street rod or street machine?

So I pre-registered for a local show this week. Went to pick a cl*** for my '50 Ford (what I consider a custom or modified). There was no custom or modified choice. The only choices were 49-60 stock, 49-60 street machine, and 49-60 street rod........in my 30 yrs of events, I have never seen these two choices for these years at the same show........I am an old street rodder (pre-49)......so what is the diff. between 49-60 rod and 49-60 machine???????????

 

20" wheels, vs. stock?

Think Foose wheels

 

Stock = stock, street machine= daily driver, streetrod= trailer queen!!!

 

********. Everybody called their street driven modified pre 49 cars street rods a few years ago. I guess all those guys who live here in Pa and are only allowed to drive their fenderless, chopped, hoodless, and otherwise modified pre 49 cars if it is registered as and wears a street rod plate, are gonna have to start trailering their cars.
God I get sick of the snobbery in this hobby sometimes.

 

Street Machine---Big Motor .....Street Rod ---a Modified automobile more for looks rather than speed. Thats only a guess. Sounds like the show promoter needs to learn the definition of automobile terms.

 

thats a good ? i say street machine though. urs and mine would be in the same cl*** and thats what id choose.

 

48 and older rod,49 and newer street machine, sheesh whats the problem

 

what kind of knucklheads you got organizing shows over there? makes no sense.

 

I hear ya talkin. When I go to a show with my unpainted 53 chev pu I always get put in a certain cl*** that I really don't want to be in. But, that said, I enjoy the shows to look at other cars and talk to those who are interested in mine. Really makes no difference to me what cl*** I'm in. I'm not there to chase trophies.

 

Well, I guess you can't go stock so try to enter both Street Machine and Street Rod. Make them tell you the differance.

 

As I have been made to understand by other members....neither is H.A.M.B. friendly and therefore this isn't the board for us. Anyone care to clarify.

 

don't go to that show anymore haha

 

Hmmmm....... Lots of Kustom talk going on. Where is the line drawn?

 

Street machine is any car no type typical. You are all street machines.

As per 1980, before the rebirth.

Street Machine Nationals= Open to any street legal automobile regardless.

Hot Rod Nationals= Any pre 49 street legal automobile.

Antique= The guys who didn't buy from Warshawsky's.

Not that I really care, I'm a Modified Truck.

 

just my thought, but to me a street machine is newer. having the same cl*** for the same years makes no sense. i'd call your ride a street rod if given only the two choices. street machine to me screams tubbed with mega meats and a blown big block. probably just me though.

just read your sig line. if you still have the flattie, i'd go for stock and make them prove what cl*** they think. great car by the way!!!!!

 

That would be pro street.

 

I hate "gray areas"! They make me think & I get a headache....

 

Just Sayin'!

 

When I go to shows, I don't fill out show cards. I usually leave early anyway and I don't care for trophies. The last show I went to, one of the judges asked me to fill out a show card. I told him I didn't want the trophy. He said I needed to look at the trophy before I decided. It was a pin striped bongo drum, which was really cool. I ended up with a first place trophy for Hot Rod. I was driving an straight axle, awb, '51 Ford. Go figure........They didn't have a race car cl***.

 

I went to a show that had the "cl***es" set up like that. It was, so confusing that I just checked the box that said other as there was no custom cl***, or cl*** for Kustoms. When I showed up my comet was confronted by four judges who couldn't decide where my car would "fit" in the show. I was surprised to find out the "other" category was established for antique farm implements. I still don't know what cl*** I wound up in, but I do know I helped the local High school. I guess the lesson I learned was put your car in whatever category you want, go have fun and let the people who really care put your car where they think it belongs. Chances are when they see your car they will have an idea of what it is, even though they wont know what to call it.

 

We sound a lot alike in the show opinions G***ers. I just can't sit that long for one. I consider my ride a hot rod and there is almost never a hot rod cl***. I was sitting in between a pair of cars that were being wiped, dusted and polished most of the time there. They were even putting dressing on the treads of the tires!

I wouldn't even have been there except to support the fire company for a friend. I simply grabbed a sharpie and used the back of a flyer to make a note for the windshield.

"This car's for gittin!"
"Not for sittin"

Sometimes you just have to make your own cl***........

 

Couldn't agree more. And I'd add the "pigeonholing"---traditional/non traditional, hot rod/ or not----that's boring, hairsplitting ********. Seems like there is more of it lately. This hobby is ALL ABOUT CARS.

 

Went to a show in the late '90s, the guy setting at the reg table ask trophy or not, I ask what the differance he said $5.00, it's 10.00 no trophy 15.00 for trophy. I ask what if I just want to look, he said free.

There was a another show in south east Indiana wher everybody that entered got a trophy, ask the lady at reg table what the deal was she said "WE don't like to see grown men cry" I laughed and told her that I would see them again next year, we went to that show every year till they stop having it always a good time, miss going now.

 

When in doubt, check two boxes ,and let the mgmt. sort it out.

......................Jack

 

I've been doing this car show stuff a long time (20 years) This past weekend while at the Frogfollies (pre-48) in Evansville, In. a guy told me that he really had a good time at the "Street Machine Nationals" in Louisville earlier this month. I'm so confused. Sam

 

Only time my ride sees a trailer is if its broken and can't limp home under its own power. And I do not refer to it as a streetrod, I call it a coupe. IF someone wants to put a Label on it I'd say Ford. let them Register their closed minds to death but in my eyes thats the death of the car show is that mentality. Build it and enjoy it keep the labels on my beers.

 

In 1948 we called our cars "Transportation", usually parked on a hill because the 6 volt battery was always dead from listening to the old tunes while "Necking" from the night before, so you had to push start it.
In 1955 you ran a 3/4 race flathead for street & some racing. Any cars 1940 & earlier were called hot rods if they were modified mechanicaly, body styles were optional.
In 1965 muscle cars were dominent & called Factory hot rods, custom ordered from the dealers desk.
By 1970 guys were returning to the early style old cars & enjoying family outings with their rebuilt iron & liked the term "Street Rods" eventually banding together to form a nation wide organization known as the NSRA, everything 1948 & earlier. Hot Rod magazine also entered the craze then, providing later than 1948 cars an avenue to enjoy & not be left out, called "Street Machines", this went on for a few years until it kinda fizzled out by 1980 (?).
Personally, I think a "Street Rod" should be a street driven 1948 & earlier car, & not trailered---But in this day & age, everyone has their own opinion of that, & I repect it. The main objective is to enjoy your hard earned project!--------Don

 

I was taught '49 and earlier, street rod, '50 and newer street machine, period.

 

I always believed that the cut off was '48, although TV shows like Americen Hot Rod and as Don noted some cars featured in Hot Rod magazine don't reinforce this. The USA seems more libral with the term than down here.

 

Used to work with a guy that had a really nice mid 60s chevy pickup... it was right on the line as far as weather it would be considered "stock" or "modified"... He used to walk around and look at the entry cards of the trucks that were already registered... then he entered the cl*** that he thought he had the best chance of winning...

He did everything but cry and stomp his feet if he didn't win something... We don't invite him to go places with us anymore...