Folks Of Interest Traditional Rodders and Custom builders stand up and be counted

I would have to go back and look it was one of those posts with someone asking how to make the efi work on his plastic wonder as I recall. It is post kindler and gentler HAMB.

OK buddy
I have searched and have not found it. The time stamp on the file I copied it to is August 05,2010 so it would have been posted in that time frame. I am guessing that Ryan was the last person to post on the thread.

I don't know that I would pay someone to build an entire car for me but I sure wouldn't shy away from paying someone to paint or beat fenders for me. Aside from the fact that I am not the world's best at it I really don't enjoy doing it.

Building your own car is something that everyone one in the world wishes they could say that they did, but even in the day it was rare that anyone completely built a car by themselves. The ones who were capable and good at it became ICONs. Even your better builders farmed out work like body work for the speed shops owners and engine work for the custom builders etc.

Back when a lot of the older fellas were young and just starting out there was a lot done by groups of people. One of the fellas may have been adept at welding and another at engines and etc. They didn't know that there would come a time that a whole multitude of people would be come disenchanted with the corporate glitz and glam of what mainstream hot rodding had become and emulate what they had done in their driveway or one car garages and call them traditional.

 

I'd love to pay someone to build it... But that day aint here yet! Plus they'd probably look at me and say... You wanna build what??

 

Yeah I'm a traditionalist. It's what I build and what I like. I don't like street rods done in a "traditional style". I don't care for 1 800 kit car traditionally styled cars.

 

i dont build my own cars, buy them used and fix them till they work just drove 2200 miles to CA and even with discs in front my wife is sfreaming as we hurtle down mountains and I run HEI, a car show is no good if you do not arrive
I have waited 50 years to start doing this and love it, but my body is shot too so i clean up the stuff and make it work so i just spent 7 months in the shop making the car roadworthy and it does run out
i have done 4400 miles on my 60 buick seince it went out of the shop about 50 days ago

AND THEY LOOK TRADITIONAL one of the builds that i own was in hot rod in 1963

 

I do all my own engine, chassis and drivetrain work, (with help from some friends) I'm digging into metal work, (but I suck).

Paint and interior are charming bonuses if I can do some trade work for them, but i don't need them to enjoy my cars.

I dont know if any of you remember the thread asking if you were a wrench or a driver, but I am totally a wrench!

While I enjoy driving my old cars, I enjoy working on them much, much more.

Perhaps I am ill in some way, but it really keeps me mellow and happy to repack wheel bearings and hone wheel cylinders and file points and make spark plug wires.

My favorite is fabricating parts that dont exist, or are out of reach of my financial "skills". (making tools has to be the MOST fun of all!!!)

To each his own, but I would humbly consider myself a builder, if that is ok with everyone else...

 

My final post
I stood last year on Pebble Beach as some old gray haired men brought 9 treasured traditional hotrods to the Pebble Beach Concours. Yes, they unloaded their cars from trailers, but these were the actual cars from the traditional era. Roadsters, belly tankers, streamliners. Most of them didn't have starters. It was the first time that trailers were allowed on Pebble Beach.
I had the honor of being part of it and I also had the honor of shaking Alex Xydias' hand. This man fought in WWll, and opened a speed shop called SoCal in CA in 1948. He raced every kind of racer and class at Bonneville. Chet Herbert raced the Beast and wrenched from a wheel chair. This was the traditional era of hotrodding. All else evolved from that beginning. We can try to emulate, but we can't live that era over.

These guys don't need a name or culture, they are who they are, just car guys who loved it, and lived it.

Tradition should be an honor, not a culture. I would rather walk among these guys, and shake their hands, then meet a thousand talkers.

 

Here's the thing - when those guys were doing it, they weren't traditionalists -they were cutting edge and always trying new things. When the Overheads came out, many Hot Rodders dropped the flat head as fast as they could afford it, and by the time the SBC came out, the flatty was obsolete - and most of them embraced it! They didn't worry about being period correct or the tradition that they didn't even realize they were creating - they were the period and it was changing daily!
My dad's next door neighbor bought a full house 3/8 X 3/8 Flat head that had run the Salt for years from a buddy who got waxed one night at the street races by a Fuelie Chevy. He yanked that flat motor and put in a Chevy, later followed by a Hemi without ever looking back and no regrets!
The small amount of those guys who are still with us, I'm talking the guys 70 and over that were actually part of it, well most of the ones I have met, and there have been plenty over the years, don't have any issues with more modern parts on hot Rods and dare I even say Street Rods. Heck I know a few that embrace new technology and have out LS motors in 32 Fords that still look like early builds!

 

I don't understand the question......

I do all my own building/painting/assembly with as many old parts as possible...out of NECESSITY.....because I can't afford to have others do it for me....wish I could. Then I could spend more time traveling the world, chasing skirts, DRIVING my cars...etc...ha

And when building my crap...I use old parts as I want the car to look as if it was an ACTUAL car from BITD.....not a current day representation. Today's "traditional" cars (most of 'em) are too finely finished, too "perfect"...they somewhat fail IMO.
But then, I am using a ...*cough...Vega box myself.....shoot me......shoot me now....


Hoodlums worldwide........

 

^^^ yea, what he said! ^^^

 

Why do I feel that the only person who would meet Porknbeaner's standard of "traditional" is... Porknbeaner?

 

Probably because the only person who would fit Racewriter's standard of "traditional" is... Racewriter?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm just a hoodlum trying to learn what it is to become a traditional rodder. Before the Hamb I didn't understand the nuances of "street rodder" or "rodent rodder", or what those actually meant against the ideal of a "traditional rodder".

 

Because English isn't your first language?

I never set a standard for who is or isn't a traditional rodder at all I did was pose a question who is and who isn't based on something that someone said and get me to thinking about it.

A lot of you fellas who obviously feel either offended by the term street rodder or feel that you fall short of the mark for whatever reason have got you panties in a bunch over it. By your (people in general not you personally) own admission or lack there of you have basically said that you are not traditional rodders.

I have interjected some information to help the discussion along, but I have never ever defined what a traditional rodder or a traditionalist as some have coined the term is or isn't.

I have to make this assesment that aside from the fact that so many of you are so busy being offended, that there are actually very few traditional rodders on this board. There are quite a few drama queens who demand to be heard even though my opening statement was that we should try an avoid drama. They will always be here.

It was mentioned to me awhile back that the traditional movement is no longer traditional so being as the original question has pretty much worn itself out let's pose a new question.

Is the traditional movement no longer traditional?

 

I used to have a good handle on what sort of rodder I was/am. And then I found the hamb. Now I'm all confused. I don't really fit in with the street rodder crowd....and the more I read threads like this the less I feel like I fit in with the traditional hot rodder crowd. I have something in common with both....I don't like the rat variety.
I guess the era I dig the most is the late 60's and the early 70's...I don't know if that puts me too far out to be a traditional rodder or not. Even if it does I will still come to the hamb because this is the most knowledgable hot rod forum out there and I like the folks a lot.

 

Was it ever - Really?
Maybe the path to Traditionalism is best defined thusly;
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow. In fact, just piss off and leave me alone

 

Now don,
with an attitude like that someone is going to believ you may be a dirty no good.

So I guess this means we're not pitting together?

 

The line in the sand runs right between my legs....
Dropped axle,billet shocks
Plastic body, steel floors
Disc brakes and hairpins
Power steering, 40 wheel
3 pedals and 5 gears. And my engine is measured in liters and a computer tells the throttle when to open, but only when I push on the spoon gas pedal. Is it a morphite? Probably. Is it better or worse than anyone elses? Who cares, I don't. The oldest part on my car is me when I sit my ass on the seat.

You would be hard pressed to find a guy who has a better time in their hot rod than me.... And isn't that what matters?

And if the question was "how many hardcore traditional rodders are here" your answer seems to be far less than you had hoped. What I don't understand is why does it matter? I don't get on here looking for LS advice and try to help others out as much as I can.

I think that is what a lot of us do, try to somehow help other (insert defining prefix here) rodders. Kind of like all the stickys at the top of the page generating funds to help out others in need. What's more traditional than that?

 

Count me out!!!

My latest build is unchopped and full-fendered.

Real traditional hot rods CAN'T be either - Right???



Drama...

 

i will have to go with count me in.

safety items may not be peroid correct and this poor kid likes radials but i try to stay true to what i see as traditional as possible. in all actuality it has more to do with my personal taste in what i think a properly built car looks like than being a stickler for tradition. i dont think modern parts look right on older vehicles in most cases. the cars we love were built for function and style, not a IIHS rating, classic iron is art, period. i beleive most of us agree and that is why we honor that instead of hiding it under new parts. mine get built entirely by me simply because my financial situation dictates that, that does not make my car any more traditional than one out of a great shop, the end result is all that matters.

btw porknbeaner, thanks for keeping this thread on track with your replies. its interesting to see all the definitions of the same thing

 

Back to work.

 

porknbeaner

hahaha,in yer own words and you called 'most of us' street rodders in your first post,but didnt want to start a fire storm. LOL!

this thread really doesnt make any sense,(to me) suprised it didnt get shut down along time ago.

i am in know way meaning this as an attack,but please porknbeaner,show us the TRADITIONAL hot rod that you have built. ..just one pic please, so we can get an idea on your idea of traditional hotrodding.

 

Actually I didn't call most of us street rodders I said that it was recently pointed out to me that we were and that I was the exception to the rule. It was someone else that called most of us street rodders I was just relaying the information as it had been given to me. It has more to do with curiosity for me than anything else.

I was actually amused that the fella thought that I am Mr Trad. I certainly don't own anything that can be classified as a "street rod" and if you don't believe me just ask any real street rodder to confirm it. They most certainly will, but if you actually get down and dirty you won't be able to classify anything that I own or build to be totally trad either. I lean toward traditional and that's a fact but I just don't have the discipline to build something that is totally traditional. I will invariably drop the ball on one point or another.

That said I consider myself to be a traditional rodder, perhaps not in the strictest sense like say 3 Window Larry is or even Ryan for that matter to name a couple just off the top of my head. They both own period perfect rides. That is not to say that everything they own is period correct, if you can only own something period correct to be a traditional rodder then there damned few that will cut the mustard. Nearly everyone on the board owns or has owned something that is not a period piece.

I was not going to mention this but is has been giving me a chuckle all night. Someone mentioned that asking if you are a trad rodder on this board is like going to church and asking if there are any Christians there. I have been in a church before so I think I can answer this pretty easy; if you asked, everyone in the building including those that were not, would raise there hand. Never the less on the HAMB nearly everyone didn't raise their hand and some were damned proud of the fact that they are not. I think that shows that traditional rodders or at least HAMBers are a pretty damned tolerant bunch.

I also think that with very damned few exceptions if asked the overwhelming majority of the fellas on here would say that they don't dislike street rods or street rodders completely. I think all of us know of many different cars and people from different venues that we appreciate. I can't speak for everyone in the traditional community but I do know that the folks on the HAMB are a pretty diverse group of people. A lot of us own cars that are not HAMB friendly, most of us out of respect for the Boss and our fellow HAMBers don't flaunt them. Sure it happens and sometimes it really stirs the pot but for the most part we don't.

OK I have really drifted from the question here, so please excuse my ramblings.

Carry on.

 

I think we should all be nice to Street Rodders. Their cars will be our material some day.....from which more traditional rods will be built.

 

Very well said Paul. and good examples !!
And in these photos below, it really doesn't matter if the owner built it or not IMHO....
(Oh, and did any one get hurt in that bottom wreck ??)

 

The bottom one actually caught my eye. With a little affection it could be a very nice custom if customs are your cup of tea. Granted it would be work but no more work that what most of us start with.

 

The bottom one is a south Florida car, owned and built by "Bob" who has a paint and body shop. Chassis is well engineered and hydraulics are pretty much hidden. The lawn chair seats are a bit scary. He lifts it up about five inches and runs at highway speeds.

 

I'll bite, in the spirit of traditional hot rods I would say it isn't there anymore, in the fashion sense it is. My take would be if you look back on whatever era of cars you like 40's, 50's, 60's, early or late period of those decades, the underlying theme was fellas were increasing the performance of their cars whereas now we actually dumb them down in many cases to fit the style we want.

prime example: fella who got me going on cars laughs at me for wanting to put a flathead in my 34 because to him he was yanking them out and replacing them since the 50's, i'd have to put 10k into the motor to get it run as good as a small block chevy missing 2 sparkplugs, to him these ideas are more restorer (weezers he calls em) and less hot rodder

things change, not a bad thing, but it sure ain't the same thing

 

"The bottom one actually caught my eye. With a little affection it could be a very nice custom if customs are your cup of tea. Granted it would be work but no more work that what most of us start with."

Okay Benno, I get your point. But I know you get mine too, so stop
fucking with me!
Lawn chairs oy vey,and thats a dumb use of two blenders
Paul

 

I believe we have a paradox here. Hot Rodding was, is improving performance of a vehicle. I judge performance in all areas handling, braking, along with reliabilty and of course power. Looking at it this way then yes it is alive and well. It is just being carried on by just about every other group of auto enthusiest. All the while the "tradionalist" is all too happy to build for the look and feel of a certain era. so where does that leave us now? Lets keep the lables where they belong on soup cans.

 

Biggest difference I see between the past, (my building started in the 70's) and now. I used to look for new components for my old cars, now I look for old parts for my new builds. Seems the "build" should be the classification instead of branding of the builder. We are all too diversified to fall into a label. My 51 Merc with a flatty will never be updated to new suspension. I just cant cut it up...it is only stock once. But my 54 panel truck...different story. I built the frame out of 2x6, air bags,chevy,etc...It will look right, but I wont call it a trad car. (Kripfink's Fault that I had to build this). I'm going to have a blast driving either one.

 

I dont know if i can be considered a "traditional" builder. I am a broke 23 year old married guy, with a bunch of old parts that i'm trying to turn into one vehicle. if that means that i have to order something from speedway or another place like that, so be it.
i prefer to use old parts and make them into what i need, but sometimes you just end up spending more money to get the cool vintage item. its not that i dont prefer them, its that i want to drive my ride before i'm 60. with the budget i have, sometimes its more affordable to buy repop or new parts than to find the old cool one and restore it. but, as often as i can find and afford it, i stay searching for the part i need in the rusty, pasture cars.
i dont think that everyone who uses new parts does it because its what the other non-traditionalists are doing, i think that the poor boy situation has to be figured in also.
I will be running a newer 350 sbc with an overdrive 700r4, not because its cool, but because i have one in an old van that i can just pull and overhaul. quite a bit cheaper than i could build a sweet flatty..i know that i'm not building a traditional vehicle when i use those kinds of parts, but i am building with the traditional spirit: take the parts you have and adapt them to what you need.
maybe someday i will win some money or get a big raise and be the guy that can afford to build anything i want....but for now, i'll just build what i got! haha!