Hey good to see an Aussie car, 3rd row, middle pic. Heavily channeled cars were all the go out here, esp Aussie made 34 coupes which are different to the US ones.
Love the 34 coupe with the 32 grill shell in the december 1956 hot rod magazine cover, always wanted to see how one would look like
Wow! A highboy T sedan! I've gotta do one of these! Are those the same car? Any more info on it/them?
This subject has just about been debated to death. There were plenty of primered and rusty rods in the Forties and Fifties. I'm not advocating "rat rods", but it was not always the idealized world that sometimes is remembered.
The Second car from the bottom (cut down Model A coupe) currently belongs to my brother. We have been tryingh to track the history of this car since we got it in 83. Completely intact even the paint still shines nicely. We have a picture from the 55 Autorama when it still had a flathead. Do you know anything else about the car?? [/QUOTE]
In Jersey?! no way! hopefully its not a street rod, that is a rad car, trying to think i feel like that car would be known if it was here...
Yep, but it wasn't really a decision, it was a happenstance. A 1930s car(source of most 'rods), hadn't had time to rust. Cars went to the scrap yard, just as 20 year old cars do today. To illustrate; that would be a 1990 model with fairly good paint on them. When a car was repainted it was more likely for a change in color, not so much as a necessity. In 1950 the majority of cars on the road were no more than 20 years old. We tend to forget that.
I don't know how it happened, how 50s and 60s hot rods became my passion in life? I mean I didn't grow up with anything other than 70s(late)and 80s hot rods here in Oz. Somewhere I picked up a book with 'old' cars and that was the end, I was gone, if it were not 'trad' I wasn't interested. Man did I cop shit from mates and family for my love of these old cars with skinny wheels and....... they just couldn't understand why they didn't have billet wheels on them? UGH. Most of them are now that into it all, some of them are making their own culture magazines! One of the biggest influences was this car........ Man, a T with a Ranger Aero Engine? AND a crank driven Blower?? Like most kids I was mad keen model builder and tried to make a replica. Kinda failed. As I go a little older I started seriously building models, I started to scratch build large (1/6th-12th) aircraft, got pretty good at it too and ended up building for some museums. Thats when I stumbled over a photo of this again, hmmm maybe this time?? I broke out all the reference I had accumulated and decided I really could. Started in 1/6th scale. Got the chassis done from brass, body done from brass and styrene, basic rear end done from brass and styrene, front from brass and was starting on the drive line. Had the basic block and head done and gearbox housing, various small parts carved and ready to cast in resin, then........... I go into the Army. Had to pack up everything and put it in storage. I still dont believe it, I was in IET's (Initial Employment Training) after Recruit Training. I got a letter from home, the storage facility all my stuff was in burnt down. I lost eveything......... Still love old cars, dont build models anymore and my family still dont get it why I want something that looks like it came from 1956. Well that was all pointless so here............. I know they have probably all been up before but its always worth seeing them again. Doc.
When I see a jalopy that reminds me of the late 40s and the 50s it brings it all back. No matter how we try, we can't duplicate the euphoria of that era, or of what those memories bring those of us that were there. We had won a terrible war, taking great losses of loved ones, sad, but proud also, of those sacrifices, because we knew the taste of true victory over a scourge. The aftermath was a healing. No one had escaped being directly affected by that war. Everybody was a patriot. Everybody. That healing resulted in great optisim. One could save up enough to buy a new car in just a few months, pay cash. That lead to a surplus of good used cars. A week's wages would buy a good running car just a couple of years old. A days wages would get you a jalopy. So these remnants of those days are beautiful, to me, due more to that reminder of the time, than the actual configuration of the hardware.
I talked to a guy about 3 years ago that told me he sold it you a guy in NJ. that was going to put it on the street.It was cut up pettry bad over the years of drag racing. It first ran a Hemi at Vargo Drag Way in Quakertown PA. in the early 60s driven by Ed Grover then had a Chevy in it. I tried to find it for years, found a guy who owned it and sold body and frame for $25.00 but didn't remember to who. Anyway thats the way I heard the story, I would still like to know more. I later owned the 48, thats me with my back to the camera. Sad Sack's was our hangout.
Very cool thread!! I ahven't seen the 40's period correct thread. Will be checking that out next. Is there a 60's period correct next?
My Dad is looking at the engine of that one in the top right. That was the home track for his Car Club, the "Piston Pushers" of Brantford. He left in 1958 to become a Mountie.
Ryan posted an editorial a while back on some 50's rods from Canada.... interesting to look through the time portal....... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=3448
The Jalopy Journal
