Customs Custom cars with hitches

As I was under the welding helmet building ball and stick sports equipment today, in my mind I began to build a chopped early post war styled. 46 Chevrolet Coupe (In-line Chevy 6 powered of course) to tow the Chev. 6 powered model A track roadster I am collecting parts for.

This led me to think about the So Cal Plating tow car, then to the Pierson Bother's 36 Ford, and Doug Rice's chopped and channel 40 and so on.

It occurred to me there were a fair number of customs used to tow trailers with so let's see some photos of customs towing!

The So Cal Plating custom-


Pierson bothers 36 Ford coupe


Doug Rice chopped and channeled 40 Ford


The Hirohata Mercury

 

Not really a custom but definitely towing a trailer (with a little help from Hollywood special effects)

 

37 Chevy custom pulling an Av8 to Boneville. 1950

screen shot from an 8mm film stated to be from a road trip from Sacramento to the salt flats in 1950

the info posted with the pic

 

Rear view

custom car chronical pic

 

It’s funny now customs are thought of as boulevard cruisers, but it is amazing how many seemed to be used as “work trucks” back in the day. Which is a recognized period of time according to historians.

 

There’s an interesting California Highway Patrol film from the late 40s.
Most of the trailers being pulled are with cars.

 

Back in the day “receiver” hitches were uncommon. A decent bolt on frame hitch had a chin knocker so many used clamp on bumper hitches that were easily removed after the trip.
Most towed travel trailers and boats with bigger cars because they had the engines to do it. The Surfer Drag Team towed their top fuel car/trailer with 6cylinder 55 Chevrolet but they did things different.

 

Hitch on the wife’s 56

I’ve got a merc pars car with a similar set up

 

I think back then trailers we are a lot more simple and lighter and they didnt have all the heavy conveniences that modern toy glamping trailers have, which is basically a house on wheels, thus the need for Dulally or 3500 series truck to pull.

 

My great uncle’s family were campers, he bought a band new 283 63 Chevy 4 door three speed wagon to pull their large at the time camping trailer after the first couple trips he realized the car was under powered.

The dealer he bought the car from had a 340 horse 409 car with the dress up kit the had been tail ended hard come in.

Having bought many cars there they were willing to pull the 283 and replace it with the 409!

He had to pay the labor, man to have that car today!

 

Yes and no.
Small campers are still made and very popular. Many with outdoor only kitchen and shower capabilities.
We bought a newer all aluminum 13 foot camper last year.
Weighs around 2200 pounds.
I can poop, shower and brush my teeth at the same time.
Should be able to pull it with the wife’s 56

 

But when I do that I get banned from the carwash!

 

That's probably because most people only had one car. If you customized your one car, it had to serve duty as a hauler, a grocery getter, driving to work, etc

 

A modern Dave Paras' 50 Mercury and camping trailer

 

My '46 pickup is a mild custom - 3" chop - custom grille - smoothie running boards - smoothie box, etc. and it is set up to tow a race car.
Oh, and I have a champ car to haul with it.

 

The So Cal Plating custom must have been a little tricky to see out of. No p***enger side mirror and no rear window.

 

Yeah but Dayum! That thing is bad***!

 

A buddy of mine bought a new O/T 1970 RR it was a 383 magnum and 4 speed with a 4.10 rear. They were also custom cutters. He towed a grain cart with it. LOL. Still has the car. We took the hitch off I'm going to put it on my 62 impala and tow my Vintage Harley flattracker behind it.

 

Not a Kustom but here some pics of a kustom hitch that a good friend came over an made for me for my 32 when I had a hip replacement. I added a 2'x4' basket type carrier for my walker, later I used it for my popup, cooler and lawn chairs. It's pictured with a hot rod receiver plug in.

483040.jpg by wicarnut posted Sep 5, 2013 at 6:52 AM

custom trailer hitch, Led tail lites, rearch and match posie rear springs by wicarnut posted Aug 24, 2013 at 12:19 AM

 

This movie is a cl***ic, anybody that's towed trailers around can appreciate this movie. If you have towed trailers and have a wife it's a must see.

 

I pull an Airstream with my 47

 

Man, we must all be drinking the same coffee, because I have spent the last two days convincing the wife that a hitch on our plymouth would be a good idea!

What is the name of the movie?

 

The long, long trailer
https://www.imdb.com/***le/tt0047191/

 

I am looking for a late 50s early 60s Chevy truck or wagon to tow my Model A sedan stock car to the vintage races (I am going to build a period correct style trailer.

Vintage racing needs more vintage haulers and fewer modern Crew cab dualies pulling enclosed trailers!

A least no one is hauling a vintage car with a stacker (yet)

 

1959 photo shows a chrome ball in the middle of the rear license plate.

Hello,

In the late 59 early 60 season, we got a new backyard build going. We got tired of dragging home an old hot rod using a long thick dock line rope. The method was adapting to the usefulness of the thick tow rope to get the old Model A coupe back to our house. It was fine when the tension was tight, but when side traffic or on coming traffic put a buzzing on the tow situation, slack or loose rope was cause for some anxious moments. Also, going over some deep dips in our own neighborhood did a number on a tow rope set up.

So, we got a solid bar welded under the rear bumper of the 1958 Chevy Impala. That was fine as the certified drag racing activities were coming to a halt and our next level build was just starting. For the next year or so, the solid bar trailer hitch was a life saver in more ways than one. We had a custom tow bar made for our 40 Willys Coupe.
similar set up using the bumper brackets matching the black tow bar.
It was almost the same configuration as the 41 Willys Coupe at the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum display area. The black tow bar attached to the bumper brackets or in our case, under bumper, special brackets we made. A front bumper was required for inclusion into the Gas Coupe/Sedan Cl***es.

Jnaki

In towing, we learned that sharp corners were not the best for handling and our short 1.5 mile drive to the Lion's Dragstrip entrance was not that stressful. Other than towing a car that everyone looked at, as if it was a world record holder at the local dragstrip. It was on our last run, but never got recorded.


Note:

Later on in our cruising days, that solid core bumper hitch with the nice ball saved the rear end of the 1958 Impala in numerous times. At Merle’s Drive In on the corner of MacArthur and PCH in Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar, the front row of the parking spaces gave us the best service for food and drinks. But, when anyone drove by with a nice sounding motor, we had to "crink" our necks to see what was moving down the line.

The front facing second row was the spot to be, but had plenty of hazards for all cars. The third row was behind and slightly sloped facing the restaurant. One night, we were on the second row having a great time watching all of the hot rods, cruisers and car loads of girls all having a great time. As the night wore on the girl in a sedan parked right behind us was starting up and leaving.

As stick shift drivers have all learned the “Hill Start” procedures, we ***umed it was going to happen this time. But, as she pushed in the clutch, to shift, her car rolled down the short hill toward the back of the 58 Impala. We all heard the crunch and rushed out to see what was the damage.

We thought the worst part was going to be dents and broken red lenses. But to our surprise, the damage was to her front end bumper and grille. The hill slope moved, by gravity, her car into our Impala. But, the slope provided an angle to get her sedan under the solid core trailer hitch. The hitch was over her bumper and into the grille. She was so embarr***ed.

The trailer hitch was our protector and served us well in similar incident during our cruising stage of teenage life all over So Cal.

Note 2:

When the new drive in opened in 1951, months later, our family arrived in our family Buick sedan. As a teenager, my own Impala made the trip down the coast many times during Easter Week. It was in 1960, 61, 62 Spring Break with the black 58 impala. Then, in 1963 with a 409 Henry J.
Thanks, @themoose to allow what was cruising in 1963 with some modifications on our mild custom Impala. The only 1958 Impala with a C&O Stick Hydro, Buick Skylark Wire Wheels and a solid core trailer hitch…

The old Merle’s Drive In Restaurant was situated on the corner of PCH and MacArthur. Although no one would recognize it today, as it was a barren ranch with plenty of rolling hills and views all the way back to the Big Bear Lake mountain range.

The flat, level main building and front row service parking. The slope was to the right side of the old photo and ran along the MacArthur Blvd. curb.

In the 50s, driving down the coast line was like driving up or down the Big Sur coast line. The surf and ocean to the West and vast spreads of open land towards the mountains. There were some buildings and homes, but mostly, it was barren. By the time of 1960-63 construction had been started and completed to give the whole Newport coastline from Huntington Beach to Laguna Beach some population.

Good or bad, it was done and the drive-in restaurant was a place to go for a lot of local families. Also, for a ton of teenagers with hot rods and fast cars, for the usual, "who is the fastest" bantering that always would be ***ociated with drive-in restaurants and teenage hangouts.

It was in a great location as MacArthur is a major thoroughfare from the ocean to the far reaches of inland cities. But, the build up near the ocean to PCH was just starting from the early 1951 days until the 1953 Boy Scout Jamboree just behind the whole empty complex. By the time we were driving and exploring the longer road trips, it just seemed like it had been there forever.

Currently, it is another fancy restaurant nestled in some tall palm trees. The upper left corner of the photo is Mac Arthur and PCH in the Fashion Island, Newport Center location. One of the busiest intersection in this whole So Cal coastal area of Orange County.

 

I have an amazing article from the time period interviewing Lucy and Desi, It really towed that New Moon Trailer.
If I remember right it used an Atwood dolly to carry the weight.

Edit: I decided to find the magazine I don't know how well it will post I took pictures using my phone of the cover and the article but it's a neat read if it comes out clear enough.
I have properly restored so many trailers from the 1940s and 1950s that when I cam across this magazine I had to buy it The long long trailer in my opinion is one of the best 1950s movies.

 

Not exactly a custom. However, a Nomad, Dirt Bikes and a Model A roadster would be a hard combination to beat.

 

I put a receiver hitch on my 49 Dodge pickup, don't know if it will ever pull a trailer, but if I need it, its there. I have one of those picnic table umbrellas and a mounting extension I can put into the receiver. We have used it a few times, it worked well.

I bought a 66 Dodge station wagon that had a factory installed hitch that was designed to pull a camper. That hitch was rated at 3500 lbs, according to the Dodge literature that came with the car. It was actually welded to the unibody rear frame rails. I pulled my dirt track car on a car trailer around locally with it for a couple years.