Hambers may find this of interest. Back in the day, about 1965 (I was 19) I had a burning desire to build a hotrod. I had no money, no garage, no tools, and damn little money. But Hey!!! That never stopped us, did it. I picked up someone elses semi completed abortion, and with dreams of hotrod glory, set out to build my first rod. The body was all steel,and incorporated steel body panels from half a dozen ***orted model A and 32 Fords. I installed a flathead engine with tri-power manifold, a gas tank, various cast-off gauges, and worked all one summer, in the driveway, getting it to the stage in the picture. The original builder had flipped the back half of the frame, to make an "underslung" rear suspension. the welds were all "spit and gob" specials, and the doors were welded shut. I had visions of a shiny red paintjob, white tuck and roll upholstery, and wide whitewall tires. I even had it out for a couple of "balls to the wall" blasts up and down the street in front of my house, when I knew that the town cop was at the other end of town.---Sadly, as so often happens, fall came, and with it the realization that I didn't really know what I was doing, that even if I had known, I had no money to do it with, and that this one was going to get away. I sold it for $500 to someone who promptly parted it out, and sold all the salvageable parts. Eventually I did go on to build some damn nice hotrods, when I got a bit older/richer/more experienced, but for me, this will always be the "one that got away".---Brian
Great Photo and story. I think it's of particular interest for the guys that say "Rods like that didn't exist back in the day." Sure they did. I'd love to see more photos of homebuilt cars like this. "Granted, I wouldn't have sat next to you for a run in that tub of bolts to save my life but the story is great.
It's nice to relive old times. I had a roadster simular to that. I built it from parts that restorers of Model A's gave me in the early 70's. I Put a 260 drivetrain from a comet in it. Got drunk and sold it for $35. I was 19 and in the Army. I built it on weekends when I came home from Fort Sill. Wish I'd took pictures of it.
Wow! Cool story brianangus because I could tell the same story almost in detail to yours including our age and we lived in different parts of the country. I guess us young hot rodders back then all thought alike and probably do today. Damn time slippen away.
People who really support the "rat-rod" thing will rush to point out that hey, they built rats back in the day---see that!!! But read th post I put up again---"visions of shiny red paint, white tuck and roll, and wide whitewall tires"---thats what the rod would have worn if it had been finished. All "in process" rods look like "rat rods" at some stage of their build.---But we wouldn't have been caugt dead cruising the burger joint with the car as pictured---well at least without a full coat of black primer
You are exactly right,I never owned a hot rod that didnt have some kind of paint on it(to poor for laquer) and it sure didnt have any rust. Oh well, some of the so called rat rods are pretty cool.
it brings up a vision of the Sonny Mazza roadster with regards to stance...very deep channel, straight up windshield...just in the early stages...i like it...
Back in the day that was considered parts or a POS;today it politely called is a rat rod. Nothing like being politically correct. During the early '60's I never saw a car without 4 wheel brakes,lites and mufflers;besides the cops made sure of that.
I was also 19 in '65. I had purchased a running '56 Chevy with a 235 that was painted primer gray, had no brakes, a floor shift installed backwards and a cast-iron exhaust cut-out, all for the grand sum of $15.00. My brother & I installed new brake lines, exhaust system and I bought a set of used tires at a junk yard for $12.00 and I drove that thing for two years, cause I couldn't afford anything else. I was so embarrased to be driving a primered car, that I didn't even take a picture of it. Sold it after I got my first job at $2.10/hour. Man! $84.00 a week ($60.00 after taxes) and I was in hog heaven!! Sold that '56 for $25.00 and thought I was a real wheeler-dealer, since I got $10.00 more than I paid for it! Thanks for the memories, Brian.
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