Art & Inspiration Cars with numbers (picture thread)

similar look of a Willys Coupe, black wheels, red primer paint, black fitted tow bar (under the car), and pristine chrome accessories… etc

Hello,

When I think back to our first 671 supercharged SBC days of wonderment, I remember that we had the Stromberg powered 283 motor during the first several months of running. Then we stopped all racing and got into tearing it down for some upgrades. My brother was getting better at his starts and said we needed more power to be extra competitive.

He achieved his goal at the beginning, a "streetable" SBC powered coupe that ran low 13’s in the Quarter mile at Lion’s Dragstrip and could be taken out for a fun evening of cruising around our Bixby Knolls hot rod cruising grounds. To top off the evening, a full power blast down the Cherry Avenue Drags location, while heading for the closest gas station.

Jnaki

We wanted to finish off the Willys Coupe with paint and shiny chrome bumpers, etc. But, decided to make sure we were in good shape with the new 671 motor, so, we left the red primer look. I wanted to at least make a temporary huge number on the side of the doors as a first step to it final phase of paint, full upholstery, final speed part for the total ready to race appearance.

When I asked my brother if we could put on a big 60 on the side with B/Gas lettering, he said lets do a chalk up first. We used the cardboard cut out patterns and made a chalk outline of the large “60” on the door. Then over to the side and lower on the panel behind the door, B/Gas.

We used our barbeque charcoal bricks to color in the outline and it turned out an odd black. I have to say, it looked rather cool. But, no one saw it except our mom when she came out to the backyard garage to tell us it was dinner time.

By the time we towed the Willys Coupe to Lion’s Dragstrip, as we got inspected, we were given a 92 B/G designation, but, it was in white shoe polish on the driver’s window, facing the tower on all runs. We had wiped off the black charcoal drawing we did several days earlier.
1960
After the day/night’s worth of racing, the shoe polish got wiped off and the next time we arrived, we got new numbers in white shoe polish on the same window. Each time we arrived, a new shoe polish number was different, but always on the driver’s door side. (it was also the tower side for identification) Finally, it allowed the return road dragstrip guy down below the Orange tower to see what number was on the window and coordinate it with the gobs of timing slips for each racer that just made a run.

 

One of my favourites from here on the hamb.

 

My 1926 speedster

 

Their numbers are up

 

Badass

 

My avatar says it all for Ak Miller's Pikes Peak racer back in '64. I have seen this critter resting in it's unworthy spot, and it kills me !! Ak's Mexican Road Race hot rod carries a number that he used a lot.... And that's why I used it on my wee Almquist racer..... The pic with the '63 is actually a Ford magazine ad for the new "406ci" engine. The number 311 was a leftover from Pikes Peak in '63....

 

Saw this on the Instagram, I like the grill

 

Definitely Reading, I was probably in the stands!!

 

some roadsters I saw on Instagram

 

My drag coupe has had 65 on the side since the 60's and it remains there PROUDLY. Also has it incorporated in some pin striping on the deck lid , also from long ago.

 

Same number. In reality, only the starter needs to know the number before he/she sends you off.

 

Hello,

Ed Pink was well known in the drag racing world. His early endeavors involved a Tahitian Red modified 36 Ford coupe. The painted shape on the rear quarter panel was/is a tribute to his dad’s Paint shop "Pink's Paint" from the early days.

Two versions of old artwork showing street use and competition use.

The total rebuild and present day version:


Jnaki

The sightings of Ed Pink Engines and history in drag racing are one of those engines we see and wish we had them sitting in our own hot rods. This 36 Ford was a portion of his hot rod life that most have not associated with the name and involvement. YRMV

 

Hello,

One day, my wife and I were looking at a small architect designed grouping of old homes in a coastal community. It was not on the ocean front, but that was ok. The higher cost of a noted architect was also playing into the price of the homes. But, compared to living on the ocean shores, it was quiet and peaceful, and behind a hill that somewhat protected the onslaught of the ocean influences. They were small homes, but as a retired couple, it would work just fine.

Oceanfront living was overrated and there are more “wet” days, including local fog, mist and ocean influences that come and go. Yes, there are days of sun and clear blue skies along with the beautiful ocean. That is what most remember. But, living on the sand is for naught. More foggy days, overcast marine environmental haze and other maladies due to the coastal living on the water’s edge.

One other thing in looking back was the constant, “rust never sleeps,” scenario daily. Our cars, if left outside became a shiny object after our hand car wash. But, by the time it was in the garage drying, was the only time it was actually clean. As soon as we drove down the Coast Highway, it was covered with salt spray. Some times as thick as the windshield being so cloudy, that it seemed foggy on a clear sunny day. Yikes!

Jnaki

After we saw the grouping of homes, it was a very quiet neighborhood and no loud barking dogs, which was odd. But, we left with marking it as a future choice if necessary.

On the way out to the coastal highway, my wife spotted a dark grey roadster on the lanes ahead. She saw it first and now, it was time to catch up. As we approached the dark grey or black primer paint, we noticed a number on the side.
old Friday Art
Could the roadster and occupants have just participated in a car show or fun cruise? It was not the big local cars and coffee day, so it was not that. The sun was out and the roadster riders were having a nice cruise along the shoreline highway heading for the freeway. Yes, this is what most think of as a nice coastal cruise weather and environment. Plus, the roadster had a cool stance and for me, stood out or would have stood out in any weather or area. Cool ride.

“We all like a nice rear end…”



Note:

We have seen and followed several cool hot rods and trucks on similar coastal highways. The hot rods seemed to be out for a cruise, taking in the nice surroundings for a weekend drive with a different was to experience the whole coastal scene.


Before we got down to the coastal highway below or cliffside location, the whole scene played out for us. Hot sunny day, surfers, one of the nicest harbors on the West coast, and visitors having a nice reservation week at the busy campsite, below the cliff.

The mild custom trucks were part of an “errand day” as a couple pulled into a large hardware store or a big box warehouse lot. But, a sunny day, open roadster, and no fog helps enjoy the aura of “out for a cruise” scenario… YRMV