Hot Rods Period correct lowered hot rods

In these days of "laying frame" and bags etc. I wonder if the new standard for what is acceptable, is way lower than the time period we pay tribute to.

I have been perusing the old little books and the cars don't look nearly as low as what we are building these days. Even todays "period correct" cars seem to be lower than a true survivor car.

I think if you had a 4" dropped axle and big n littles, that was about the extent of it.
No real issue here, just an observation.

Discuss?

 

4" dropped front axle, frame swept 6" @ the firewall, kicked up 12" behind the cab and a 5" chop!

 

Don't need no stink'n shoes...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-33#post-11738519

Credit to Photographer, Owner

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^^^^
Spot on observation.
More channeled cars back then too.....easier to cut the body loose and then drop it over the frame compared to getting the suspension low!

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-33#post-11775280

Credit to Photographer, Owner

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Check out roadster facing this way in the background...1955 on plate of modded jeep

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-35#post-11921544



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https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-38#post-12109179

This is one Beauty of a Hotrod

Credit to Photographer, Owner

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https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-23#post-11485472

Credit to Photographer, Owner

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Several posted by Hamber @volvobrynk

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-24#post-11528126

@Roothawg of course when you say period I may be missing that mark as these are either period survivors or from the times when the often debated what is period arise...so apologies if these are inappropriate. Don't like to start
big nasty debates.


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My father in law's car late 50's & early 60's.

 

What a cool pic...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-26#post-11571095

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This may be one of the coolest pics taken to showcase definition...
that fella was way ahead of his time...anyways it is what it is.




https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-27#post-11660607

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From what I've read, "height of a cigarette pack" was considered quite low. But of course there were guys who pushed the envelope just like today. It's just that nowadays builders can cherry-pick from decades of hot rod history, and it's sometimes the more extreme examples that inspire.
Some of my favorites to follow...none of them are "laying frame" but they're flirting with the scrub line for sure.

The car below was built in the 60s; according to the article in Rod & Culture when the new owner noted he barely fit in the thing and it was nearly un-drivable, the original builder admitted he didn't drive it much, either:


Andy Kassa coupe:


Lou Shaeffer coupe:

Random:

 

The ultra low cars were more show than go, at least as I remember. The norm was the dropped axle, reversed spring type of lowering for street driven cars. Even the race cars did not seem as low as we see today. Of course I grew up in the Northeast so that may have been a factor- bumper height laws, fender laws, scrub line laws were probably a factor.

 

There was that brief, unfortunate phase in the evolution of the sports car, around the late '40s, where cars were built low but with lots and lots of ground clearance, for then poorly understood aerodynamic considerations. Cars like the early BMW-Frazer-Nashes did have an unmistakable look, however, something between a skateboard and a "donk"; and it must have made an impression, however briefly. I mention it because although hot rodders soon began to get their inspiration from other hot rodders, the very first guys had to have got their inspiration somewhere else – which place didn't suddenly stop existing when hot rods became a thing.

But that just by the way.

 

(1)My dad's (2&3) club president's

 

I think if you look at pictures from the 70's that most cars, not the ones that were in the magazines, set higher than the ones of the 80's and 90's. My 34 still has the stock axle in it and I am pretty sure it was built in the late 60's at the earliest.
My dad said removing leaves from the spring and maybe a reversed eye were the norm when he first got into hot rods. Only the rich kids had a dropped axle. They were $25 plus shipping.

 

Didn’t make it but driving it. Traditional build as I understand. Floor has been dropped, so I guess it’s channeled. Not super low. Spring leaf shocks all around 1927 Ford Phaeton.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that there were no low cars in the day. It just seems that we have set the standard for what is "acceptable" probably lower than it was. I am guilty as well.

 

a torch was the friend of many that wanted that low look - cut/bend springs - frames - etc -- heard one old timer say that they got that lowered look in 50's cars by removing the seat tracks to make seat lower- nothing Cooler than cruisin' around with your arm hanging out of the window with a pack of smokes in the rolled up sleeve of a white T-shirt

 

Hard not to push the limits.....low always looks good. Hopefully the new standard is at least scrub line safe.

 

IMHO, these two Fords sit perfect. They're low, I like low., I don't like "Laying Frame"! If you can't drive like that, why put it like that. Front wheels all tipped in looks ridiculous. Air Bags are for Peterbilts not Customs. Cut the coils and put a set of blocks out back. If you can knock over a pack of Pall Mall's but not a pack of Camels, then it's just right, like we did in the "Old Days", before Bags!! Have a nice day.

 

These are from around Oxnard, Ca. early 50s.

 

Admittedly I don't care for overly low cars either but keep in mind the hamb cut off is 65, probably too many low show cars alone to be counted it this period.. For a while lowness was a four letter word in trad circles and my magazine collection was telling a different story, just in terms of lakes cars.. imo your going out on a limb in the age of the custom to dismiss a height reduced car.. handling and more high speed stability are also motivating factors in altitude choice which seems to go unmentioned.

Great pictures btw..