VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Frowning on Hot Rods?

I've noticed just from lurking and researching that some guys tend to frown on anyone turning an early Chevy into a hotrod or streetrod. Myself personally enjoy both equally as long as it's done tastefully which could either be a restoration or rod. My case, I have a 29' roadster that was at one time butchered into a hotrod in the 50's. The guy that I bought it from was using the cowl in a flowerbed. I never had quarterpanels for it although I did purchase a pair in AU, they just never made it here. I decided to use a rough pair of 29 coupe quarters as a starting point to build new panels for it. Am I to be shunned for saving this car but not making it factory correct? I could see people getting their knickers bunched up if it was a complete survivor but...

Hate hot rods about as much as I hate the the idiots who buy a truck and never haul anything but a bag of groceries.

Can't find to much fault with saving a car that someone else has already destroyed but to take a nice old survivor and chop it all up into a 70's technology pile of shiny crap is a not just a crime, it is a sin.

It takes all kinds to make a world.

Even Louis Chevrolet took perfectly good cars, and modified the living-heck out of them, modified the engines and then drove them like there was no tomorrow. So, if he can modify a car, why can't others?

And if the car is on it's way to the scrap yard, then why does anyone care?

Don't worry about what other people think. You only have to please yourself -- and your spouse (if you're lucky enough).

I have both restored Chevrolets and 1935 Buick street rod. I find that going to local shows that all the other people like to see what ever the people want to show what they like. I seen A 1928 Chevrolet speedster that all that was 1928 Chevrolet was the engine block but was built with 1928 Oldsmobile three port head but looked like it was from long ago. Do whatever you want to and have fun doing it. Most people would't try to make a nice vehicle out of one that needs that much work. Good luck with it. Chuck

Joe , You are most welcome to our site here. As you have realised , the magority of people hear prefer cars to be restored. However , i would prefer a car like yours to be saved rather it never having anything done to it. Your time and investment is your's , so you need to be sure that you get out of your project what you can in the time we all have allotted to us. I am sure you will find all the help you need here with regards to the original features of your roadster, but advice on the rodding side may be a bit hard to come by.

I can appreciate hot rods, I hate to see an original car in good shape or a restored car chopped up. A car that is just rusting away or largely incomplete is a great candidate for a hot rod or better yet an antique style speedster! My 33 coupe was a candidate to go either way but I just prefer the original type. It is a personal choice.

Thanks guys... Believe me, I hate seeing these guys with the cut everything mentality destroy a car that has survived 70+ years unscathed.

In all honesty, at 40, I'm probably on the younger side of guys that appreciate the earlier cars. Someday when the time is right, I would love to find a 32' Vicky and restore it. My grandparents had one. I also have an insatiable lust for a landau pheaton. I will however stick with what I have for now, gain some valuable experience and build a unique car while honing my skills for that time when I do actually find the right one to restore...

Oh, and the wife is very supportive but I suspect thats only because she gets free time also...

Joe

Your car your choice, if it keeps one more oldie on the road in what ever form then I find no fault with it at all. If I had my way I would own two 52 chevs, one stock and one "Hot".

It all boils down to the big question. " Do you want to drive it or look at it" More and More guys are driving streetrods everywhere. I see them with out of state tags from far off. If you see a antique car it's usually being driven locally at 45mph. I like antique cars and it's a shame to cut them up,but after a while you'd like to drive it, and that's a problem unless you like to ticker around with the old car alot.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1924...t=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1c2fd6f4b0

Here's a good example. Would you attempt to drive this car? The price is right and it probably runs but wouldn't you be asking for trouble if anything broke? I think this would be for a guy who just wants to say he has one and keeps it in storage.

I have post elsewhere about my present 1928 Chevrolet speedster project. I have done several body-off restoration projects but never a rod. This past summer I purchased 2 1928 Chevrolets 4-door Coaches; both were in rough shape. The one will be worked on to become "improved rough" shape with parts from the other which is being made into a 1928 speedster. AND I AM HAVING ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME BUILDING THIS SPEEDSTER!!! We are supposted to enjoy to enjoy this hobby and I am doing that!

We in the VCCA live in a precarious world. On the one hand, we strongly encourage the restoration and preservation of all old Chevrolets. On the other hand, as stated above, some Chevys may be so far gone that the only option is to street rod it.

My favorite bodyman is a true craftsman in the restoration business. He often gets street rods to work on, because money is money and he needs to stay busy too. He had a 1963 Chevy II in his body shop that was as nearly perfect as I have ever seen in my entire life. It was in as good of a condition as it was when I saw the new ones in the Chevrolet showrooms in 1963. No kidding. The owner wanted to unbolt the entire front frame and put in a Mustang II with a Chevy Big Bolt. I nearly cried.

So many of us in the VCCA encourage staying original if at all possible. Yes, we have members that own modifieds. It is a fact of life. The key point is that the purest should not get into shouting matches with those who appreciate modifieds. Maybe we can all live together in this one world.

At the Hershey Swap Meet this past October I saw an original Frontenac Racing Head that was made by Louis Chevrolet and his brother. It was produced sometime in the late teens. Talk about a modification to an old Chevy. If I ever buy a 1917 it will certainly have a Frontenac racing head on it. I will just show the car in the Chevrolet Driver Participation Class - aka "CDPC".

dtm

Guys,

Threads like this can go no where. We have to accept the fact that this site caters for any vehicle that is, or was, or has a part that was originally called Chevrolet.

I have tried to point out this contradiction before with no success, usually being warned off by a moderator quoting board policy.

Accept the fact fellas, that wether you have a beautifully restored Chevrolet, an original unmolested Chevrolet, or an oxy torch in your hand about to transform a Chevrolet into a Rat or Hot Rod, you are all welcome.

I admire the amount of work that goes into a Hot Rod and appreciate how well they drive, but have no time for Rat Rods.

I just think they should not be catered for on this site.

Regards

Ray

Exactly how I see it. This certainly will not be a rat rod, and it won't be a high dollar billet laden street rod either. The plan is for a stock bodied, late 50's early 60's era traditional hot rod. It will be full fendered and painted.

I never intended to turn this into a drama thread, just wanted to be sure my stay here was welcome considering the direction my car is headed.

The cars in my signature are a mix of stock and slightly modified. The 52' Fleetline was last registered in 1956 and shows 6339.9 original miles . Car is bone stock and will remain that way. The Nomad was made into a racecar in the 60's and has been converted back closer to stock and will be made into a fully restored car once the restoration is started. The Camaro is a 68k mile # matching survivor. The Nova is stock but non matching numbers. I bought the Nova in 1982 when I was 11.

Welcome on board Joe 29 Roadster,

Best of luck with your project, and please keep us up to date on the progress.

Cheers

Ray

The following is my preference and opinion. It is in no way meant to demean anyone or their preference or opinion. Just point out differences and the slant that will be present in my posts.


I beg to differ with you. To me that is an excuse or preference not justification. I saved a '31 Roadster from a gutted street rod project and am presently building several Chevrolets from parts. There is a '34 Coupe restoration from a pitiful hulk that the process has been posted on Chat. Most wouldn't have even tried to make a rod out of it but Pat S is restoring it. Just ask Pat and I am sure he will tell you that finding the needed parts to rod it would have been easier and quicker but the pride in bringing it back much more rewarding.

[quote=Joe29roadster]I never intended to turn this into a drama thread, just wanted to be sure my stay here was welcome considering the direction my car is headed.

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No matter what happens when you post, you have more than 2 people and there is always going to be somebody yelling and screaming like a seagul going at a McDonalds french fry , about your point of view. Ignor the mutts and seaguls and enjoy building your car.

Do you really care what some malcontent who wants to squack has to say.............its when your getting 25--50 100, then you know your making waves.

mike

I think your spot on Chipper,

My 28 Red tourer came from the parts of one car in a creek bed, another was a paddock basher, and the third was a victim of trainee mechanics in a GM dealership that must have been trained with hammers instead of spanners.

I was actually going to turn the mess into a Hot Rod, but in the end decided to make one good car out of three. Best decision I ever made.

I am sure if I had of Rodded it, there would have been a lot of enjoyment and fun over the years.

But, and there is always a but, nothing beats the buzz I get driving down the highway at 45 - 50 MPH, knowing that this was how things were in 1928, except the roads were so much worse.

Feeling like you are on the edge, having to pull the wheel back when you turn a corner, no self centreing here. Having to judge your stopping distance when you brake, making sure you get enough of a run up before the hill, otherwise its a change down to second.

And always in the back of your mind "she's been running well lately, I hope she makes the trip ok"

And you know, I would not have it any different.

50 miles from home I may glance at the Chev or Ford Hot Rod cruising past at 60 mph and for a minute with a bit of envy, but then say to myself

"BROTHER, YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING"

Cheers

Ray

Welcome!

Its you car bro, do what you want. Just make sure any stock parts you don't want go to a good home where they're needed!

I'm a big fan of traditional hot-rods and go-jobs. However I cringe when I see a '36 rodded with chrome rims, a big block, and orange paint in the modern style

Thats mostly all we see in these parts at car shows, along with the typical 1960-70's muscle... same old, same old. Its nice to see a stock 1920's-50's and a rare sight around here.

Chipper, you are spot on. It is a matter of preference with this build in particular. With that being said, a proper restoration would be possible but the cost would far exceed the value of the car. Believe me, I have tried finding good quarter panels and other missing components but end up empty handed. Much of this car will be fabricated. new door skins, modified rough coupe quarter panels, modified cabriolet rumble lid. I am eliminating the wood not because I can't work it but because the car will be driven regularly and the end result will be a safer, sturdier body. I can brace the doors for added support along with the cowl and body. If this car was a complete car, I would restore it.

Glad you made the original post. Some people think that they are not welcome. Not so! Just because your preference is not exactly what I or anyone else might have does not mean you have cooties. Now if it were a Ford?????? Awe, shucks somebody has to enjoy sopping up oil or helping to keep the dust down on gravel roads. We appreciate that too as long as we are not following too closely.

Awe, shucks somebody has to enjoy sopping up oil or helping to keep the dust down on gravel roads. We appreciate that too as long as we are not following too closely.

Chipper, could not have said it better myself.

Cheers

Ray

Did you ever see what CHIP FOOSE did to a 35 chevrolet master 2 door sedan. A car dealer reputedly spent $1 million on it and the car is called the GRAND MASTER. He turned a not pretty car into something GM should have done styling wise originally.

mike

I saw a model of this grand master for sale the other day on ebay and googled it to see more .
here is a link to pictures and stuff on it. i think absolutely everything has been changed on this car. I like the paint combination

http://www.wildrods.com/feature/grandmaster.htm

mike

Excuse me, but that is not a 1935 Chevrolet and should not be called one. In many cases they are called a 19__ fill in the blank for the sole purpose of registering as an antique automobile. In many cases they even display a license plate to match what they call the car.

The workmanship looks real nice, but the overall looks of those wheels in the wheel wells reminds me of a little kid with his dads hat on. They just don't fit.