I really enjoyed this thread. We have been given a little flack over the years because of our mild custom 56 has 2 coils cut in front, and the back sagged to where it almost looks lowered. It rides and handles great. Some of the 'seasoned' car guys here give me the gears saying it needs to be lowered with skirts. I can appreciate both styles, but this nose down look does it for me, with no skirts.
Just re-read this whole thread. So many cars in it look familiar, as though I saw them on the street 20 years ago. It makes me a little sad that I see so few hot rods or customs on the street any more.
I guess the “experts” would call it a “California” rake. Nose-down, is just “raked” to me. The world around, that’s what the term means. The root-word means “to scape”.
The rake got popular in So Cal around 1952-54, if you had lowered in the back with skirts out here in L.A. you could get beat up for being an out of towner/lame guy. The rake was in and tail dragger was out. Now days everybody loves the taildragger look on the older cars, the rake on rods and the newer custom cars. Well then there's the rake for the California leaves if you live in California like I do. HAHAHAHahahah!!!!
] View attachment 5246683 [/QUOTE] Lov'in that 62--Skyliner-stomp-ass look! Please tell me it has a 427 side oiler nestled in there........ 6sally6
It was called "dumping" as I remember in South Texas. If SoCal started this look in '52, I'm pretty sure Texas followed in Jan. 1, 1953, or sooner ! LOL
I have an off topic newer Ford super crew was asked if I was going to put a “leveling” kit on it. I looked at the guy and said “why the f**k would I do that?” Nuf said.
If you don’t like a forward rake…. find out what the Aussie’s and English call it so we can add another s**ty word like nil, dizzy, spot, sorted, etc to f**k up the American language…. Seems like we all know what a tail dragger and a car with rake is. My Ford never have a “stance” either because it can’t stand…it rolls.
Not going back 20 pages -- so this may be old news, but it came about because of putting the new, bigger Olds or Cad in your Ford along with taller (and wider) tires on the rear for traction. Lotsa wanna-bees followed the trend.
The Jalopy Journal
