Do what you want, screw everyone else. There is no "right way" really, have fun. Traditional is great, that's why I come here, but there is a whole big world out there, don't limit yourself. Here's a newsflash, if OHC computer controlled engines , EFI, ABS had been available "back in the day", guys would have used them instead of flatheads! Don't take all this so seriously, do whatever you want! If it isn't fun, what's the point? Being an "old guy", I find it amusing that some try so hard to live up to some fictional old school baloney. They end up being so conformist, afraid they will make some horrid "non traditional" move. I'm talking the tattoo, DA hair guys with their Betty Page wives. But, hey, it's their lives! Do what YOU like!
I build hot rods and customs because I love cars and hate rules. There are a lot of ways to make your car unique and original with some imagination, but chances are, it won't fit in here anymore, or at least, those choices will be criticized here. I love the HAMB, but it's a lot like a restoration group, it's geared toward people who consider traditional as doing what's already been done, and it does lay down a lot of rules that stifle creativity. If you do anything different, you go against the grain of the HAMB community and risk the chance of being ostracized, and it's just human nature to want to be accepted by the group. I think the real question that faces you is whether you want to follow the rules, or go your own way. It's always hard to cut the safety lines and follow your own course, but it really is your only choice if your goal is uniqueness. If you choose to go your own way, you can still visit here but you'll always be an outsider looking in. It is a BIG internet though, and there are other groups that do accept mavericks, maybe you're just trying to shoehorn yourself into a group where you just don't quite fit? And don't forget, you can still lurk here, that's what I and my friends do (boy, if you guys only knew what a wealth of information and eye candy some of these loud mouth critics have driven out of here!). Whatever you do though, make sure you're doing what pleases you, building a car requires a lot of time, work and money, way too much if you're just doing it to gain acceptance. Besides, no matter what you build, somebody's going to criticize it anyway, so do what you want.
Nice post Roddiniron. I hear all of you. I think what I am really thinking about is what happens once I finish this thing. Over the course of the past year, I have been slowly gathering all of the parts I need to finish this truck. I just had a wonderful and healthy baby boy four months ago, and we aren't young anymore (I'm 42, wife 37). Anyway, David, my son, will someday be working along side of me (god allowing all to go well) and his introduction to the world has truly changed my focus and views on a lot of things. Maybe I fear the reality that when this truck is finished, she will not be "all of that and a bag of chips." It's odd, when I was 14 and got my first hot rod (31, 5 window coupe), which mom bought me to keep me out of trouble, I really imagined that when I got that car on the road, my life would some how change- like that hot rod was going to change my life -- some bad Corvette Summer movie scenario come to life. Now I think, well, I will finish her, I will tinker with her, I will drive her, I will enjoy her, and that's it. My friend, Tom and I, years ago, while in high school, used to go to the local car show in town and we would see all the polished and finished hot rods parked in the slots with these 40 year old guys; and we would always comment that "they are too damn old and shot to really enjoy these cars like they should .." Now I am that guy and I want to punch me; yet I understand old me as well. Ah, what the hell am I writing about!? I don't know, maybe I am questioning is there a car, build, idea that can and will be solely mine. But many have proven, on this thread alone, that each of our rides really are true one offs. Anyway, never mind; who the hell knows what I am blabbin' about! I am stuck at work waiting for my wife to pick me up as we carpooled today. Too much god damn time at my fingers. What I really need to do is stop whining and finish cleaning my garage over break and stop being a head case and start doing some grinding, welding and hotrodding! Again, thanks for all the comments folks. Have a happy and safe holiday season. I promise, I am gonna start posting some pics over break. My next big project is getting my pedal ***embly swapped for my man trans. I am happy - do happy to now say that I am a member of the Three Pedal Club! Whooooopie!!!
First off I understand what you are trying to say....But You can do something new...its done all the time! Boyd did it in the 90's with his hand crafted billet mobiles...but thats not really what brings us here is it? Those cars were awesome for their day and time but were here celebrating and paying homage to traditional hotrods & customs so there is bound to be common threads between the cars being built today and the OG cars we've all lusted after! The only way anyone will build something totaly original is to take someone with enough knowldge to build a whole car, but zero knowledge of any cars built previously and turn them loose with an unlimited budget and limitless supply of parts! I bet when they were done we would all look the other way and take the "cookie cutter" 32 ford! Were not trying to reinvent the wheel here...are we? Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Just get it done. Do it like you imagined it. Remember at some point this was a vehicle you dreamed of having. You either still want it or you don't. If you do, then build it. If you don't, sell it and build something you want. Life's too short...
Well if it is a car it will still have 4 wheels and they will all be round. It will still need some sort of motivation, electric, steam and internal combustion are all taken. It will still need someplace to sit and a way to steer it joy stick and steering wheel have already been done, maybe with a computer console, or voice commands? All my cars have been driven by voice commands as long as i have had p***engers. Someone once said and it was written in a religious publication that "There is no new thing under the sun." Now if you can overlook the fact that it was written in a religious publication it is still a true statement. I want to build one that is truley original one time, it will be an A roadster with a rear mount turbine drive, totally streamlined from the cowl forward. It will be different except for the fact that if I look long and hard enough it has probably already been done. Bottom line is don't sweat it not being already be don, make it your vision and have fun with it. If it stops being fun stop doing it.
I just don't really get the issue I guess. How can a 32 Roadster be anything else other than a 32 roadster? If thats what you bought, then thats what you're building/driving! The only real alternative is to build an uncommon make or maybe become a modern version of Ed Roth and build a show rod of your own design! It's like building a modern street machine...you're sick of everyone and their dog driving a Camaro so it turns you off? Go build an AMX!!! Maybe the issue is the parts you see being used... eg; aftermarket shifters, aftermarket steering columns, aftermarket suspension kits, aftermarket engine dressups, aftermarket everything Ad nauseam... The cure? Build it yourself...as they did Traditionally before the aftermarket became overpowering. Just live outside the restrictive rules you let other people create in YOUR head!
If you do, then build it. If you don't, sell it and build something you want. Life's too short... I like this statement a lot - may be really where I am at right now. <!-- / message -->
By now, you're probably thinking too much. Almost sounds like you are overwhelmed. If you're building to satisfy a person or people, other than yourself, maybe you need to bail.
'32 Fords are beyond played out if you ask me. But anything Dodge, not even close. If you can't find some creative aspects on a Dodge project, then you need to try a little harder. Just getting one done in any shape or form should just about qualify as at least somewhat unique.
Harry S. Truman said "The only thing new is the history you don't know". Fortunately Henry didn't have a problem making his '32s all the same.
All people are basically standard but there's Marty Feldman and Charlize Theron models. Hot rods are the same deal.
Somewhere round about 40 years of age (a few years ago), I genuinely, honestly, 100% quit caring what anyone thinks about my old cars. A lot of people say that sort of thing, but for me it was real. I'm not talking about pretending to be some kind of pseudo-bad*** like you see so much of on TV. I'm a nice guy. I just quit giving a damn about insignificant stuff...like hotrods. I love 'em and all, but they're totally unnecessary. I gotta say...it's totally liberating. So do what you want with your old car...go with what your eye tells you...and your heart...and don't worry about being unique.
Can't be a RR without rust and I've seen this thing up close. Not only is it well-engineered, it hasn't a spec of rust last time I saw it. Just 'cause you don't like it, don't make it a RR. Just makes it a car you don't like. I wouldn't own it but it intrigues the heck out of me and I'm glad someone built it.
The chance to do something different is just waiting for you to act. But guys that do something different don't ask for 'permission' and they will be criticized, since they did not follow the 'rules'. Grow a thick skin first.
A lot of guys would just get out and enjoy whatever street rod they own..... No matter how many others "like it" there are ! I wouldn't even try to guess, how many 40 Pickups are out there,.... And some are likely to be just like mine, or close.... And that's ok ! 4TTRUK
Quite frankly to me it isn't about building something that hasn't been built. I build stuff the way I like it, regardless of if it's been done. I really don't give a rat's *** if anyone else likes it. I do! The point is to enjoy the build and enjoy the car. If you are out to make a mark and impress folks I think you've missed the point! Oh yeah, lasagna made with sausage is the best!
What he said. There a thousands of 32 coupes, roadsters etc driving around. How many are done RIGHT, and how many are done right and DRIVEN. Build what you want, can afford and will drive the wheels off and have fun. Rat
Maybe not NEW hot rods, but it's new when you put your idea on it,,,and NO two are the same......that to me makes it new.....you should either hate a car you see or love it, but not be( oh it's the same old thing).....maybe you need a break from hot rods and customs....I don't know but sounds as your board with.......I'm 49 and I've never felt that way of, oh it's the same old thing.......
Well I have had my Roadster for 39 years. When I got it everyone was doing Pro street etc. Old car guys were doing the Street rod thing with A/C - reclining seats - stereos - Mag wheels. So my HotRod was very different compared to the norm. So after 39 years everybody seems to have caught up with me. And as someone else has said I really don't care what other people do!!
Yeah, I know guys, and thanx for all the comments, for better or worse. Please understand, I am not suggesting that "I care what everybody else thinks about my rod." Sorry if some felt that was the message of my first post. I was simply attempting to note that we take a few simple and awesome greats and we redo and redo and redo them. They are awesome and it is cool that the ideas and style will never die. I also agree that each car is different for sure. In fact, every car ever painted has a different color if you want to argue the idea of how subtle paint shades can be. Sometime when I look through the work and photos of the true pros on this site, the artists, I certainly understand that no one's fab work is identical, either; but all in all, there are times at a show when the As and 32s seem to flood the parking lot spaces; and after an hour or even less, it doesn't matter what they have on them - the magic fades a little. Oddly, now a days, the guys back then would probably be amazed to see all the products and companies that now stamp out the stuff they had to think of and fab on their own. But I think that is what we are not doing as much of anymore. I can't help but wonder, when looking at some of the artists on this site, what could be created if they just went with thier own complete plans and ideas? Body, frame, shell, etc. For now I am really liking that rear mounted, hemi roadster, single seater, thing at Garlet's which I referenced early in this thread. I will stop writing now as I know I have been blabbing. I need to go down to the garage an do some work.
Well, sure...when you see a ****-load of 'em at a show, it can get kind of redundant. But out in the world on the road, they're still as cool and unique as can be.
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