If your worth a damn, you've seen this truck before. It graces the cover of the December, 1953 issue of Rod & Custom as well as a four page spread within. I've glanced at the cover hundreds of times. This issue sits in a display case in my office as ... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Hard to believe they coaxed 130 out of it to look at it. A really sweet little truck and obvoiusly not all show and no go. I like it real well. I have never been a big fan of belly burner pipes although I cannot tell you why. I must have touched on once and just don't remember. But getting to the point on some vehicles they just look right and they do look right on that little RPU. That would be a fuel pump. real common on injected motors back them to prime them, I am thinking that this one may have been to supply more fuel pressure at speed, but that is just a guess.
Love that truck and totally respect it's intentions. How the hell do guys get down that low in a pre '32 anything? You spoke of how you expected something more out of the engine seeing how it went 130mph? Same goes for the Pierson Coupe. In TRJ they mention the fact that such a simple engine propelled that car to 150. Guess the gossip about flatheads being slow is wrong. Just needs some ingenuity and the "br***" to take a 1500 pound car with no roof up to those speeds. Great JJ entry.
Can I say that the early 50's are such a rad and exciting time for hot rods? So much personality in those hot rods without being over the top. One of my favorite things about that era is the headlights and their position. A lot of people forfeit authenticity for the sake of better headlight placement but generally in the early 50's (from what I've read) were almost always mounted high and a lot used the "OFFIE" type mounts that this little RPU has. I have a set that I am going to use for sure even though I know a low mounted set would look meaner. They are rad.
I found a mint copy of that issue back in the 80's. It's now completely worn out in a plastic bag and I can't even touch it without it crumbling. I love that truck. I've spent a lot of hours drooling over it.
Ryan, I know how you feel about the M-14, I ran a M-8 for years on a 276 and a buddy of mine has an 14 that has been under his bed for years and he won't let loose of it! I wanted it for my 304 FED and promised him anything for it but to no avail. What really tics me off about this is that he will never use it.......oh well just have to go with another cam for now..........
It's always been one of my favorite issues...the whole thing is Bonneville coverage with many other exemplary R's and C's! This "tribute" was run in one of the 50th anniversary issues.
I have always dug that truck. Jeem did a cool homage to it in a newer R&C Oops, Jeem got me while I was typing!
@Ryan - Agreed! ... Here's @Jeem's entire write-up from the Dec. '03 issue of ROD&Custom: 1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup - Dream Car Of The Month Fifty years, fifty faves. Well, to follow suit, I thought it would be appropriate to whip up my take on one of my all-time favorite hot rods from the R&C archives, the cover car from the December '53 issue to be exact. That issue is easily one of the best in my opinion. This issue was loaded with Bonnevile coverage. Open it up, we have a story on the cover car, the "Salt Scorcher," followed by no less than six stories based on B-ville! A few custom cars and a couple'a more rods, and well, what more needs to be said! With apologies to Charles Sugden and his beautiful little '29 roadster pickup from Salt Lake City, let me illustrate my take on this *****in' li'l Bomb! As cool as Mr. Sugden's roadster is, I really have an affinity for low Model As on '32 rails, highboy style. The louver pattern on that full hood is repeated on the illustration as are the lunchbox latches. The deuce shell stays too. The deuce frame is Z'd front and rear. Suspension pieces are connected to the rails with drilled radius rods front and rear. The 16-inch black disc wheels with smooth chrome caps mounted on blackwall 'Stones hold up the four corners. Do I have to say what the "50" on the door signifies? I subbed out the painted version of the original for a chrome windshield frame and posts and chromed the door hinges too. Let's say a nice built flattie hooked up to a T5 trans is what motivates this roadster. Without fail, every time I draw one of these cars, I take the time for a short mental joy ride, WOOHOO! Hope you enjoyed this little excursion as much as I enjoyed laying it out on paper for you folks. Did I mention the hottsie little pinup in that issue... -Jimmy
That's not a fuel pump-it's an air pump which pressurized the tank and pushed the fuel to the carbs. Has nothing to do with injection-which this car does not have. Those pumps were very common on Roundy-round cars in the days of carburetors.
The truck is spot on in so many ways. I have the issue and have drooled over it on many occasions. I always thought of it as my secret though- it seemed it never got much attention- well except a magazine feature- HA. Glad to see it getting its do again.
I'm not sure where I saw it but, that's the one that brought me down this road. I'll have to build one like it someday....
The Jalopy Journal
