Early 50's cars as hot rods NOT customs...GALLERY

Dago 88- RULES

 

This coming (all to soon,weather wise) winter project.

 

Thank you Spoggie. But why.

 

I don't think 1956 qualifies as "early 50's" but there's some on here so I'll post pics of the 56 my old man and I built! Some may say the wheel's aren't right, maybe it was more of a 60's vibe, but they just fit the car!

 

For nailing what this thread is all about.
Check out Andy Southard's book 'Custom Cars of the Fifties'- page 124. Paul Vona's Salinas '50 Olds. Wow!

 

I don't have a better picture of it. My Uncle's 50 Plymouth. . .

 

here's a few

 

I didn't know that was your uncle's? Worlds portliest 3W!

 

Well, I know Jimmy Smith,...
(not very well)
Jimmy Smith is a friend of mine.
(we've never met)
And senator, you're no Jimmy Smith......

but this thread is his and deserves a bump. Also more pictures so bring 'em on...

 

Jeemy, Awesome thread!!!! The red Henry J that Scott Sullivan built is waaaaaaay bad!

 

I like all the pictures from the 50s where the cars are raked and hot rodded, but still have whitewalls and steelies.

All these cars with polished 5 spokes and blackwall radials just scream street rod to me. Dont want to raise a storm, but they just seem very modern looking.

 

If that was my car, I'd put in an Olds windshield, take off the bumper guards, and call it done.

 

Thanks, Jeem for a cool thread!

I have to agree with the earlier comments about not being a huge fan of customs. I respect them, they have a place in history, but I have no desire to own one (love Chip's comment of calling them Parade Floats cause it's true...).

My tastes tend to steer towards the 60's style Rod Rods, Gassers included. They have to be clean, preferably low, gotta have Torq-Thrusts or Halibrands, tuck and roll, dash mounted tachs and cowl mounted fuel pressure guages. Although it's a little new for the theme of this thread, John Rea's '55 is exactly what made me draw cars like that in grade school. The problem was, I was "doing time" in Catholic schools were if you were caught drawing hot rods, the evil Penguins (the nuns) would either whack you with their yardsticks across the knuckles or twist your ear like they were turning the key in their '59 Rambler nun squad car. Yep, 5th grade, Sister Mary Francis........had the Eagle Eye and Kung Fu grip, and a Fu Man Chu mustache worthy of a Shaolin Master.

 

...and I'd be completely un original and change out the big hoopties to 15's too!

Awesome! hahaha

 

I really love this thread! Looking at some of these cars and the feel they have, is what molded my thinking and taste growing up! I do like certain customs (chopped 49-51 Mercs!!!) but the whole big and little wheels, hot rod vibe is just me! When I built my truck it was more for the 60's, non-whitewall, raked hot rod look I was craving. Even the nose up Gasser look totally kicks ass! And being I grew up on the west coast I really don't get the midwest/east thing of doing burnouts and getting sideways in the dirt and grass. Sideways in the dirt makes me think of Sprint cars and Midgets, not Hot Rods! Call me an old fashioned California boy, but if I'm going to get sideways and blaze the tires, LOTS of tire/asphalt smoke (not dust) will be following! Striped up asphalt rules!

 

Dude! Now I'm rolling I'm laughing so hard!!! See what I missed with a "solid" puplic school upbringing?! Our taste in cars is 100% though!

 

Amen!!!

 

I always thought of my '50 as more hot rod than custom.

 

Of course! It's got the right end down!

 

was looking for a picture that i think was on teh hamb of a dudes 51 or 2 Plymouth sububan that i've always felt nails the look...

Google searching for it, however & found these, (they weren't on Riks site, but i think thats wehere they originated anyway)

 

Let me just say that you did not miss the mark with this car, you nailed it!!! Very nice Poncho my friend.

 

Several AMT model cars come to mind immediately, especially the "Street Rods" issue of the '49 Merc. This version was released when I was 12 and even then I thought it was strange to consider a Merc as a street rod or street machine, common terms at the time. Lately I have considered building a few of these models in my collection and this particular build is tempting. A deep green '49 Merc with radiused rear quarters and baby moons--and a dual-quad 413 Mopar undehood! Paint the block yellow and the interior black.

 

Bump, my 54 needs some lovin and this thread gets my wheels turning.


And yet nobody got the Jesus reference?!?!?!?

 

Ahhhh Cow Cars. We used to call them cow cars because they reminded us of Holsteins. That is what I remember as well a lot more than primered all over, you didn't do that until you were ready for paint.

Jeem,
Pretty cool thread thanks

 

"COW car's",intresting,here in Miami Fla. we called them "flying clouds",I even painted that name on the side of a buddys car for him that just didn't seem to get to the shiny paint soon enough. He did finily paint it about 2 years later a nice sky blue,and had me redo the name on it.

 

Tman, you're such a Butthole.

 

I see its not lost on everyone!


This is the style I went with my 54 almost egg-zactly 10 years ago with my 54, jeeze, I have owned it for 10 years???!?!?!?!?

I think I title a thread "what would a HS guys 54 look like in the parking lot in 62?" or something like that. Thanks for the inspiration for a rebuild Jeem!

 

This is not the greatest photo but proves it ain't no custom! If I have my phone hooked up in the next day or so I will add a better photo. Funny thing is this was literally a little old lady car!

 

Great thread! Having grown up in the mid sixty's, these are were my head is at!