Hot Rods Todays messed up takes on how hot rods were in the 1950s n 60s

Or a combination of all three! Farmers made repairs as required to keep going, so any claims to "original" need to be taken with more than 'a' grain of salt!

 

@dana barlow 's original post has over 60 likes, and many older members agreeing with his thoughts. Being born in '65, I wasn't there, so I have to get my insight into the early days of hot rodding from guys like Dana who actually lived it. Thank God they are still around to paint us a picture of the way things were. For some of the younger brigade to mouth off, and push their own "Happy Days" based opinions, is just downright disrespectful to the older guys that were there and want to share the stories with us. They are the real early hot rod generation.

It's ok to have your own take on what your hot rod should be. After all, it's job is to make you happy. It is not ok to beat others with your views and opinions on what their hot rod should be. It is also not ok to shout louder than everyone else so you get your way, and then sprout the bullshit about "the old guys having a rant". A lot of the time it seems to me to be the other way around.... And the HAMB is just fine the way it is. Doesn't need changing at all. If you think it does, move on to somewhere that suits you more.... Who knew it would be such a pain in the ass sometimes to just like cool cars.

Thank you Dana, and other oldies, for your insights and stories of the beginnings of hot rodding. I may never build a true traditional car, but I love hearing first hand about the ways it was done. This younger guy, for one, appreciates it.

 

That is probably the most profound statement I've ever seen here.

 

You have to also understand there was the East coast, the West Coast and all in between and they're constantly battling against what was right, who did what and so on and so on...till this very day...

So one truly cannot speak for all regions...this has been mentioned already within the context of this Thread...

I too value Dana's opinion and all our veteran Rodders, Racers and Custom folk...many were clubbers and they shared similar ideologies...many were lone wolf's not privy to many details and had just as influential things to share...that's why the Big Picture is hugely diverse...that said anywhere the Shows, Hotrod magazine and its numerous cousins went those influences were also a huge part of many things he shares...Sealed Beams were everywhere very early in the game and getting full on shiny was likely a dream for most who visited the shows because it was a focus of most of those publications minus the purpose built go fast which in the early days of drag racing was pretty ugly in many cases...nowadays things are hugely different...even in 65 it was hugely different...Dana did mention 50s, 60s...

 

WOW! This thread has been an emotional roller coaster. I need a nap now.

 

"An emotional rollercoaster." Yeah... I couldn't even sleep.
LOL

Couple more thoughts...

The early style hot rods... The banger and flathead V8 powered hot rods. Pre-war and immediate post-war style. Lakes cars. The ones that Don Montgomery and Henry Gregor Felsen spoke of. Racing 100 mph across the Dusty desert. To the sound of some big band music. Those are what fill my most nostalgic far away dreams and desires of hot rodding.

But I also very much enjoy the later styles. Big overhead valve V-8 engines, nice paint, some chrome, maybe a little candy-striped tuck and roll, 4spd, fat tires and chrome wheels. Frankie Valli, Brian Wilson, Mary Wells...

As long as they're safe, I like the cars that look like they were built by a teenager on a paper route budget.
I like the cars that look like they took 10 years and a million dollars to build.

I like the cars that are perfectly proportioned. I like the cars that look just a little self-conscious and out of proportion.

There have always been various levels and styles of hot rodding, and I appreciate almost all of it. But I also appreciate that we try to get it right.

Our format here and the restraints that Ryan set for us is right in line with my interests. Flipping PERFECT as far as I'm concerned. I love it.
I know there are other hot rod sites that have a wider focus. So I can't help but shake my head at those who come here and then complain.

 

We was checking out a nice old survivor. 50+ year old paint, old tires, weathered interior
Old guy strolls up and tells us folks didn’t build junk like this. We wanted out cars shinny and clean.
I told him we were just trying to figure out how they got the new paint and other new pieces to age like this so we could repeat it.

 

The recent resurgence is a hybrid of 40s style and 60s style but called 40s style. I love some flatheads, and they had their day till mid 50s when OHV motors were blowing the hell out of Flattys at the strip. The OHV flatty conversions were good, just easier to get a caddy or olds rocket for alot less. But there were hold outs, much like today where some guys with SBC in their vehicle while everyone else in pumpkin spice latte swapping to LS motors.

The early SBC was a balancer tosser motor, the Rocket motors, Caddy Motors, and in some cases Nailheads were the hot ticket thorough the 50s as they were available in junkyards and alot of them on the road still. Plus the aftermarket on those were more available also. The SBC started catching on from all I have seen late 50s. The Caddy motor and Olds Rockets tie for king of 50s builds in my eyes. There were some hold over flathead guys but not many.

I have to say though, I've seen so many "50s" styled cars with brand new 350 crate engines and laugh. Give me a 283 or 327 any day.

I personally didn't live it, but I do research it and get it. I have seen studebaker trucks with flames from the 60s, so its proof that anything and everything was rodded throughout time. Look at Anglia's and J's when they came out.... Not too flattery at all.

I have a 60s styled truck, and a 30s styled GOW job... I've had 40s styled cars, but never a 50s styled one, but its on the horizon for sure I think. And it will be either Caddy powered, or Rocket.

 

I appreciate all the comments in this thread from folks who lived it. I am still a kid in this game so like to continually learn more. The main thing I appreciate more all the time is building this stuff with what is available and on a budget that can be afforded by the normal guy which is what seems to have been the method in the period we discuss here. My stuff will likely never be exactly period correct, but I appreciate the ones that are more than any others and can’t think of anywhere besides the HAMB where I can learn more about the style that to me is timeless.

 

People need to keep up? No we don't.
Through 1965... period.

The HAMB... gone?
You're such a dinky dong
Most importantly, you're wrong
The hamb will get along
Long after you are gone

 

This was living it later on, as offspring to someone who never stopped living it.

Posted before, 38 Dodge with 65 Cad 429 power. Built in 74, and used as a daily even in the snow.

10 yrs earlier at the welding shop in Lincoln Pk, MI:


Somewhere in my Hamb archives is dear ol Dad with a 36 Dodge and dual quad Eldorado power. Right hand raised, doesn't make me a bit more qualified on this topic..

 

Some people take old cars way to seriously, this stuff is supposed to be fun. Quit worrying about silly things like terms and labels and go work on or drive an old car.

Trust me it’ll be way more fun.

 

I understand what the site is about. When someone new comes along they feel they have to ask if they can talk about a subject. When they have to ask if it's on topic or not that's a problem.
If you run the new ones off the site will fade away.
I'm also sure the old guys are the ones that designed the mustang 2 and air bag kits. They believed in progress.
A lot of you were driving the easter egg cars in the 90's but that's not the cool thing today so we will ignore that part of our history. Including resto rods, pro street, billet.
If you have been around for 40 or 50 years I know you had to be in style for the times.
This will be my last thoughts . Rant over.

 

Dana, Thank you for this post. Honestly, I hardly even go to many car shows these days because of how ridiculous it has gotten. You are 100 percent right in your post! Seems to me guys want to follow what they think is the "Traditional Hot rod Trend" just as the same guys followed the "Easter egg Street rod Trend" in the late 80's and 90's. My Dad had no idea that he was a "Traditional Hot rodder" back then, In his mind he was just a poor Hot rodder who had not had enough time off work yet to finish the bodywork and save up for the Shinny Paint. When we went to Big car shows we usually parked in the same parking lot as the spectators because his Hot rods were not finished. One thing that Real Hot rodders definitely would never do back in the day is purposely try and make their paint look like shit and call it Patina!!...lol. For the guys who think their 2 day old ratty paint job is cool. That's fine you are intitled to like what you like. But from where I come from there is nothing cool about a shitty paint job on a hot rod Regardless of what your smatphone or Google tells you.

 

The "crappy weld" comment has more truth to it than you'd ever know! The build quality was all over the board back then!.Why drill a hole when you have a torch?Better yet,why a hole at all when you can just weld it on?Common things found on even "nice" 50's rods were,steering boxes welded to the frame,bodies were welded to the frame very often.Rather than put juice brakes on your axle,you always saw 40-48 axles and spring put on earlier cars,putting the wheel not centered in the fender opening.It realy is a case of the older I get,the faster I was

 

My old junkyard dogs are more authentic than most on the hamb!.most teenagers didn't have money for many new parts.

 

Please let me know when the HAMB starts to "fade away".

 

Actually, that you don't currently have a car means you can critique EVERYONE! Take advantage! Lol.

 

"Hot rodding should be fun."
Totally agree.
Emulating the past is fun.

 

50's stuff that was never/seldom was,. Mag Wheels, little steering wheels, crazy headders, button tuffed upholstery, crome wire wheels, furry anything, new window glass, double sided whitewalls, Non Ford wheel baldie hubcaps, nerf bars, Scavengers/turndown pipes, lakepipes that don't work, Hurst style shifters, wide 5 Ford wheels, consoles, stereo, electric wipers, electric windows, Lincoln door buttons, bottle jacks, so if you are 50's don't use this stuff in/on your car..

 

Part of this traditional trip as well is: it ain't that Era. Sourcing parts of the Era for every build is difficult (sometimes impossible), price prohibitive to most, etc. Perhaps the term 'traditionally inspired' would make everyone feel better, I don't know.

You know why they can't replicate the sound of a stradavarius violin? Some say it's technique of build. Some say it's because the wood he was using was some of the last wood to be clean, unaffected by the industrial revolution, etc. Regardless of why, it was a point in time, and he was building with materials of his time. This is not possible to replicate exactly with a car, any more than it is a violin.

You know the difference between a violin and a fiddle?

A fiddle has a red neck on it.

 

Age Prewar it was all about 4 bangers 40s war 50s flat head vs over head 60s rods vs mussel cars Now its who wants a SBC those engines are over 25 years old.

 

Things have changed around here. If you'd been here back in the late 90's with the first Jalopy Journal you'd know that. Many of those who've commented earlier were here then

 

I'm in favor of progress; it's change I don't like. - Mark Twain an' me

 

Do a couple of sets. The more of those fucking things that get destroyed. the better!

 

I actually think there was more OT shit back then but the format was a little less refined...I have been here since 07...

Attitudes were heavier without a doubt and there was definitely a plethora of membership that were there that have left us that have certainly left a memorable legacy...I still am discovering that past and enjoy bringing relevant content forward to share...it helps understanding the Big Picture...

Again this Thread is about passing things off as legitimate period styles that really didn't represent the reality that was then...like big ass lights...in the early 60s...I swapped mine out...

My Hotrod is completely an inspiration based on a vision by one who does get it and I'm not passing it off as Traditional but in many ways it gets a pass...some here poo poo the concept of 1965 and older and many say here build it the way you want...that's a recipe for disaster because there are guidelines and they don't read them...

The racing community for example is very critical of inspired Street/Race especially when it's not representative of what really was...and they who thumb their noses skew reality in doing so...

 

Respectfully...not what this is about really...let's see we are now proudly 57 years behind the times...

 

I resemble that remark!

(My HAMB friendly vehicle in background so it doesn't get deleted )

 

Its supposed to better if we burn out...? Or is it do burnouts?