Does anybody know of a car club called the Rod and Wheelers based in San Jose,Cali I've got an 8mm tape with this club on it ,cars and all, way to cool this is the real deal. Also film of Little Bonniville Speedway in San Jose or Santa Clara? Any Info would be greatful. I'm planning on putting it on the HAMB if thats possible any ideas on publishing this would be saaweeet. Everyone needs too see this she-it !!! Thanks
I went to Little Bonneville once, maybe in '56. Near Reid-Hillview airport off Tully road as I remember. Really short shut off. Plowed field if you didn't make the turn off.
Rods and Wheelers was great car club in San Jose back in the days. Havent met any old members but seen quite a few of there cars. Rod Powell or Von Franco would probabaly know more.
Ya' my dad was in the club back in the day but I've never heard the name around , just trying too get a little history on the club. Thanks
Tony Here are a few of the pictures I have of the Rod & Wheelers Car Club. To me they were the top San Jose area car club in the fifties and early sixties. Their cars really stood out. They had everything from roadsters and coupes, to mild and full custom show cars with lots of body modifications and wild paint jobs. Some were brand new, and all of them were customized. I saw their cars displayed at all of the Car Shows. The Rod & Wheelers were a big part of the San Jose Autorama. They would hang out at John's Drive In and cruise to the Boardwalk over the hill in Santa Cruz. There are some articles on their cars in the early magazines and show programs. They were voted club of the year by one of the magazines, possibly Car Craft. I have more info & some pictures, but it might take some time to get it together. It would be cool to have a history on them up on the H.A.M.B. especially if your Dad was involved. RodP
Thanks Rod, I think I use to hang out at the guys house who painted that 57 Ford he was a freind of my dads his name was Joe Crissafoliee ( not sure of the spelling)back in the day I'm planning on putting a movie shot with the club on youtube will keep posted Thanks again I love the club shot pops freaked out when he seen it.
AHHHHHHHHH the good ol days in norcal.The rod and wheelers were the bad *** car club back then.I still know a few of them.Bob V. had the fastest roadster in town olds motor 6 carbs channeled I have picks and will post later. When I was a kid I would hang around with them and later I joined another cool car club called the axel busters.There were a lot of cool cars back then. Untill the late 60s came and ****ed up the whole car sene.......... Endsville the burger bar rules,Kings drive inn get your *** kicked,monteray rd drag racing all the time .................................Franco.....
Tony- im in san jose (work in sunnyvale) and am willing to help get your video into a digital format to put online, burn dvd, etc. Shoot me a PM and i'll be happy to help (and excited to see...) -scott noteboom
Cool post. Love to hear more about the old SJ car clubs. Love the club shots. Is the club still active? Jon
this is exactly what im talkin 'bout now....... choppedbuick, im literally freakin' out about that video...
It's a good one . Hopefully it's still in good shape. I saved from my Old-mans crusty underwear drawer. It's been there since the 70's
I remember when DeVito redid that '57 with seriously tunneled headlights and tailights. Man, there used to be more quality customs around than you could shake a stick at...
That picture of the gold Chevy at the outdoor carshow was taken at Washington High School in Fremont about 1959. I'm sure of this because that's me and my red '29 RPU off to the right in you picture. Thanks.
Derelict, DeVito crashed that car from what I understand and took it too Flyers bodyshop on Bayshore Or too Joe Crisafulli's shop on River Rd in San Jose. my dad worked @ Flyers with Joe as a prep boy How frekin cool whould that be? Later DeVito and my dad were driving (thats when everone actually drove there cars) the Maze on the San Jose streets on there way too put the car in the Famous Oakland Roadster Show, got pulled over by one of San Jose's finest , got a ticket for being too low and told the two of them too turn the car around and go back home, Boy have times changed !
Hi guys, I just could not believe what I just read..the story unfolds. My 34 pickup (my avatar) was purchased in 1953 by Tony Alves who was an ex President of the Rod and Wheelers way back in circa 1951 thru 1955 area. (give or take a year) Apparantly membership was around the 65 mark according to Tony. My 34 was orginally built in the Bay area and purchased by Tony Alves in 1953 as a finished hotrod. In those days it had a 303 Olds with hydro and 51 Olds diff. Also has 40 Ford dash. Wheels were 53 Cadillac wires. (I still have them) The 34 has a rolled pan and was painted the cream it still is now in 1954 by a Clyde Palman. It was also used as a pushcar for the tin top racing (circa mid 50's) in San Jose with side boards on the tray with sponsored by Fernando Automotive (or Fertando) on Montgomery Street, San Jose. I meet up with him in Aug 2008 up in Railroad Flat. I brought the 34 to New Zealand in 2002..Used on a dailly basis after a full mechanical rebuild. I would love to see your movie on the HAMB. A group of 12 NZer's will be visiting the Bay Area and taking in the Nostalgia Drags at Sacramento on the 31st July.. Also check this as well... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431223 Many thanks guys cheers Bryan Thomas
Got a link for the Nostalgia Drages in Sacramento? Could someone run a stock more door w/ and inline 6????
Time to bring this thread back on track. RodP thanks for sharing all those great photos. Von Franco, what happened to your photos? Anyone have more photos of Rod and Wheelers cars? As far as I know, Jim Doyle was also a member of the club, below is his Bailon restyled 1952 Merc
This is the Tony Alves 34 pickup. Built in the early 50's. Rebuilt mechanicals and thats it...still on the road in New Zealand.
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