History Are Phaetons actually Traditional Hotrods??

Hey guys, Last spring I bought a partially completed 28-29 AV8 Phaeton. Been looking for old pictures of Phaetons! Pretty much looked at ever post in the 40's Period Correct thread and found a couple pics of Phaetons. Did guys actually soup up Phaetons in the 40's or were they just people movers and to big and heavy like the Tudors and coupes? If you guys have any Black and Whites or comments post them up! The car in the pic is my car that im building
Thanx

 

Buy some Don Montgomery books...short answer; yes. I can think of at least 4 that were souped up in the 30's thru mid 40's (and I'm not into A's, much less phaetons).

Plus @woodiemike's immediate post-wwII pictures...there's a really rad phaeton in his photo thread; http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lakes-pictures-p-r-c.943878/

 

not every hot rod built was shown in a magazine or book. Every make of car was hot rodded at some time in the past, some more than others. As for the 40's Period Correct or as some of the old hot rodders call it "the restorer's guide to cookie cutter old hot rods", the 40's PC theory is a good reference source but not the defining word on how to hot rod. Take a chance, go for the phaeton build. It's a damn good start.
Curt R

 

and traditional hot rods don't begin and end with the forties. There were some damn nice tubs built in the fifties and early sixties. And Dick Rundells red Model A tub was on the cover of Hot Rod in '65 or '66.

 

They sure can be. Like any other car, depends on where you go with the build.

 

I think most of the more doors got 'used up' in jalopy races. In essence they were the real hotrods with their last days being spent on the track.

 

My buddy Ed's 4 banger phaeton.

 

Frank Morimoto - 1938


The McFadden boys tub;


Spalding Bros., circa 1936;


Taylor McClair at Harper Lake - 1940;


The McNatt tub, circa 1946-7;

 

I think this 1931 two door phaeton shows up in that Harper Lake video as well. Bob

 

There have been a number of "tubs" built into some very nice street able hot rods over the decades. I can recall several I have seen featured.....unfortunately I cannot recall the owners/builders associated with them for reference.

It's just my opinion, but I think the better looking phaetons are the full rendered versions.

Ray

 

I think you really need to define the meaning of traditional. There are lots of versions of traditional and this has been hashed out already .Lots of wicked cool traditional tubs pheaton s

 

Not just traditional Tubs are timeless.

 

I agree ^^^ that the phaeton can be traditional hot rod fodder. I do remember seeing them all gussied up and cruising in the later '50s and '60s first hand and have seen photographic examples as far back as the original A V8s.

 

Didn't someone recently post a video of '30s jalopy racing with a bunch of Model A phaetons getting beat up?

There's Dick Scritchfield's car. He started the LA Roadsters club, so he's kind of a big deal.



And they're great for picking up all your friends for a trip to the hop. (skip to 1:02)

 

man, this is NICE!

 

pic borrowed from TROG coverage

 

I honestly think they are some of the coolest hot rods ever. HRP


Jim Jacobs tub.


Painted red.



And Jake-o-paged. HRP

 

^^Like the black A with the duvall windshield...

 

They are cool. I would love to own one.

 

There was a post on here recently with old footage of some dirt racing and a good number of the cars were phaetons with roll bars in them. I can't seem to find it now.

 

My example of a traditional built non-Ford tub

 

Further proof of the longevity of phaetons as hot rods are Dick ("The Bug") Kraft's 39 Ford chopped 4 door convertible and the chopped/channeled/sectioned 1940 Mercury 4 door convertible that was the last Valley Custom car.

 

Years ago I read an interview with an old time hot rodder. He said his first car was a Model A touring he built while in his teens. The reason he picked the tub was because it held more people - he would pick up his friends, they would chip in for a gallon of gas, and they would go for a ride. The more passengers the more gas money. This was in the 1930s.

 

They were popular way back in 1987!.......almost 30 frickin years ago.

 

The photo this is cropped from dates from 1955

 

Ha! '87 thirty years ago!!

 

I was in Hawaii last Feb. on the big island, I saw a 4 door phaeton. Its an older build and still in great shape. As I was checking things over the license plate frame said " Founder L.A. Roadsters". I believe it is still Scritchfields. Been on the road since the 50's. That sure made my day.

 

That's Jim Jacobs car. HRP

 

I love this one and will be using it as inspiration for my tub!