QUESTION: Why do some things just LOOK GOOD or are COOL?

It's all about sex appeal.....

Tell me you don't see big ole hooters in a set of Dagmars...shoot where did that term come from? Look it up.

It's truely about sex appeal or injected small blocks and big window Halibrands wouldn't give me a stiffy.....

 

Coincidentally, on www.metafilter.com today, there's a discussion about "What Is Art?"-- http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/55278
--in which the point is made that "high art" requires a trained eye to appreciate it--which, I submit, applies to hot rods as well: you guys know a well-put-together project when you see one, because you're aficionados.
Yes, Cool is in the eye of the beholder but--I hate to belabor this point--there is disagreement on the HAMB as to what is and isn't Cool, and people who know Cool (or Art, pick one) are able to justify, in their own minds, what is and what isn't because they've STUDIED THE SUBJECT.

 

Some rides have that 'timeless' look and some don't....of course. Have you ever seen two cars that look like each other, and one has 'the look' and the other just can't quite capture 'it'.

Maybe the tire size/combo just isn't the same or maybe it's stance isn't just so. Sometimes you just can't put your finger on it.

J

 

This, from the MetaFilter posts' comments, may be the most germane to this discussion: "Art's enobling qualities (if any) are more likely to be found in the process of producing it, rather than in consuming it."

 

To borrow an old aviation saying: if it looks right, it'll fly right,in most instances the same goes for hotrods.

 

I've learned from this very forum, that while what is cool is hard to define, there are no end of experts on what ain't cool.

To be more helpful regarding your column, a little brainstorming..

hot rod cool is subjective and connotative. If this is true, can it be universal?

hot rod cool evolves (what was cool may not be cool now) This is a conundrum. If it was really cool, wouldn't it have endured?

 

I've been thinking for hours, trying to put into words what I feel when I see a car that has 'it.' You know... Death's Doorstep, Hemicoupe's A, The Bass A... you get the idea.

I can't convey what I feel when I look at those cars... some cars make you smile, or nod in approval. Those cars kick you in the dick.

 

Elements that where truly "cool" are assimilated into that evolution...Like a hot rod stance..it's origins are from a purely functional realm, but has evolved to aesthetics...anything else is a trend

 

I kind of questioned around that topic in a post about air bagged fenderless cars...at what point does something stupid become kool...like flames, like jacked up cars, like big wheels on cars. Then what pulls them back to overused and common. What changes creative thought to to cool stuff...sometimes it takes awhile. Like when you hear a new song...and you dont like it, but after the third time you crave to hear it again. Then you after awhile it comes on and you roll your eyes and change the channel.

 

Do we get a commission for helpin you do your column/job? you should know this man!

 

Some things are cool as hell but dont really follow good flow to the eye or even match any design of the body. Consider engines.. Those old scot/McCulloch/Paxton blowers and overhead valve conversions definitely dont follow any artistic flow sticking out past any line on the vehicle.
Sometimes the rarity of a speed part hits the mark.

 

I know what I think about it. I like to play amateur phychologist.

 

I'm talking about the ideas and details that transcend trend. Like I said, severe chops may come nto style periodically but the "right" chop is timeless.

Don't get to hung up on the word "cool" guys.

 

In my opinion, cool is stepping back from a project and being pleased with the outcome. (Goosebumps)
Cool is seeing someone else's project that you really like.
Many times, cool is the setting, for example, the lights shining off the paint in the car show auditorium. I remember seeing a brand new 65 Riviera on the beach with the street lights shining off it.
In marketing, the instant recognition of a design, Coke bottle, Coke logo, Apple Macintosh products.
Interesting point that iron crosses, and swastikas, may be interesting designs, but older folks have come to recognize these as symbols for some horrendous histories, therefore hate the sight of them.
Hard to get a handle on cool.
One more thought, I will never forget a girl named Bunny walking down the street. Now that was cool, form and motion!

 

Cool is hard to define but you sure as hell know it the minute you see it.

 

Entirely subjective. Caes in point, the Matranga Merc repop in this month's R&C. Totally knocks me out, but turns off some people I know. That defines classic custom to me, but not everyone digs that era car. BUT, the '55 Chevy is also concidered the epitomy of cool, and while I dig them, they're not even close to the top of the Cool heap. To ME. Howsomever, in the context of the GG Gazette, cool can somewhat be defined. That's called narrowcasting in the radio biz, I think. And even there it's a crapshoot. I like Valley Custom and Westergard style, but I abhore the Alexander Brothers and lots of Barris' (George, not Sam) stuff.

If I were you Kirk, I might not touch this one. Maybe you should rethink your drink.

Mileage my vary…

 

for me....Its when I walk up to a car and it just flows....nothing looks out of place....thats the initial..then you come in and the details are right..nothing jumps out, yet everywhere you look its full of details, nothing looks like its an afterthought...clean, simple(even when its complicated as hell)...whether its a Hot Rod, a custom, muscle, truck, etc....flow....

 

I think there is some kind of underlying formula of porportion and continuity that goes unspoken. Ed Roth believed there was a formula and he said if a man can figure it out, he can make a lot of money...or something like that.

I think that it transcends trends. Look at the DONKS, they all are hideous, yet some, if you adjust your eyes to that style, seem to resonate with an unspoken correctness, while some have things that stick out and disrupt the flow. It may be a color, an odd shape, a glaring graphic.

Street rods in particular, resonate with this. You know, just like you do when first looking at a woman, if you like it or not. Instantly. It clicks, or it doesn't. Often you will look closely and see that there are things that you do not like, but it all blended together at the initial observation.


How many cars have "one thing" off? Be it the wrong tires, wheel selection, goofy air cleaner, or poorly rendered flames? You know that, with a simple alteration the attraction of the entire vehicle can change 180 degrees.

We see it a lot, looking at all of these cars, and I know what your talking about....and I wish you luck in making something coherent out of it.

 

Well to me a "tradional" Hot Rod is what you would call "Time Tested" Every builder takes the best ideas of something they have seen or even thought up their selves and put it into a vehicle to make it have a personality. Now with that said there are people that nobody can stand or enjoy being with and then there are folks that you love the moment you meet them and so do most other people. So to me, "cool" I would have to say, is the personality They tell me that Art also has personality and soul and I think our cars do to.

 

These are just ingredients in a recipe. If it ain't cooked right, it won't be right.

1. 24 stud flatheads/Hemis/Nailheads/etc
2. Quickchanges
3. Duvals/Hallocks
4. Arduns
5. Highboys (Deuce rails of course)
6. Nerf bars
7. Kelsey-Hayes
8. Bigs and littles (in the right proportions)
9. Deuce grill shells
10. Edmunds & James
11. Engine turned instrument panels

Handing off now....

 

" For those who understand, no explanation is necessary...
For those who don't, no explanation is enough....."

 

Its the eye of the beholder.Cool is when you did alot of the work yourself and proud of it.But to others they may think your loosing it.Most traditional kustomizing is full proof.Alot of the new stuff has some old in it.Sometimes making the old stuff more extreme.But all seems to go back to the tried and true traditional,never grows old.I think sometimes new looks or fads are just trying to do something different,and in the long run doesn't last,looks silly.Yes I'm old school.....Flames,Flake,Scallops,Sectioned,shaved,Channeled,Chopped,Primered,Fast and Low

 

Singularity of purpose.

Every part on the car (or the painting or the motorcycle or the girl's body or whatever...) is consistent with every other part and they all convey the same theme.

Look at the classic hot rods & customs- there are no compromises- no cup holders in the Pierson Bro's coupe. No neon lights under the Hirohita Merc.

The builders have distilled their cars down to their esence.

 

That's a tough question Kirk. The way I see it is: There are beautiful women, then there are sexy women. I've seen beautiful women that are not sexy, therefore; they are not as attractive to me as the sexy woman. I think the same thing holds true for rods; I've seen many that have fantastic workmanship, but don't hit the mark.

I know that's not the answer you were looking for, but that's all I've got.

 

I think things that are done purely for speed is cool, like when they had to dent the inside of the steel valve covers to clear early performance rocker arms and big valves,speed holes drilled in frames, ect or safety wire stuff. Things that were done for a specific reason, to go fast.

 

That is exactly what I was going to bring up, I always heard it refered to as the GOLDEN MEAN. Many ealy designers knew what this was and used it on all aspects of a project. If you thnk about it and look at some of the best loking designs you can see how this is applied and provides in my mind "proportion & flow" . Look at your favorite rod with scallops or flames and think about the golden mean, it works and the cars stand out.
[
quote=Gotgas]It's all because of the Golden Ratio.

1.61803399 to 1.[/quote]

 

cool is like pornagraphy, i cant describe it to you but i know it when i see it.

 

usually if it looks good to you, then it's gonna feel good to you. on the subject of being cool, some things just can't help being cool.
trucks
tractors
hot rods
customs
guitars
you get the picture.
dan

 

Continuity between function, form. and balance is cool.
Quality is cool.
Economy of design and engineering is cool
"Styling" is unnecessary when this balance is working.
Example: Miller Race car.
The Miller frame rails are folded at the top and cut so they not only receive the font and rear motor mounts, they function with the form of the hood sides.
Look at this in opposition to an otherwise good design '29 Ford where there is a sheet metal cap on top of the frame that meets the hood sides instead of the frame rail itself.
The Miller designed out the need for the facade, the styling piece, and saved on parts while doing it.
Both these cars locate the driver's seat where he can operate and function with the pedals which are mounted to the engine bell housing, not cantilevered away with levers and belcranks from the function of the engine just to make a "look".
This is part of what makes the Miller, and the '29 Ford look "right", and what makes them cool.
In this economy of design, the radiator and shell is located where it needs to be to function best with the engine.
The firewall is located where the engine stops, the pedals are integral with the engine-transmission unit.
The pedals dictate where the seat will be.
The seat will dictate where the gas tank/trunk will start, and they will stop when their functional needs do.
The axles will be located where they offer the most effective handling of the mass, center of gravity, and moment of inertia of the chassis, and typical road course conditions the car is built for.
The body size and shape ends up a functional extension of the chassis and shelter needs of the driver.
This is where hotrod and/or race car design is usually different from Kustom and/or Custom car design.

A hotrod is about form following closely behind function where the well done custom is about function keeping up with form as best it can.
A Custom is a functional (hopefully) sculpture.
Where either one of them falls short is when either quality or logic of the form and function balance is ignored.
A hotrod should be primarily, if not totally about performance.
Example, if a hotrod is so low it has to be driven "Low & Slow" like a typical Kustom to keep from scraping then it isn't a good performing car and is "Not Hot".
On the other hand, a Kustom just has to be a "Chick Magnet" so to be "cool" it needs to express a feminine appeal, depending on what "quality" of "chick" you want to attract.
Example: If you have a "Den of Iniquity" back alley whorehouse looking interior in your car, don't be surprised if it only attracts back alley whores...

Ever since I was a kid, in the 50's when they were prevalent, I couldn't stand "scoops" that had no function on cars, or "dummy scoops" that might have functioned as air intakes for engines or brake cooling if they were actually more than a pot metal insert stuck in a dimpled area of a car body. '58 Impala side "scoops" come to mind.
They could have actually cooled the rear brakes!
Those scoops many people stick in the sides of '59 Merc hoods aren't cool either, because they usually have no function, and they just put a "scab" in the flow of the hood line.
There are a few "gimmies" with the styling though...
You know that neat looking scoop in the hood of a SquareBird?
The problem with it is, it's in a low pressure area.
If you made it function, it would suck air OUT from under the hood or engine.
To make it work, to be in a high pressure area it would have to be about 4-6" high above the hood.
I wouldn't take it off the Bird because it would look like a void up there without it
Some people are mouth breathers because they have adenoids and their noses don't function, They don't use them, but they would look funny with their noses removed!
Stuff that isn't functional isn't cool.

Do silicone boobs make a woman sink in water?

I reserve the right to change my mind without notice...

 

E&J=Edmunds and Jones.