Featured Folks Of Interest Bud Bryan R&C 29 HIghboy Builder

Years ago I built Bud a 32 highboy chassis for his 28 RPU. I hadn't heard for Bud for while and today I ran across his number so I gave it a try and he immediately answered. Took a couple seconds for him to realize who I was but then we had a good conversation. He's 86 and still living on his own. He's grounded because of failing eyesight and is having some ticker problems but was upbeat during our conversation. He is selling his daily transportation and his beloved 29 highboy roadster pickup. His son is near and he has several really good neighbors who give him the help he needs. We need to remember another Hot Rod Icon who's closer to the end than the beginning. His 29 highboy roadster built in the pages of Rod & Custom inspires countless look a likes to this day. I still have the Summer 1971 issue of Hot Rod Magazine's Street Rod Quarterly (covers the complete 29 highboy roadster build up)on top the stack with the Nov 73 Rod & Custom just underneath in my office and look at both frequently as they were both instrumental in what I did for the last 50+ years and I'm reasonably sure did the same for many others. Let's say a little prayer for Bud. A man who left his mark on the hot rod and magazine industry.

 

I don't think very many people realize the impact that Bud Bryan and Tom Medley had while at Rod and Custom Magazine in the late '60's and early '70's.

 

Great that you got in touch with him! Thanks for sharing here. Certainly has left his mark on the Hot Rod world.

 

Would love to see some photos

 

Gary doesn’t do photos so here are a few I snagged from a post online with it for sale.

 

Thanks for pics

 

Bud is a friend from many of those years past. I was part of the Early Times and we all hang out together. What a great guy and an asset to our hobby and yes his impact was enormous !!!

 

I read most every article that Bud Bryan wrote that I saw end to end and probably more than once. Quite often before I read the rest of the magazine. I followed the build on that roadster when I was a fresh out of the Army young married guy with a small child who was broke as all get out but dreamed of building a hot rod.

 

Every time I look at my 29' I think of Bud's roadster. From the first time I saw it in R&C, that image was burnt in my brain. If there ever was a textbook hot rod, that roadster is it! For you young guys, his build was the beginning of the end of pink street rod tweed interior bullshit builds and getting back to traditional real hot rod design. Bud I wish you well and thank you for getting our world back to it's roots and away from the ugly eras of street rods.

 

I'm one more who read the articles. I was surprised to hear is is still with us.

 

After I posted this I got to thinking well over 50% of the guys on the HAMB have absolutely no idea who Bud Bryan is or the contributions he made to our hobby. SAD.

 

Gary, that is the nature of life. My son is 43. He is a car guy in a different era. The only connection he has to our era is when we expose it. As you know, the auto hobby is so large that it would be a real task to try and compile a list of important items from each segment.

 

Bud was a down to earth kind of guy, and I give him a lot of credit for getting guys excited about real hot rods again, all the billet aluminum,the stupid heart beat graphics and the awful tweed interiors and I was still driving my old black 40 Ford sedan, powered by a 327 with steelies and original style interior,.



It had gotten pretty bad around this area, I went to a pretty big show in Georgia and the judges diescred me to the original cars, I liked the old hot rod styles so I didn't fit in with the street rods or the antiques, Bud gets a lot of credit for the reality check, I also think finding the Hamb keeps us going in the right direction with hot rods & customs. HRP

 

Traveled many miles with Bud & Tom Medley to the Detroit Nats.

 

Recently attended Run to The Sun at Myrtle Beach, SC. Most entrants are Tri Fives, Camaros, Chevelles, lotsa' trucks, rat rods, etc. Veryfew "Hot Rods" other than ny '34 coupe & an original '33 coupe I spied. A lot has changed since I first attended 35 years ago! I must admit I have brought a few that wer'nt 30s cars.

 

Bud Bryan = Hotrod Hero!
The 29 was, in my eyes, what an honest to gosh period piece should look like.
He, Jake, Chaporis, Medley, Ganahl, Baskerville and Eastwood are responsible for my addiction.
Damn, that was a good time to be an addict.

 

I have all the R&C's back to 1969, followed Bud like I did Pat G. Thanks for sharing Krylon32 Great story!

 

A few of you posters have alluded that Bud’s roadster was a return to tradition after the wave of billet and tweed. That is not how it was. He built the roadster a decade before billet and tweed were ever considered for use on a hot rod.

 

I agree with alchemy, before the tweed crap. Hate to see Bud reaching that point in life. I wonder how much the price is for the pu.

 

Thanks for helping set the record set.

 

I agree. The late 60's early 70's were definitely a while before Pepto Bismo paint and house furniture upholstery material. Interesting, I have been looking at a Teas seat for an off topic project and his catalogue still list lots of different tweed upholstery material. Wonder if they sell any?

 

Can't believe they would sell much. I never liked the stuff.

 

Prayers for Bud......The impact him, Tex, Medley and to an extent Baskerville had on "traditional" builds. The legends are leaving us. That truck NEEDS a feature.....

 

Followed the '29 Roadster build, still have all the issues of Rod & Custom and thank Bud for all the inspiration along the way.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I guess you have to be of a certain age to appreciate how influential Bud was/is for a lot of us. Neat little pickup.

 

Thanks for this. I actually think about him from time to time.
I appreciate the update.
While ten years younger I'm looking to beat him to the flag.

 

Buds 29A V-8 build in Rod and Custom magazine was the guide I used to build my Deuce roadster in the early 70's.

I followed closely how he built the sub rails from the U shaped metal since my Deuce roadster body had also been channeled in need of sub rails. Reading about the flathead engine build I followed the parts used including the Holley 2110 carbs.

Reading about the carbs I ordered three 2110 carbs for my Edelbrock three deuce intake at our local Speed Shop all of which I still have to this day. When I painted my roadster I followed the article about painting using lacquer paint. Painted my roadster in various shades of yellow lacquer over the years getting better each time.

I'm writing all of this to show how much inspiration Bud Brian was to me on my first build so long ago. Thank you Bud for the inspiration and guidance.
Ronnieroadster

 

After reading the posts after mine, it got me thinking about what I posted. I worked at Anderson Industries (AI Fiberglass) in the early 70's and was on the road working at the big shows Tulsa, Memphis etc. It was early for the tweed pink bullshit. But it was also a the era of ugly hot rods. Big tires sticking out of rear fenders, very few proper stance cars etc. No flatheads anywhere to be found. During that time I built a chopped 32' sedan with a flathead in it and followed his and Gray Baskerville's lead, my sedan stood out back then as being "out of style" for the new era of street rodding. I'm happy to see (even though we are shrinking in numbers every day) most new hot rod builds are traditionally styled. I haven't seen a pink/tweed build in a long time thank God!