The neighbors got me into Rat Rods in the 50's yeah the 50's. Thats all they could afford an old A body Ford with a Rocket 88 stuck in front. Did not matter what it looked like as long as it could RUN ! Daryl Starbird was across the alley and over the tracks. Fro those of you who do not know he built the Predicta and a few other Bubble Top Customs, including a Crashed Corvair that became the Forecasta. Up the tracks was Dave Stuckys' shop I remember seeing him paint Pearl for the first time ever in this part of the country and he was on the phone******in because it was supposed to be white and it was pink, blue and white ! LOL Dave also built The Lil Coffin and I remember it when it was in primer (aka Rat Rod) with no interior and a Buick Nail Head pushin the meat. Dave also built the Phaiton ( not sure of the spelling pronounced Fha a ton) a first time chopped 49 Merc with 55 Merc blue paint on it (that now you can buy on a Dodge Dakota) an early Hemi*****ed the gas and I mean*****ed with 3 2's on it. Dave also as a daily driver had a chopped and lowered 48 Studebaker PU with 56 Plymouth fins, and his favorite a Buick nail head. I have owned several cars 3 39 Chevrolets, a 38 Sedan, 2 46 PU's a 48 PU and a 49 2 door,all Chevrolets and a way 2 fast 66 Chevelle.
Welcome! I never knew any of these big name guys, but I felt like I did from all the hot rod books I read back then. You just got to see the cars before I saw their pictures. Hope you share some stories with us.
Welcome fellow Kansan... where did you live where Starbird was across the alley and down the tracks? Some of us in here have met him before, we hit his museum last year during our annual drags/drinkfest. I was doing the darshow thing with my dad in the early 60's and met him a few times myself. Welcome, and hope to see pictures of your rides soon... (you can even show the '66 if you want to )
The Jalopy Journal
