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

Back to the original scope of the topic.

I was reluctant to voice my opinion owing to the fact that I didn't think this topic would go anywhere. But lo and behold...

Anyway, I have never frowned on modified or hot rod cars. Mostly.

I do take some exception to heavily modified cars that pretend to be original. Such as those with everything changed out except the body and then sporting a vintage license plate and the owner proclaiming to the uninformed that it is a 1938 such and such, for example.

I'll admit that there are a lot of well done hot rods and that a lot of talent has gone into making them what they are. Sometimes works of art. It just doesn't take me long to look at one.

Most of all, I like a old car that is totally original. No restoration, no changes but well preserved. To me, these cars, survivors, if you will, are the best of the best. They trump any modified, hot rod, rat rod, custom, restored, et al. They are like the 41 master that Big Richie once had and the 41 coupe out in Kansas (?) that Bob Wingate once had. These are the awe inspiring ones that I love to see above anything else.

Still, I don't frown at someone else's ride or creation. I sometimes merely take on a puzzling countenance when I see them and realize that the same effort could have produced an awesome looking restoration.

My two cents worth.

Charlie

The first car I had as a driver was a 39 Dodge with a Frod drive train. My dad was a automobile mechanic. The first i bought on my own was a 1941 Chevrolet SD coupe while I was stationed at Fort Richardson. Alaska back in 55. A hundred fifty bucks well spent. That's when I fell in love with the 41s.

In my opinion, If it isn't 100% original It should not be issued Antique Plates.

My 40' Isn't all original since I change the rear end ratio to 3.55 from 4.11 stock. The paint Isn't the original Black.

I use the regular plates the state issued so I can go any where without restrictions of milage and such.

Just my opinion guys. No offence to the Modified cars or Streetrods or Ratrods.

Antique plates should be for the fully stock cars only.

Opps! I got off subject. Sorry!

I agree , if its not stock then it should not be offered or using antique vintage series plates.

Apparently here the only criteria is that it be 25 years and older to qualify. Doesn't say has to be bone stock, just age.

mike

Sorry, but I do frown on Hot and Rat Rods that use an original car as the starting point. I have no problems with Rodders that use reproduction parts, chassis and fibreglass panels, a they are building a car from scratch. More power to these guys.

Cheers

Ray

Wow Wee...! Dept. of Motor Vehicles here in Californi has a completely different take on that idea...In fact, if they get enough interest going in the re-issuing of antique plates their gonna start pop'in out for anyone with an older vehicle...Just like the plates they came with...I used to sport "Historical Vehicle" plates...But that's so passe these days...Hardly see them anymore...And that "go any where w/out restrictions of mileage and such"...What's up with that...? We'd never stand for it...

That's interesting Ray, I'm building a hot rod that will be completely original body parts from the front doors forward. I did this because I have so many 1929 / 30 bits and pieces that it made sense to use what I had and allow some interchangeability between my restored cars and the hot rod. This way if I break a headlight lens on the restored tourer I can borrow one from the hot rod and vice versa.

Each to their own I suppose.

"Each to their own I suppose."

Last time you checked you probably realized...This stuff is mine...I'll do what I want with it

This stuff is mine...I'll do what I want with it

100% correct, but does that make it right. The same thing was said by the developers that knocked down many grand old buildings, the railway bosses that scrapped all bar a few steam trains, etc, etc. In Melbourne the next thing we will loose is our Green W class trams. Good enough to send around the world as tourist attractions, but not good enough to keep.

Once our history is gone, there is no getting it back, and a thumping V8 and fat wheels aint history in my book.

In England you cant do nothing to a heritage building with out approval, here in the Dandenong ranges we cant cut down one of our own trees without a permit.

Not comparing a heritage building with an old Chev, but somewhere there needs to be a common sense approach.

As for using up old 29-30 parts to make a hot rod, as opposed to selling to someone to restore, well.

When there gone, they are gone.

Cheers

Ray

I hear you Ray but your taking this to a whole other level suggesting that even using original parts is a sin. There should be an imaginary line so to speak between yard art and restorable. Below is a perfect example. The cowl has been hacked inside where the feet are, the dash was cut, no trim tag. The door was literally run over by a truck. Can you honestly say that this is something you would consider a restoration on? Do you have any idea of the amount of time and money it would take to track down any buy all of the correct missing parts? In a perfect world, maybe things could be the way you suggest but it's not. Could I have started with a more complete project, certainly but I am taking the hard road, begging for table scraps trying to save this Chevy . Parts are tough to come by., expensive when you do find them. I could have built 3 f*rd roadsters by now but I'm determined to build a Chevy. The whole elitist, better than thou thing is kinda funny I will have to admit... I'm just glad I couldn't afford the 36' Packard Dietrich bodied Convertible I found a few years ago. Can you imagine what the Packard guys would have done if I turned that into a rod! lol...

Anyway, here is what I started with...

Hi Joe,

You may be right, as I could be biased after building the Red Chev from 3 wrecks.


This.............................




Came from .................................





Do you have any idea of the amount of time and money it would take to track down any buy all of the correct missing parts?

Funny about that, but yes I do, even harder with no Ebay or Internet or overseas parts.

Cheers

Ray

Maybe California in their quest to keep from bankruptcy will inadvertently create a "Historical Vehicle" plate that actually is only displayed on legitimate historical vehicles.

Of course we all need to realize that there are no 100% original vehicles over 25 years old. Over the years something has been changed from the way it was built. That is not to say that 100% appearing and/or operating is not possible to preserve or restore.

Hi Ray,

I appreciate your concern in saving the old original parts that are no longer part of a complete car. My garage storage area has a 32 cowl(w/s pillars cut off) a couple of hoods,radiator shell, radiator,four welled front fenders(very poor)sedan door shells,running boards and brkts, and running board aprons, plus lots of other misc parts. While there is not enough to put a car together it does take up a lot of space and even though I sell a part or two once in a while it is costing me $$$ to keep it. And therein lies the problem. At what cost is it worthwhile to preserve these items that may never be used . I managed to salvage a 29 engine, trans,frt fenders,radiator,frt splash apron and running boards from a 1-1/2 ton truck and have been unable to find a home for them at nearly giveaway prices. In a perfect world perhaps all these parts would get reused, however if I kicked the bucket tomorrow I know the wife would call the scrap man and get all that "junk" hauled away and probably end up with more $$$ than I could sell them for. Heck, she would even pay them to get that stuff out of there.

Thanks Steve for your candid comments about parts going to the rodding world or possibly to the crusher in the long run. I have your concern as I look at my parts vehicles and boxes, bins and shelves of 'good stuff'. Us old retirees have both that AND garages,barns with collector vehicles.
Two likely ways out. 1. if you care about the future of the preservation hobby you sell them to like minded younger folk as you lose ability to care for them. Thats alot of work finding and vetting those folk. Emotional,since we're attached to our stuff and no real guarantee the buyer won't change their mind. 2. Let it be as the Beatles proclaimed. Your spouse, son or daughter consider your instructions, grab what appeals to them and unless they are truly concerned as we are, auction the rest to quickly settle your estate
Either way it's up to future generations to decide. As the roads get more crowded, the anti-pollution laws more stringent and storage costs escalate it don't look good for our 'team' and maybe for the hot rod world as well. SEMA fights battles over tax and use issues for collector vehicles in nearly state. They win some but the pressure stays on. With big deficits at state and federal level we're sitting ducks for beady eyed revenue lawyers.
Better we keep peace and fight together. Thats my view.

==================================================
RAY , while looking at the rear picture of your 28 tub it appears that you have HOT RODDED it. That little yellow orange light stuck between the body and fender is not an original part. Was never an optional part and came from some entirely different vehicle.

Shame on you for hot rodding your car and bad mouthing all those others who do. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

mike

Mike,

What can I say, if adding indicators to a car that does have them standard is Hot Rodding then I and many other VCCA members are Rodders. It is unfortunate that you introduced personal comments into the conversation, which I believe is a breach of board policy.

Regards

Ray

He might have meant that comment as a joke, but you can't be sure when reading the post. This is a good example of how WRITTEN comments "may" become misinterpreted.

Mike, it that WASN'T meant to be a joke, then you have crossed over the line. Strike one.

Everybody else - if you "really" want to keep this discussion going (and I don't know for the life of me why you would) then DON'T allow your comments to target someone else by name.

We seem to regurgitate some form of this discussion every time the "Hot Rod" word comes up. It's all been said before. Maybe we should just lock it, and make it a sticky, then every time a hot rodder shows up we could link them to this discussion and be done with it. It'll save us the trouble of getting worked up and snippy with each other, and will fill them in with all of our various and unchanging opinions on the matter. Then we can all devote more time to our Chevrolet's....

However, the post has generated a heap of viewers. Whatever...

Charlie

BTW: Did you notice the flash photos that Bill has at his comment? Wow! Nice! I haven't seen that before. (This is meant as a good positive comment, Bill. I like it.)

Both of my kids are very keen on my old Chevs, 15 Amesbury, 28 convertible sport cabriolet, 34 Master 4 door and of today, 28 coupe. They regularly use my Chevs, have been/driven them in all the last 3 VVCAA anniversary runs, (held every 5 years) and recently I shared my 28 CSC with my son in law on the Chev 4 tour, hence the purchase of the 28 coupe.

My daughter reckons the 34 is hers as she came home from hospital in when she was born, she's 35 now and reckons she rememers coming home in it.

My son in law has a Brock Commodore and owns the Brock website.
(Brock Commodores.com) For those of you who don't know, Peter Brock was one the most famous Aus. touring car driver, started his own company in conjunction with GMH bulding his own specially modified Holdens, his company was named HDT (Holden Racing Team) and many of his cars were a one off. Micheal's is one of these and has it's a Holden 5 litre stroked to 5.6 via fitting a 350 Chev crankshaft. It's 500hp from the factory. But he loves the early Chevs as well.

My son (some of you wont like this) bought a 62 Belair 4 door when he was 17, he's now 31 and the Chev is now running a 383 550hp engine. And he loves the old Chevs, especially the 4's and uses mine regularly.

I guess I'm one one of the lucky old farts who will keep them going for many more years after I'm in Chevheaven.
Chris

Beautiful restoration Ray. Again, don't get me wrong, I love a restoration as much as anyone on here and I appreciate all of the labor involved. My dad had a restoration shop for 38+ years and I've watched him do some remarkable things with his hands to some of the cars. With that being said, if this car was more complete, I would restore it but I have to draw a line somewhere and it is impractical for me to restore it considering the extent of the parts that are missing. As a stocker, it will never be correct or able to compete as show car. I'm building a fun car out of it... Something that I don't have to worry about being 100% correct with and keeping it from spending the remainder of its life as it was being used( it was a planter in a flower garden).

Your suggestion that someone who buys a Tupperware body and sits in his easy chair ordering the parts for his car from 1-800- hot rods, then just assembles it isn't really starting from nothing and building it. How many hours do you think they will spend making patch panels, rolling sheetmetal on the English Wheel, scouring swap meets and junk yards,etc.

Sure he meant it as a joke... That's why he always ads an after it...Oh, Mike...You's so funny...! That part about Ray's 1928 being "rodded" really got me rolling on the floor... lol

Think I have gone as far as I can, and said everthing I need to say on the subject.



Cheers

Ray

what eh, not gonna stir the pot anymore, for shame on you sir, poking the bear and running away.??? Get back in there and tell those hot rodders rat rodders reading why they are destroying the old car hobby.???

Especially those ford guys who have the luxury of all steel reproduction model a roadsters and roadster pickups. And the 1932 ford guys with their stamped steel reproduction fenders , runningboards, gas tanks , hoods, roadster and 3 window coupe bodies, plus a new set of stamped frame rails.

Never mind the 33-34 ford guys with their all steel stamped fenders and other parts. I SPIT AT THEM , PETEEEEWIE, because they are so lucky.

My 1934 1935 standard series chevrolets whats reproduction in sheet metal, NADA, ZIP, ZILCH, ZERO, A BIG FAT ZERO. Oh, one thing, i actually produced a special frame bracket that supports the rear fender gas tank cover. Made 50 still selling them 3 years later .

The 1932 chevrolet roadster offered as stock and hot rodded by EXPERI-METAL in all steel unfortunately did not have enough lovers of 32 chevs to keep it in business.


Maybe the blue oval is a better choice than the blue bowtie ???? when wanting to do a restoration. Because it took hot rodders to have those items produced. Without the hot rodders and their demand for 1932--1934 ford parts and quality sheet metal the vintage vehicle market would be a lot different and oh sooooooooooo pricey. Back to $3000 for a quality front fender or NOS.


mike lynch

Get back in there and tell those hot rodders rat rodders reading why they are destroying the old car hobby.???

Hey Mike,

How could I refuse your invitation to rejoin a conversation which has no conclusion or no end, but you may have prompted an idea.

Lets start a movement, a revolution, or what ever. Make it law to only be able to Hot Rod Fords, there I said the word.

Now that would keep the after market people happy, with all those shelf items being sold, keep the Chey guys happy. The only loser would be the T and A model restorers chasing parts, and hec aint there enough of them on the road anyway??

We could start a new Ford club:

For Only Rodders Delight

Think of the economic possibilities, we could have an economic fibre glass lead recovery.

Gota run, i'm chasing some shares in chemical and resin.

Cheers

Ray