Hello, The origin of flames could have started with old straight scallops that were a droopy style. Needless to say, I have always liked scallops or flames on just about any car, done tastefully. The early straight scallops turned wavy, then turned into claw flames to all sorts of designs. A 1950 Ford Custom Convertible with early scallops turned into flames. A 1932 Ford Sedan, 671 Hemi, spokes plus wavy flames… or scallops as you see it. Flames started a long time ago and locally, in So Cal hot rod/drag racing scene, there were several styles that popped up on early builds. But, the design was all over the USA hot rod scene. So, early roadsters may have had early claw flames that were simple and in one place, coming from the motor area. I got the idea from several old drag racing photos showing one of the earliest actual “claw” flames known to the hot rodding world. A long time, Long Beach drag racers’ roadster. The combo of Fritz Voight and Leland Kolb’s roadster from So Cal, is thought to be one of the first “claw” flames on a hot rod. Could it have been a free hand drawing of the classic scallops gone “wavy” into a claw? So, let’s not forget Leland Kolb from Long Beach and the Mickey Thompson shop group. 1932 Ford Roadster Leland Kolb and Fritz Voight... Original “Crab Claw” flames Jnaki As flames became popular, it was difficult to put them on all sorts of custom cars or hot rods. They were additions, and a complete car with total flames painted on the whole, custom car just over powers the nice design. So, stylized points from the car designs were selected to highlight the nice hot rod or custom car. A 1941 Chevy Coupe with regular stylized flames on a black paint stands out from far away. How about a 1961 custom Plymouth Nomad style wagon and matching trailer for a St. Patrick’s day celebration? In So Cal, a different form of flames popped up as designers kept the original style, but added water drops incorporated into the design. So water drop flames… another version that is seen in dripping water flowing all over the place…. Even into the field of custom modified RC cars and trucks had colorful flames painted inside of the clear Lexan Plastic shell, then sprayed a full color to fill up the spaces. A 1961 Corvair truck sliding side bed doors extended cab tonneau cover water flames. A 1950 Chevy Styleline Sedan Custom with panel pinstriping and flames together. Can flames keep up with new designs and builds that keep showing up every year from the hot rod builders across the USA? As noted above, they can be put on plenty of old car designs, but with little reserve in abundance, since it can take over a custom design and make the flames, secondary. A custom Nomad style Suburban Panel Truck for the "local" paint and design shop... A wave spewing water flames on anyone enjoying the ocean in all sorts of activity... YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
