Hot Rods My first Hotrod and it's Maiden Voyage.

I have shown pictures of the first Hotrod I built in the mid-60's, but I haven't shared the story of the first ride.

Back in 1963, my Brother Tom, gave me a 1918 Model T body, so I built this roadster, with plans of drag racing it. It used a Model A frame, with a 50 Olds rearend bolted on top of the rails. and a complete 40 Ford front end. My oldest Brother Jerry, helped me by splitting and heating the wishbones, and we used a stock Model a steering gear. Jerry, also helped me get a 53 Cadillac engine and hydro, mounted in the chassis and coupled to the rearend. The engine came out of a 53 four door, that my Stepdad Jack, had given me. For brakes, it had a pedal and master cylinder, from a 53 Chrysler, that my friend Mel Smith was junking out, plumbed to the rear brakes only. Sometime in 1965, I decided to take it for a test ride, without the body, since it wasn't mounted yet. With the steering column full length at that time, I could sit on the rear axle housing, without a seat of any kind. I hadn't built the shifter for the trans yet, so a buddy sat on the right hand valve cover, facing backwards, to do the shifting duties. The battery box consisted of a piece of plywood, that laid on the outside lip of the trans pan, to the inside of the lower flange of the frame rail, with the long, skinny Cadillac battery just sitting on the plywood, with the cables, sort of holding it in place. We ran a hot wire from the coil to the big post on the battery, wrapped around the cable. I lived a mile out of McMinnville, with very little traffic, and a paved road that passed in front of the house. Well, we towed the contraption about a 1/4 mile down the road and turned it around. The moment of truth had arrived, I was seated and ready, my pal Roland Harbick, shorted out the solenoid on the starter, and the 331 Cadillac came to life, he climbed aboard the engine, and clicked it in gear, I pulled on the throttle, as it was a piece of baling wire hooked the 4 bbl Carter, with a curl that fit my index finger. On the ride home, I was careful, only gassing it a few times, to feel the rise in the front suspension, due to the lack of front shocks. When I made the 90 degree turn at our driveway, that was slightly uphill, rough, and gravel, I noticed my Mother Dolores, sitting on the front porch, in her wheelchair. Since Mom had always liked hot cars and racing, I decided to give her a little show, so I yanked on the throttle, and it jumped, and bounced, due to the solid mount rear axle, forcing me back, and tugging the throttle more. We were in a heap of trouble. There were cars parked at the back of the driveway, and we were going to hit something. As luck would have it, the bouncing, allowed the plywood holding the battery, to fall out, and the battery dropped to the ground, tearing the end out of it, along with pulling the hot wire, killing the engine, and we skidded to a stop. Roland and I escaped danger, we were two lucky teenage kids. The car was very cobbled up by today's standards, but somewhat of an accomplishment, for a 16 year old kid, thinking he was going to build cars, for a living. As far as the ride, that was just one of the times, The Good Lord was riding along with me.

 

Awesomeness @Marty Strode. Sure made me chuckle . Did you get to refine it?

 

Marty
Is there a chapter two of this car?

 

Thanks, Marty, for taking us along.

 

Great story and pics, Marty.

 

That thing's got a mean rake to it Marty! Great story! Reminds me of my first orange crate, direct-drive, go-kart story I build at 11yrs old. Coulda been an 'Our Gang' episode!

 

Good story.

 

The exuberance of youth, thanks for sharing.

 

Glad you are here to share the great story! It could have easily gone the other way.
The innocence of youth, no fear!

 

Great story and a reminder of the "amazing" things we did when we were younger. Thankfully we're here to talk or read of them. You have to wonder how this old saying plays into it: "If I knew then what I know now......"

 

Haha awesome.

 

Good stuff.

 

That’s great! Thanks for sharing in such detail. I felt like I was along for the ride.

 

Thanks for the history lesson Marty, and even with your first effort that car had “the look”.

 

Fantastic lol

 

. . . I'd guess that we've all had one of those moments . . .

Did your mother say, "Now what did you do that for?".

 

Thank you my friends for the replies, I have 2 more, HAMB friendly stories from 1965 as well. Both include extreme danger and stupidity on my part !

 

For those who missed it the first time, here is a re-play.

 

yep, very lucky. so, did your Mom calmly enjoy the special display of your driving skills?

 

She did !

 

How fortunate you are to have photographs and video from way back then. My family just wasn’t into taking pictures or anything so my early misadventures went undocumented.
Your first attempt was great, just a hint of the great things to come…..

 

Pretty easily !

 

Wow

 

Epic. Very cool Marty.

 

Love that video. What a treasure

 

Jim, I was the youngest of four boys, mostly hooligans. She was probably tired of wasting her voice. Take care pal !

 

Marty, great story. After that ride the fuel dragster probably seemed pretty smooth!!

 

At least I had a cage around me, and seat belts that were 16 years old ! There is a good 18" under the left rear tire.

 

Great story. Yeah, our first cars were certain learning experiences, eh?