Mythbusters: an unscientific statistical analysis of rod building styles, circa 55/60

what is that front suspension....



my eyesight is just about useless

 

Looks like 35-40 Ford to me, you can see what looks like the spring in front of the axle and the wheels look like they further back than stock.

 

better pic here
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=512062

 

Ha, I thought it was a spring-ahead

That's a setup that was used a lot in my area of the Northeast. Another "non neo-traditional" piece

 

Yes, i can see it very clear.

Brings up a question though: When was the Martinez car built as a rod with THAT suspension? Was it an earlier build updated with BBC and IRS, or was it a brand-new late 60s build that he chose the spring-ahead?

If I was forced to guess, i would think it was an older build from the 50s, only because I assume that front end was not cool on a new build in the late 60s?

 

yea, its that famous "east coast" set-up. On a Bay Area car... Pretty sure Martinez '29 was 1969 AMBR, I'd have to look it up to be certain.

Frank, did you see this full-fendered T pu with a spring in front V8-60 axle?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=827796

 

Pretty sure the cross-member was moved ahead on the Martinez car, if you look at side-on photos, the front axle centerline is pretty far forward. It also had a corvette IRS. I'm guessing its a major rebuild on an older hot rod. I have the Hot Rod feature on it, but I'm a little uneasy about posting it.

 

NOW I do What the heck, is it going to be the next trend

 

You don't have to post the car, but if you run across the article someday, I'd like to know if it was a redone 50s car.

the old Boston build I just got; the guy made a new simple front crossmember ahead of the stock 30 chevy crossmember, then blended/moulded them together. The Ford beam rides right directly below the clearance notch that is pressed into the stock chevy crossmember. So, the axle is centered like stock.

 

I'm pretty sure this is an old hot rod. is that thing drop-dead beautiful or what?

 

I have the article in front of me, it says he originally built the car in the late fifties with a flatty, later switched to an olds, then did the update with the BB/T400 and corvette rear and get this, a '61 Sprite rack & pinion. also has '50 Ford tail-lights, which I am thinking of using on my T.

 

"Got any photos of your car when it had the bobbed fenders/cycle fenders? I love that look."
I'll bring the book with me and show it to you on the14th. Deal??

 

Man, I am looking forward to that! Are you going to the breakfast deal at the cafe across the street? Doug said he might come if he can find a co-driver. Its about 1000 miles one way for him, long trip for him to drive straight through.

 

This whole topic might be a "casualty", but I hope not. The whole "thing" here on this hokey ass board should NEVER be caged into a singular time. In order for that to be true, EVERY CAR BUILT AFTER 65 IS VERBOTTEN!! Anyone with a mind only open just a wee bit knows that it's all a styling exercise. I'm gathering for a build that will look like it started around 1966. No parts newer, no wheels after, some styling cues that have stood the test of time from the early days of Indy through last night. There's one thing I'm doing that's sure to cause controversy and I could care fuckin less because I played on the shit as a kid and know when it started getting used. It's not even hot rod related, it's a raw material choice and the perfect finish for the area and giant single-finger salute to a personal peeve of mine. Film @, uh, 3-4yrs...

I only said that because the link to the picnic pics showed cars that would probably never get turned away from the shows most of us attend and they were all late 60s. The truth is that some have never stopped doing this stuff "the way" we like, and today the craftsmanship generally exceeds most of what was done back then. More than anything, the paint finish (when it's done) far exceeds the norm even from the most renowned builders. None of this shit is a form of civil service or military style discipline, it's a personal expression inspired by that we hold dear.

As far as how high up the wall George? Heh, I went before I showed up...

I hope this lasts and starts generating some photos. If I could scan I'd flop up 2 truck from dear 'ol Dad. Both Dodge, both Caddy powered, 1 in 63 and 1 in 74. Pretty fuckin hard to tell the difference. If my earliest posts were available (they're not) I'd dig em up and repost.

A'ight, I found the 36 by not searching my own posts but the whole board from the beginning:

 

...we've gotten slightly off topic...

Anyone have some good pics of the channeled full fendered rods mentioned in this thread?

 

Lunch break, so no time to find them..

2 that I have seen on hamb are; Couverkid owns a 32 5w coupe survivor, and a Barris old built 32 roadster pic that Mazooma1 put up a few years ago.

 

this thread seems to have run out of steam, I was enjoying reading it. Is there any more?

 

As a soon to be "casualty", I find it interesting that there is a pitch from some for "life style" along with car style. Having grown up in the fifties and making a living in the hot rod industry from 1961 on, the "life style" promoted here is bogus. Too many here are living in a time warp that has absolutely no relation to hot rodding as we knew it in the fifties and sixties. Hot rodders as I knew them were always looking for a better way to build a car using the latest AFFORDABLE technology. Yet, some kid who bought some little books last week at Pomona is ready to rag on anyone looking to be a little safer by using LED tail lights.

I've got 10 HAMB Alliance plaques in my desk drawer and I've bought some stuff at Coker and the Hot Rod Shop. My savings didn't even come close to what the membership cost me. However, I have no problem in supporting the HAMB based on the information exchanged here. It's going to be interesting to see how the traditionalists, most of whom weren't even born before the 1965 cutoff, handle the return of the HAMB to nothing but traditional posts.

If I were Ryan, I'd get something like the Alliance going over on DOGFIGHT ASAP as there's going to be a lot more business over there!

 

George, Just went through the entire thread again. My first impression is a quote from a Laurel and Hardy Movie, "It's another fine mess you have gotten us in to !!!"
Sad to say but the opinions will rage on and most will remember what they want to remember.
I do Thank You for Your Time and Input. Your thread has been both interesting and informative. Again, I appreciate your efforts !!!
I have NO DOG in this Fight. I was born in 1947 and did not begin my first build until 1966. Even though I grew up reading every "Little Book" that I could get my hands on, even though I saw my first Drag Race at age 13 (same time I first pulled a wrench) and even though The Gasser Days are burned permanently into my mind, I cannot claim to really be Traditional.
My problem is that I have always been a Chevy Fan and a Fan of SBC engines. My first build was a 39 Chevy 2-dr (axle car) with a stock 283 and Glide. My current build is a 33 Chevy 1/2 Ton and I am trying to use parts sourced from 1965 and back. According to many neither really qualify as Tradition Builds. I do what I do for the same reasons that tfeverfred has mentioned, I friggin love old cars.
In my younger days (now age 66) I have banged fenders, chopped tops, sunken antennas, frenched taillights and tag recesses. I have also run a somewhat successful but part time upholstery shop in my home. In both activities, I catered to only hot rods and customs, and did well as the extra money helped me with my Rust Addiction.
I have owned a 26 Touring, 38 Coupe/Sedan and Convertible, 39 Sedan(all Chevy), 2 Anglias and bunches of assorted pre-48 Junk
I sometimes wonder if I am less of an enthusiast, because of my taste in vehicles. Truth is I would really like to own a 33 or 41 Willys Coupe.
I guess I DO NOT understand the meaning of Traditional a explained by some people.
I do understand the parameters of your survey and I hold the cars built in that time frame in High Regard. I unfortunately was not old enough to own, much less build a car at such a early age. I would love to see a similar Thread based on 61-65..........
Again, Thanks for you time and effort. You have done a good job in presenting valuable information. Some will and some will not agree with your findings........ Jeff

 

If all you did was adapt OEM parts to a hot rod, no store bought parts even from the best of suppliers, what would the car be? Let's just assume for the sake of this topic that you used a 64 Cadillac and a 36 Ford Pickup. Can anyone visualize the outcome without even an aftermarket wheel? That's what I watched happen several times by multiple builders. There wasn't much support for rod building. Engines, clutches, cams, yeah they were around, and there were few adapter gigs for engine/trans swaps. Not much else was affordable if the builder had a family.