Hey folks! First I wanted to say thank you all for enjoying the first seasons of The Motor Underground! It's been blast and I love how much you guys have enjoyed the stories we have told. We are looking to start research on a new series, and I was wondering if I could get any help from the H.A.M.B! We are looking to learn more about the hot rodding culture of S.F.s Chinatown in the 1960's and 1970's. Looking for people that have information, eye witnesses, and more to cast as we tell the story of that world we never get to hear about. One thing we will be talking about is a collection of tri-five Chevy's that were known to run the streets at night, while blowing doors off the compe***ion. I've got a few photos to show you guys of some cool photos we have come across and I'd love to know if any of you guys have leads on any cars, people, details... anything, let us know!
These images tend to redefine "The California Rake" I love the 55. Back jacked up to clear the hanging meat, rest of the car on plane.
I would talk to @J.Ukrop his buddy David DiFalco and David steele of the American hotrod foundation. I’m sure they are all on here but I’m not remembering screen names
Those pictures of Grant Avenue in Chinatown bring back many memories to me. I used to deliver the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper there in 1956-1957.
Growing up in the Bay Area (San Jose) I remember a lot of outstanding hot rods. Wish I could contribute to the SF China Town Cruising scene, I’ll definitely be following along. I remember a lot of outstanding hot rods in San Jose, cruising 1st Street (St. James Park). Always a lot of action on the El Camino Real.
Hello, As young adults in 1965-66, we visited Chinatown in S.F, many times. Authentic foods are hard to come by in any region and the term… “go to the source” always rang true. Our dad always took us to Los Angeles’ Chinatown area when we visited Los Angeles. He knew the source(s) and we got the best end of the information/food. When we were little kids on vacation with our family in San Francisco, we visited the Chinatown area many times as he loved the food and atmosphere of a bustling community. My wife and I wandered all over the Chinatown areas nearby during our forays into the San Francisco scene from 1966 through the mid 70s. Many of our destinations included times to see the hot rods in the car shows that were in the bay area during our visits. But, hot rods in Chinatown? Not so much, if any. Jnaki The photos you posted may need some sourcing information as to the locales and time periods. Chinatown is a huge area and there were little wide open areas with single family home structures as pictured as in your photos. The buildings were usually multistory units with shops or full apartment buildings all in a row. Again, those “up in the air” style of car photos are 67-70 time period. But, may not be from S.F. Chinatown proper. In So Cal, those illegal cars were on the streets, but the fad did not last long. Too many CHP vehicle violations regarding license plate heights, road hazard vehicles with rear spray of rocks and grime, no coverage of the tires due to height or width, to name a few. Headlights angling at the wrong angle creating hazards for everyone was also a major problem. (Let alone, unstable handling characteristics.) So, perhaps, the cars may have been there, but the background photos don’t do it justice when called the tall buildings of Chinatown proper. YRMV
Thanks for the info man! It's very much appriecated. I'm sure what we are looking for is a very small contingency of cars... I don't think it was a very big scene and it might have only lasted a few years, but we have some proof that it was there...
So we are greenlit for this production and I can't wait to find out more about this story. Any other folks come up wtih SF information...? Check these cool photos are are finding...
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