Man....I thought I was going to be the odd one out by getting a '28 Tudor instead of a '32-'34. Sure, more cramped, smaller gas tank but way more primitive. To me it looks like it's older, clunkier with it's harsh lines...more....visceral.
On my 15th birthday, my father {"Deuce Bruce Olson"} gave me a '29 Ford Roadster body, '32 Ford frame rails & a filled Deuce grille shell . . . so that we could build (my favorite) Hot Rod of all time: a '29 HiBoy on Deuce rails! Unfortunately, other projects (i.e., a '62 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, a '69 Plymouth 340 Formula S Barracuda, a "resto-rod" '32 Roadster, a chopped '32 Tudor, & a '57 Chrysler 300 C Coupe) got in the way of building my dream Hot Rod ... and I ended up selling it after my father p***ed away in 1990. Although my roadster was going to be heavily influenced by many of the "famous" '29 Hiboy roadsters of the '40s, '50s, & '60s (that @Ryan & others have already posted in this thread); I'd be lying if I didn't admit it was going to be built very much like the '29 Hiboys owned & built (or rebuilt) in the '70s by my father's friends . . . more specifically, Rich Guasco's purple ('61 AMBR), **** Megugorac's black, Billy Burnham’s ****erscotch yellow, or Tommy Walsh's orange '29 HiBoy: Here's a couple circa 1973 pics of Burnham's Pontiac-powered '29 HiBoy & our Chrysler Hemi-powered '32 5wd coupe: Here's a circa 1974 pic of Billy's '29 HiBoy (parked next to Guasco's '61 AMBR) at the LODI Mini Nats: In the '80s, I spent many miles behind the wheel (or in the p***enger seat) of Billy's (more well known) '29 HiBoy . . . his FE-powered "Ol 'Blue": I still kick myself for selling my '29 Roadster project . . . hopefully it ended up as a *****in' Traditional Hiboy
I couldn't agree with you more. Over the years, I've tried various times to dip my toes into the 'elite' 32 roadster crowd. I let 3 Brookville bodies p*** through my hands. Each time feeling like I could not understand why they have such a following. They're HUGE! A few years back I was fortunate to end up with our friend Bruce Lancaster's all original B... only then did I really start to appreciate them for what rhey are.... but I still feel that the foundation for what we all know as a real 'hot rod' was built around 28/9 roadsters. Given the choice of only 1 single car to represent the honest deep down in the gut feel of a 'hot rod' it would be a 28 on a 32 frame, hallock windsheild and a hot flathead V8. That's the one I'll be driving to the grave... Zach
Ike Iacono Racing Team So Cal B/Altered Coupe and Sedan Cl***: IKE IACONO Hello, Frank “Ike” Iacono was a well known and respected drag racer hot rod builder from So Cal. He creations were always a hit with the people at Lion’s Dragstrip. The color pattern of orange and black helped identify the race cars whenever they were in the pits or in the races. But his claim to fame was that instead of Flathead powered or SBC powered, his motors were the inline 6 cylinder motors of all different sizes and shapes. 1957 Ike Iacono Coupe/Dale Lambrose Roadster Team. Dale Lambrose ran this roadster (99 JR ) as a teammate to Frank "Ike" Iacano's '34 Ford Coupe (99), with both running GMC sixes on fuel. A/H Cl*** Roadster: DALE LAMBROSE Ike Iacono’s 1934 Ford three window coupe was famous for its records and instant identification at the dragstrip. But, most of the drag race people and spectators were more inclined to remember the fancy streamlined FED, also painted orange and black. It, too was powered by a 6 cylinder motor. We were unable to film the orange and black coupe or the roadster, but we did catch the original 6 cylinder FED racing at Lion’s Dragstrip in 1959-60 time period. There is also another film by Getty Images that shows the Dale Lambrose roadster in action. A start off action with Dale Lambrose from the Ike Iacono Racing Team versus the Waters/Murray Roadster. From Getty Images The orange and black roadster is the Dale Ambrose A/H Cl*** Roadster from the mid to late 50s, a part of the Ike Iacono Racing Team. The early version of the lion's dragstrip, white Pontiac Ambulance tells us that it was taken in 1958. The dragstrip changed the Pontiac Ambulance to a later model in the mid 60s. Jnaki The blue 555 roadster was once owned by Mickey Waters and Dean Murray. Waters and Murray (California) Sky Blue from 1955-1958 So, the short film clip had to be at Lion’s Dragstrip in the 57-58 time period. As it was sold in late 1958
Thank you!! I probably should have finished it how I was planning rather then sell. But I turned it into a rust free '35 roadster... someday I hope to build another track nose car and actually get it on the road or race track.
A 28/29 roadster will forever be my favorite early hot rod of choice. Currently owning and driving a real Henry 32’ roadster I feel honored to have been able to purchase and build my gold roadster. Being a rather pe***e man, I can say that the proportions and fit of a 28/29 roadster on a 32’ frame is the ultimate hot rod to me. Thanks for the reminder of how much I want to build another one with this thread!
@48stude - Mine too! . . . the 13 (almost 14) year old me was standing behind Mr. Mayall during this photo shoot at the Pleasanton, CA "Hungry Hunter" restaurant . . . the building is still there today . . . it's now a "Tommy T's" comedy club . . . great memories! - @HEMI32
28-29 Roadster's on Deuce rails scream Hot Rod! I love the track nose on Zach Suhr's old roadster. Casny's roadster rules too! I've always felt this car nails it, although not a hi-Boy it sure captures the era.
Great Thread! These two have always kept me up at night. While I built a '30 because it's what came available and what I had at the time. A proper '29 on Deuce Rails is in the cards at some point. Always thought the '32 looked like a Model a with the Air hose left on too long. While a '29 looks slippery and fast just sitting still. After All Bud, Billy, and Magoo had it right. - thank you for the photos, I stole 'em fair and square.
Yeah, @SUHRsc that track nose is one of the best I've seen. I'm not sure about the winged portion at the bottom, but the height and angle are pretty close to perfect. 3blap.
Dad bought me Hot Rod March 1959 for my birthday. I still have it. I thought this year's AMBR needed more scallops.
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