Technical interesting survivor hot rod at the local cruise

i saw this 30-31 roadster pull in, and even before looking it over, i could tell it was an old rod. it was amazing, the car came in and instantly 15 or so people were swarmed around it.

the car was built in the late 50's by two 16 year olds. it has a 55 buick nailhead, dynaflow trans and buick rear end. after looking at it more, i noticed that the body was a coupe body with the roof hacked off. then i found out that it was one of the first fibergl*** hot rod bodies ever made!

the car was featured in custom rodder in the early 60's.

even though its not the most asthetically pleasing hot rod ever, it's engine, and history just makes it awesome.

the two people in red standing in front of the car are the owners. well the wife owns it, she's had it for 40 years! her husband went all through the driveline and painted the engine and ch***is. body remains untouched from the late 50's. the interior is also the original interior.

 

That's REALLY cool. Sometimes the history and heart behind something makes it worth more than just the looks of an object. Hope that makes sense.

EDIT: That leather is the BEST, has so much depth to it.

 

Very,very cool..thanks for sharing

 

Cool...no doors?
I imagine that was fairly popular to do on a roadster then...
I like the oil fill/breather scoop!
Does it say it was put into storage in '66???
Hard to read....It has a Mustang column, and box, yes?
I wonder if that was done only years before it was stored, or it was done during the "refurbishing"?
Gorgeous interior...

 

no that says 1986, yeah i should have gotten a straight on picture of that.
so somewhere between '59 and '86 it recieved a mustang column.

i agree on the interior, and to think that its a 50 year old upholstery job!

 

Nice to see non-famous, until today, cars that have survived and been appreciated and aren't bad either!

 

I like it I think it looks pretty cool... Plus it has a history..

 

Way Awesome.

 

channeled, cycle fenders, luggage rack. nice

 

Hey thats a cool little ride , so sweet ........with the period obligitory 8 track
also .....to me it looks like its coupster
cheers Steve in Oz

 

Fibergl*** bodies have come a long way since the first generation !

 

That's one cool ride...Thanks for the pics.

 

Love that interior

notice the 8 track machine can you still get those ?

 

If its a 59-63 Mustang Steering Column thats a pretty Rare piece!

 

Ya I saw that thing last friday at the walmart show as I was leaving there was a old lady driving it...Finally I get to see some picts of it...thanks

 

Cool, more local history.

 

Very cool survivor!

Are the original builders still around? they were 16 in 1957...that makes them about 70.

I'd replace the alternator with a generator, and back date the Mustang steering too-or at least get rid of the Mustang steering wheel.

 

Cool car in my book.

 

Very cool indeed! That interior is the ****!
Check out all the old geezers around the car. Looks like my group.

 

Neat.
There's something familiar about that car...but I could be making it up.
Where was this?
And-uh
"Cruise" nights are still going on?

 

i like it.

 

I'd say the fibergl*** body came from Almquist Engineering in ****ord, PA. Ed Almquist was a true pioneer not only in the mail order parts business, but in expanding the whole hobby by offering fibergl*** roadster and sports car bodies.

 

I remember seeing that same car parked at an old gas station in Halifax, M*** in '58 or '59. I was 14. That car was one of the traditional hot rods in the area that got my hot rod juices flowing.The other was a chopped '36 three window with a tri-carbed flatty with the best sounding pipes anywhere.

 

I had a chance about 20 years ago to buy a project car with one of those gl*** bodies in Ames Iowa. I p***ed because at the time I thought they were way too hokie looking. Now I kinda like them because of the look. Whenever I drive past the neighborhood that the car use to be in I wonder what happened to it.

 

I would agree with Rich in that it looks like an Almquist Engineering body.Tell tales are the lack of doors and the molded-in taillight pads.Who would have thought fibregl*** would be "Traditional"? Great looking old car!

 

That is rarer than rare..............................Never a shortage of wise ***es on the good old H.A.M.B.

 

This was like 5 years ago , but I'm still a wise ***

 

Sure looks like an Almquist body

http://www.mclellansautomotive.com/photos/B17096.jpg

 

Thanks for the photos. Nice rod.