I would like to get some idea what some of you expected from a hot rod when you decided to build it. Did you want a 32 Ford, (or what ever), that had all of the comfort of a Lexus or a feel for the rods from the 40's and 50's with all of the issues that came with it? I have a new Audi S4 that I have for a daily driver, and really enjoy driving my 34 3W on the weekends,weather permitting, with all its bad habit's. Not trying to start any **** storm here, just curious.
Well I started building Hot Rods before there were any Lexus or M-2's so I guess my Bar was pretty low. For me it was about Fast enough and Personal to me so naturally I bought as nice a car I could afford and proceeded to Screw it all up. Man I was hooked. I still love that Old dropped axle drum brake P.O.S. The Wizzard
If I wanted a car that had all the comforts of a Lexus,I,d buy a Lexus. I like Old Fords that don,t pretend to be something else.
I built a T Bucket because I love 'em. I loved 'em when I didn't even know what they were. I'm building my 2nd one now. My expectation was something light and fast. I succeeded.
I wanted a loose fitting, hard to steer, window rattling, loud, hard to ignore icon of a distant past that was at least as fast in a straight line as any new car. I did not want power windows, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, radio or anything not necessary to satisfy my desire for a rush. I just wanted a raw hot rod. Thats what my truck is. I am going to make my coupe like that in the near future. If I wanted comfort, there are a million nice Toyotas out there with bells and whistles on them that they didn't even dream of back in the 30s.
I would rather drive that 34 for a week than the Audi for a year. I do appreciate that the Audi is a very fine machine indeed. I just like the old fellows.
I wanted a hot rod to drive every day of the year if I felt the desire. Did not want a fair-weather car or a weekend car, just a hot rod. It will never be a Lexus and I knew that. It’s why I built a hot rod.
What did you expect? Good question! First some background: in 1956 at ten years old I bought my first Rod & Custom magazine and was sketching hot rods. I had already been noticing Model A coupes in fields when on road trips with my parents. By another 2 or 3 years I had built and modified a few Revell (model) jolopys. Then, I don't know exactly what happened, girls, high school, something. I couldn't have my own car for a number of reasons. Then college, marriage, kids, job... life. 50 years later... I decided to go back and see what I missed. Started thinking about a Model A Coupe again. Then looking... I decided that I didn't want to build one from scratch as I was still working but but one that was close to what I thought I wanted that could easily be finished off. So I looked. A couple months went by and then... There is was on eBay. For a few more dollars I could get into, what I considered the holy grail, a fenderless chopped and channeled '34 Ford 3 window coupe that was truly an old hot rod. I had it checked out during the auction. After it didn't meet reserve, the seller and I negotiated a deal. Well, it looks the same but after nine years of modifying... I couldn't be happier. No fenders, no A/C, no heater, no wipers, no speedo, no turn signals, no PS, no PB, no radio. It does have 3 deuces, 3 pedals, juice brakes and a bunch of cool, old, hot rod stuff. Couldn't be happier... and it is fun to drive! Sent from my LGLS990 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
In 1960 I was 8 yrs. old & My older brother had a full fendered '34 roadster. I was hooked on hot rods. About '61 I started buying car magazines. In 1970 at age 18, I built a '32 Ford 3 window coupe. I studied all the magazines & looked at what ever hot rods I could find to see what was out there. I built my car with a 327 Chevy, & 400 TH trans with '57 Chevy rear end & F-100 steering. I wanted a car I could drive every day,( because I could only afford one car ) I wanted it to be dependable & comfortable. I worked really hard to build a good car. I was lucky, in that I had a lot of good people around me, to help me. The car I built served me well. I drove it for 9 years, the first 4 of those it was my only car ! In 1976, I drove it cross country, 6,400 miles. One year alone I put nearly 30,000 miles on it ! I put 125,000 miles on that car & it never left me stranded. I've built quite a few cars since then, always trying to make them the best they can be.
Born in 55, been looking at hot rods and magazines since I can remember, My first grade teacher (Mrs Oldham) encouraged us to read anything, as long as we read. I read car magazines. When I got old enough to ride, the bike bug hit, and I rode custom bikes till after I got married, then built my first T bucket. Wasn't happy with the way it handled, and when I was done, it handled like a race car, a 1700 lb race car with a 350 chevy in it. It was everything I ever expected a hot rod to be. I loved that car, it taught me how to build and refine a car into where I wanted it to be, but Mrs Troll never liked it, messed up her hair and got her wet a time or two, So, I sold it, built my 36 ford pickup, she's getting old with me, but in the meantime, I've built many cars since. My 36 in it's present form is twenty years old, been everywhere with me and has never let me down, been the most reliable vehicle I ever had.
I started out with dirt track race cars. Then I added muscle cars. Some were pretty fast. I had a pretty big collection of broken parts between the race cars and the muscle cars. I've had enough fine paint and polish, and enough raw horsepower, I no longer feel a need for either. When I decided to walk away from dirt track racing and was growing tired of the restore everything muscle car BS, my interest turned towards street rods. My wife and kids would be joining me, so there was a certain level of comfort that would be required, but we are not people in need of all life's luxuries. Heat, defrost, cup holders, a ride the doesn't make us hurt after a couple hours ride, and something we expect to get us home is what we like. I started out with a big pile of rusty sheet metal with a good ***le. Because it was so rough, a modern parts car would supply many of the required parts, and there were a few comfort items that were there the wife liked, so they got included. The car was a family project. We drove that car 66,000 miles in 7 years. Every hot rod since has followed the same principle. They are not loaded with all the comfort items the fancy luxury cars have, but they are also not raw bare bones rides. I'm complicating adding AC to the next one. Gene
I sell all my projects before they are done, but I did get to drive two after the buyers finished them. Not what I had planned for them, and the drive wasn't impressive. I expect most cars that cut you off in traffic are Audis. Bob
When I was in High School, I had a pretty nice 67 Mustang. Pretty much stock, but still pretty fast. After HS, working a full time job, decided I needed a pickup since I was fixing to get married. After I got married, I missed having a hot rod, so through the years I bought and sold a lot of junk. Buy one, start fixing it up, then something else would come along and catch my eye and start all over again, never completing anything. Finally after the kids were grown, I built a 74 Maverick like I would have in high school if I had of had the money, fast and loud, no power accessories, just a fast street car. Drove it for a few years, but still wasn't satisfied. I had been buying Street Rodder and Rod and Custom mags for several years, had bought a few old rust hulks with the idea of a street rod, but had gotten rid of them when I got the Maverick. Came across a Craigslist ad for a 40 Lincoln Zephyr, they didn't know what they had, it was actually a 47, but I fell in love with the rear profile pic. Went and looked at it, thought about it for a month then went back and made a trade deal for the Maverick. Wife said I was crazy. After going through it and fixing a bunch of stuff, I enjoyed driving it for a couple of years until the transmission went out. I was never happy with the Chevy engine in it, so I decided to replace it with a Ford 302 since it had to come out to get the trans out anyway. Well, one thing led to another, and I decided to add power steering and a late model column, and have plans for AC in the future. It gets hot here in the summer! So there is where it's at right now, still in progress. When it's finished, it will be a sorta sporty luxo hot rod, as I get older I appreciate AC and power steering more, but I still want power, good looks, and something you don't see every day. Nice enough the wife doesn't mind riding in it, yet still not a full blown street rod I'd be scared somebody would put a fingernail scratch on an expensive paint job type car. Still riding on the original straight axle front end and using drum brakes while staying cool in 98* temps will be the best of both worlds.
It's really about "Street Rod" vs "Traditional Hot Rod"..two different camps. Since this is a traditional site, my guess is most of us lean toward the Traditional Hot Rods, with all of their quirks, lack of sophisticated refinement. I would also venture to guess, most of us have the "late model drivers", but enjoy/own these old cars because of the diversity they provide.
When Air Conditioning means rolling down the side windows, back window and pushing open the Windshield. Your Stereo system is some Bad *** mufflers. Cruze control is a fresh layer of Asphalt so your Foot isn't bouncing to the pot holes. Power steering is staying in the Rutz at 70 Miles an Hour, You know your driving a true Hot Rod not a Street Rod. The way it should be. The Wizzard
I guess I would base my decision on the era I was going after.I'll pick 1957 like my avatar. Whether it was a Ford Model A or a '36 Nash coupe up to a '57 Chevy if a part or parts were not available at that time they would not be on the car Think about that. In 1957 power brakes were available so the system could be taken of another car. No modern stuff. A/C was also available on some cars.Here again staying with the era. No modern stuff. The current aftermarket parts suppliers main target audience is another type of rod. Your money,your **** in the seat,build what suits you. Just my opinion and I'll bet others will vary.
if you want an old car with new corvette performance and style buy a new vette old cars with new interiors and all the new car comforts **** do I get extra credit cause mine has no heat or air and manual wipers?
Because I like things to be as original as can be, which includes suspension. No, I want it to behave like it's from the era it's from.
i like to feel the road, hear the motor, shift the gears...........i like the pedals and wheels to have a resistance that equals their function.........i like a car i need to operate, not a car that operates on it's own. my hot rod is what i expected and there are no bad habits or issues......... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/a-ride-before-they-start-salting-the-roads.1087400/
I’d guess most of us have late model cars. The new ones with all the lasers, cameras, airbags, and other safety equipment with more power and mileage you could ever expect out of a six cylinder.. all for 35 Gs. The handling and all wheel drive alone is worth its weight in gold. But when that car goes into the garage and the Hotrod’s come out is really when the fun begins. Its like transporting in time back to the 50s-60s. Nothing compares. New cars don’t ****. Expensive and impossible to work on yes. But they are a mechanical marvel.
Some math wiz must be able to tell how much a new car depreciates per week, not that I worry about other peoples money. Bob
I like being different. anyone can buy a belly ****on car and blend in but when I drive down the road, you know it is me coming. Plus I can fix it myself
Born in 44, found car books in the early 50's. My dad bought my mom a new 56 black Ford Victoria. I got to drive on dates in HS. Didn't really build much until I decided to go to Bonneville in 74. 2 race cars (I still have both) and in 2011 went looking for a restored 56. Found one in Peoria Az. Took it for a drive and when I got back my 42 yr old son said how was it? Just like didn't remember. Hard to steer, OK brakes, Noisy wind, no seat belts, etc.....just perfect. Trailered home and still no AC but better steering. Wouldn't change a thing, drove it this morning and tomorrow too. OK... Added a better trans, dual quads, lower the front, and 15" Torque Thrusts...just made it mine
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