Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

This Modified Roadster is lettered Voigt’s Automotive, operated by Fritz Voigt before he was hired by Mickey Thompson. Fritz was to Mickey Thompson what Leo Goossen was to Harry Miller, some have ideas and some can pull them off.

 

This is a “mail slot” rear window. If it doesn’t look like this…..it isn’t one!

 

Jonnie Loper

 

The modified roadster attachment 6281125 is Leland Kolb's probably late 57 or 58. I think that's Leland on the left in
the clean white trousers. A little later using a 2 holer, on the blower he fashioned a scoop probably fashioned from a salvaged nose cone. At any rate it drastically enhanced the blower whine to a level I've never heard since.
As I remember he got married in early 60's and went from racing the roadster (always a little rough) to a very
pretty dragster

 

Hello,

Yes, Fritz Voight was a big part of that roadster build. The combo of Fritz Voight and Leland Kolb’s
roadster from So Cal, is thought to be one of the first “claw” flames on a hot rod. Could it have been a free hand drawing of the classic scallops gone “wavy” into a claw? So, let’s not forget Leland Kolb from Long Beach and the Mickey Thompson shop group.

Here is a story about the Blue Modified Roadster:


Westside of Long Beach in the old Joe Mailliard Automotive building.

Leland Kolb Modified Roadster including Fritz Voight, partner… AND the modified, custom added 57 Ford Ranchero push truck.

In the days of our drag racing participation, one could not go far into any of the copies we always got at one of the local speed shops near our Westside of Long Beach house. Even if we had to drive past our high school to go to Reath Automotive farther East, the Drag News was that important to have and read weekly. It was like racing all over the USA or at least seeing what other hot rod/drag racers were doing to their cars and builds.

One of the more prolific So Cal racers was Leland Kolb. He has been involved in drag racing as far as our history photos and stories can go back in time. Look for his own history of roadsters leading up to the top fuel race cars. Enjoy the styles, the development, the different builds and racing. It is quite a story in itself.

But one unusual roadster in the myriad of race cars from the Voight/Kolb shop looked so unusual that I tried my best to draw a version of it… and the cool Orange 57 Ranchero, with added custom touches. (It must have been the black ranchero at the drags we always saw or the custom ones at the local So Cal car shows… it was a cool style to modify and add custom touches.)

Jnaki

Leland Kolb had plenty of drag race cars in the time we knew of his exploits. During the time he had this 1927 T Modified Roadster, most of what was available for information of his exploits was before our time filming later versions at the drags.

Fritz Voight Automotive Thanks, @296ardun Leland Kolb's "Whiz Bang," at the '58 Nationals.. Leland at left.. Glenn Ward color photo.

Leland Kolb’s Modified Roadster including Fritz Voight partnership…

Success comes in all shapes, designs, builds and sizes... YRMV