Hi, I'm Cam, from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio - an Akron suburb. I've been into cars for my entire life - seriously. My earliest memory is a car show, and since then, I've built my life around cars. Nearly every job I've had since high school was in the automotive industry. A few years ago, I started writing about cars, and earlier this year, I took the plunge and quit my job to write full time. When I was 18, I met a local who turned me on to traditional hot rods. At the time, I was driving an MGB, and I was fascinated by what I saw as a working cl*** American's answer to the postwar British sports car invasion. Once he let me drive his '36 Ford, I was hooked. In the years since, I've come close to building a traditional hot rod several times, but something has always gotten in the way. I've decided that next year is the year - I'm going to finish up a few OT projects, clear some space, and start building the traditional hot rod of my dreams. My goal is to have a rolling vessel for a Flathead V8 - and as little else as I can get away with. As someone who has spent much of their adult life with modern European iron, I'm excited about getting back to my lightweight, multi-carb roots. Finally, I have the time, space, money, and resources to build a car, and for years I've had a vision in my head of what I wanted. As it turns out, the Speedway Motors Tribute T kit checks all of the boxes for me - well, almost. Put down your pitchforks and hold on a second. Back in 2012, I saw this very car, right here on the HAMB, and it became my dream machine: I wish I could remember whose car it was, but the tail-less bucket, high kickup frame, and Model A crossmember really stuck with me for years. It's more or less everything I want - an engine on wheels, with not much else! A few years later, I discovered the Tribute T kit, and I've wanted one ever since. Knowing that I won't have to spend another half-decade collecting shop equipment to make it happen is exciting. When all is said and done, I'll have the car I always wanted - and when I decide I want something bigger, badder, and, most importantly, made from scratch with real steel - I'll have a lot of parts I can transfer over from the T. I know Speedway kits don't seem to be too popular around these parts, but for a first project, it seems ideal. Plus, as a guy who has spent many hours building plastic model hot rods, I kind of like the idea of building a full-size car that way! Lastly, here's a mid-60s ad from Speedway for a kit: For one thing, I know I have a long road ahead of me to make sure that, if I go the kit car route, I don't end up making an anachronistic abomination of a car. The goal is a worked over 8BA flathead, a 3 speed manual, and a later banjo rear end, with shiny red paint and a bare minimum of chrome. That probably puts me in the mid 1950s as far as era goes, and I need to plan accordingly. For one thing, I'd like to swap the kit-supplied tubular front axle for an I-beam unit, and upgrade their spindles to the machined units Speedway offers to facilitate finned Buick brake drums. I also plan on doing something different with the interior, as I've read in several places that the bomber seats shown aren't exactly correct either. Maybe a roll & pleated bench? At the very least, I plan on painting the car myself in my garage, and modifying the frame to accept a three-pedal arrangement. In some ways, I'll be doing it the way they did it in the old days - just me and my buddies in the garage, doing what we can with basic tools. Go easy on me, guys...I'm new. I'm open to any and all suggestions, and I'm also reading up as much as I can to make sure that I get it right the first time. In fact, my first purchase won't be the kit - I'm going to start with the drivetrain, so that I can start building the engine first. There's also a really great banjo rear end rebuild thread on here that I plan to take full advantage of. Lastly, here's a shot of my garage. I'm lucky to have so much space to play with - especially when I get rid of a bunch of the OT stuff in the way!
Welcome to the HAMB family! This is a wonderful place to learn. Sounds like you will fit right in. Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Welcome! You are on the right track. I like that T style, also. It's where I started when I first ventured down the traditional hot rod path. Mine eventually led to an AV8 but both are cool. The T can be built for much less and have the same fun factor. Keep us posted! Edit: Oh, and I'm about 4 hours south of ya
Hey, you're not selling a couple of banjo rearends on Facebook Marketplace, are you? I just found a pair in your neck of the woods.
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