Hot Rods Iconic cars Then & Now

We've seen threads about cars we would like to see recreated and threads about cars/engines we would buy/build if money was no object, now how about a thread about hot rods/race cars that HAVE been recreated or restored. Find a picture of a car from back in the day (Then) and a picture of that same car rebuilt. (Now).

 

Then

Now

 

Then

Now

 

Buckle up fellas, this is about to get good.

 

Same owner since 1953. Russ.

 

Then

Now

 

Spalding Bros, re-created right here on the HAMB, body is in the paint stage now.

 

Eddie Dye roadster
Then

Now

 

Then

Now

 

Then

Now

 

My old T!

 

I was waiting to see what was going to show up in the pink one piece from the magazine cover in post 5. I couldn’t have been the only one.

 

57 Years Ago. Vargo Dragway in Pennsylvania

Today. Museum of American Speed, Lincoln, Nebraska

 

How about ...then, then, then, then and now ???

 

Cliff Kotary (The Copper City Cowboy) won the New York State Fair (One Mile Dirt oval) race 6 consecutive times 1960-1966 with this 33 Ford.
Car and Photos owned by Jeff Ackerman



Cliff Kotary

 

Then



Now

 

This IS going to be real good!

 

Then


Now

 

then
now

 

THEN:
Long Beach, Bixby Knolls, old time hot rodder/drag racer...



Hello,

Jerry Bivens and I go way back to our 1959-62 Bixby Knolls and Long Beach Poly High School hot rod/drag race years. His mechanical/pit crew partner, Doug Fisher and I go farther back to the Westside of Long Beach Junior High School days. Add in Tom McEwen (Bixby Knolls and earlier, LB Poly HS) as a part of that team and sooner or later top results started showing up at the drags. (Doug Fisher was the one that built the 348 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery back in 1960)

1967

So, as the years rolled on, jobs change and businesses get started, teams change hands and sometimes, things just start clicking for great results. Jerry Bivens from Bixby Knolls, racing with his team of Doug Fisher and Tom McEwen was featured in an advertisement for a Neil Leffler supercharger and support. It is and was a small world in So Cal drag racing circles.

Jnaki

My brother and I were already in the accident recovery stage and the drag racing camaraderie with others still involved, was missing. There was almost two years of no drag racing activity or attendance, for us. It just was too much at the time. So, we were not able to see the action and record it, but watched from the Drag News articles and ads to see the progress of our friends.

You meet the nicest people in drag racing circles… Bivens and Fisher “Checkmate” AA/FD

Caption:
“…I am glad everyone is having a great time at Lion’s Dragstrip. BUT, I need some help here…”

A black and white photo from the early days of “Nitro” at Lion’s Dragstrip. If you were not eating a Famous Hot Dog or Chili Dog from the Lions Pits Refreshment Stand, then you were standing around having a good time prior to staging for the next run.

It had been almost 55 years that I had not seen Jerry Bivens in person. ( 1962 class HS graduation) So, it was a great time to talk and get reacquainted, while filming the start of the afternoon Cacklefest of the grand opening of the Original Lion’s Dragstrip Museum in 2017.
Bivens and Fisher at the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum Cacklefest 2017 at :35 Sound

NOW:

 

Are any of Tony Nancy's orange roadsters still around?

 

Bob Tindles' Orange Crate.
1962





Restored

 

Then

Now

 

Then

Now