There was also the Clem Hoppe 427-powered King Cobra, one of eight built for drag racing. I couldn't find much information on him except he disappeared in 1969, and his Cobra was purchased from his parents (who stored it in a barn) with a 428 in it. It was later painted blue and went through a few owners before someone figured out what it really was.
I wonder if my 56 project car still survives. I bought it for $200 no top no engine no ****** no grill insert and no wheel covers. But it had a pink slip and they towed it to my house in Placentia. found a 59 vet 283 motor and a Borg Warner T 10 and put it on 14 inch chrome reverse wheels with Fender well headers. Cheap g***er style. just before I moved to Arizona summer of 74 I took it to a rod show on the gr*** parking area at Knotts Berry Farm, and sold it to a dealer from SLC Utah. I'm gonna keep an eye open for a picture of it. it was really really rough, but it ran and drove. the last of seven colors on it was yellow. Original color I think was blue. I sold it for $650. Obviously, I wasn't thinking clearly.
I know that situation well, my '67 was bad enough with the 383 but even worse after installing the 440...
What is a rare car anyway. M*** produced American rides that become rare because it has some odd combination of m*** produced parts on it? that’s not rare
What would you do with this?https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Frank_Maratta's_1940_Mercury_Coupe_-_The_Pink_Beast
As they say, rare doesn’t always mean valuable!! This one was cheap and missing just the right amount of stuff to be perfect builder material.
First gen Vettes are great car, but are by no means rare. You see some at every little car show. Most of what you see is either stock, or the trendy frame swap, modded up IRS/LS smoothed out look. In light of that, and relishing every opportunity to be different, I would clean up that Vette, maybe paint the flairs so it looks kind of finished, get it running and keep it like it is. Or restore it to the day 2 condition as it was hot rodded back in the day.
My friend inherited a ‘61 that his uncle Freddie Curtis had just before he got drafted to Vietnam , he died there I found his name on the wall in D.C . But Paul’s dad Freddie’s brother had it in his cellar in different stages of restoring it and when Paul’s dad p***ed a few years ago from dementia's his stepmom tried to sell it ,but Paul's grandfather still had the ***le so Paul now has it and it’s got white side panels and black primer, white hard top , with torque thrusts from way back and it’s a fuelie 327 4speed it’s fun and gas cool history ! Phew that was a lot of typing lol
Duesenberg hot rods can be ugly too, if you try hard enuff. But I'd love to light the fuse on this cannon!
I'm thoroughly convinced that no matter what you do to or with YOUR car, someone will find a reason take exception to it. I was watching Hot Rod Drag Week live coverage this morning, just the first p*** of the fastest stuff. One of the 5-second capable cars, a very-OT 2000's sports car built into a crazy street driven race car, made a run and he pedalled it to a 6.04. People were complaining in the live chat how that particular make and model should only have a V10 in it. The car is going more than 5 seconds quicker than it did stock, nearly into record-breaking territory, and armchair experts are saying it should be built different. You just have to laugh. I've been at shows with my 46 GMC where old guys were shaking their heads that hot rodding the truck "ruined it". Not one of them asked what I started with, and realized I saved the thing from being yard art or worse. I guess I'll take it as a compliment that it looks good enough now that it should have been "saved". It didn't when I bought it. As for Corvette's, I would drive that red g***er on the first page of this thread EVERYWHERE. A stock C1 or C2 doesn't interest me more than a cursory look. A custom one is way more interesting.
I stopped at a local model A show with my much modifed 28 A PU just to look I was not in there show SBC, off topic suspension and all that and one of the old guys said I ruined it and should have left it stock. My reply was a cowl from a ditch on a farm and a $100 A frame and some swap meet loose parts including a cab back were the only original Ford parts on it. If it wasent for Dad not ruining a actual complete Model A and building from junk it would not exist at all Half the body is repro or aftermarket . There was nothing to ruin. Dad saved some litteraly junked parts. No original anything was ruined and it runs at 80 MPH all day and out handles my Vette. I see a lot of so called yard art were they just park some A or other car because they are incapable of actually building or reparing a car and plant flowers on it. I know were a pretty decent A roadster PU is used as yard art . Shame there letting it rot vs either restoring it or hot rodding it. Its there stuff I guess. A lot of guys are fast to say modify a C1 thats worth $50K or more to make it a $20k car when they dont own it or are paying for it. C1's are not everywere like some suggest. There not exactly cheap either. So if your thinking some stock to g***er build IMO its better to start with a much modifed car already . Otherwise unless your build makes it worth more over stock there is a finacial aspect to your actions. If your selling someday it a consideration . Also a good restoration of a C1 is a lot work , skill , patiance , searching for parts and money and ability to keep it nice when done . I appreciate the skill and commitment to restoring one and keeping it. I dont scoff at someones trailer queen when I know what would be involved to restore mine. I wish mine was a lot nicer. Beat to **** is not always cool and neglect is not something that impresses me. My ratty wiring and **** carpet is embar***ing . Cobbled is not cool when i can do better. Right now its a slow poor hot rod and its not a nice Corvette with any originality . Its tired and beat . If i was rich id have my body redone and make a lot of changes . The OPs vette is something you cant hurt much . It can be left modifed and primed or painted up or the body can be put back to stock / flares removed and then given what ever engine and drive train he wants . Cant hurt it much. If mine id consider a road race sports car look and maybe see how the flares go with that. C1'S need better brakes and stuff anyway to drive them hard. The front suspension and steering is nothing to praise espesscally at 80 mph in traffic . Mine is scary in traffic. That makes it a lot more street drivable than a g***er straight axle type build . I have been tempted to **** can the stock front suspension and steer box for years . When I update the power ( 475 hp) The rest needs to be updated stopping and steering wise if i want to really use it on tbe freeway and heavy traffic. I almost wish it had no orginal stuff to ruin suspension wise . There is not much avaliabe to improve the factory front suspension and only a couple expensive bolt in after market choices were you dont modify the frame. I stopped driving it with the drum brakes. It was unpredictable and that first hard stop after sitting would throw it at ditch or oncoming car. Did a cheap disk brake conversion a few years ago and have no regrets . The original **** is in a plastic tote for the next guy when i die.
I have a 1931 willys cabriolet that I put a v12 flathead in. Im Pretty sure thay were a very low production car. Also have a 1935 willys sedan delivery with a 1955 265 chevy in it.
The Jalopy Journal
