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Hot Rods is there a road back from funkytown?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 32Auburn, Feb 19, 2013.

  1. 32Auburn
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 310

    32Auburn
    Member
    from Oregon

    I just picked this car up off CL. I bought it from the son, the dad owned it since 1948 and it went through many mods over the years, the last being in the 70's. As with many old hot rods it got the full treatment, unfortunately it suffered an interior fire a few years later and has sat for quite a while.
    The question then is what to do with it, how far to go back without making it impractical as far as cost. I bought it reasonably but if I start changing everything it just doesn't make sense.
    I know there won't be a nostalgic look back on the street rod era, at least not in the sense that the HAMB offers. But should any of these builds be preserved, I lived through the transformation back then and got a verbal barrage when I called someone's car a hot rod, "it's a street rod you %$%^&^$# punk" or something to that effect.
    As far as details on this car the first thing I see is to ditch the truspokes, it came with a new set of chrome reverse rims so that's easy. I didn't like the pieces of 67 Chevelle SS hood for the hood sides but they kind of grow on you. The frame is stout and well built but not graceful at all, I am definitely stuck with a full fendered car which is fine by me. Never been a huge fan of red so I'm thinking black. This is the first car I've owned, out at least 250, that has had a name, Lil' Red. I do occasionally call my cars names but it's never nice and only when the break down.
    It has a lot of chrome underneath that's in pretty good shape. It's previous power was supplied by a 60 Corvette and a flathead before that, don't know when the frame was built, the son is looking through pics for me and hopefully I can put a better timeline together. Here's a few pics as it was and is.
     

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  2. Slick111
    Joined: Oct 22, 2011
    Posts: 309

    Slick111
    Member

    Personaly I wold try to sell the car to a street rodder who might remember it in its heyday would cherish it and pay more for that reason then buy a brookville build the car you really want with new parts.
     
  3. deto
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 2,619

    deto
    Member

    I think it's kinda cool. I would drive it


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  4. Blakmerk
    Joined: May 15, 2002
    Posts: 322

    Blakmerk
    Member
    from St.Joe MO

    Paint that sumbich BLACK with white everything else, then call it (Lil Colorblind Red). Yeah ,,,,Hell Yeah ...
     
  5. 1928chevycoupe
    Joined: Jun 4, 2012
    Posts: 217

    1928chevycoupe
    Member

    I think you answered your own question. It doesnt make financial sense to try to make this into a tradtional rod, or make it into something that it is not.

    I would only fix what is needed to make it a driver, then I would drive it with confidence. :D

    Everything comes back into style sooner or later :D

    Looks like a fun car, I would leave the hood sides.

    Oh yes, the road to funkytown is closed.....:eek:
     
  6. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,788

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Not every car has to fit the HAMB. If you're low on funds, just get it running and save the mods for later.
     
  7. UniqueCollector
    Joined: Jan 15, 2013
    Posts: 74

    UniqueCollector
    Member

    The car is a beauty. I think you would get enough attention as is if you just fix it right up.
    Heck I wouldn't change it.
     
  8. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,420

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Find a photo of a 28-29 Roadster from the "Early Times' car club from the 1970's, or Jakes 28 Pickup, copy that stance. Ditch the cowl lights, hood sides, and get the top to sit right, paint it black and call in done. Bob
     
  9. chubbie
    Joined: Jan 14, 2009
    Posts: 2,361

    chubbie
    Member

    would'nt a early 60's period correct rod still be a trad rod??
     
  10. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,642

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    i kinda like the original look. HRP


    [​IMG]
     
  11. I know that this is a little sick and twisted but even if you do paint it black you should still get lil red lettered on it. :D


    I don't think it would take much to make it HAMB worthy, I may run it sans hood sides if it were me. Make the engine clean and sassy. It would not bother me on bit to have fenders but you are absolutely correct the low rider wheels have to go.

    nice car by the way.
     
  12. sko_ford
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 3,010

    sko_ford
    Member

    I think the 70s style is coming hell vans already are. Fix the interir & find some zinth wires like the 1st pick or lil & medium americans like 15/5s & 15/7s & go to town
     
  13. jchav62
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 1,932

    jchav62
    Member

    I dig it as is. It's even cooler that it came from a family that has owned it since '48. That dude must've been one cool cat...
     
  14. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,779

    Phillips
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    So its style is not perfect, maybe a little funky, but why get rid of the stuff that makes it unique - if all the parts are there, get it back to what it looked like in the first picture, Truspokes and all.
     
  15. raidmagic
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,440

    raidmagic
    Member

    Dude that's awesome!! Fix it up and drive it.
     
  16. iammarvin
    Joined: Oct 7, 2009
    Posts: 1,196

    iammarvin
    BANNED
    from Tulare, Ca

    And chop the windsheild and posts a little.
     
  17. BISHOP
    Joined: Jul 16, 2006
    Posts: 2,570

    BISHOP
    Member

    fo sho
     
  18. Mike51Merc
    Joined: Dec 5, 2008
    Posts: 3,855

    Mike51Merc
    Member

    Nice car.

    Now I got that damn "Funkytown" song stuck in my head and can't get it out! Thanks!
     
  19. 6t5frlane
    Joined: Dec 8, 2004
    Posts: 2,403

    6t5frlane
    Member
    from New York

    Previous power a "60 Corvette and a Flathead" but say's 351 Cleveland Ford on the sign ?
     
  20. autobodyed
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,943

    autobodyed
    Member
    from shelton ct

    this.
     
  21. atomickustom
    Joined: Aug 30, 2005
    Posts: 3,407

    atomickustom
    Member

    I'm with pretty much everyone else: don't change a thing. Take off the wire wheels if you want but don't get rid of them. In a few years you might wish you still had them.

    Think of all the great rods and kustoms that were "updated" or "improved" by subsequent owners, and how we mourn the loss of the original builds. I'm not saying your car is historically important, but it is a surviving relic of another era and personally I'd treat it as such.
     
  22. Al Napier
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 400

    Al Napier
    Member
    from Central CT

    If you're hellbent on a color change, fine, but overall if it were me I would just clean it up and enjoy it with maybe just a tire/wheel change. I wouldn't reinvent the wheel on this car, it's actually pretty cool in a time capsule sort of way....

    Al in TN
     
  23. k5hart
    Joined: Oct 10, 2010
    Posts: 642

    k5hart
    Member

    I agree. I don't think it's that bad. Especially if you use the chrome reversed instead of the wires.
     
  24. 53 COE
    Joined: Oct 8, 2011
    Posts: 688

    53 COE
    Member
    from PNW

    Econ 101 says restore the interior and put it back together to resemble it's glory days. There will be enough expense just doing that.... Then drive it and have fun for now. That's what is happening on both of my projects.

    :cool:
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 20, 2013
  25. black 62
    Joined: Jul 12, 2012
    Posts: 1,895

    black 62
    Member
    from arkansas

    must be a misprint---or maybe trying for the ford in a ford award---good eye
     
  26. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    X2, I like the tru-spokes and pinner whites. Dont like red either, but black?? Come on, you can do better than that. Maroon, dark blue, mett. bronze, lots of things spring to mind here. Honduras Maroon would be a knockout. Chromies and WWW's are not gonna work with a 351C. Instead of trying to force it into something its not just to get "approval" from a bunch of HAMBers, why not love it for what it is?
     
  27. CanUFelix
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 503

    CanUFelix
    Member
    from venice CA

    Yeah man! Put it back the way it was! It was a very tasteful little rod back in the day....so its a little later than true HAMB material but at least it's not all "brass and murals".....I say preserve it. the Chrome reverse wont look out of place either if the stance is right.
     
  28. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,849

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I think I have photos of that car that I took at a run in the 80's.

    As far as making changes, cars evolve over time and not always for the best.

    Most likely the car's main historical significance is that it stayed in one family for that long. It isn't an iconic car with a shit load of historical significance that has it's name on the side of the big trophy or set a record at Bonneville in it's present condition. As far as the name, my'48's family nickname is Little Red and it hasn't been red for 20 years.

    If it were mine I'd blow it apart and clean up the scabs and move the trans cooler to the inside of the frame if I even used it. Change the hood if it looks too street roddy and paint it your color of choice. I like the stance and the full fendered look on it and with a set of steelies or proper mags it would be a timeless little rod for a lot of years to come.
     
  29. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,335

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    I don't really see where the problem is. different wheels, fix the stance, maybe change the hood. I must be missing something
     

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