Whole lotta cool rides, love the blue roadster but the flames on the 32 have always done it for me. Love that car more than the Allison "side show" cars that came later. But, notice on the roadster that it is a single carb and cast manifolds? Seems like everyone today thinks they need multiple carbs and wild hand built headers to be "trad"?
Jim lived in Hawaii for some time before he died. I talked to him a couple times at Bonneville before he passed. He would show up with a big photo album and we would talk about some of his cars. He always had some great stories (some I kinda wondered about) but he was a great guy and I miss seeing him. Mick
Appreciate the man and his shenanigans. He's a story. A legacy. Every one of those batshit crazy contraptions he cooked up over the years was like another unhinged chapter in the twisted book of lore that was his life... And, at the end of the day, that's a book with more living than most. The amazing '32 coupe that he built early is just icing on the cake. I'll admit though - it's crazy to think that '32 came out of the same mind that created the other stuff...
@guffey Owns and restored the Quad Al and he also has the Big Al III white cabover with a rear mounted Allison here is what the Quad Al looked like when he bought it and here it is now
I saw Big Al at Don Garlits place 20 something years ago. In my minds eye, Big Al is what I think of when hot rod is mentioned
And just where do you think I got my inspiration for my paint job for the 34? It's been on my radar for a long time. Time to catch up!!!
Great Thread...Love those Vintage Flames...and @curbspeed, love your bringing that ole tradition BTTT...I thought of your ride as soon as I saw this Thread...
Many of us lived vicariously through Jim's free spirited life of building wild cars. That 32 5/w rules. One of my all time favorite 32's. I've long wondered what happened to the hammered steel/original 34 Tudor body that gave way to the mail slot fiberglass flopper body. No doubt it was used to pull molds for the glass body. Does the steel body live on as a street car? Anyone know what happened to it?
Jim Lytle in my mind, is a mad genius like E.J. Potter was! Loved his coupe and Big Al 1 for sure! His Crosley work wagon had a 389 Pontiac in it....maybe he had a thing for Pontiac's as well, considering the roadster, too. What's that other fellow's name, the guy who had a Allison engined Chevelle for the street?! I can't imagine how awesome those behemoths sound in person, let alone somebody driving one on a highway!!! I'd read somewhere Lytle used to cruise Big Al thru the drive in's, the original steel bodied one.
Met Jim at Bonneville a couple of times back when he was making his annual pilgrimage to the mainland. He asked for my address one time and I thought he might send me a Christmas card or something. A few weeks after I got home a mailing tube arrived and inside was the poster below. It hangs right beside the computer where I'm typing this. I see it many times every day. I imagine several of you have this same poster.
I'm really surprised no one has ever cloned the full fendered 32 5window .It was said to have been yellow with red flames. I wish I would have talked to Jim about this when he was alive. I met him at Bakersfeild Hotrod Reunion one year. Neat guy.
I'd also add that there seems to have been a sizable number of Hotrod/Custom/Race participants that were I believe mentioned that were besides geniuses, show oriented...aka crowd wowers...this fella Lytle was, Barris, Roth, Ivo, Winfield, Granatelli also...and on and on...they helped give the Culture more...and more the power to them...
The Jalopy Journal
