History L.A. Hot Rods at the beginning

Karl,
I am about 99 percent sure that car in your pics is the same car I saw, the guy who was selling it along with many other cars was from Denton Texas, my uncle was trying to buy a1934 ford from the guy, and as he and the guy was dealing, my cousin and I was looking around, and this car was sitting right next to the 34. Crazy, I did not know anything about the car, just that it was very unique, one thing, I do remember is my uncles brother in law "junior" was taking pics that day, he is dead and gone now, but it is possible, my uncle may have pics of it sitting there with the 34 coupe. I will ask him if he remembers it and if he might have some of juniors pics.

 

I really like the chop and front axle on this car, he'll I like the whole car for that matter....lol

 

Some Streamliner on Saturday;

 

Man...I can hardly wait for this book!! JohnnyA

 

To; Cowtown Speed Shop;
You mentioned being at a "swapmeet" in Gadsen, Alabama about 15-18 years ago and possibly seeing the Bob Bershire roadster. Is it possible that you might have further information about the swapmeet? Name? Who put it on, etc. I'm trying to follow any possible leads to track down this car if at all possible. I appreciate any further info you might provide.

 

So cool. Thanks to all of you for sharing history. My Dad has some great pics I'm going to have to dig them out.

 

I wish I could be more help to you, this was a swapmeet that I understand was put on every year, the car coral is inside and we had inside spaces, I bet some local alabama guys could prolly shed some light on the swapmeet. here is something that might help guys memory, one of george barris original "bat moblies" was there for sale as well priced at $35,000.00 That might help some of the locals give us the info on the swapmeet, The only reason I was there was I was delivering a model A roadster pickup to a fellow in GA, And we just decided to meet at the swapmeet. I will bug my uncle and see what he can remember......

 

This is such an awesome thread. I cant wait for the book.

 

thanks for sharing the photos are great ! takes you back to a very cool time and just shows how things have evolved

 

Well, I'm still tracking possilbe leads on the Bob Bershire roadster




I received a possible tip. Is anyone out there familiar with a book called "Shop Rag" written possibly by fellow Hamb member "modernbeat" and or "Honest"? I'm ytold there may be a reference to the car in that book.

I would appreciate any available information.

Thanks

 

Yep, Honest and I had Shop Rag Magazine. But, the info we had came from KKRod, who has already replied in this topic. If anyone has any info on it, Karl will.

 

I think, this is one of the greatest threads on HAMB at the moment.

 

Thanks modernbeat. Yes, Kkrod has been providing me with info. Little by little I'll try and stay on the hunt.

 

To Flatred53; Thank you very much for your comment. It has been great fun bringing so much roadster and racing history to a forum that truly appreciates it. More to come.

 

Here is a picture from Hot Rod Magazine August 1951. The one page article is about the Chaparrals Roadster Club from Dallas. Gene Howard was a member of the Chaparrals. He is called the "owner" of the roadster? That is a mystery in the story of this car. That is all I really know. It would be amazing if it survived somehow all these years. Cowtown Speed Shop, What kind of shape was the car at the swap meet? Was it a driver, or a project.

Also a picture from Veda Orr's book in the 40's.

 

To Kkrod; Thanks for posting the info about the "Berkshire" roadster. Gene Howard is a new player in this quest. I'll have to do some research on him. It could be that Bob Bershire sold the car to Gene Howard after Bob went to Texas?

 

Here are a few vintage Hot Rod Magazines;

 

Back to Thunder Alley -I researched Dallas hot clubs and events circa 1949 though 1954. I was putting together a book which has still not been completed. Those years were the founding and building of the club. There were a core group of members in the Chaparrals. I think that Gene Howard never was very involved. No one knew how he had the money to buy the car. It was believed that he had some type of arrangement with Bob Berkshire for him to drive the car, Maybe he was making payments on it. Maybe he was friends with Bob Berkshire and Bob just let him drive it some. Gene Howard was not really in the core of the club and he my have been. My sense is that he never owned it.

I researched the old telephone records from the Dallas Library for Gene Howard and found his name in 1951 and 1952. He disappeared after that. He raced motorcycles in the 40's.

Tracking down the Barris car that Cowton Speed Shop saw could lead to a current owner who may know something about the car Cowton Speed Shop saw at the swapmeet.

One other bit of infomation. I was told by the oldest member of the Chaparrals (now deceased) that Bob Berkshires Son was an attorney in Dallas. I was given his name and phone number but I never got around to contacting him. I no longer have the number. Damn. It is a long shot that I can locate him. I will try to get a hold of him somehow in the next week or two.

I hope this helps. This is a fantastic thread. Raises lots of mysteries. Shows the early timing days of the hot rods. Keep it up.

Karl

 

Still following along.Super thread.Love the history and the photos.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Kkrod; Did you get my response to your last posting?

 

This thread is great, just waiting for some more....

 

One of Pop's builds;

 

Amazing picture of Isky's chassis.

 

Little did they know that two of their cars would become national treasures. Isky's T and John Athans' A

pic 1 - "A-v8" chassis using modified deuce k-member

pic 2 - Isky's T chassis using Essex frame rails

pic 3 - John Athans A

pic 4 - John Athans A

 

This thread is an absolute treasure! A friend of mine is restoring the Ralph Schenck Streamliner, I emailed him this photo as he is always keen to see new photos. Any chance you have more of the Schenck Streamliner when it was white with early style flames?
Thanks again for sharing these amazing photos.

 

Here is another photo. Looks likes maybe the same day?? Great that the car is being restored.

The back of photo says:

Harpers 5-19-40
Schenck - Albata
Olds 3 Port 112

KKrod

 

Great photo, thank you! I sent you an email.
Cheers
Jimmy

 

To; Jimmy B; I'll check my photo stack and will post more of the streamliner if I find any.

 

Back to Thunder Alley, this stuff is awesome! I thought I had subscribed to this thread earlier, but apparently not. Now subscribed! Thanks for sharing this with everyone

 

Hopefully this image will show. It is a photo of some members of the Chaparrals car club near Dallas, TX in the early 1950's. The awesome Bob Berkshire roadster is front left in the pic. Also, I tried to post an April 1951 newspaper article that references the Chaparrals as they got involved with local civil defense activities.