Vintage Tin was started in the San Gabriel Valley (east of L.A.) in 1969. The Vintage Tin name came from the Rod & Custom magazine column by the same name. The early members were myself, Leroy Smith, Bob Hines, Pete Eastwood, Eric Vaughn, Pete Chapouris, Gary Lorenzini, Tom Vanderburg and Ken Young. Eric went on to start "Real Wheels", Eastwood is a noted builder and dragster restorer, Chapouris started "Pete & Jake's" and now has SoCal Speed Shop. Smith is Mike Smith's dad of "California Hot Rods" featured in the book, "Hot Rod Kings". All of us are still involved in hot rodding. The founding members received brass plaques as pictured.
Cooters Speed Shop Where is your club based? I'm guessing CSA is the Confederate States of America, is that right? Fairlane Dave Cool plaque. I now have it posted on the Dallas page. otti Otti already sent this to me to post on the Germany page but I'm wondering what that graphic is in the middle. I've studied it but can't figure it out. Anyone know? rstanberry Thanks, you Horny old Moose. Your plaque is also posted on the Dallas page. KernCountyKid The picture of that plaque was sent to me by Doug Marks. Do you know him? ol gasser Do you have the first version of the Rebels plaque? I'd like to document as many of these old clubs as I can. Mazooma1 An impressive list of early members. I've seen cars at our Run to the Sun with that plaque on and there may also be a chapter in the high desert as I have a similar plaque that I took a picture of on the Victorville page.
Bullet Nose: The two Vintage Tins are not related. Our club disbanded after about 15 years...maybe around 1985 or so. We still have a reunion every once in awhile, last one was in 2004, although informally we see each other quite a bit...
great site, i see you already have our clubs on the site so i will not submit it again. Love looking at these old and new plaques.
I'm still looking for one from a club my brother and his friends started in Canyon, Texas in the mid '50s. The club was the Plugs. Somewhere I have a picture of My brother and Ace Mills with Ace's '50 Dodge with a Plugs plaque on it. When I find it I'll try to post it here so they can be included. I hope if anyone runs across a Plugs plaque they will send a picture here. Ace is still in Texas somewhere.
This was my dads plaque from the mid 50's (Im guessing), he's 71 so I think thats about right. He lived in Jackson Minnesota back then. I also have his matching jacket somewhere. Ill post pics of it when I run across it.
Hey Bullet Nose , Thanks for inquiring on our club. It's based out of Douglasville, GA ('bout 20-25 miles West of Atlanta). You are correct on the CSA (Confederate States of America). We are Proud of the South. Cooter
here is one i got at a garage sale awile back....jeffrey havent got a pic of my coffins one yet...jeffrey
Here is our Lords plaque. Red Greth started the Lords in 55. They have a great logo. Red made the Speed Sport Special which can be seen at the NHRA museum in Pomona. There is also in display of a Lords half egg helmet. I will be posting some great old photos of the fellas with their cars back in the day.
I did a search and found their website, then sent an E-mail with your question. The message I got in return from "trnkey" said their club was established in 1977. I wonder if one of your former members moved to the Victorville area and started the club up again.
No sir I do not. He may be the fella I bought it from. I'm a Bakersfield native and I was really looking for a Smokers plaque, but they're rarer than hens teeth.
I'll bet you are right. The plaques (much less the name) are too alike. No doubt an ex-San Gabriel Valleyite moved and started another chapter. I'll ask some of the members that might remember. By the mid 70's, I was pretty much out of the club scene.
Here's one that an uncle ran in the 50's. I cast some duplicates for my buddies back in the 70's in shop class.
I've been working on a new page about plaque history and am adding some examples of painted plaques, lowrider plaques and the newer home made type of "rat rod" club plaques like these: I've seen others too and have room to add them. Still looking for photos of traditional plaques too. (313)
I havent found a good one of our plaque.. but here is one of our sign. and its real close to the plaque.. just about 40 times bigger