Hot Rods the California kid?

Costa Mesa Kid was cover car in Aug. 1977. First Rod Action I ever bought, and it was because of that car on the cover.

 

Until I saw this I always thought the front suspension was Dodge torsion bar. Remember, Sheen kept adjusting torsion bars until the car cornered just right?

 

I seem to remember that HRM feature, but when listed in the build specs, it states "Real Wheels" front & rear, but in truth when built it had Halibrand Small Windows up front, Romeo Palamides American Racing 4 windows in the rear off of Pete's T-Bucket that was his Vintage Tin Car Club ride.

I presume that the Tech Specs were mimicking the R&C Nov 73 Coupe-arison
tech sheet when The Kid was built, but with a lil plug for Eric Vaughn on the "Real Wheels" manufactured by Eric form 1984 to the Millennium-(Presently known as "Real Rodders Wheels").

Later it ran a set of steelies on bias-plies for the movie. When received back from Cris Carrier it was still on steelies, then in 1982 Paris Fish made his "Fish Products Wheels" that I believe Eric Vaughn machined for him. That set of wheels stayed on tll 1995??? then a set of Wellington, KS. set of Halibrands ended up on it and I believe it has a set of Solids on Radials as well.

 

Anybody have a pic. of the Costa Mesa Kid? I remember seeing it from my gas pumping days in Hawaiian Gardens.....

 

Red 'n' White forever baby.

I have seen the red n white pin stripe on several clone cars and the first time I got up close and personal with the real "Kid" it threw me off. I guess there is nothing wrong with a little personalization if it is a tribute and not a clone.

 

A pic of me and the car. It was taken Saturday.

 

As a preteen kid on a 20” bike, this first image is what I recall riding around and exploring in Temple City. I later saw it all Raven Black , then looking like this next. The next time I saw it was on Las Tunas Dr.

Then it was gone for a while. Was then in CT. with Cris Carrier.
Then back in So-Cal in Temple City.
In 1982 some changes took place with it and it became this version Then gone again to MO. Where this picture was taken. and last this version which it maintains today. It’s been a very interesting ride around the neighborhood. .

 

Here’s a shot of the kid I have loved for years in Big M’s driveway!!!

 

Here’s a cool before and after of the kid
First is how it looked when Pete got it home
Last is the final version of the kid

 

I liked the 57 2 door cop car. I think the California kid would have spun out before the Plymouth.

 

I worked with a fireman in Los Angeles county, San dimes who said he sold the 3 window to Pete. Can't prove it though.

 

Hey Kevin I hope you don’t mind me asking how tall you were in your preteen days. You must have been REALLY tall if you were riding around on a twenty foot bike! LOL

 

That’s !!! I must’ve been walking tall!!!!! Better go edit it.

 

Bob, IIRC the east coast rodder was Chris Carrier from West Hartford, Connecticut. Chris gave ne a ride in the car down the Berlin Turnpike in Newington, Connecticut. And yes the engine was a SBF.

 

Call me sheltered, uninformed, a heretic, I've never seen the movie. I like the car but it never bumped my rev limiter like Jake's does.