Art & Inspiration The Friday Art Show

Good day to all !

 

Hello,

When we were teenagers, one of my friends got this wild idea of a hot rod for our Bixby Knolls cruising, perhaps stretching it down to Orange County’s Newport Beach and beyond. But, the project was starting out as a simple old Henry J sedan.

The first thing was to take out the old motor and install a used good running 409 motor. Once that was modified and installed, the 4 speed and Chevy rear end fell in place. Now, it was running and sounded as mean as some of those S/S class 409 Chevy racers at our local Lion’s Dragstrip.

The drawing above is what a finished product looked like. On a lowered rake, blackwall tires, and mag wheels. At first he borrowed my Bruce Slicks that fit perfectly underneath his rear wheel well. But, eventually, he got his own wider slicks. He even had some wide “cheater slicks” with grooves, too.

The 409 was pushed back slightly and the interior had an aluminum firewall that complimented the door panels and the floorboard in aluminum, too. Our local, Douglas Aircraft Surplus Yard provided plenty of sheets of aluminum, in all thicknesses.

Once it was finished, we all wanted to see what it could do at Lion’s Dragstrip in the Gas Coupe Class. But, the owner liked going to the races to watch his friends race, but had no inclination to race any car himself. He was happy for us and sitting in the stands cheering when we were on the dragstrip. Now, he had a one of a kind hot rod and despite our telling him how much fun it was to feel the full power acceleration of our cars, he still would not budge to race at the drags.

He was happy when we went to the local Cherry Avenue Drags location and did our own full power acceleration. Yet, he still did not want to race anybody. He was happy we all thought his creation was the top echelon in our hot rods. He was totally happy with that comment and continued to drive his Henry J all over So Cal. Including some late night full power acceleration runs on Cherry Avenue. To him, that was all that was necessary to have a cool hot rod.

When he let me drive the Henry J, he was amazed that I could shift the 4 speed so fast. I showed him how to do that and he got better each time we drove his hot rod. For us, we were trying to get him to feel comfortable in his creation. Drag races at Lion’s Dragstrip was extremely competitive and one little missed shift puts the race beyond hope.

Jnaki

One Easter Vacation, (Spring Break in modern times) my friend wanted to go to Newport Beach and balboa for some cruising and a stop over for snacks at the famous, Merle’s Drive In Restaurant on MacArthur and PCH. It was a fun coastal drive through our local cruising area. When we got there, it was a standard thing to, not just find a spot, but to cruise through the front row driveway all the way through the parking lot, go around the whole circular drive in lot and come back in the same way.

Now, it was ok to find a spot. Not in the front row as you were closer to the food service, but just in the front row looking at the cruising driveway. That, to us was the front and center spot to see everything coming down the track… ha! It was not long that several hot looking Chevy sedans and one Ford coupe with a SBC motor showing came by. They spied the blue Henry J sitting there with us watching.

No one made any challenging moves or odd ball looks, so they just chugged by us. Then a sleek Jaguar XKE with wire wheels, came rumbling down the same driveway. A Jaguar XKE “rumbling???” That was a good one for sure. But, sure enough, it did come “rumbling” down to stop in front of a black 55 Chevy sedan with a couple inside. they pointed fingers and started yelling. Soon, the 55 Chevy pulled out behind the XKE and were gone out of the main driveway.

About 30 minutes later, the XKE comes back in again and the driver had a smug smiling face. He was pointing to all hot rod sedans and coupes as if he just won and would take on all comers for money. So, another sedan pulls out and follows the XKE out of the driveway. Then in about another 30 minutes, the XKE comes back again.

Now, both of the Chevy sedans did not come back to the parking lot. So, now, the XKE driver had a smirk and yelled out, “any others want to lose their money?” What an idiot. What could the XKE have that would make it so fast as to win each race? Now, he was pointing at the Henry J sitting quietly watching the show. The guy walked over to us and challenged us to a race for $100 dollars winner take all. What? we had about $28 dollars between the three of us and we still had to pay for the burgers. Ha!

After deciding what to do, we drove about 30 minutes away for the “big race.” There was no where in that part of the beach community with a quarter mile designated run area, so, we told the XKE that the Seal Beach Westminster Blvd was the only place we would race. So, we all drove out there with a following of cars interested in the outcome.

It was dark and empty when we arrived. Everyone had their lights out and lined the inside street. we hassled the particulars as we told him we did not have $100. But, that our $50 would match his $100. He agreed reluctantly. I was designated to drive the Henry J, but the XKE driver said owner’s only. So, the novice builder friend said ok. we went over the starting procedure and all was ok.

The first race was pure 409 power. Our Henry J got off well and won by a car length. The second race he missed a shift and the XKE won by a fender. Then the final race came down to a good start, no missed shifts and lots of power. The Henry J took off with a flurry and never looked back. When, our friend returned, we then found out the XKE had a 352 bored/stroked SBC and dual quads. Yes, he gave us the money and took off with dirt flying everywhere. Yea!

Note:

I was drawing the dark blue Henry J for the art post and something sparked in my old brain. What about the smallest sedan delivery in all of hot rodding? We had never seen one and what would it look like as a hot rod with some custom touches? So, a few modifications to my friend’s 409 powered Henry J sedan to a small sedan delivery took some time.

But, then it looked a little plain. Our long surfboards would not fit inside or would also stick out beyond both ends if mounted on top racks. So, a surf transportation hot rod it would not be this time. In these modern times, the shorter surfboards would have plenty of room inside the back cave for security and transportation.
normal height + rake
OR...
Low and mean YRMV

 

Good Friday to all of you here on the "FAS"

Something different this week.
My good friend John Harwood, pictured below, with his kick ass 36 Ford, at last weeks gathering at Binford's Wrecking yard in Kent Washington.


He is one of the main organizers of the annual Greenwood Car show, here in Seattle, which is tomorrow, June 29th, 2024.

He gave me some of the recent flyers for the show, and I had some older posters from that show as well.
So I got busy with some scissors, and I constructed a hybrid, collage, poster, that is a laminated place mat, spoof on the words "FOOD DRIVE"

I made 5 laminated copies of it, and I gave one to John for his collection.
So this is my offering this week to the "FAS"



You all have a great weekend.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

Here's another one of my "They should have built" ideas....

 

Some more stuff from my illustrious past. Feel free to pirate any of my old artwork if you have a use for it.

Flyer artwork.


T-shirt design.


Cartoon from Street Rodder Magazine.

 

Thanks Moose, Nice work on that Chevy. So I got to staring at it, and there is a question.
You must know, were we trying to drive through a fence?

 

Watching TV with pencil in hand.

 

Something for the summer cruisers!

 

Just sat down and started scribbling, no direction just let forms flow from my brain until something began to take shape.

Well, Happy Independence day to all, have a great weekend!




and the old stuff

 

I rendered this 1959 Chopped Impala around 25 years ago, owner lost interest and it has been waiting to be built!
Chopped, Straighten A Pillar, Full length hinged fender skirts (hinge up) 59 Cadillac side stainless, Pass-Thru antenna, Chev pick-up windshield for rear glass. See actual thumbnail pics of car below. Let me know if you have an interest in finishing the bad ass Impala Full Custom!

 

It was a long time ago so I don't remember....

 

The realism is magical.

 

On the topic of Henry Js.... whenever it is brought up, i will post these. Ha Ha!

 

A piece I did for a friend over both sides of a test panel for the ‘fake patina’ he did on a customer’s car. Also added a couple of the car in progress.

John

 

Kinda a gasser theme this week all awesome artwork!

 

Leftover piece of paper. Pen that was lying around... doodling between tattoos....

 

THANK YOU!!!!!!

 

That is really a good one! very clean lines, could have been a Packard for sure!

 

Speed Shop decal

 

Howdy y'all. A drawing. Lil' car is a Goggomobil. Have one fine- ass weekend.

 

Work in process

 

So I can't help but wonder,,, how long gonna be the the wheelie bars?

 

no wheelie bars, we die like real men

 

That's pretty slick caddzilla impala

 

Love the Henry Js, a speed shop has 1 here on the Cape it's nasty 427flip nose ppg primer runs at New England dragway runs 10.40s and will carry the fronts a 100 ft down the track

 

Funny how impressions change.
For many years now I had considered the "J" be an economy car.
My exposure was an example that sat in the front driveway of a house on US rte 30 in Lancaster County.
In view as one approached uphill to come over a small bridge, Westbound.
Seemed like it never moved more than 2 decades. Lawn art.
These images today clearly sweat brute energy.