Folks Of Interest Traditional Rodders and Custom builders stand up and be counted

I'm a traditional rodder and do most of my own work. I'm all about picking a time period that you want your car to reflect and build it as such. Using real parts is a bonus because the hunt adds to the fun.

 

296V8 dropped my axle. joint clutch and gear will shorten my drive shaft. rays precision engine will handle the machine work. everything else i try to do at our backyard shop. it's pretty well equipped so if i dont know how to do something i try to learn. i search for vintage stuff rather than buy new.

 

Traditional hot rodder right here..

Too many people in my neck of the woods are always asking me "when are you going to finish your r*t r*d?" and I tell them "if I was building that, I would be finished by now. But I'm not. I'm building a true traditional hot rod. Period."

If it takes me 10 years to do that, then by the grace of God, I'll have a traditional hot rod in 2021. Seems like I can only count on one hand the number of people here that understand what a traditional hot rod is. I shall persevere.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

This has to be one of the funniest threads I have read on here.
First, half the posters missed the point by talking about how much of the work they do themselves, then when it was explained, a couple of times that that wasn't what the question was, they continued to post that anyway.
And somehow others seem to relate being poor or cheap to being traditional. There were plenty of Pioneers in this hobby that were well off.
From my point of view, I am way too complex in my automotive enjoyment to be called anything more restrictive than a Gearhead or a Hot Rodder. I have built cars that were the definition of "Traditional" even "Period Correct". But I also worked at Boyd's when he was first getting started as a business and have built and owned what some would call Street Rods - and everything in between. I have also raced in Road Racing, Rally, Off Road, Drag Racing etc. and we won't even begin to talk about the motorcycles.
Currently I have 6 different done, running pre-1957 Hot Rods and they are all over the board in style.
My point is, like many on here, I am way to diverse to be called any of your suggested names and am damn proud of it. And I believe that is the reason many haven't stepped up to answer this in one way or another.

And I can't help but wonder if some of those who are "Claiming" to be 100% "traditional" aren't compromising or justifying things anyway.

 

I cant afford new parts or to hire out work. So I do it as much as I can myself.

 

Long before there were traditionalists, there were hotrodders.
I have to stand up and say that I am not a traditionalist because I would have to agree with the original poster's definition of Tradition.
I have never agreed with the cutesy little hoodlum thing either, as hotrodders stood up against that perception in my day.

 

That last sentence is a fact - and it makes one wonder about the entire premise of this whole thing! But hey, Hollywood and the B Movies portrayed Hot Rodders as Hoodlums, so it must be true!

 

kinda like the biker brotherhood,park your panhead beside the road and see who stops to help,most chances they will be smellin of gas and oil and a smile from ear to ear.
my friend has been in a chair for 30 years and had a shop build his last hot rod twice 'cause he got sideways on a flag start at gasser guys last year.he was there every step of the way of both builds[PUN INTENDED] ya'll think he cares about labels?...he is ALWAYS all smiles

 

You may be a vey young man. We were not necessarily American grafiti Pharos types but we were considered by society to be hoodlums. Actually if you are going by the original poster you must be talking about Ryan that thing with the hoodlum reference is a direct quote from the rules that he wrote.

Its OK though he is a grown man and won't require you to agree with him.


This is named read this first.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44274

 

After reading your responses and reading the OP's post, I understand what you guys are referring to. Let me reword my response.

Am I entirely a traditionalist? Not always. What you guys talked about really made me think. Each one of us have our different tastes, preferences and opinions that I don't think a "label" would be sufficient. We would have to get to know each other in order to fully understand where we stand on automobiles in general.

For example.. My Model A will be traditional down to the nuts and wires. Because I want this to be exactly how they did it back in the late 50's. But I am also into muscle cars, trucks and motorcycles so that is where the not always "entirely a traditionalist" part comes into play.

I have my tastes and opinions nailed on most aspects of hot rodding in general. I refuse to use billet valve covers, breathers, wheels, etc. I prefer to use as much stock parts as possible. But do I restore my cars all back to stock? No. I use different stock parts to add to the aesthetic value of my cars. I have a deep respect for the several eras of past hot rodding though.

Not to be an elitist but most people here don't think the way I do. Part of that comes from me being a perfectionist. Most people here are content if their cars are driving although they have a huge gap between the tires and fenders, or the wheels aren't perfectly centered. They might not mind the crooked doors or the body lines not lining up right. They might like loud hues of yellow that I loathe. I couldn't stand all of those.

These are examples of taste or preferences that simply having labels will not convey. So in a way, I am a traditionalist but not always. If that makes sense?

One thing I do know for sure is that I'm not a r*t r*dder or a street rodder.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

I know that Ryan is a grown man and I have read the rules many times. I, too am a grown man of 71 years and before there was a Ryan, there was a Wally Parks and his life was devoted to erasing the hoodlum persona from the hotrod world. I believe that Wally was a friend of Ryan. This is a fantastic forum and it is populated by all types of car nuts, and we all have our own opinions.

 

I couldn't have said it any better!,,HRP

 

Many did, some didn't, the fella who got me into cars is a text book hoodlum and always has been, started building cars in the 50's and doesn't own a shirt with sleeves to this day. i wouldn't want to cross him even at his age now, he doesn't try to be a tough guy he just is...i can see why people would try to emulate him though, to say traditionally everyone wore sweaters and penny loafers is a little silly.

that said, I'm just a gearhead, I suppose I fall into the category but 90% of what is on this site I really don't consider traditional hot rods or customs anyways, which would be why it would be weird for me to classify myself as a "traditional rodder or custom builder" by HAMB standards

 

when i build, or assist with a build on a traditional hotrod or custom, i'm a tarditional builder. when i build a lowrider, i stick wit that style, when i build a newer style, such as minitrucks(yeah, i know this shows my age), i stay period on that as well. no cross pollination. But am i a Traditional builder or a street rodder..... not quite sure how to answer that. I think, like a number of others have said here, i'm just plainly a Car Guy/Gearhead/car nut. I like all cars and bikes. I don't feel that i can be stuck with one group or the other. Do i try my best to spread the gospel of traditional hotrodding and customizing when someone shows interest, HELL YES!

 

I'm just a soul who has always worked on cars for fun and for money.. Dropped out of high school because id rather be washing windshields and wrenching..And did well prior to graduating into construction management..
Pops was into cars and handed off a half gutted deuce when he died. Luckily he had gathered parts for it and slowly the old girl is coming back together.
There are quite a few "new" parts going into it. But when it's all said and done probably less than 5%. If I waited to find everything old stock or used I'd be dead before she rolls out!!
Traditional? Maybe more like thrifty or even sensible... The only things I'll be polishing is the bugs off my windshield....
Oh that reminds me.. I gotta order a new windshield hinge.... Ahhh screw it.. I'll weld a new piece in myself...

Hey... teach your kids how to weld!!! Pops learned me when I was 12 and I think it was real important.

 

This is not at you personally, but I hear this a lot and it is echoed frequently through out this forum.

I am only 30 but my understanding of hotrodding in the late 50's was using the best available parts and services that you could afford to make your car go faster, stop and steer better, and look better. So if tradition is a method, then new stuff it is.

If tradition is a style then you, and many like you, are on the correct path. For me a traditional, or lets say a "period correct" build means compromises for comfort and driveability and those are compromises that I am not willing to make and that puts me on the "wrong" side of this argument, whoops, I mean discussion.

So lets do this instead. Lets all describe a "traditional" Christmas gathering.....For some its turkey and cookies and presents and families.....for others it's like a cops episode, with dudes in their underwear running through the trailer park, drunk and pissed off and kicking the plastic baby Jesus out of the neighbors nativity set. Point being everyone has there own definition of tradition, it's no different here.

I would also like to say that it very cool that this thread is still running and it hasn't really gotten stupid yet....is the HAMB collectively growing up?

 

You got that right! 48-52 Dodges, International trucks and Ramblers were not considered as hotrod material. I remember the early street rod magazines talking about 'oddrods' which was a new idea. They were referring to the fact that ALL hotrods were Fords before streetrods were invented. This forum allows almost any type of car and a lot of threads that arent even about cars.
Look at the 'members list at how many screen names have the word 'rat' in them.

 

Very well said !

 

Hm. You may only be 30 years old but you taught this 23 year old a good lesson. I can see where you are coming from. In my scenario, it will be style. Perhaps I should have used the term "period correct" in my case. And I totally agree, that is said a lot on here then we watch them put on a MII IFS clip, radial tires and ram a 350/350 in the engine bay. That's when they call it "traditional."

Then you make a very valid and good point. My build is not "traditional" in that definition. It is "traditional" in the sense that this will be period correct.

I know your reply was not directed at me, but so I clear things up for myself, as well as so people can hold me to my word when I start my build thread I plan on using parts only exclusive to the late fifties and older. In fact, I just finished up a sketch of what I want my hot rod to look like when finished but I don't want to hijack this thread..


iPhone - TJJ App

 

Hm. You're right.. As close to "period correct" as I can get then.

That is, if I can't figure out how to fix the flux capacitor on my DeLorean.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

i try and do as much as possible to my cars by myself partly cause i dont have the money to afford the luxury of having the local "hotrod" shop do it for me

so i guess.... if i had the money id be a goldchain wearin street rodder...... NAH i wouldnt be happy unless i did it myself

so where does that put me? .... i dont know, you decide

im havin fun with my rusted junk

 

im as tradtional as i can muster.

 

I agree 100%...I dont do finish paint, sew upholstery, cut glass or plate my own parts and Im not that great at bodywork, but I can do just about everything else...I try to build cars (Hot Rods or Customs) in the traditional style where visible with modern upgrades thrown in where they dont show.

 

I cant afford to pay anyone to do my work for me so I do it myself!!!

 

I build rods and customs for a living. I do everything except engine machine work, and that's because I don't own those tools (not cost effective).

That said, I build what my customers ask me to build, in part, or in whole. They, afterall, are the reason I am in business.

My preference is early '60s customs.

 

I have to believe that Ryan wrote that a bit tongue in cheek

 

Yeah,,,like this line : HRP

Copyright © 1995-2008 Atomic Industry: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms Of Service. Privacy Policy.

 

HaHa!^^^

 

I kind of like this one:

This message board is a forum for TRADITIONAL hot rods and customs.

<HR align=center color=#e5e5e5 SIZE=1 width="100%" noShade>​

If you are not interested in talking about either, go away. Not only have there been a lot of OT posts that I've had to delete lately, but there are also a lot of non-traditional posts. There are other message boards for that stuff.... This is not a cute and sweet community with lots of compassion for all things "street rod" - this board was built to be focused on the traditional and thats how it will stay... Please be conscious of that Quote Ryan Cochran

The only hot rod term that ranks with that one in my book is one that I heard when I was little. Would have been in the early '60s in the Cow Palace in response to "how ya doin' Johnny" in a loud voice "Fuck you very much Barris"

yea those were the people trying to make the world believe that we are respectable citizens.

 

Wow Benno,I missed that little gem from the boss. Where was that posted? Way to go Ryan
Paul