A Few Tucson Hot Rods From The 50's

I'm going to try and get my girlfriends father to chime in. He has a chaneled 32 roadster similar to the one posted and new a ton of guys there then.

 

A few more

 

Great photos.. My father ran zeller's garage on 219 E. Glenn..

He hung out with some of the Lord's. I have some great photos of his 34 coupe and 50 Ford..

You should email these to Ted Siterly and Red Greth.. Red would enjoy them..

 

Kick ass pics!

 

Hey Charlie, get the old man on here and show him this stuff...

 

after spendin a few days in Tucson last week and almost dying from heat... i dont know how they did it back then in coupes or for that matter roadsters!!!! it would be like DEATH

hahhaa...

fuckin cool pics though!

 

This IS unusual! LOW hiboy, very cool. Like the headers and the intact louvers.....

Charlie Zeller on this board? Paul Juarez and Sandy Fuss speak highly of you, is that good or bad?! Post a pic of that bad-ass albeit nonHAMB mustang I remember seeing.

 

I was in Tucson this weekend seeing my Daughter and new Grandbaby, so I went to the races Sat night. Saw your Daughter run,she's really good.

 

always love the old pictures

 

Great pic's and History: Thanks

 

Fantastic shots
I just LOVE the old pictures

 

Do you remember a guy named Jim Allen?, he did a lot of lettering of race cars, he lettered and striped my super modified in the late 60's and early 70's I raced out at the fair grounds, one of the guys I remember was Don Sink.

 

THANKS..THAT'S HER 8th SPRINT CAR START..A 3RD AND 2 TOP TENS SO FAR.

 

Jim's still around..built a vintage sprint and travels around showing it. I see Donnie Sink about every week. Still has a sprint but he stopped driving. He coached my daughter Jess when we raced a dirt modified.

 

The 32 5 window highboy was Red Greth's in 1954. Sold to Dave Caid who painted it red. Don't know where it went.

 

Thanks, its been a long time since I have talked about the good old days in Tucson, hard to remember all the people I knew, I was looking for Carl Trimmer, I thought he would be raceing till he was 100rd. First time at that track and thought it was a pretty nice place to race.

 

Carl had a bad wreck in his modified at the end of last season. Head injuries..he's ok but not racing this season. Carl's a real class act.

 

It may be really hot in the summer but after our three months of hell the cars come out.

 

Cool stuff, Did you go to the drags at SIR last weekend and come up and talk to me a bit. I was there with my black primered 29 rpu on 32 rails? Seems like we talked. If we didn't, it would be nice to meet you at some point. Dale (I love that 32 fiver with the cool hubcaps.)

 

Great pics! Thanks, Bill!
I really like this one. A lot going at at the Mobil Quick Serve. The signs, the gas pumps, the glass oil bottles. Check out the cool camper in the back. You missed the Coors can header "mufflers" Lots of tickets.

 

Nope.. But come down to the pits at USA racepark on July 19th. We're the blue 66 sprinter. Like any old fart, I've got more stories than you've got time!

 

Yes Charlie is still working and is putting together a gow job right now. I have not spoken to him since Ted Gay's funeral.

 

A few more oldies. The 40 and 32 were mine in the 70's. The 34 was Jim Means' ride in the 50's. we were fellow "Low Rollers of Tucson" members. Club started in 51. The yellow 32 was my high school ride in 56.

 

Soweet pics of the old days. Are you ever up in Phoenix??

 

Don't take it personal but only to race at Manzy and visit Frank at So-Cal. Just too big and fast.

 

Coooooooooooool pictures,
Thanks for sharing...............

 

You know, I was thinking that if the guys who spend $100,000 plus to have a shop build one of these things would just get to know a few guys who have done it, plan a "theme" and stick to it, they could build 2 for the price of one if they did it themselves. All the stuff is available in catalogs. This stuff isn't rocket science! You can learn to do anything if you want to. What are your thoughts? I'm not knocking the pros!

 

Yes Bill I agree ,if you have a drill and a basic tool set you can bolt one together . No tougher the gluing a model car kit together,but some of these guys need lessons on how to use a "church key". Me ,I go the other way ,abunch of old rusty parts and bare steel and dive in.
Bill : By the way back in the earlier 60s use to be a kid with crippled arms name of "Smitty" drove a 40 coupe from Tucson. He came up to Phoenix once in awhile to cruse Central . Did you know him?

 

I agree totally.
It was not as easy 30-40 years ago when I started doing my cars...there was not the aftermarket as now. Searchin' yards for adaptable parts..making what you couldn't adapt.
In many ways things are better..safer..but the skill set required is lower.
Catalogs..buy and bolt on. On this last build for me some stuff bought saved me a lot of time..radiator..brake parts. I still do brackets and stuff..just can't stop doing things my way..
It is easier now..plan..order..learn..build. Huge availabilty of tech help and parts.
Pros are great..but learning and DIY is much more satisfying..and much cheaper.

PS. Bill..thanks for the pics. I've been here 35 years and those old photos are just great.