Hudson Terraplane 1933 Sedan With a 392 HEMI

You don't belong here unless you research what "correct" people think your car should be. Fiberglass replicas of "correct cars are more accepted than real steel cars constructed like they were in the 50's with scrap steel and gas welding. I was flamed and locked down earlier for asking a question about my steel 23 Willys. So I'm off to find a fiberglass 32 so I can fit in. Join the club.

 

It's hideous.

 

He's got a point.

While you won't find any cobbled-together cars like this one in a little book, you would probably find hundreds of them terrorizing farms and small towns. Just sayin.

And what Nads said.

 

Just got back from my journey into the Hamb archives under the search heading, "TRADITIONAL GUIDELINES". This is an argument that's been going on for a long time apparently and nobody is going to win. Look it up yourself and like I suspected and stated in the first place, it's to hard to define and it's a matter of opinion only. It means something different to EVERYBODY. I keep hearing "criteria, guidelines, and rules" but nobody has stepped up to the plate and has given the short definition that would be in the dictionary if Webster added the term "traditional hot rod". I do understand that "rat rods" are put together for the purpose of looking almost cartoonish with STOP signs for floorboards, tractor grilles, giant zoomie headers, shifters higher than than the roof, rust that will never be fixed, etc. If this is so taboo-ish, why do I see so much of this stuff at the HAMB Drags every year. Maybe this event needs cleaned up with an acceptance photo with your entry form before it becomes the Rat Rod Nationals because they're there. I'm asking for help here to understand this word 'traditional', because I really thought I did understand it. That's all. And please don't give me that crap "if it has to be explained, you wouldn't understand", cuz that's bullshit, I've been doing this hot rod thing for a long time now.

 

In the '50s they didn't build them to look like a dog dragging' its ass on the ground or stretched out to the next county or have three foot suicide perches to compensate for stock front axles, truck tires, and a '41 Ford front spring.

in the 50s they TRIED for a new style that was popular, not unlike the RAT ROD style that many are now trying to emulate and force feed to those that respect tradition. But things were done for a reason, not just because it was different or even MORE than the first car they saw... You can't bend history to your own liking. It is what it was.

Yes, you can hack something together with a mis-match of parts, yes, SOME tweakers and ne'er-do-wells might have did the same on rural, midwest farms, but those guys would have been laughed right out of Bob's Big Boy or the dry lakes. Again, it's yours, you can do what you want with it, it's probably a lot of fun and drives nice, but it's not a traditional hot rod. I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but I'm offended when people try to pass dogs off as cats.

 

Then what's the problem? I don't get it when guys say "I've been hot rodding since Mother Teresa was a hot chick and then don't understand what a traditional hot rod is.... and be signed up on this board. How can that be?

 

Quote:

I keep hearing "criteria, guidelines, and rules" but nobody has stepped up to the plate and has given the short definition that would be in the dictionary if Webster added the term "traditional hot rod".

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There is no short answer, that's why it's special... it takes some thought, commitment, research and patience.

 

wow

 

its all how u build it, u can turn alot of things into a badass car if u put the time into it, goes back to that whole semirodz posts that went down after the roundup. i hate thoes aircleaners

 

The air cleaners are the least of the poor girl's problems.

I have to wonder if before joining the HAMB some people even bother to read what it's about?

 

" I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but I'm offended when people try to pass dogs off as cats."

LOL hemi you are pulling out some classics today.

Quote:
I really thought I did understand it. That's all. And please don't give me that crap "if it has to be explained, you wouldn't understand", cuz that's bullshit, I've been doing this hot rod thing for a long time now.

Not to be an ass and I am sorry if it comes across this way but I find it hard to believe that after being a member of this board for 4 years you would honestly think that the car you posted would not raise a shit storm. If you do not know what is considered traditional on this board by now you really haven't been paying attention.

Again I have nothing against your buddy doing what he wants and enjoying his car, that is awsome, it just doesn't belong here.<!-- / message -->

 

I'm glad to see a 392 that didn't get blown up with too much nitro in the 60s....and also glad to see someone use a hudson sedan as their basis for a rod....many many hudsons went to the landfills because some self appointed "experts" said only fords were cool.....not true.
I'd prolly change a few things about the car if it was mine but that's the beauty of rodding...no rules.
No need to be unkind about the builder's choices of parts....at least that's how I look at it.
........and he's on the road, driving and having a blast...I'm still putting my "correct, traditional" coupe together...wishing I was further along every day.

 

Believe me, if I had any idea of the shit storm that would arise, I wouldn't have even posted it. I just thought people would enjoy seeing an alternative body turned into a rod. Really, that's all. I never even claimed it to be traditional but I don't think it's an over-the-top cartoon-ish rat rod either. It's obvious that everybody is split on the car.....some hate it, some like it. That's fine, really. Now I wanna know, which of the "100% Traditionalists" is gonna step up to the plate, come to Joplin in August and tell everyone who belongs there and who doesn't, what's right & wrong about our cars, and weed out the rat rods that always show up?

 

I would just like to take a moment to point out that HEMI was able to work-in the term "ne'er-do-well" into his erudite discussion about traditionalist hot rodding. That, Sir, is to be commended. Bravo!
And now back to our local broadcast.......

 

thanks STLOUISGASSER some people will never get it love to see what they have wouldnt you

 

We don't have to go anywhere to prove anything or tell anyone how RAT ROD their car is. You CAME to us and posted pictures of a RAT TERD. You should know better. You've been here long enough. And to respond to your statement of no-one will win the argument, go back through and read ALL of Hemi's replys to this thread. He won.

 

And you 'get it'?

 

Projects! Mostly projects. You do see some really cool stuff roll though sometimes. I'm not the biggest fan of your ride. It has a ton of potential. I would get some normal sized headlights and change a few things but its YOURS! NOT MINE! I like my car even though everyone asks stupid questions and tells me how I should do it. IT"S MINE! So I say screw em! Just boil the tires off it every time you drive it.I would like to see these keyboard gangsters show up at a show and give everybody crap over thei rides. Reminds me of the Corvett jerks thread that spoke about Vette owners thinking they were better than everyone else. Then come to this thread and act like the douchebag vette owners.

 

HEMI, I respect your opinion. Over the last 50 years we have seen the pictures of all the cars you posted from various magazines as "traditional" Hot Rods. They were the "cream of the crop". The cars we wished we could own. It took that kind of quality to make it in a mag. Most were West coast cars. Hot Rodding started there. The bodies were better and a determination to build a nicer car got a head start there. But for every "magazine" car there were a hundred cruising the streets of America or parked at hang outs that were not magazine worthy. They were an equal part of the backbone of Hot Rodding. They were cars we felt like we could own, not just dream of owning. If you told those guys their cars were not "Traditional" Hot Rods you would have no doubt got an ass whoopin. Guys were not afraid of being sued back then. For all you guys who think "traditional" Hot Rods only include your opinion of them.......well we will just have to agree to disagree. Besides, a wesite could not get as big as HAMB showing only your opinion of traditional Hot Rods.

 

Man, I feel like I went to see Iggy Pop and the Stooges and The Backstreet Boys played instead.

It's cool 392, dig yer car, whatever man, I guess we'll welcome Mustangs to our next car show.

 

I could use a real steel car, constructed using scrap steel and gas welding just like in the 50's and make a rolling miss Piggy sculpture...it doesn't mean it would be a traditional hot rod.

There is a time proven formula that spells out what a good looking traditional hot rod should be. If you don't like that style, then you're missing what this site is all about.

I clicked on this link because I happen to be a fan of Hudsons. I thought to myself..."wow, a Hudson with a Hemi"...I applaud the fella's attempt, but unfortunately, it misses the mark in so many ways.

 

Some people are pretty quick to jump all over someone if their car isn't "period correct". Hot rods are about creativity and craftsmanship. Some cars are rolling disasters, but I've seen some very nice craftsmanship in some of these cars. I think some people are arguing the wrong point. If the craftsmanship is crap, then the craftsmanship is crap. But just because it doesn't look like a Bellybutton streetrod, it's not neccesarily wrong. The guy thought it was neat so he went through the trouble to share it, and gets ripped a new ass.

 

Thank you, Frank, and I understand and respect your opinion, as well... The Dean Batchelor books are filled with rough and tumble rods, as are Albert Drakes' books. Hoopties will always be hoopties... I would think one would strive to build a nicer car now that we have things like running water and decent wages.

If one WAS to celebrate the quirky, salt of the earth, backbone of hot rodding jalopies that terrorized the rolling country sides instead of sunny California, I would simply have to ask "why?", when with the same amount of horse trading, parts picking and homebuilt labor, you could have something that looks like a lot of thought went in to it with a good stance, clean lines and a year cut-off for parts used. Patience, I think is a lost art on these cars.


392's car probably runs out pretty good and is fun to drive.I bet he gets a lot of lookey-loos from the gas station crowd.

During the car's construction, he had to make choices, and was presented with problems he had to solve. I am positive 20 guys could take his pile of parts and come up with 20 versions that were different. Some things like the rear trunk defy the lighter is faster mentality of a hot rod.It causes the eye to jump erratically and that's bad design. It's more like a ratty street rod.

I like the body.. with a little sheetmetal work in the rear apron, a frame bob and a hidden rear suspension, and some grille bars, different wheels and tires that fit the "era" that do not look like rental truck wheels and some other things, smaller headlights... it could be more. The body has a great look, and you can't go wrong with a 392.

But that's me... it's his, it's a rat rod, it's a hot rod, but it's not a traditional hot rod any more than the guy's Willys tub that got locked, or the kid who wanted to bob a '40 Ford pickup.

In the past, guys might have gathered what was on hand and built something. More often than not, they would trade around or seek out things that made more sense. Like metal Ford bodies over wood-laden Chivvies. But that was THEN, and they used OLD parts. They had the honor of setting the style that made history.

If one was to honor that build style, in a tradtional sense, one would observe construction techniques and build cars with ground clearance. To have a traditional hooptie, one would need to stay within a time frame. THAT's what makes a traditional car... the era of parts used. Not the construction methods... that's HOT RODDING in a contemporary sense, regardless of year of car built. Traditional respects a time frame and stays true to the era. Concessions can be made if it doesn't detract from the overall effect, or for safety, and there is a lot of room for creativity without being cookie-cutter. 392's car was kinda on the right track, but no hot rodder would have run those big headlights, the crazy trunk, the muscle car tires or the Joe Dirt aircleaner from a back to the future trip by Marty.

People don't want to do the research and yet still want to be included.. and then bend the standards to include S10 frames, Chevell chassis, mini trucker stances, and piles of yard sale crap. I don't get that.


As for your last sentence, the HAMB is bloated. I wish it was smaller again. It's a great thing and has done a lot, and I've been here for a long time and seen stuff come and go, and in the last 5 years or so it has changed with the tide of fads, and those fads come with people wanting to pick up the lines and move them over their heads and on the other side of bitchin'...

I wish I did "get it"... but I will never see the beauty in a poorly designed rat rod. They have changed the face of hot rodding for the worse...

 

For the most part... appreciation for "period correct" is what this board has been about since the beginning. This guy's ass is slightly pink compared to what would have happened in, say 2002... it's a kinder, gentler hamb. Be thankful... you got away unscathed, also.

Research is vastly underrated these days..

 

I agree with the period correct, but how many guys on here get praise for their "nice looking" 32's with a four link. That would not be period correct. I did get away unscaved I guess, but I only posted on here to ask if my car looked too long. I guess it is, but a lot of radicals jumped on the Ratrod accusations. If I shortened it and set the ride height, it wouldn't have looked so bad. I've only had the car four weeks and built the chassis from scratch. I just hung everything together good enough to roll it out of the garage and stand away from it. I built the chassis for safety, I used Model A crossmembers for authenticity (that's a lot more than I've seen on some of these cars) - the rest of the frame wasn't safe enough to use. I hope to think my craftsmanship isn't ratroddy, but an administrator informed me that the HAMB is for traditional street rods not ratrods. I was shunned like an illigitamate bastard. If my car was done and it looked like crap, then understood.

 

The four link falls into the gray area of concessions.. it's hidden and doesn't pull away from the overall effect...now a four-bar on the front, or worse, IFS... that's bad. It's like art.. you know it when you see it.

Your tub is on the right path. You did right by asking for opinions, and if you listened to the good tech advice given about things you were unsure of, then this board has done it's job. I like your project... it needs longer rear bones, and a shorter front end, but you are on the right path. Take your time and look at other cars before jumping off the deep end, and do not be afraid to ask questions. If you WANT to build a more tradtitional car, you have to say so, and you came to the right place. Things don't have to be dead nuts anal-retentive period perfect,(however it's sooo nice when they are..) but they should at least be close.

If you want to scab something together that isn't safe, or doesn't pay tribute to what the HAMB is about, then there are plenty of other boards that will get you where you need to go. This is a "traditional" board... you don't ask Camaro questions on Moparts without some flaming...

 

Policing tradition at an entry gate is a whole other deal, I'm sure we can all recall some great annual car shows that turned to shit after being "diluted". After taking the advice to re-read Ryans posts from 2003 to 2008 I came across this one -

I also came across requests from Ryan "to refocus on the purpose of the HAMB" dating back from 2003

It comes down to this board being (for some) traditions last vestige.

A few of GERMs posts on tradition are a riot.

I apologize for getting sucked in to the mainstream, I'll shut up and see if Ol Duece needs help on his tank

 

If for some reason you STILL argue with what hemi & Verbal Kint have been saying...then God help ya, cause this is not the place for you!

 

Well put, I have learned one thing. I will not submit pictures of anything until I have it finished. I do appreciate the value of tradition, but there's a category of new engineering and thinking out of the box that may not belong here. Maybe this site should only have a couple hundred members and the rest should not have permission to communicate.

 

lets try this again seemed to keep loosing my post maybe i ought to lean on it...
great job Scotty
great job Mark
traditional i would say yes
did the early rods have coil-overs or mustang front-ends
s-10 chassis's we know they don't fit Hemi's
i was there thru most of the build and i am typing this in repect to those who know what a build is all about,swap meet, craigslist,a neighbors spare part a friends spare part.
i live next to 392 and we have shared the rust and the grinding
he is a master-welder and an artist with what he does.
i have fire watched thru his burning and torching ect ect..
but who is out there that can shoe horn a 392 Hemi on a 38 plymouth
front-end and hand built chassis with a original auto tranny rebuilt by him and a touch button
transmission changed to a floor-shifter, a early bronco 9" rear with leafsprings "traditional" thats where the packard trunk came into play
for the gas tank, the 33 studebacker headlights which we like to call Big Titties the 33 terraplane sedan was in rough shape but solid it was also a V8 model the massive engine that purrs like a kitten still all original and traditional "did i say traditional" shit i meant original seems to me this car has more old parts than any new...only thing he is got new is some stupid opinions of people that probably bought there street rod on ebay and they tell everyone that..and u can't get to close to it while the mirrors are reflecting under it around all the chains and ropes to keep people away that he built it and i know some builders who have sold their car and the guy at the show is talking about how he built it.so to all the old steel bodies out there be urself its ur car. oh i need a beer 392 and u know i can set it on the terraplane without disturbing YOU.. rust doesn't leave ring marks
can't wait till i get my fiberglass build done,and feel free to lean on it
thats what traditional rod people do