I bought the June issue of Street Rodder for the cover picture of the blown flathead, but at the back of the magazine I found an article on Jim Jacobs' '29 phonebooth from long ago. Looking at this thing, 40+ years after it was built, reminds me of Jake's importance as one of the guys who established the style for hot rods in a particular period. I'd have to consider him in the company of Doane Spencer and John Buttera as one of the guys who authentically made it up. This thing is so perfect in its proportion and detail, without being a useless trailer queen, that it makes me smile. The wheels and tires, the stance, the nearly stock body all work together perfectly. It was probably pretty close to a cartoon in its day -- TQ's, QC, louvers -- and today you'd view it as a resto rod. Props to its present owner, Ken Kennedy, for preserving it so well. For my money, this is a "traditional" look that's a worthy inspiration for cars being built now. I really wrote this while biting my tongue, not wanting to make rude remarks in the Bo Huff thread.
Yes that is one of my favorite A trucks of all time. Sometime I will build mine in a similar style as that one.
Someone will correct me if I've got this wrong, that truck was a beater when Jake first had it and he got the nickname of "Jitney Jake" because of it. It was rebuilt to it's present look well after his fame cofounding Pete&Jakes. Its one of my all time favorite A's.
Funny, I have the conversation OFTEN with Lynn Bird about how important that exact era is, but that it's virtually unknown to the 30 & 40-something year olds that know EVERYTHING about the '40s, '50s & '60s (even though it was well before their time), but for the most part unless they are an over 55 "grey beard" or their dad dragged them to rod runs and swapmeets everyweekend during that era like mine did they have NO interest in that great time in rodding. Love certain cars from that time much more than any other period. Had a surreal unplanned experience last week visiting Pete Chaporis, then going directly to Eric Vaughn's amazing 1920 Cadillac dealership and having lunch and then right over to Pete Eastwood's to pick up the '32 headlight bars he dropped for my dad. Those were all some of my greatest heroes growing up (through the writings of Gray Baskerville) and I almost had to pinch myself that I was hanging out one-on-one with them in one afternoon. I think about that too now when I think I will be reflecting on current times hopefully in 30-40 years about hanging out and getting to know so many people like Dave Lane, Eric Peratt (Pinkee's), Sean (Fat Lucky's), Jimmy White and so many other great young talents of today. Jake is one of the greatest ever to screw together a hot rod. Thanks for bringing it up.
It was nice in another guise- Yellow with Black fenders, Radirs & slicks and a warmed Model A engine (followed by more modern power) a decade before Pete & Jake's began. Jake started the Early Times car club with local high school buddies in 1965. He worked for Ed Roth, as Tech Editor for Rod & Custom and with fellow club member Dan Woods before teaming up with Pete Chapouris in the early seventies.
I love this truck too. I saw it in person on a Wednesday cruise night in the Hechinger's parking lot. Talk about a jaw dropper in our Wed. night get together. They were in town for the Nats. East when it was still in Timonium Md. I'm not sure of the year. It wasn't a trailer queen.
Some of my favourite magazines are the early Street Rodders. Sure, there were more than a few resto-rods around then, but there were also still plenty of (what are now) traditional ones featured.
how 'bout a little history then? i remember jake's '34 ford from the mooneyes xmas show pics... of course his tub... and there's also his yellow '34 coupe. what else has he built? what's his history? i know he was involved with the so-cal speed shop in some way. there's the pete and jake's thing too. anyone want to flesh this out and fill in a gap in my generations knowledge bank? thx ed
...Jake's truck will always be one of my favorites also; ...and I'm glad someone brought up his tub; also one of my faves. Jake was/is always ahead of his time. I'm glad his A truck is here locally and I get to see it from time to time. There's nothin you could do to that truck to make it better,....other than havin the title in your name!
Jake has always been one of the greats as far as traditional hot rodding is concerned. His build style was/is about the best HAMB fit as anyone who ever modified a stock A frame for hot rod use or chopped a top in his back yard ('34 yellow 3w). If you ever get a chance look at the R&C coverage about the chop job on the '34 you'll know what I mean. The very best part is that he is STILL turning out traditional rides like his '34 4dr for all of us who want to stay focused on this build style. I've lusted after the A pickup ever since it was featured in the mags of the period and wanted to build one like it. I aquired the basics to make it a reality in the 70's, and reality brought the idea to an abrupt halt when my plus size prevented me from getting in the cab and closing the door. Frank
frank, i really like his '34 fordor. the guy has good style and i'd like to learn more about his cars and history. ed
Way too much history to put in a post, do yourself a favor and get yourself this book... CC http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Rods-Pete-Jake-Chapouris/dp/0879386053 Book Description To many enthusiasts, Pete Chapouris and Jim "Jake" Jacobs rank among Boyd Coddington, Ed Roth, and George Barris as two of the world's most influential hot rod and custom car designers. Combined, the California-based duo can boast 80 years of experience building some of the world's most creative showstopping customs. This photo history celebrates the 25th anniversary of the opening of their shop, Pete and Jake's Hot Rod Parts, and depicts and describes their most celebrated creations from 1974 to the present
Jake's pickup is the drug dealer that gave me my initial free sample. The one that hooked me on phonebooths.
I don't know Jake personally , but I always loved his yellow 3 window . I've seen him at model T swaps and little shows several times and stuff b.s.ing with everybody and digging through milk crates of filthy junk like everybody else and seems like a super nice regular Joe type guy . He builds super nice stuff .
That truck is partly responsible for my affection (affliction?) with old Fords. In the early to mid sixties, Jake hung out with one Bob Evans who lived right across the street from me in Compton, right around the corner from Dave's Home of Chrome. I wasn't even old enough to attend elementary school yet. I would sit on the curb (I wasn't allowed to cross the street) and stare at that yellow truck parked across the street for what seemed like hours on end. Bob had several Model A's too but they didn't interest me much since they were all stockers. Jake's was a Hot Rod!
Although not actually Jake's creation, his restoration of the Niekamp roadster deserves mention. He was the first guy to acknowledge the significance of a historic hot rod, and to undo the various so-called upgrades that had been visited on it by later owners. In this single act, he established the ground rules for "traditional hot rod" and "period correct" in one fell swoop.
I saw that truck in the SR magazine and almost flipped! That is almost exactly how I want my Dubble A truck to look when I'm finished, except with different wheels and a small wooden flatbed. Damn that truck was pretty! I was able to finally show my wife what my plans are for my toy!
The Jalopy Journal
