Thread: The Greatest Rod & Custom Cars!

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Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

I never heard about the model B being 4s only. I guess I'm not too old to learn!

The '40 Ford would have been one of my picks, too, but I always include the '39 in the same breath, since visually they were very similar, especially with the '40 standard model.

On the bright side, not only are you not too old to learn................it means you're also no so old that you knew this trivial stuff!!!

As for the '39, particularly the Deluxe, I agree. In some ways it's a more elegant car. The side trim was relatively thin and smooth with just a hint of a peak to it. The balance of the trim vs. painted steel on the grille is just right. The head light trim rings were equally as beautiful. The trim tear drop tail lights have become ubiquitous in (and even outside) hot rod circles. Much to like there.

In part the desire to have the "latest and greatest" distorted the market to some extent. In the immediate post WWII years two of the iconic cars we've talked about here "suffered" changes that we probably look at in puzzlement today. It was very common then for rodders to put '40 front ends on '39 deluxes (the standards had a slightly different cowl which made this swap more difficult) presumably because they wanted to be seen as having a "newer" car. Likewise with the '33-4's. Years back it was common to swap '34 grilles and hoods to '33s for much the same reasons. An unintended consequence was that as appreciation for the thinner, "scooped" (and in my opinion more stylish) '33 grille grew in the '80s the "shortage" of nice '33 grilles caused a significant spike in prices, only stemmed in the past few years by high quality reproductions.

[QUOTE=Bob Parmenter]On the bright side, not only are you not too old to learn................it means you're also no so old that you knew this trivial stuff!!!

I thought I would be well-educated, after 49 years of obsession, and reading about 6,000 car magazines (dating back to the late '40s) from cover to cover! I think the way you really learn many of the details, is to own, or build a car. Then you start finding out all of the small details, first hand. .....or you can read this thread. :-)

53-55 Studebakers!

First I am surprised that these came up so early in this thread, many people have forgotten them. But since you mention them mine is the red one! And of course I have to agree with you

Pat

As the years went on, cars that we never considered "cool" have become popular. As an example four door sedans............back then these we considered Dads car, not something we wanted, but now you see lots of four doors and even station wagons that make nice cars.

If we are talking cars that shaped the hobby, the aforementioned '50 Mercs were right up there, as were '50 Fords. The act of shoving Olds or Caddy engines into these two cars was responsible IMO for the growth of the swap motor mount kits and engine/transmission adapter market.

As for hot rods, no question the '32 Ford is at the top of that list, popularitywise. No other car is so recognizable or associated with hot rods. Next would be cars like the Model A and Model T, plus '40 Fords.

I think if you go back into any of the little books these cars would have been the ones most often featured. Then when the newer cars hit the market ones like '55-'57 Chevy started taking off.

In the mid '60's hot rodding kind of took a rest because you could go down to your local Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, etc dealer and for less than $ 100 a month payment buy a car that outran most hot rods, was dependable, clean, new, and came with a warranty to boot. I think what saved hot rodding were groups like the National Street Rod Association and events like the Street Rod Nationals.


Don

if i had a pic of one i'd throw it into the mix...49 mercs are
so cool!

...and a few more.

(QUOTE)Well, when you say rod and custom I have to think of '49-51 Mercs, 49-50 Buick and Olds, any 40's thru 60's Caddy, pre-war (wwII) Lincoln's, 60's Chryslers, and a few others. Never could see where 30's car made a good "custom", far better as a "hot rod".(QUOTE) Dave Severson.


Dave, I have found that in recent years, especially in discussions here, that all of the terminology that we all understood over the decades, is now being redefined. No matter what terms we choose, somebody else has a different understanding of it. :-)

It sounds like we are the same generation...ie:

hot rod = '48 and older performance modified cars
custom = '49 and up that is restyled
street machine = '49 up modified for speed
muscle car = '64 up detroit built performance sedan

...and anything else didn't matter. :-)

Today there does not seem to be a short phrase to include all of the various building styles. Rod & custom kind of covers things done to personalize the appearance, and things done for performance, so I went with that.

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

Dave, I have found that in recent years, especially in discussions here, that all of the terminology that we all understood over the decades, is now being redefined. No matter what terms we choose, somebody else has a different understanding of it. :-)

In fact, that came to light at a local show this week-end when a '37 Ford Coast to Coast car was presented the "Best Custom" award. A slick car it was, but a custom it definitely was not. The owner was actually kind of embarassed, I think. BUt hey, their show, their rules. And it was a very nice show.

Pat

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

(QUOTE)

Dave, I have found that in recent years, especially in discussions here, that all of the terminology that we all understood over the decades, is now being redefined. No matter what terms we choose, somebody else has a different understanding of it. :-)

Well, the way I see it, our generation and the one before us started this whole hot rod thing and these kids should just leave things the way we defined them!!!!!! Kind of like the one's who tell me that some POS car with no floor, no top, rust holes, beer bottle overflow can, and headers made from well pipe is "correct" cuz that's how they used to all be?????

I got in an argument with a cop one night. Went through the curves west of town with the steering full lock right and the back end all hung out in excess of 100 mph......He called it reckless driving and I called it a controlled slide...Even explained to him that had I been reckless I would have been on my head in the ditch. Well, my definition of reckless was not the same as the established definition of reckless and I lost the argument!!!! Kustoms incorporate one or more of the following mods; chopped, sectioned, frenched, shaved, channeled, pinched, stretched, slammed, or rolled. Loud stereos, tinted windows, 20" wheels with rubber band tires, and a bolt on body kit just don't make it a kustom!!!!

Should only be two classes, show or go... Well, maybe 3, another for the one you tow with!!!!

Pat said....

BUt hey, their show, their rules. And it was a very nice show.

I went to a show like that one time. My customed 57 Olds (nosed, decked, shaved, frenched, lakes, custom interior the whole works) against a shiny red 442 with a new seat coverss with 442 stitched on them. The 442 was owned by one their club members and yes, he took top prize in the Custom category. He wasn't embarrassed, his wife as much as said that they were going to win an hour before the trophies were announced.

That was the last time I participated in an all Olds event with that club.

Dave, I am inclined to agree, but with many older rodders headed for the nursing home, I think we are about to be outvoted! :-)

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

Dave, I am inclined to agree, but with many older rodders headed for the nursing home, I think we are about to be outvoted! :-)

Well, when we're all in the home racing electric skooter chairs then they can convince each other of whatever they want...... Meanwhile, let's not get the kustoms and wanna-be's mixed up!!!!! For those who want it to be like it was "back in the day", then get your butt out in the shop and learn some of the old methods of kustomizing and throw that bolt on plastic body part catalog and trick-of-the-month wheel club catalog in the flippin' trash!!!!!


Sorry, just another one of them personal rant things with me!!!!!!!

I think I am going to be surprised by this thread, since many differing view points are going to come out.

..then there are the unusual stories, like the '33-'34 Ford popularity. As far as I can tell, they were not real popular in the early days, since the trend was to strip the fenders and hood off to lighten the car. The '33-'34 looked awful this way! The firewall portruded, and looked cluttered, the grill hung out there with no shell around the radiator, and there was a funny inner fender piece showing.

In the '80s (30 years later) the "resto rod" came along, and people were building cars with all of the bodywork. At that time, the beauty of the factory design came out, and the popularity exploded! About that same time, the '37 Ford also found a new niche, and for the same reason.

Today I would give the '33-'34 an "icon" rating....but I would not have in the '50s-'60s &'70s. It was a late bloomer.

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

.....since the trend was to strip the fenders and hood off to lighten the car. The '33-'34 looked awful this way!

I think them's fightin' words pilgrim!