Before the war ('42) I really doubt it..... In addition to 'shine runners there were also kids in school playing with the family car (just like now), owners with money asking their mechanic to make their big sled faster, cop-shop guys souping their low-priced cars to overhaul gangster Lincolns and Packards, and even cabbies trying to get to the guy waving his hand first (see 1930's movies). As the saying goes "The 1st race happened when the 2nd car was built. The 1st hot-rod was built when the loser got home". Until it was outlawed, in-line aircraft engines made the fastest street cars (1920s) - they used surplus from WW1 (Liberty, etc.), the same way that they used surplus from WW2 (Allison, Merlin), and then surplus from Viet Nam (helo turbines).
Naw man, I'm just saying before the war, there probably was not a "typical" model A sedan hot rod. Again, build what you want. That's all I'm saying, NOT that there was never a hot rodded model A sedan from that time.
Jeem, I don't think that were many/any "typical" hot rods before WWII. Sure, there were some that followed a pattern, but the typical hot rod had not been set in stone at that time. Look at the pre-war lakes pictures, and you'll see a huge variety of "styles" even though most of those pre-war lakes cars were all open cars. And, yes, some of those cars did set the pattern for what became typical after the war (the Vic Edelbrock duece roadster comes to mind).
I did my coupe with the late 40's in mind. Sure, some things are not nessisarily "correct", but I love the way this car turend out. EVERYONE told me to tear the fenders off the car and chop it when I started....now thats what I get complimented on the most Dropped axle T rear spring Hydrallic brakes B engine 1937 Trans unslipt wishbone 16" wheels 1937 Banjo steering wheel 1932 bumpers Guide lights A "Hot rod" comes in all shapes and forms. If you really like a certain look, then go for it. It's your car...and no matter what, it's NOT 1942 anymore
You have probably checked out the Don Montgomery books bought one right away !! my car with no fenders ......... not pretty .
One more early sedan hot rod worth mentioning, though again not quite back to the era you're trying to acheive, is the Burns brothers' (Earl and Joe, owners of Earl's Custom Shop, Portland, Oregon) Deuce sedan. This is the car that later became the famous "Orange Crate". The build began in 1951. It was chopped 5 1/2". Earliest known photos are circa 1953. At least by then it had cycle fenders on the front. The back fenders were not bobbed but appear to have been molded-in to the body. It had steel wheels with black wall tires. No headlights. The car was originally built with no hood, but one was put on circa 1952. A stock flathead was installed about that time, too. And so were surplus aluminum seats.
Loose the bumper, get a set of guides or BLC's (just my two favorite) and ad some 16" wheels/skinnny tires and I bet it'll look good
This is a hard one. The true nature of hot rodding is not restoration but innovation but like re-enactors who strive for the period correct look, building a period perfect car is just another aspect of this wonderful sport. Keep in mind that cars were never finished, but kept evolving and were not toys but daily drivers. Most of the cars were built in phases, and there was pride in ownership. None of them would have allowed any rust to remain on their cars, nor for there to be holes in the floodboards, etc. And, the paint was just finished, or in the process of being finished with primer over places that had been altered or repaired. And, yes, a lot of factory parts were interchanged. I will second the Don Montogomery books, as well as several others that contain photgraphs from the period. As far as the roadster being the only car that has altered, hop-upped, or hot rodded, keep in mind that dry lakes cars, even though not all were purpose built, had a particualar goal in mind. Some cars were used for other purposes, including smuggling hooch, which required a different mind set and a vehicle that often had to p*** as a stocker. And don't neglect the wiring. Plastic covering is a no-no. Check with The Flyers etc. for their take on what is required to be period perfect. And, I disagree with those who say forget certain aspects of it. Being eccentric and going to the extremes is often worth the h***le. IF IT GOES LIKE STINK.
Check with The Flyers etc. for their take on what is required to be period perfect. fortynut , what are you refering to here ? ... thank you .. steve
i like this thread i just went to american hotrod foundation you should check it out for pics and info on what your looking for
Steve, In 1955, my girlfriend thought that some relative might give her a '30 Model A Tudor. I immediately went off on how it would be neat with a hopped up banger, just because I thought that would have been the cheapest and most direct way to make it into a cool car. We were both too young to even have driver's licenses, and the car never happened, but your project reawakened that old fantasy for me.
AMEN! Building my -28 roadster set to Oct. -45 CA/lake-style, ha ha... No joke! The research and also to use just enough nice stuff and not to load it with all those hard-to-gets. It's not a Christmas tree or a display for your collection. It looks best with the touch of a few extras and then your own fabrication and stripping. The Don Montgomery books are full of examples. And yes, I like the style of the people in the family albums too... But with this as with everything, to each his own. It's not a compe***ion. But don't slag us that prefers the WWII style instead of a low flaked custom rod a'la 1961. We're all hot rodders!
I just built what I wanted and tried to get as close to a "Period" look as I wanted. You can't really get it "Correct" because there is no real formula for period correctness: "Period correct = anything they had or was easy to find in a wrecking yard goes". Thats how they built 'em back then. Some Items became popular because there was an abundance of them, like Ford stuff. When I built my '26 roadster, I just thought about it logically "what would they have used back then?" "What was around?" "How would they have done it?" I prefer to call it "Period Styling" or "Era Inspired" I knew I got close to what I was shooting for when the older rodders would come and ask "what barn did you find that in" or "so nice you kept it original as it was" Ultimatly, it doesn't matter what you built as long as you like it, thats all that matters.
Steve, I think your car looks great. A full fendered sedan would have been more of a street car. The lakes racers of the '40s and '50s removed fenders for weight and aerodynamics. Most of those car ran fenders on street because California law at that time required it. Have you ever looked in the back ground of some the dry lakes pics and noticed fenders laying around? My '30 Coupe was a hot rod in the late '40-'50s with a hopped up banger in it. It still has the orignal set of '16 V8 wires from the '40s on it, Kelseys are very traditional for that era. It came from the Ventura area and would have been more of an adult hot rod like yours, full fendered, nice paint, interior etc. Alot of the fenderless-heavy chop ( don't get me wrong I like that look) car you see today are emulating the lakes racer look, not so much what you would have see cuising the streets at that time. Like chris said above, loose the bumpers, radials, cowl lights, etc. Maybe a banjo wheel and some SW gauges in the dash.
Steve, Chris & So-Cal Tex are right on the money! I mean look @ them closely, you are more than half way there already!
This is the car that later became the famous "Orange Crate". your not going to believe this , but i worked with & was friends with the owner of that car . he is dead now , but what a guy !!! scotty was a "girl chasin" fool ! never seen a guy get so much in such a short time ! LOL ... i loved that guy !! ... steve
rick , did you do any racing @ sacramento raceway in the early '70s ? we had a front motor car then , not blown tho . yellow / brown ... "good times" . .......................... steve
i want to thank everyone here for their help , info & just caring to help . ive learned alot here . thank you all .................. steve
Steve, I moved to Sacramento in '72, just out of the Air Force. I didn't start seriously drag racing until '76, we ran rear motored A/gas & B/gas cars on the NHRA circut. I do remember your car, but I wasn't actively involved with racing at that time, just a broke spectator then!!
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