Hi gents... I love era correct hotrods...maybe it's because I'm getting older! Soooo here is the dilemma: I am absolutely positive that what I consider an era (any era) hotrod is only applicable to the area you live in. For instance I think California guys would say that 50's era hotrods where roadsters, highboys and such definitely not so in the South! So, as an example I grew up outside of Houston and, looking back, my 60's era hotrods were: Tri-five Chevys 409's and 406's A sprinkling of plymouths and vettes Please feel free to correct me and / or comment. Note: my 50's era creation...
Hmmmm....I'm not sure it's a 'cl***ification' to a place so much...except perhaps 'channeled' 20's-30's cars....I could be wrong, but I know my father and his group,... in the late 50's to early 60's in southern Oregon, Rogue River/Grants P*** area (avatar pic) driving highboys, tail-draggers, 'fendered' roadsters, and even a couple of strange foreign cars....all his friends drove all kinds of different hot rods, but mostly Flatheads and 4-bangers...and the customs usually had inline 6's....I don't recall ever seeing a truly 'channeled' hot rod at all...ever! ...perhaps it was more popular back east???....I just don't remember seeing them at all...but LOTS of Highboys and Merc/Ford lowrider/tail-draggers. I think most of everyone in the area, were really into, very low to the ground customs (mostly sandbags in the trunk for weight and minimal springs) circa 1958-1962. I may be wrong, but I just don't remember seeing a 'particular' style only common to the area (except channeled cars) within my fathers group of buddies/cruisers....southern Oregon was pretty 'rural' back then, so that may be a reason, also it 'low budget' driving-----Ray
Thanks... What makes it cool (my opinion) is it's all steel, has a working 6 V radio, a 40 rear end, top loader 39 three speed, Houdille shocks (lever action), Buick finned drums, Strombergs, Fentons etc. There is nothing on this car that wasn't available in 1955...except tires and gel 6 volt! We went to a lot of trouble to try to recreate a 50's era hotrod. We even found an old guy to copy interior patterns from 50's show cars.
The ongoing conversations about what cons***utes a period correct ride remind me of a quote I heard back in high school: "If there's anything a non-conformist hates more than a conformist, it's a non-conformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing norms of non-conformity." Posters to the HAMB have often said when the car is right it's something you just feel. I totally agree. If we have to explain it to you, you probably wouldn't understand it anyway.
Gene You have actually touched on more than era here. I was not in the south until the '70s but hot rodding is very regional, and not all that is gold comes out of SoCal. For me a '60s era rod can go more then one direction. Late model like say a 409 Bisquit or a 427 Galaxie or early like say a 30s model coupe of roadster. For me it is performance driven in the '60s so it would be power train and setup, unless of course we are talking show rods then it is all show and no go lots of glitz.
I know that in the South (Tennessee, Carolinas, Georgia, etc.) there were lots of cars in the 50's and 60's with all of the bolt-on goodies you could get from J.C. Whitney and Honest Charlie's. Cruiser skirts, stainless skirts, fuzzy dice, curb feelers, Lee tail light lenses, continental kits, dummy spots, those real spotlights with rear view mirrors in the backside and on and on. Most of the '40 Fords were still haulin' shine except for the more well off guys who had graduated to the newer, faster Pontiacs.
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