Features 60's Style HotRods, Street, Race, Custom - Come On, Post pictures of what you like !

. . . in my case, they were in the late 50s.

 

They made it on to OEM applications until 1961-1962, depending on the make/model.

 

they seemed to go away in the early 60's on HOT ROD covers. pinner whitewalls became the cool thing around 1964.

 

Hello,

The most popular thing was the stock whitewalls that came with most coupes and sedans during the 60s. it was because they were stock and were used until the next tire was called for or an exchange with a friend.

We started with the stock whitewalls. But, they were not the “wide whites” slang used currently. Maintenance was terrible as road grime, curbs and weather all played a part in trying to keep the color white. So, most of us turned the tires inside out. There was usually plenty of miles left on the tread and when the white walls were inside, no one noticed. Within weeks, it was fairly covered up. Now, we had blackwalls to go with our choice of paint or as some teens had, chrome wheels. Finally, when the tread was too low, we bought a new set of blackwalls.

As the 60s rolled in, the change to narrower white walls was done at the factory and also tire companies. The Blue Streaks and Redline tires were popular in the mid 60s. Even when the actual narrow white walls came out that became a trend for a while. Not everyone liked the maintenance of the white walls and opted for all black walls, a thin Blue line (Goodyear) or Redlines from companies like Inglewood Tire Company in So Cal.

The 1965 new El Camino was ordered with blackwall tires and were kept on until the next set of wider thin Redline tires from Inglewood Tire Company. They lasted the longest, even over the stock name brand tires, once the Redline tires were shaved and "trued" to roundness. yes, roundness of tires is good. The amount of rubber on the floor of the shop was horrendous, but the tires were absolutely round and balanced with minimal weights.

Jnaki

This 57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop started as a whitewall tire sedan. But, since money was tight for most teenagers, he sold them to another teenager and bought all blackwall tires to offset his chrome rims. Those chrome rims stood out better with all blackwall tires, than with whitewalls of any size. YRMV

The trend continued with chrome being offset by all blackwall tires unless one had a custom car for shows. Then, whitewalls were included in the displays.

The next step for me was to have modified Buick Skylark Wire Wheels custom adapted on the fast 58 Impala and that made a world of difference in the overall look. Chrome wire wheels with all blackwall tires.

Thanks, @themoose

No more whitewalls on any car after the 58 impala, the El Camino for 125k miles and even our 1940 ford 327 powered Sedan Delivery.

 

Inside the March '61 Hot Rod is one of my favorite photos. I think is a letters section? It is a stock '28-'29 sedan with a spare tire hooked over a headlight. It was from a guy that drove it some distance to some event. Why do I remember this kind of ****? I haven't looked at that magazine since maybe '63?

 

Hello,

I used to think the aroma of the grilled Teriyaki marinated steaks were the best smell in the world. Then it was fresh bread just out of the oven at the local Weber’s Bread Company. Then our hot rod adventures started and the aroma of fuel being burned from those hot rods and race cars blasting away from the starting was enticing. How could something so potent as to explosions and fire be so attractive? No, I am not the “local fire starter…”

But, just a kid with a movie camera taking films between wrenching on my brother’s fast 58 Impala at first, then the long extensive build and racing with the 671 SBC motor in our 1940 Willys Coupe build. When we smelled the burning fuel coming out of some of the race cars, it was sight unseen, instantly recognizable.

Jnaki

As we were little kids walking across the farmer’s field towards the actual Lion’s Dragstrip property, the whiff in the air of “fuel” burning was different to say the least. At first we thought it was the same stuff our dad put in his Buick sedans. ( Ha! If only…) But, as we got closer the return road, it was now evident what was making that aroma that flew by us as fast as the west winds blew it by.

So, getting our fill of the fuel burning aroma was a tale to tell our other friends, that had no clue as to what was making those loud sounds coming from the western border of our Westside of Long Beach. Then when we got close up and our eyes started watering, we knew in an instant.

Note:

Many years later when all of the fuel drag racers were making some outrageous timed runs, and drag racing was no longer for the ordinary guy with a modified 1940 ford + SBC power, it was still a thing to recognize when it was in the air.

I was invited to the original grand opening event for the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum and in the warehouse facility was busting out with hot rod history. To give the old drag racers invited to this first time event, they had a giant rear parking lot that was full of current builds with powerful running motors using fuel for power.


“The aroma was in the air and definitely in our sinus cavities, making our eyes so sensitive and nose constantly aware of the fuel burning exhibition.” YRMV