Has anyone ever felt like whatever they have put together has been done already so many damn times? It's funny, I cleaned my garage out today (I am now only halfway through -will finish on holiday break) and I sat on my garage stool, taking a break and staring at my Dodge. After some time, I realized that there is nothing on it that is really original. I mean, yeah, it's a Dodge, not a Ford or Chevy; and it's a 30, not a 34 or 28; but the overall fenderless pickup theme has plain been beat upon so many god damn times. Last summer, I had to replace a water heater in our rental house in Florida. The house is in Ocala Florida and I mention it because while there, I visited Big Daddy Don's museum. He had two of these really cool 40s Bomber fuel tank jobbers that had go cart suspension and large blown Hemi's which were bolted down just behind the single driver foxhole. I don't think either of these cars were damn near more than 10 feet long, and good-ole Don stuffed over 900 horse in each of them. <O</O Now something like those two little rockets, although many parts surely could be matched up as hotrod parts and so could the tech to build them, seems like truly original and cool creations. There was like three feet in front of the steering wheel of a round bullet tin that formed cover for the driver’s feet – then this small dropped axle (like a go cart). Now that is unique stuff. Never saw anything like those cars. <O</O But the common A-bone, 32 5 Window, fendered Chevy or Classic pickup - haven't they all been just beat to death and seen a thousand times to Sunday? <O</O Don't get me wrong, I love these cars; and when I finally lift the garage door and drive my car out, I am going to be smiling ear to ear as I take it down to the gas station to fill it up; but I can't help but think that I haven't been original about anything. In fact, I have stepped on the shoulders of all the others since the late Forties when it comes to style, design, fabrication and original ideas. <O</O Is there a new hotrod out there?
Maybe you're not looking close enough. The basic idea is the same. These cars are about as simple a thing as possible. It's up to the owner to add his or hers own details to the mix. That's why no two are EXACTLY alike. My ex-wife had a few great qualities. One of which was her lasagne (sp). She made it like everyone else, except for one thing. Her sauce. I'm don't know what was in that sauce, but it took 3 days to simmer in a crock pot before she used it. She took a simple recipe and added a spin on it. She made it her own. And it was glorious. That's what each of us does. We take a simple format and usaually without knowing, add something that makes it our own. THAT'S where the soul comes from. You've done it. You just can't see it yet. Now..... I retreat to my cave and await the next question. Go forth, young grasshopper.
Sounds like someone is being over critical. Don't worry about the other guy just drive the damn thing! If it's fast enough the only thing you'll have to be concerned about is keeping the other guy in your rear view mirror.
as said before, the idea is the same but every rod is very different. you gotta look at it closer and make your ride your own
I can't really think of anything new,,but you can apply new ideas to any old car and make it yours,,there is no magic in building a simple car or truck. We have all seen a project go horribly wrong when guys get too far away from what the vehicle originally designed to be. HRP
"done already so damn many times"..sure, by other people. Like an artist, sure he created a beautiful landscape, like so many others, but it doesn't stop him from continuing to do them. Different but the same, doesn't apply here.
Look at it this way: whatever you are doing, it MAY have been done a few times before, BUT, it hasn't been done by millions (by far). It's not buying a new car, which takes so little imagination (none??). It IS taking a car and making it your own, which may mean copying a few ideas here and there, yet you are doing it, which IS all the difference. And that copying, well, even there, THAT is something that is not done by millions. It is hand made; genuine sweat, blood and tears being put into something that you can call "yours". Be happy, be not a lemming. Cosmo
Case in point,,look at the 32-34 pickup thread,,hundreds of trucks and all different as day and night. HRP
My ex-wife had a few great qualities. One of which was her lasagne (sp). She made it like everyone else, except for one thing. Her sauce. Here in the east(Philadelphia) I'f it has meat in the sauce its called gravy!! Awesome!! I know what you mean!! I'm getting hungry!! Pete
I live just up the road a piece and over yonder from Big Daddy Don's museum. I've never questioned why or how. just admired. In my own garage I have common old Chevys, Fords, and a bunch of parts to redo a Mercury coupe. Even got a Stupidbaker out back. Even though much of what I've done and need to do has been done once or twice...okay a zillion times, I attempt to do it my way while buried in my own little cave. On my Chevy panel truck I didn't hide the side or cowl vent. I didn't suicide the doors, and installed my bear claws in the door rather than the door jamb. The dashes in all my cars appear sort of stock except for modern gauges. No not those digital things that don't look right in old cars. Hell, all that's been done or left original before. But in this modern world it's not the way it's done right now. To me, it's build an old car sorta like they did in the early days and add just enough personal crap to make me feel good inside. Lawd knows my SBC engines are not something new and rare. But it's what I know and can afford. The main thing is I'm havin fun, most of the time! If yer questioning your reasons why, maybe you should take up ball room dancing for awhile.
When you go to a show or run sure you are going to see a lot of the same stuff. But hopefully that isnt your entire rod life. When you are out and about just enjoying your car chances are pretty good you are going to be the only one out there in a neat old car. And to much of the masses around you your car is gonna be a neat part of their day.
The Devil is in the details... If all Deuce roadsters are the same...how do you explain Doane Spencers looking so awesome?
PorkChop... your're right. The perfect hot rod (the Deuce for example) is all black, has a flathead, a cloned interior like all the others, skinny bias tires and tear drops. And it is really, really boring. You can admire the craftsmanship, rare parts or small variations in the design or style of the little bits all day, but it's like looking at photos of the same sunset every day... the icon is also cliche. Now some black Deuces are far better than others... but you have to look beyond the mold marks to see the difference. Doane Spencer's comes to mind. And he could have done it in any color he wanted, eh? Nobody was going to bitch that it wasn't black. I guess you can't stray too far from the master mold, but it can be done if you want to. Gary
What kind of cheese do you use? My ex sent me on an hour trip looking for a certain cheese. but it was worth it. That looks good.
Great question, is there a new hot rod out there?....not yet...and perhaps we can all keep busy redoing the old ideas until a new one pops up and that is just fine. Just about every great musician starts off covering other musicians songs. A few break out and find their own voice. As for the next hot rod...it's going to be awhile the circumstances that all have to come together to create that moment in time rarely happen.
The Jalopy Journal
