cobbs: Two Coupes

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Ryan, Jul 30, 2025 at 9:53 AM.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,516

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    Tom Cobbs: Two Coupes

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
  2. Rolleiflex
    Joined: Oct 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,380

    Rolleiflex
    Member

    Man-oh-man, those are super.
    I love seeing the small details. Silly little things like the Kaiser aluminum stamping on the dash and the SCTA sticker across the head and block.
     
  3. V8RPU
    Joined: Sep 23, 2010
    Posts: 344

    V8RPU
    Member
    from Nor Cal

    Fantastic! The 2 most admired Bonneville coupes. Each elemental but exquisitely constructed. The man responsible for the speed is also the man who captured the cars in loving detail in their natural environment. I hope it isn"t so, but you will have a hard time bringing to light anything more visually and historically exciting. Thanks to you and Tom!
     
  4. silent rick
    Joined: Nov 7, 2002
    Posts: 5,581

    silent rick
    Member

    I can't swim Clark
    Glad to see you made it through the tsunami

    Tom's work ended up in the right hands, thanks for sharing it with the rest of us
     
  5. NealinCA
    Joined: Dec 12, 2001
    Posts: 3,438

    NealinCA
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    and the steering shaft support tied into the master cylinder fittings. A lot of thinking went into these builds

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Silva
    Joined: Apr 28, 2005
    Posts: 523

    Silva
    Member

    Great stuff RC! These images are iconic...
     
  7. hudsonjoe49
    Joined: Jan 1, 2007
    Posts: 267

    hudsonjoe49
    Member

    I have the shifter from that car
     
  8. NoSurf
    Joined: Jul 26, 2002
    Posts: 4,768

    NoSurf
    Member

  9. general gow
    Joined: Feb 5, 2003
    Posts: 6,470

    general gow
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

  10. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 19,593

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Man those are phenomenal gonna have to find a bigger screen to zoom way into them!
     
  11. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,092

    BrerHair
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Fantastic. HAMB gold. Gorgeous machines.
     
  12. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,187

    Tow Truck Tom
    Member
    from Clayton DE

    Man 0 Man That is amazing visual finery. thanks for sharing.
    It's almost eerie to see history this way. Thank You Ryan


    The original inner door brace.:cool:
     

    Attached Files:

  13. hudsonjoe49
    Joined: Jan 1, 2007
    Posts: 267

    hudsonjoe49
    Member

    I had to do some digging. I have the shift knob also it’s in one of my display cabinets to keep it safe. IMG_8441.jpeg IMG_8439.jpeg IMG_8440.jpeg
     
    jet996, warbird1, 550Coupe and 23 others like this.
  14. Sharpone
    Joined: Jul 25, 2022
    Posts: 2,393

    Sharpone
    Member

  15. dirt car
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,537

    dirt car
    Member
    from nebraska

    Interesting to see even some of the well-known examples weren't always perfect with respect to the hammer & dolly work, & no big deal if a rivet, screw, bolt or nut were in full view on an access panel or deck lid, after all they were race cars, we can only imagine often racing the clock to complete & compete in an upcoming event.
     
  16. downlojoe33
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 878

    downlojoe33
    Member

    What a craftsman he was! 1953 no less. Truly amazing. Thank you Ryan for letting us be a part of this treasure trove of hot rod history.
     
  17. rtsidejohnny
    Joined: Sep 29, 2006
    Posts: 249

    rtsidejohnny
    Member

    Wow, thx for posting these Ryan…simply fantastic!!
    Bonneville bound this weekend!!!!
     
  18. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,220

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

  19. dirt car
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,537

    dirt car
    Member
    from nebraska

    A good photo of the basic trailer of the day utilizing used tire casing sections that in their afterlife conveniently cradle the wheels of the So-Cal coupe during its storied journeys.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
  20. richard noble
    Joined: Dec 30, 2024
    Posts: 55

    richard noble

    Unbelievable stuff Ryan. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
     
  21. 2devilles
    Joined: Jul 16, 2021
    Posts: 667

    2devilles
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Might be my favorite blog of yours @Ryan. Thanks for showing, glad you've got access to all these historic photos and that they're not just lost in a box or landfill somewhere.
     
  22. brad2v
    Joined: Jun 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,655

    brad2v
    Member

  23. Hollywood-East
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 2,089

    Hollywood-East
    Member

    Incredible.. hard $top... Wow
     
  24. TexasHardcore
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 5,556

    TexasHardcore
    Member
    from Austin-ish

    Tom Cobbs is the gift that keeps on giving.
     
  25. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 19,593

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

  26. Jack Rice
    Joined: Dec 2, 2020
    Posts: 298

    Jack Rice
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I love these! I have the die cast models of these cars. Love seeing them actually dressed for battle. Curious what the cheat sheet taped inside the door was outlining for the driver. Thanks @Ryan
    [​IMG]
    i
     
    Outback, Sharpone and chryslerfan55 like this.
  27. brady1929
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 9,578

    brady1929
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Oh man! 2 bitchin coupes.
     
    Outback, Sharpone and chryslerfan55 like this.
  28. TerrytheK
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 1,564

    TerrytheK
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Pure gold.
    Never knew there was an earlier version of the So-Cal coupe with a less-radical chop. I'm in agreement that the earlier version is more to my own liking. But it's a race car, and it seems they're built to evolve.
    Another homerun batch of photos. Thanks a million @Ryan for doing this project.
     
  29. Rand Man
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 5,285

    Rand Man
    Member

    Great little story and great images. I would really like to visit the salt one day.
     
  30. Spectacular photos. The detail shots are awesome and to see both cars from those different angles is an incredible privilege to see.

    That cool little modified is Stan Weisbard's car, custom fibreglass body by Victress. Car was on cover of 'HOT ROD 1957 Annual'. Believe it was also featured in R&C or CC in '56-ish. Was later in the Harrah collection, had a DOHC topped banger by that time and still exists somewhere, wish I knew where.
    [​IMG]

    s-l1600.jpg harrah-1.jpg
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.