Thread: Hot Rod Snobs!

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Great post--I like all tyes of cars but usually drive ones older than 1957. I really don't know what the true meaning of a rodder is as there are so many different types of cars out there. The axiom I try to adhere to is "the only person you have to please is yourself". So enjoy what you drive and watch out for the old Porch Dog.

It seems that you will always come across the occasional yutz that calls himself a hot-rodder...You all know the ones...The "My car is better than yours will ever think of being" kind of guy, who prides himself in stroking his own ego.

Case in point...

I know a guy, that I do a lot of signage work for, who has more money than sense. He buys cars like they're going out of style, and keeps all of them, in a very nice, temperature controlled warehouse. He buys these cars, because they are "original" or "the Twenty-Fifth or Fiftith Anniversary Edition" or because "This is number such & such of only so many made"...

He doesn't buy them because he has a passion for them...he buys them because he thinks he needs to, to impress people...

Don't get me wrong, he's an OK guy, but he is definately very impressed with himself, his money, and his collection of cars...
Very few, of which I might add, ever get driven.

He brags about maintaining these vehicles himself, yet, whenever there is a problem with one, the only thing he does is take it to the local mechanic to fix the problem.

I can safely say that he is the only man I have ever met that wears rubber gloves when checking the oil, because he doesn't want to get cruddy...gimme a break...

Heck, I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know much about engines, and working on them, but, just a week or so ago, I trouble-shooted the problem he was having with his 47 International truck...After sitting still for 8 years, he decided to put this little truck in the parade. And bless it's heart, it ran like a champ for the parade, and then started acting up after the parade. Come to find out, he hadn't drained out the old gas, the stuff that had been in there for the past 8 years...he just topped it off with new gas & let 'er rip. When it started acting up, he decided to drain the fuel, replace the fuel pump, and made sure the fuel lines were clean, but it still wasn't running right...like it wasn't getting the fuel it needed...

I asked him if he had tinkered with the carborator any...and he said that had nothing to with it...
So...while he had the hood up, and was inside fiddle-fartin' around, I tinkered with the carbs a bit, and what do ya know...it runs fine now...go figure.
I guess it must've just needed to be loosened up a bit, after sitting for that long, I imagine there was just gunk stuck in the carbs that worked itself out when I messed with it...I dunno...I just got lucky, I guess...

I'm no mechanic, but I do know that you need fuel & fire to run, and if you don't have one of those, I know where to start looking for the problem...

So, I guess what I'm tryin' to say is, no matter how much money you have, or how many cars you own, if you don't have that passion, the one that runs through your veins and fuels your imagination, you aren't a "true" hot rodder...

Because, it doesn't matter what you drive, or how it looks...this passion is what sets us apart from all the rest of the yuppie-snob--"It's just a phase I'm goin' through"-wannabe-rodders...

Just my two cents...

Now...can someone help me down off this soapbox??

everyone i knew who had a hot rod or mussle car were
not snobs the snobs drove there parents porsch or vet
and ended up pumping gas at the gas stations. my dad
owned a used car lot in the bay area so i had lots of old
stuff the first was payed for with my paper rout money
from the san jose mercury news. also my dad would not
let me own a foriegn car.

damn bob u dug DEEP to find this post..

it all still applies today. who cares what u drive as long as ur having funnnnn. as for the snobs to thinks "mines better then urs" they are most likely the same folks they were when this was 1st posted & i consider their opinions like assholes, EVERYONE has one it's just some stink more then others. let them say what they want, because at the end of the day i'm STILL having more fun then they could ever have.....joe

Originally posted by Hot Rod Angel

Now...can someone help me down off this soapbox??

Just JUMP Angel, we'll catch ya!

Having suffered some ridicule as one who likes Studebakers... I have an appreciation and acceptance for someone who has something different than I do. If we all liked 32 Fords or 69 Camaros this game would be pretty darn boring. I think I can accept as a fellow hotrodder anyone who has a passion for cars. Even those folks who buy one and have no clue how to work on it. If they like the cars, and spend time on them, then they are OK in my book. This does not mean that every kind of car appeals to me, only that I can understand if it appeals to someone else, most of the time at least

I think what bothers me most are other Studebaker owners/purists who look down on me and our car because it is modified and not pure Studebaker. Very few cars I have ever owned in my life are modification free, regardless of marque. That's just the way I am.

Pat

I appreciate ALL kinds of cars, glass, steel, stock, rods etc. The snob thing is more widespread than you think. Some people are focused on one type of car philosophy and look down on all others. Clubs are a good place to find this. You take a car to an event and all the old timers will tell you what's wrong with your car compared to the national rulebook/bible. Big turnoff to start out. And folks wonder why their membership is down.

All folks don't have a lot of time to massage on cars for hours on end. To those that do almost all the work themselves good for them. To those that have worked their whole damned lives and finally have a few bucks to buy a turnkey rod good for them too.

The hobby can be all things to all people as they participate at the level they're comfortable with. Just as long as some jamokes aren't badmouthing either peoples' personal labor results or the guys that just wants to cruise and not turn wrenches.

When I am at a cruise in I look around at the cars and talk to owners and could care less who did exactly what work themselves and who didn't or how much anyone spent. And since all cars don't turn out like George Barris creations the levels of quality or even unfinished cars are interesting too.

That's my 2¢

Wow, just joined and now I feel out of place!
Don't know where I will fit in.
I have a 03 f-150, eclipse gsx (YEA RICE)! and am working on a 55 fairlane.
Oh and I wear 2 gold chains for what it's worth.
But I do have a problem with the guys that have more money than brains.
I feel that if you have to call AAA to change your flat you might not be a rodder!!

I have found that there are many great rodders out there. I have also seen a few snobs. I think that some of the biggest snobs are the “rat rod” or "retro rod"snobs. They claim that people with painted cars, glass cars, and or high dollar cars thumb their noses at the “unfinished rods”. They condemn these people for their perceived snobbery and at the same time they think that their car is better because it is original steel or they built it themselves. It is like the kettle calling the pot black. I am a car fan through and through. I do not look down upon any ride unless it is unsafe. I may not like every car I run across, but I can appreciate the time and dedication it took to bring it to drivable condition.

As for what is a rodder. I think that a rodder is anyone who owns a rod (I will let you guys define what you think a rod is), is passionate about it and knowledgeable about it. The type of car or state of finish does not determine if you are a rodder. I think your passion and knowledge makes you a rodder. Now you do not have to know everything about building a car but at least know what you have. I have met quite a few people who have more money than talent or time and have had a pro build them their dream car, but each one of them knew what they wanted and knew how to achieve it. Yes, they are rodders.

It is ignorant of people to look down upon any rod or person who owns a rod based upon the material the rod is made of, paint or lack there of or who built it.

I personally prefer original steel cars over glass, not because I think it makes them better, but for the historical value of it. I do not believe that it is any easier or harder to build a glass car. It all depends on how good the foundation is. I would think that a glass body that needs a lot of work to make it fit will take longer than a clean steel body to build.

Can’t we all just get along??? Sorry for that, I just could not pass it up.

Well Said itsaposcj5.

I will agree with that last statement. We are all different, with different preferrences. If we could simply respect the other persons right to have another opinion, and not have to prove that we are the only one who has the RIGHT opinion, then we would embrace the brotherhood we have with our fellow participants, instead of resenting them.....

....and we wouldn't currently have a terrorist war going on....huh? I guess it is the nature of the beast.

In light of John's angst over losing faith I thought it might be fun to recycle this little thread from nearly 5 years ago. The more things change the more they stay the same (kinda like some presidential candidates. )

It's like Deja Vu all over again.

Don

Great thread what hit me a snob is a person that sits behind there car at a show and shine and you ask a question about there car and they act like they didn't here you. I have found if you say nice car and tell them your building a car they will get up and answer all your questions. What I'm trying to say is next time your at a show or show and shine take the time to answer questions that's why we go there to talk cars and make friends don't be a snob.

Mark, My wife and I sit behind our cars at shows and we respond to anyone. So if you are in the neighborhood, come on by, we have a spare chair and will answer all your questions. Even the ones about why the car has dings and when will it get a new paint job and why are the wheels dirty. At my age I can't afford to be snobbish.

BTW, Nice thread, Bob. Glad I wasn't here 5 years ago when you first wrote it, cause reading it would probably have given me a migraine. Now I'm less stessed, headache free, and suffer from reading fatique.

Right on mopar that's what I'm talking about if I ever make it out east your on.