What do you guys think? I build this truck in my Avatar for a driver while in Los Angeles. Up here in Washington law says OK to drive to and from car shows and never in rain makes for not much of a driver. What are your stories while driving Fenderless?
I don't think it's legal at all in Iowa, but in 3 years and 12,000 miles I've never been h***led for running without. Blue
I think what you will find is that most states will accept a "fenderless" designation if it is 1933 or earlier. after that date it has to have fenders. Pretty sure Washington is that way too. could be wrong, I can only go by what I have done in the past and I know Oregon is that way. As for driving it. Rain in the northwest is sometimes pretty bad. Do not think it would be the least bit comfortable or anywhere near safe to be driving something that throws a roostertail off all 4 tires and into not only your own windshield but everyone elses. another restriction on the fenderless situation is that you are not allowed to drive on gravel roads. (who would?) just my 2 cents.
I don't know of anyone up here that has been stopped just for no fenders, rain or shine. A lot of our guys run fenderless. Some times you just can't help getting caught in a little rain shower. The Wizzard
Your truck is absolutely beautiful. It would be a tough choice to me. Do you have your original fenders??
Owning a ******* and fenderless roadster will make you pay attention to weather reports. If the chance of rain is 40% or more, I usually stay in or close to home. I've been caught in a shower once, but I was close to shelter. You get good at noticing where you can sit and stay dry. Never had a problem with the law concerning lack of fenders.
Fenderless in Oregon is OK on dry roads, there are exceptions to the regulations for special interest vehicles, fenderless at Bonneville last year was messy.
So I got this dark cloud that follows me around when I drive my roadster. Usually rains on the way home. probably 50% of the time I'm on a long ride. The roostertails are a low speed thing. Really throws a lot of water up to about 25 mph. after that it seems the airflow takes the water straight back and not up. P***ing 18 wheelers on the interstates is exiting. going around city corners slowly gets a lot of water off the front wheels in the cab. I thnk PA has some fender rule, too. But I'm out there a lot and have never been stopped. Around here, and anywhere in the northeast, there is no harasment to old cars. Maybe if you drive aggressivly and are noticed for that. But it seems most cops just want to keep a low profile. And I believe most of them do not know the suttle laws that apply to only a few cars on the road. They would have to find it in the book and have a statue number to write a ticket. Too much work. frank
Thanks I may do fenders 32-34's in rear and bicycle in front? Just never seen any fronts stay on for long. Mooneye's has some real nise alum fronts but brackets for my ofsets wheel will be tough
Special interest and antique vehicles have numerous exceptions to the general laws in Oregon. We even get to pump our own gas, as there's an exception written into Oregon's self service gas law just for us! Mine's not fenderless, but tires hang outside the fenders and I get thumbs up from the officers all the time. Only time I've ever been talked to was when one of them liked hotrods,and wanted to look it over.
Yeah! I actually really like the fender. You don't see that on a low ride often. Also I live right in Seattle. I took my rpu on a shake down the other day. No fenders no doors no hood no plate no windshield no head lights no tails no grill..... cruised around greenlake counted 11 cops... Every one waived!
I've never read anything about only to and from car shows. If it's ***led you can drive it. Most of my friends drive without fenders and at some time or another we hit rain. Never a problem. But I do like the rear fenders.
The "to and from car show" thing is if you register as as "horseless carriage" or "collector vehicle" which is a lifetime registration for old cars. If you want to drive your old car regularly you have to run a new plate and buy new tabs every year. In WA.
You mean like this guy! This actually wasn't ****. You should've seen him on I-5 doing 60 in one of theeee hardest rainstorms I have see. This was take going to a car show in Grants P*** a year and a half ago.
I'd do it. Those rears with some cycle fenders on the front would give that thing a VERY distinctive look. I like it.
I never did get the hole rooster tail Thing. Is it not raining???? Water is falling from the sky. A little more water from my car who the **** cares. It is a law in CT that you have to have fenders. But the cops are cool and I know 2 cops that have hot rods with out fenders. This past summer coming home from work it was raining cats and dogs and the State Cop that was on my *** for most of my ride home didn't mind eating my rooster tails or ****ing on the fumes of my open Ex.
Man... I don't even like bobber trucks but I really like that one. I say some kind of cycle fenders that you could add or remove when you wanted to.
I've never been h***led but they are going to start cracking down on the vintage/horseless carriage plates, which they should. just put the rears on and I bet they wouldn't even notice that the fronts are missing
Ok, sooo...in Washington state there's what they call the fair weather law. The law basically states you can drive without fenders but if it starts raining you have 30 minutes to get home. BUT there are lots of open wheel cars in the northwest and I have NEVER heard of somebody being har***ed by the cops for driving in the rain. Honestly, most if not all cops are pretty unaware of the laws. I have been pulled over for tearing around in my cabriolet and the cop asked me if I needed tabs or insurance for an antique car?! I wouldn't hesitate to run fenderless rain or shine any day of the year in Washington state. JohnnyA
I really like the fenderless look on your truck, but at the end of the day you have to make the call.
i have a modified & a truck, both run fenderless. i have never been h***eled for not running fenders. i try and drive my cars as much as i can rain or shine or even snow some times. i like the fenderless look, sometimes its an adventure to drive'em when you know your going to get soaked. the best bet would be convertable fenders, just fold them up when you need them! kind of been thinking the same thing, should i add fenders? but then there is that old saying... real hot rods don't have fenders!! i'l watch to see what you decide. ps VERY COOL TRUCK!!!! I LIKE IT!!!
Just my .02, I love your truck and think that the stock fenders would take away from the look you have achieved. If you have to run fenders for weather I would design them to be removable. I think the roadster pictured maintains the open wheel look while also running fenders. I have seen similar variations and they have painted them black making them somewhat hard to spot from a distance. Best of luck.
In the 70's, in California, if the vehicle weighed less than 1700 lbs, my social circle thought the vehicle could run without fenders. I wonder if that is still true? I rode a Harley back then with no front fender. The road debri scratched the paint on the peanut tank, scarred the chrome on the extended springer front end, and the tire threw **** all over the engine. I learned the look wasn't worth it and run fenders now.
I was driving back from the NSRA meet in Springfield, MO and got caught in a rain storm about 50 miles from home. Rooster tails going everywhere. Looked in my rear view mirror, which was working better than my windshield, and spotted the distinctive State Police light bar on the vehicle behind me. He tagged along for about five miles before he turned his blue lights on, Before I could say "oh ****" to my self the lights were off and he was turning off on a side road. So cool.
No troubles running them where I live....and the best memories are driving in the rain,especially if its a hot day!!! That truck looks great either way.........
The Jalopy Journal
