We're into "Traditional Hot Rodding" of the 30's, 40's, and 50's, but Hot Rodding has its roots a generation before that. There is a thread currently running on the MTFCA Forum which has several pics of Hot Rods (then called Gow-Jobs, Strip-downs, or Speedsters) from the 1920's. Here's a link: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/599638/600187.html?1451912927. This should be of special interest to the Banger crowd here. I'm fairly new here, so if this is "old news" or OT, I apologize. Feel free to delete it.
Gow jobs are cool and there are one or two running around here. people have been "souping" things up as long as they have been around haven't they.
My great uncle saw my first roadster in '55...it was channeled over Deuce rails (I was young) and he called it a 'cut down'. (another '20s 'Supe-Up' term) Uncle Bill went on to explain the "soup" in 'Soup-Up'. Wasn't about 'soup' at all. Wasn't 'Beef-Up', or 'Hog-Out', either. It was "Supe-Up", as in 'Super'. Ed Winfield named his SU-1 after the term: "Super". Uncle Bill was a Lindquist...and a machinist. He converted a generator to a starter motor on his very early Cadillac: he'd go downtown San Francisco and park in front of the news stand on Market St. There was always a crowd of 'old duffers' standing around, and when Uncle Bill came out with his Chronicle, he'd get in the car. The old guys gave him a dirty look, (as though he expected one of them to crank up the engine) They jumped off the ground when he hit the starter and it fired up! He told stories about the early days, the first Cut-Downs...but I was 14, and sooo 'advanced'! Wish I had recorded his every word. My ex wife was an airhead. (can I say that?) She told me how silly I was driving my '54 Coupe with the 427. "Why do you hafta have a car that's all 'ZOOPED-UP'?" I laughed so hard I had a custom plate made up. The plate on my '54 said "ZOOPTUP" Thanks, Cherie. LOL Hey...It's relevant!
Mike -- Thanks for the "Supe" lesson. I hadn't heard that explanation before. Guys -- Be sure to click on those links in that Gow Job thread. There are lots more neat pics in them.
I was told that "souped up" had its origins in the saying"everything from soup to nuts" ...and the expression "a real duzzi" refers to dusenberg's......
my Grandpa's hired man back in the 20's, had a Model t Ford. cutdown, with "underslung " springs, and a U&W carb. claimed 100 MPH! I think Ford even made a Model T racer??
You're close, birdman. Ford didn't make a Model T racer, but he did build some race cars which predated the Model T by several years. The success of those cars enabled Henry financially to establish the Ford Motor Company. http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3487/598574.html?1451326856 However, hundreds of race cars were made from Model T's by other folks, such as those in the threads above.
Love that site, those cars are incredible, the early history is often overlooked, thank you for your post, liked it a lot!!
Of course Ford built Model T race cars. The victories and even losses were used by Ford with great success as a sales tool. He built 2 for the 1909 transcontinental race which his #2 car won (later disqualified for changing an axle). The Ford finished the race in 23 days. In 1912 a Ford built T racer set a record on the frozen Lake St. Clair of 109 mph.
Yup...those chains whirling around on an old racer at high speeds, would cause anyone to shudder ...those guys were fearless....total respect for what they had to work with!
Hey there, Late to the Party, where can I get a couple of those t-shirts you are wearing ? I will pay in cash ! Thanks.
There has been a lot of interest in that T-shirt. That's not me in the picture, and I don't know who it is. Someone sent me the pic and I liked it, so there it is. My advice is that if you want one, go to your local T-shirt shop and have some made. (I have been thinking of doing that myself.) If anyone wants a larger pic of it, I'll be glad to send you one by email.
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