Building up a 1951 Chevy Styleline deluxe coupe and want it to look like an EARLY form of G***er. A look like a young guy in the '50's built it up in the garage with a '50's budget and the know how of the day. Drove it to a strip and ran it HARD. No straight axle, it's blocked up with 4x4 channel. Warmed over SBC, fenderwells, stick, etc. I'm to the wheel and tire stage now and I could use suggestions. I'm thinking of going Towel City Pie Crust cheaters on the back with black steel wheels (whitewalls or not) but I don't know on the front. Not too sure they ran 4.5" back then on any kind of trick mag or alum rim. Please give me your suggestions on the overall look and build. All ideas welcome!! Thanks
"mag" wheels really did not appear on the street, and thus on most G***ers, until 1963 or so. Front tires would probably have been 6:00 x 16 on a 5" steel wheel. I also think the raised front is a bit out of time for a "home built car" of the 50s. The Ramchargers raised their entire car in the late 50s, but the raised front only came later, as I recall. Since the home builder was driving his g***er as his daily car, I think it would have had essentially a stock stance.
This is my opinion entirely. But growing up in the 60's I can only tell you I have never seen a true straight axle raised front g***er running on the streets. Except one time when a fellow took his unlicensed g***er out to tune it. Never forget that day. The g***er wars started in 1963 and that's the typical car we ***ociate to the straight axle raised front end g***er. Yes, there was a gas cl*** in the late 50's but they weren't the g***ers as we know it. I for one love g***ers. On the strip. That's where they belong. Not the street. They were never built for street driving and handling. Please don't build another raised front end street g***er. Run that baby on the strip if your going to build it. Good luck on your build. Here's a picture of the creative first straight axle stuck on a g***er. Reportedly drove the tech inspectors nuts in 1960. Ohio George Montgomery.
That pretty much nails it for the look of late 50's-early 60's g***ers. The cl*** was for street driven, engine swapped cars. Not yet full on race cars. I have to agree too that what is now called a "g***er" isn't at all.
x2 what Terry said. Also, get yourself a copy of Don (HAMB name "Rockerhead") Montgomery's "Supercharged Gas Coupes" and read it thoroughly. It's money very well spent- the book is well researched, there are a lot of pictures and he was *there*. The cover looks like this:
The Jalopy Journal
