I got a new stick so I thought I'd stir some chit up. So first things first, my computer took a dump sometime in late August. I only managed to get PMs about once a week at school. I been Jonesin bad. Leme tell ya. Now onto bigger 'n' better things, I know this has been visited and revisited, and if its been revisited lately fire me off a link. But there is a lot of new(different?) blood here and I just wanna know where you're commin' from so here's my question of the day: What's a hot rod? IE in your opinion what makes it a hot rod and why? If you're "..." someone's book let us know who's so the folks like me with deeply rooted opinions can read it. I guess some of you old farts should probably chime in as well I know there are folks on here who I donot agree with and never will but I still value your opinion to the max it helps me stay stable (a relative term here). Now just to be fare in the words of DrJ (someone with whom I never admit to agreeing with but in my opinion knows his chit) I'm a Milner type, gotta have the fastest car in the valley. So let fly my friends.
Guess I missed it. Looks like everyone's pretty gun shy, 36 views and one reply. I'd rephrase the question but ... What the hell I like a heated discussion. I know how 'bout I'm thinkin' about buildin' a "Hot Rod" with one of those target motors, some center lines and a gl*** body would it still be a hotrod if I used an early indy style independent?
This is the never ending opinyon type question. It's kind of like "what Bra size and color of Hair is best" Question. The answer generally depends on the size of your Wallett and your Age. From my point of view a Hot Rod should Not have fenders, and Should have multiple Carbs. Top's are optional. However, I also call my 51 Vick a Hot Rod since it doesn't have stock motor or front suspension and wears a fair amount of Primer. (it also has multiple Carbs) . Hot Rods are generally alwayse a work in progress. I also feel that the Owner of such cars should be the primary mechanic. I'm very pleased to see most of the under 30 age car guys building things there way. I wish I could be here to see what your driving when you get to my age. The Wizzard
Hotrod is a VERB, not a NOUN. It's something you do to a car, to make it faster, quicker, better performing, not necessarily the car you do it to. Similarly; Like Lowrider, Lowrider is the person "lowriding" in the lowered car. Not the car. If the term is ***igned to a car, it's a synonym for "Top Eliminator" There ain't much room at the top. Only one hotrod per town. All other's are poser-hotrod-look-alike-streetrod-also-rans. (like my truck) "Second place ain't ****!" (Stroker Ace)
Lets spend more time thinking and talking about how to build them instead of what we think they are or are not. Older the hell subject.
Hey Wizzard long time no speak. You should still be here unless your thinkin' of checking out real soon, we're only talkin another 20-30 years right? Rods'n'Customs have always been about opinion, I see some I don't like and some I love. Not all of 'em fast just something right about 'em. Guess I came back and didn't reconize many handles, just wanted to know who I was talking with. Doc personally I like your truck (at least what I've seen of it). Like mine there are probably lots of guys in the neighborhood that consider it a rod. Now lets go back to disagreeing friend.
I'm still here just not as much as I'd like. Still gotta make a living ya know. 20 years will make me 83 so you might be right with a little luck. You can bet if I'm here I'll still be standing on the right peddle. The Wizzard
Well , here I go . As far as opinion is concerned ,because this is the holy grail of questions , I will post mine. P&B , this is what I think. I have , since I was a little D.A. , tried to make everything I own faster or quicker and have considered it all hot rodding .Whether it was a minibike with a bigger carb or manipulated governor or using a chevy piston in an old lawn mower so I could pop wheelies or hiding a nitrous system on my moms crown vic so it would be fast even if I didn't look cool.I considered this hot rodding .hot rod mini-bike , hotrodded lawn mower, hotrod crown vic.I have a couple of cars and I consider them both hotrods, but , it's because of what I did to them , not because of what they are. Someday I will find the right one so I can build "MY" opinion of a traditional (chopped 28 es*** 5 window coupe with a flatty caddy and 16 inch steelies with paint not primer) HOTROD .Hope this helps. This post is not designed to offend anyone so please keep it to yourselves.This is only my answer to Porkn******s question. Nuff said. swaZZie VIVA LeHAMB
30 puts me in that range. I'm inclined to think that these young guys aren't going to change much. Maybe the cars will be newer or repops but I'm inclined to think that as long as they don't fit the mold they'll do just fine. Hell most of the young guys are building better cars and more of 'em than I can keep up with any more. Lets hang out and see what happens. As far as the Vic, I thought my '55 was hot rod and still do. A lot of the main stream guys didn't like it but it made me happy as the devil. I wish I could track that old hooptie down, maybe if I were just a little closer to home. it's probably been crushed and off to alco by now.
BIG Engine with lotsa power in the tiniest ch***is it will fit in... Traditional hot rod is a different matter.. Dawg
Well, I don't feel qualified to answer, but I do feel inspired. My idea of what makes a hot rod isn't necessarily the kind of car, the changes made, the paint (shiny vs. none) etc.... to me it's a hot rod based on how it makes me feel when I look at it. Hot Rod's make me want to look closer, to ride in it, to explore it. A real hot rod brings out this part of me (granted a large part of me) that is truly appreciative of the effort involved in making a car "special" whatever that means to the individual. My husband and I differ sometimes in what we think is "cool" but we agree to each his own. We come across cars at shows or on the road, and we stop, look, appreciate, share the moment, and dream. Maybe that's the right word. DREAM! A hot rod is a car that makes me dream of wanting my own just like it yet completely different.
In my opinion, Hotrod is an adjective, It describes something. What it describes is the question that probably never will have an answer.
Anything that is based on opinion can't have a definitive answer. There will always be areas where we agree, and those that we don't. But, far better than an intro it gives everyone some idea of where you're commin' from. For instance someone might think that a T with a stock banger from an S-10 is a hot rod because the S-10 mill makes more zot than the the T mill. Someone else might think that it doesn't count unless the S-10 mill is souped. (I strayed away from trad on purpose here). Niether is totally wrong or totally right. But we would know that the guy with the souped mill is a little more extreme than the stock mill right? I'm jamming a big wedge in my roadster, to most folks the roadster itself isn't trad so it wouldn't even count as hot rod fodder. but it is a family tradition, by some definitions the big wedge in stock form would make it a hot rod, but by my way of thinking it should have an upgrade or two to be more than just an engine swap. In the mid '50s a lot of guys dropped SBCs in thier old rods, it was an upgrade and they run like stink. Most were just just stock out of a wrecked '55 or so chebby. Other guys were trying like the devil to make 'em faster, they probably still accepted the stock SBC mils as rods but to them it needed more to make it a rod. who was right/ both but if you knew what one did and the toher didn't do you could tell where they were comming from. does any of this dribble make any sense?
Beno! Welcome back to da HAMB meng,,, we was talkin bout your silly *** the other night in the HAMB chatroom, thought mebbe you got swallowed up and eaten by a south african palm lizzard or something
by some definitions the big wedge in stock form would make it a hot rod, but by my way of thinking it should have an upgrade or two to be more than just an engine swap. Of course you can't put a stock motor in a hot rod. That's what puts the Hot in Rod. But you already know that. The definition of a hot rod is when you hit second gear and your p***enger yells HOLY **** or grabs on for dear life, then you know ya got something. Wecome back.
i donno,,, you might change your definition if you ever rode shotgun in my wifes minivan... your screamin holy **** and grabbin for deal life before she gets the thing into gear
Bean, good to have you back. I liove it when you answer my questions, you always seem to sound like you know what you're talking about.
Im part of the under 30 crowd (being 24 and all) And i think of a hotrod the same way many of you all do. A no floor having deathtrap is not a hot rod thats just lazy. I dont care what any one says every one would love to have a nice finished car some day. But in the same aspect i dont think a hot rod has to be a nice finished car. But if you want to put it into a catagory i agree with pist and broke i think he nailed it. And i dont veiw my 50 chevy as a hotrod. its a custom with a little more get up and go then stock. But thats a whole diffrent world then "hotrods". I belive the term started as a dirogatory(sp) remark back in the day for the kids that were hoping up and street/drag racing there little coupe and roadsters so if you want to go off of history then thats what a hotrod is Bryan
Yea, **** she is... i'm goin to hell and i'm gonna get my *** kicked for that one she knows i love her,,, right sweetie?
Well maybe a central american lounge lizzard Its damned good to be back all. I missed every last one of ya even if we don't agree. When I answer questions I don't always know what I'm talkin' about I just fake it well. Looks like you guys (and gals) have really reformed while I was gone. No real drama on an opinion based question. Hey does anyone know what a . . . oh never mind.
Hadn't seen you post in a long time....When you gonna show me a picture of that vintage 8 ball shift knob you won? Are you using it or is it wall art?
It's hangin' but its destinned(sp?) for a '27 coupe. Probably a year or so out. I was going to use it in the Pusher but then i decided to use my "Luckey Gearshift Knob" instead. I figure when you drive it everyday you need all the luck you can get.
I don't give a **** what a hotrod is, I'm just glad you're back! I was gunna post a missing Benny thread, call the National Guard, hire a pack of bloodhounds.......ya know!? A girl's gotta keep track of her Bennys. **x Brandy
Ya want DRAMA, huh?...I'm feelin' froggy. A Hot Rod is a Steel '32 3W Hiboy Coupe chopped 5 1/2 inches with the posts leaned back with a 1965 327/350hp Corvette mill, Richmond T-10 4-speed ******, Winters 4.11 Quickie. WWII Bomber seats and big-n-little Firestones on steelies...ok, cut me to ribbons.
Don't mean to sidetrack this thread, but I have to ask where you found the Thickstun head covers? I'd love a set for myself if I can afford them. Might even try to repop them if they are no longer available anywhere. Just need one set to get started. Thanks, carry on guys.
Isn't that Gary Thomas' 32 from Houston? It was in Hop Up magazine. The Hot Rod Garage in Sand Springs Okiehoma painted it. He's got a ****load of '32s.
The Jalopy Journal
