Thread: Does this qualify as a Hot Rod?

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My car was a kit-ted car. The kit came with a stop watch to stop time and a winning lottery ticket to buy endless amounts of parts. Now if I could just remember where I put the dang kit!

Sometimes when people ask, "What is it"?
I respond, "All my spare time for the last six years".

The kit car market sure isn't what it used to be, but there's still some out there. As with anything, some are good, some are bad. On Craigslist locally I've seen an old Kelmark GT advertised on there from time to time. It's partially done, more like barely started, but most of the pieces are still there....Might have to go look at it someday, the bodies did have some nice lines. There's a whole bunch of present day Hot Rodders who got their start with a kit car! Most folks who see a Hot Rod and ask if it's a kit car do it because they just flat don't know better and can't understand the concept of starting a project with nothing but a plan in your head and a few notes jotted down in a notebook....IMO these people need to be educated, not scorned! Could be they're considering a Hot Rod for themselves and just don't have an idea how the whole process works....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

IMO these people need to be educated, not scorned! Could be they're considering a Hot Rod for themselves and just don't have an idea how the whole process works....

It's all in presentation, or how the question is presented. I agree there are a lot of people that mean no harm and are just asking questions, and they should (and in most cases do) get legit answers. However, there is usually one or two smart a$$es that think they know everything, they should get what they deserve. I'll bet they're the ones that are always bragging on what a great job they do on every project, no matter what it looks like.

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

It's all in presentation, or how the question is presented. I agree there are a lot of people that mean no harm and are just asking questions, and they should (and in most cases do) get legit answers. However, there is usually one or two smart a$$es that think they know everything, they should get what they deserve. I'll bet they're the ones that are always bragging on what a great job they do on every project, no matter what it looks like.

Exactly! Somehow a person can just tell when that smarta_ _ asks "the question", with that tone... then they get a smarta_ _ answer! The ones who simply ask 'cuase they don't know.. they get the explanation without any cockiness.

It seems like it's the same debate with trailers / trailer queens and the "check writers"... versus the "old school" attitudes from guys who are young enough to be my sons! But they want to tell me how to build a car like "back in the day"..!!..!!

My standard answer for that has become, "when you pay the bill, you get to decide"..... And yes, I wish I could get paid to build hot rods all day!!

When it comes to the smart asses, I usually answer their question with a question of my own, "Where's your car?" After that, the original questioner mumbles something and walks away!!!!

LOL! Answer a question with a question, that's classic!

I don't know, what do you think............

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Speaking of attitudes, I really am getting tired of the "Traditional" building a lot of guys claim to be doing. Most of these are hacked together POS's from parts that were taken out of a junk yard in the 50's to 60's and these same guys reuse them. Then these guys want to bust people's nuts for making an old car a more friendly driver. WTF ever. Sorry, kind of topic there.

Here's another reason my kit will never be confused for the real deal...


Yahoo!

A short slideshow of the Knightsen event, from the NCKCC website.

Thanks for the slideshow Wes!!! Good seeing Hot Rods in the sunshine......4" of snow here yesterday.......

Were you in that line-up holding a trophy? If not, you should've been ! You've done a lot of great work with it!!

Thanks for the video too!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Thanks for the slideshow Wes!!! Good seeing Hot Rods in the sunshine......4" of snow here yesterday.......

Wow!! 4 inches? I consider it too cold around here when I can't wear a pair of shorts...which is probably only 15% of the year.

Originally Posted by 34_40

Were you in that line-up holding a trophy? If not, you should've been ! You've done a lot of great work with it!!

Thanks for the video too!

Nah, no trophies. But it was really great getting a feel for where I'm at compared to some completed kits.

I met a guy from San Jose who has had a Velo Rossa kit for twelve years, but hasn't worked on it for at least five. It's just been sitting in his garage collecting dust... a stripped down shell. It was really nice to hear him say that my presence at the show has inspired him to get back to working on it. I was able to stop by and see it a few weeks ago. We talked for hours about his plans, how I resolved a few issues he was concerned about and how unique his project would be when finished. Good times.

Originally Posted by Fauxre

I met a guy from San Jose who has had a Velo Rossa kit for twelve years, but hasn't worked on it for at least five. It's just been sitting in his garage collecting dust... a stripped down shell. It was really nice to hear him say that my presence at the show has inspired him to get back to working on it. I was able to stop by and see it a few weeks ago. We talked for hours about his plans, how I resolved a few issues he was concerned about and how unique his project would be when finished. Good times.

And that's what it's all about right there! Good for you!

Originally Posted by 34_40

And that's what it's all about right there! Good for you!

Agree 100%! Kind of bench racing for a scratch build. Lots of memories of how you got things done, and the potential of learning a few things, too. Sounds like a good time!