Thread: The Greatest Rod & Custom Cars!

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Well HRP, since you bring up "teaching" the youngin's, a point of clarification. The Model B was the 4 cylinder version of the '32, the V8 was a Model 18, or on the streets just "The V8". And to continue on that theme, the Model C was the 4 cylinder version of the '33 & 4.

Now for the rest of your request. As far as traditional rods go the '32 Ford tops the list. After that I'd say the '40 Ford, particularly the coupe. Next in line starts to get a little fuzzier. If you take in the whole of the last 60-70 years I'd say the '36 Ford, toss up between the roadster and the 3 window coupe, and then probably the '33-4, particularly the 3 window coupe. All of this is arguable, but I'm basing it mostly on my recollection of the numbers featured in magazines over time, at shows, and the ones that got reproduced in glass first. Which would get the T bucket guys going, followed closely by the Model A devotees.

BTW, somewhere in the archives (maybe 5 years ago or so) here I posted the story of how a young lad gave away (as in for nada dollars) a '57 Bel Air back in '67 or 8. Hey, it was just an old car then!

Edit; Found the thread from back when; http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...ghlight=airman

While this probably wouldnt qualify for the time less custom pick, I'd sure love to have my old 60 Catalina back!!! Just a mild custom being nosed and decked and a roll and pleat interior and a few other small mods....

Originally Posted by T42

While this probably wouldnt qualify for the time less custom pick, I'd sure love to have my old 60 Catalina back!!! Just a mild custom being nosed and decked and a roll and pleat interior and a few other small mods....

Well, for what it's worth which is very little, IMO the "tin Indians" will always be one of the greatest sources for building a great Kustom or Kruizer!!! I wish I could find an old flop top Poncho nice as that someday!!!!!

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Well HRP, since you bring up "teaching" the youngin's, a point of clarification. The Model B was the 4 cylinder version of the '32, the V8 was a Model 18, or on the streets just "The V8". And to continue on that theme, the Model C was the 4 cylinder version of the '33 & 4.

Now for the rest of your request. As far as traditional rods go the '32 Ford tops the list. After that I'd say the '40 Ford, particularly the coupe. [/url]

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.

I think we could all agree on a dozen or two dozen cars, that have become highly prized. I can see there are going to be many others that are individually prized due to personal involvment.

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. :-)

Even though the '55-'57 Chevies were similar, the '57 was much more dramatically styled, putting it in a class of it's own. It was a stunning design, which seems to be proven by the fact that most modified cars retain most of the original lines, and most of the factory trim.

This was another of those cars that became very popular at it's original release, and never lost that popularity.

A couple of the strengths were release of the new 283 engine, the availability of a 4-speed or fuel injection, and simple parts interchangability with newer engines and other parts for many decades.