Hot Rods Young folks in the world of cars

I'm 36 and been banging on cars since I could walk with my dad. I started with vw bug built it when I was 14 with dad then grandpa gave me his 73 spilt bumper Camaro at 18 then I got a 49 ford built a kustom then on to a 40 ford pickup to 53 Packard kustom now to a 32 roadster. I bought a 27 chevy AA coupe and now my 10 and 8 year olds want to build it by them selfs. So we are going to build it here in a few months and they are going to do all the work and learn every little nut and bolt and function of the car. Kids are the future and if all the grumpy old car part hoaders don't figure it out and share their collection this history will die off.

 

When I said “teens or young adults,” I was thinking like 13 to 30-ish, basically the “Y” generation. Apparently “young” is quite subjective. lol I just haven’t seen many people around my age into cars, so I was wondering if they existed, ha ha.

That's neat. Your roadsters way cool. And that's so cool that they want to build it themselves! I think the reason I'm so into it now is that I was allowed to be a part of car projects when I was young.

 

I'm 21 and bought my 54 when I was 20. I've been viewing the hamb since I was 15 and finally made my own account when I was 18. Things like the threads on the hamb and American Graffiti quickly made the traditional custom and traditional hot rod style my favorite and have very much inspired the direction I plan to take my own car...once I get the money haha

 

My seventeen year old loves tinkering out in the shop.

 

Hello,
It was the same story way back then in the early 60's. If you didn't have enough money, then you just waited until you did to get stuff for your car. One of my friends had a 53 Chevy hardtop like yours and went through a paint job, (an Earl Schieb job) white tuck and roll upholstery, (Tijuana special) and chrome accessories,(Pep Boys) It was his pride and joy with little money spent vs. getting the top of the line USA speed shop parts, paint, upholstery. He had one good looking and running Chevy cruiser.
Jnaki
Did he enjoy the hardtop? It was at every HS function we could think of including many trips to the beach with the back seat rest out to fit our surfboards. He drove the daylights out of it and never looked back. He had one of the best looking customs around. (3 speed, 6 cylinder cruiser to the max) It even ran well up in the high altitude of Big Bear Mountain during the Xmas vacations.

You have a good looking Chevy. 15 inch Corvette rims? I bought the same style wheels for one of my El Caminos. It was a nice clean look.

 

Vic: Look up a guy here on the Hamb by the name Ben Leblanc. Teen guy building a Model A coupe.

 

My three year old grandson loves to go out to the garage with me. He can sit in the 2013 Camaro or the 33 Chevy. He always picks the 33 Chevy. He loves going to cruise nights with me and has to check out every car. He's definitely a hot rod guy!

 

Hi, I love hearing stories like that of your friends and I actually plan on taking my car in some of the same directions, with black tuck and roll upholstery and the chrome accessories. Driving the daylights out of it is a good way to describe what I plan on doing to the car once I get it road worthy. I'm going to drive it absolutely anywhere and everywhere I can.

Thank you! Yeah they were on the car when I bought it. I agree with you that it is a clean look and I think they're very sharp, but I plan on putting chrome reverse on the car, for a more early 60's look.

 

I'm turning 24 this month, got my Comet when I was 21. Pretty much did everything on this car myself except for the exhaust. I wasn't lucky enough to have any other "car guys" in my family so I had to learn most everything on my own. Right now the motor is out of it for a new cam, lifters, oil pump and timing set but I hope to have it ready this summer.

 

@TheLastRebel95-
Hey, nice Chevy. I love tuck and roll in traditional cars, it'll fit it well. I like black or white tuck and roll, but with white...it's pretty much only white for like 10 minutes if you drive it a lot, and you should sure as heck drive the wheels off it! lol Good luck with it, and I hope you make it just the way you're hoping! You should post pictures of the progress you're making, I'd be interested in that a ton.

@JoeyF-
Sweet Comet. Really clean looking. Congrats on doing it yourself, too. I know it's hard for a lot of people to do that. Have fun with it over the summer.

 

@Victory99
Hi, thanks! I do too, especially diamond pattern tuck and roll, which is what I plan on putting in mine. Well it's good I'm going with black because I'm gonna drive it a lot lol thank you, I'm going to, it may take a while but the car will be done right! I've thought about it, but it'll be awhile before I start to make some progress haha

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Hello,
Thanks for the comments. Your car sounds like it will be a blast to cruise around. The early 60's style tuck and roll was actually tuck and roll including the complete package tray in vertical tucks. In the daylight when the sun made the interior light up, the rear panel just stood out like a beam was shining on it. But, the standard at the time was white with a nice paint job and chrome wheels for our group.

In our little group of HS kids, (a white 57 Bel Air had black upholstery, my black, 58 Impala had stock, red upholstery with Sure-Fit clear plastic seat covers.) we had a 53 Chevy, a 56 2-door post Chevy and a 46 Ford Coupe all with the standard Tijuana white tuck and roll upholstery. That shop, if it is still there today, made a killing on 3 cars within a month of work.

Jnaki
My 40 Ford Sedan Delivery in HS had just a couple of old, ratty, black sports car bucket seats. (no money to improve) The 2nd 40 Ford Sedan Delivery 10 years later had a complete tan upholstery in front and rear. Colors are always your choice. But, you are right, black does not show marks or blems, but it is warmer in the summer. Good luck on your project and buckle up for safety.

 

@jnaki
Thank you as well. I think the vertical tucks are really sharp and the way you describe it in the sunlight is a great example of why I do. It's great to hear about your group of hs friends, certainly makes me wish my friends were interested in this same era of cars haha both of your 40 Ford sedan deliveries sound great. I'm wanting to put bucket seats in my car as well, I'm leaning towards Corvair buckets. Thank you and I'll definitely buckle up!

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There are young folks out there that appreciate these cars...might have to look a bit. I'm 34 and just took my little one to the Lonestar Roundup...she loved it. Starting her young. Hopefully driving her there next year with my 51 Merc.

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@TheLastRebel95-
That’d be sweet. Tuck’n’roll’s great ‘cuase it’s so universal, they pretty much go awesomely with most traditional rides. I like hounds tooth print upholstery, but I guess it would really need to go with the specific theme of the car to do that. Diamond tuft interiors are cool too, but that has to be expensive, lol. My car’s strictly for the strip, so there’s only one black leather seat...and not much else, ha ha. We kept the interior of it pretty simple, so often the reaction when someone looks in it is “huh? Where is everything?” lol We just didn’t want it to look like a space shuttle in there, so it’s pretty simple, not too many gidgy-gadgets.

 

I'm 23 and have been into cars as long as I can remember. My dad and I have always gone to shows but he was never really the hands on car guy but mainly just enjoyed looking at them. Now I have a terrible addiction to say the least, I eat, sleep, and breath this stuff. Three years ago I lucked up on a deal for a 58 f100, its a driver but it needs some work. I'm about to graduate from college so financially the car world is on hold for the moment. I think that is one of the main problems for our generation. Around me it is hard to find a car in good shape for the money, most stuff is either rusted out or way overpriced.

 

@Victory99
I totally agree, when I really started looking into the traditional custom and hot rod culture and seen how sharp the tuck and roll looked I knew it was for me. I like hounds tooth too, but I agree that it would have to be a specific theme, it would look out of place in some builds. I think that's cool about your car though, when it's strictly for the strip you don't need all the gidgy-gadgets lol its all about performance and when you see the simple interior in that type of car it adds to its overall toughness in my opinion lol I assume that's your car as your avatar? Looks awesome! I'm sure it's a blast!

 

Well since a couple other guys who are 33 chimed in, I guess I qualify.
I've been at it for a while, and made a career out of it. Not the best idea financially, but I enjoy what I do, Haha.
We also have a couple guys in their early 20's working at the shop right now. One is an import guy, but is being slowly converted, and is now interested in building a hot rod. So, there is some hope, haha.

 

I totally agree with you! Same with like checkered seats or embroidered seats, it just has to go with the rest of the cars... personality. lol That sounded stupid...but I mean cars do kind of have their own personalities. lol
And yep, that's it! Thanks. We did a couple changes to it over the winter. I haven't been able to race it yet, but it's surely in the plan, hopefully this year! I'm stoked about it.
You plan on ever racing your car? That'd be awesome!

 

Lol I definitely agree, that makes total sense, I mean like a plain stock car has a totally different personality then a hot rodded car haha I bet you are, that'll be an awesome time, I wish you luck at the strip! I've never really planned on it, my plan was always for something to cruise around in, but it would be awesome I agree!

 

I'm soon to be 60. I wish I had a C-note for everyone that's said "...kids aren't interested..." over the decades I've been in this. I could buy another car! The reality is that the population has grown and those who've been exposed to this virus are as doomed as the rest of us. It passes through the families in the majority of cases. Some just "i-phone" into oblivion but there's enough new blood to drive the price of this shit to levels that get our attention. What's a solid 30-1 Model A coupe body worth today? I still remember them at a grand or so. Ahh, the good ol days...

 

I'm 28, I've had a ton of cars and have build a lot of cars. Now I own a hot rod shop outside of Richmond Virginia

 

I'm 14, newly registered for the H. A. M. B. I am more into Motorcycles and dirt bikes, however I am currently working on a 49' ford pickup daily driver build. Been around cars and bikes for as long as I can remember.

PS. Would like some advice for building a frame and attaching disk brakes and air bags to the stock frame of my 49'.

 

@TheLastRebel95-
Yes! You understand! lol Haha And thanks so much. I appreciate the kind words. And yeah, you should totally bring your car to the strip someday!! Where I am, there's a few local nostalgia evens a year, and they're always full of fox body Mustangs and other more modern cars...you're car would totally be a better fit! lol

@ Julian Delgado-
Awesome! Best of luck with the build! I'm into dirt bikes too, by the way.

 

@Victory99
Haha it makes total sense! Lol you're welcome! That would be awesome and fox body mustangs at a nostalgia event?! Ugh that's terrible lol I mean don't get me wrong I like to see them race but I agree they just don't fit at a nostalgia event. Are you going to race your car at that these events? Take out a few fox body mustangs lol [emoji6]

 

@TheLastRebel95-
I know, isn’t that just terrible?! lol The nostalgia events here have totally gone down the drain. lol In general, I like seeing anything that’s fast race, but modern mustang street cars at a nostalgia event?…no thank you. lol …Ha ha ha

When I start racing, most likely. We’re just playing it by ear, you know. See how everything works out. The world of racing is unpredictable. lol I haven’t been down the track yet, but it’s most likely in my future. lol

 

@Victory99
I do too, but I mainly prefer to watch old muscle cars and everything that falls in the nostalgia category, which to me is like 1966 and older. So I definitely don't want to see any modern mustangs lol yeah that makes sense, but hopefully everything works out and you can go down the track asap!

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I always see little kids in and besides daddys car.
But what when they will have their driving license - will they be allowed to drive it without daddy?