Traditional Car Question

I was thinking about this last night..........

A traditional car is when you restore the car back to the original, correct?

 

Well, lets see what kind of answers come to this question. My guess is that there about 100 different opinions on what traditional really is.

 

I think on this site "traditional" is when its a custom or hot rod built traditionally, how it would have built in its day. No modern billet and bling.

 

hold on, let me grab my popcorn and mountain dew for this one!!!

 

I think it would depend on the context, a traditional.....
Ie, Hot rod.
That would be a car built to mimic the style hot rods were built in, in the pre 65 days. Or a car actually built back then.
A car restored to original factory specs is just restored.
Make sense?

 

Traditional hotrods are different than "restored cars"

 

traditional is what would've been done at that period of time.

restored is just bringing a car back to normal specs as if rollin off the ***embly line, again.

 

NO, that's a "restoration"...!!!

Tradition: An inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action or behavoir. 2. The handing down of information, beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instructions. 3.Characteristic manner, method or style.

According to Webster's...

R-

 

Does this mean that 20 years down the road the street rods of today will finally be traditional?

 

Yeah, traditionaly UGLY!

 

No, a traditional hot rod is what you can make out of a restored car. Now I'll have a seat next to H30 grab a Pepsi and watch the fun!!!

 

Well, hell, let's just carry this through:
Will the street rods of the LATE 60s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 70s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 80s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 90s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 2000s ever be traditional?

Answer, yes.

Traditional here is, theoretically, dictated by the pre-65 manufacture date and technology, etc. available then and earlier.

Traditional in the real world is much more universal, although also personal, when it comes to the way cars were built in your town, county, state, region and even coast except for the inner Northern Tier of States, and is dependent on when you became aware of old cars and began appreciating them.

 

If you rebuild a car to the original condition , that's restored !
Now if you build or modify your older car to the way your Dad or his Dad would have built their Hotrod , then that's traditional !
Hope that helps .

 

[quote=pasadenahotrod Well, hell, let's just carry this through:
Will the street rods of the LATE 60s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 70s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 80s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 90s ever be traditional?
Will the street rods of the 2000s ever be traditional?

Answer, yes.


NSRA states pre 1949 for Street Rods ! Right ?

 

Well the only reason I ask is because this is what I thought it was ^^^^, but I've seen some and guys say that they're "traditional," but they chop it and lower it. If it's "traditional" then it wouldn't have been chopped or lowered when it was originally built, correct?

 

So if you don't change anything at all (just putting in new things so they work, etc) is "restored" and changing it a little like some may have back when is "traditional"?

I'm sure you all think I'm stupid for asking this question, but I've heard so many different things, that I'm confused. And honestly, I rather get it right than thinking I'm right, when I'm really wrong and looking like an @ss, so bare with me here. =]

 

Well like I said it depends on the context that the word Traditional is placed. Faded is right when refering to Traditional for the HAMB.

 

WOW. Did you just miss something

 

Why do you ask that?

 

Lots of rodders chopped and lowered their cars back in the day. Nowdays though you see things taken to cartoon extremes. Nobody laid frame back in the day and you only saw mailslot chops at the track or Bonneville.

 

Ooooooo. See... I didn't know they did that back then. Makes more sense I guess. I'm still a little confused, but I guess knowledge comes with practice, time, and experience.

 

Restored would be to take your ford in your album and put it back to original nut and bolt perfect condition. Right off the show room floor and then stick it in a museum cause you would be to afraid to hurt it.

Traditional hot rod build as the hamb considers it. Would be to build your ford as it would have been built by a hot rodder, or customizer, from the early 60s back. Which could include chopping, smoothing, lowering, tail dragging, any number of custom treatments that people of that time frame would have thought of. Including steel wheels, wide white walls, trim rings, center caps, or full hubcaps stolen from any number of auto dealerships. Not unlike what some people are doing nowadays. Except now they are using more of what is available like radials, disc brakes, modern air conditioning. Which takes away from being true to the time traditionalism. Any more just research what was available back in the time frame we are talking about. And use those parts only on your build and you will be traditional for that time. So if some of friends say there car is a true traditional build. Ask them what time frame they are talking about. And then if you like, look for flaws in there statement. Cause everyone has them...ghost

 

Enough of this 'traditional' nonsense. Is that you in your avatar? Let's talk about you a little bit.

 

At least your asking! Some people come on here with hackjob peices of sh*t and then get pissed when someone tells them that it isn't traditional. I commend you for wanting to learn the right way!

Traditional can mean many things, but the best way I can put it is this:

A truly traditional hotrod or custom car is built in a way that the pioneers would have done it, using the technology they had and what they could afford. By creating the vehicles they did, they set a 'mold' if you will and a car becomes less and less traditional the more you stray from these aspects.

A traditionally flavoured car is one built using the historicaly proven aspects of original hotrods and 'updating' them with things like airbag systems (customs) or radial tires etc etc. Some people believe that once you add some modern creature comforts, the ride becomes a Street Rod. I'll let you decide on that for yourself.

Like I said, it's cool that you ask. Nobody was born knowing everything (although, some people on here like to think so from time to time) and we all have to start somewhere. I'm learning something new every day, just stick around and watch and you will be amazed at what you will learn.

 

Zman is "Spot On".

A restoration is a broad term and can mean different things to different people. I have restored early Mustangs and first gen Camaro's, and I restored them to factory spec's. But you could also do a retro/restoration, restore it to factory spec's and then maybe lower it and change suspension pieces, tires, wheels.........................ect.

A true tradiitional "hot rod" is a purpose built hot rod that was done in the 30's, 40's, 50's, or 60's. It uses only parts that could only be bought in the 30's, 40's etc., and put on the car for that time period only. Then there are what I call retro/traditional, which is a traditional car but has pieces that couldn't have been purchased in the 30's, 40's etc., but still look kind of traditional. Like aluminum column drops, S-10 rears, etc.

There was an article in Hot Rod or Street Rodder sometime back that actually went over the various years of hot rods and what the "traditional" look and feel was for each time period.
Kind of like Zman's quote, "Knowbody laid frame back in the day".

IMHO

 

Period correct for the vehicle. Either as stock or Hot Rodded. That is my take anyway........

 

I think ghost takes the win! Your description says it best... at least for me to understand! I probably don't truly belong on this site, but you guys have some good advice, etc. I know most, if not all, of the guys/women on here build theirs "traditional" style. I'm not positive, but I think when I get done with mine it will be like traditional mixed with something else LOL. I just don't know what that something else would be.

 

And yes, that's me.

 

Cool... I think I'm startin to get this! =]

 

Hit swapmeets, rummage sales, Ebay etc and pick up some Rod & Custom "little pages" from the 50s, as well as early Hot Rod Magazines. They will give you an overview and primer on what most here consider trad. for that time frame. There are also cars that are traditional to say an early 60s style.

Plus go back and read Ryans Jalopy Journal entries to get a feel for it.