Thread: The Greatest Rod & Custom Cars!

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What were the most popular models for rods & customs????...and why were they???

I was talking with a friend the other day about the iconic status of the '57 Chevy Bel Air. That started me thinking about my own 40+ years as a hard core hot rod, muscle car, custom, and drag race enthusiast, and all of the great cars that have been given a special status by the people of this hobby.

I thought about many different models, and what made them almost timeless in our eyes. It occured to me that many were extremely well known, but there were also some that had their own unique status, though less known by newcomers to the hobby.

This morning I was still thinking about it, but it occured to me that a thread devoted to these special models might be fun, and also educational for those younger people who might not have been around to experience the history of some cars within the American hot rod hobby.

In addition, it might be nice to discuss some of the most obvious cars, and tell what made them popular in the first place.

Feel free to write up your favorites, and please try to post a picture or two for those who will not know them by name.

This is something that I probably need to give a lot of thought to, especially since I will inevitabley piss someone off. My dad had a 57 Bel Air, and while it was a nice car, I never really saw that much too it (and still don't get excited about them). When I was a teenager, where I lived there were virtually no traditional hot rods around, traditional in the sense of the early 30's cars. Nearly everything was 50's cars. Pre-40's cars were what you saw hot rod magazines not on the streets where I lived.

The one car that sticks out in my mind as one of my all time favorites, was never a popular car until about 10 years ago. That was/is the 58 Chevy Impala convertible. Two friends had them, one in maroon with white top and interior and the other yellow with a green top and interior. Both were 348's with 3 deuces. One year models, not really a hotrod, but nice as customs.

I guess when I think of hot rods and customs, the two that really come to mind are the 32 Fords (all models) and the 49/50 Mercurys. Could be because they filled all of the hotrod and custom mags of the early 60's. But I still have a soft sport for the 58 Chevy's and the 57 Ford Skyliner.

Now I guess I have to shut up and think seriously about the question.

This is one of my own favorites. They were so sleek and advanced that would look just fine sitting in a dealer showroom today, next to our latest designs.....maybe better!

Raymond Lowey designed this car! Sitting beside the other cars of the era, the sexy "Stude" made them all look like bricks! '53 -'55 models had grill and trim changes, but all shared that beautiful profile. Raymond would later be known for designing the Studebaker Avanti.

These caught on right away for use at speed trials such as Bonneville, due to their advanced aerodynamics. Over the next several decades, they were built into every kind of street machine and custom. Today they are enjoying popularity in drag racings Pro Modified classes.

After '55 the same body resurfaced as the Hawk models, which in order to compete during the "fin era", had a different grill, and fins were added.

I know the older enthusiasts will consider this a special car, but the newcomers need to knw that they have never fallen out of popularity since they were introduced over 50 years ago!

...and a couple more.

My best was my 41 ford truck(pictured with me at 18). It had a 53 merc flattie and was channeled I think about 5". Always liked the 40-41 fords and I grew up with the flatheads.

Originally Posted by mopar34

I guess when I think of hot rods and customs, the two that really come to mind are the 32 Fords (all models) and the 49/50 Mercurys. Could be because they filled all of the hotrod and custom mags of the early 60's. But I still have a soft sport for the 58 Chevy's and the 57 Ford Skyliner.

Now I guess I have to shut up and think seriously about the question.

There is no doubt that these two are at the top of the "all time greats" list. I almost wrote about the '32 first, but the Studie is just a little closer to my heart....though I never was lucky enough to own one.

One run of cars that I think should be on the list would be Chryslers Letter series 300s from 1955 thru 1962 (the 63-4 cars don't do much for me).

With the low production numbers and very select niche market a lot of people were not aware of these cars even when they were being produced. A High Performance luxury cars was just not enough to peak the interest of a lot of people. When you opened the hood to one of these cars what you saw was Chryslers premiere high performance engine for that particular model year in addition to having all the heavy duty suspension and brake pieces. From 55 thru 58 they were powered by dual quad Hemi's and 60-62s were 413's with the long ram dual quads.

While never considered quick, these cars were just plain FAST. I've been very fortunate to have driven a few of these cars and there is just nothing that can quite describe them.

With the re-release of the letter series a few years back Chryslers advertising often referred to the history of the model I suspect many of the buyers have no clue about how rich it really is.

Mike P, the '57-'58 would certainly qualify, being the original home of the famous "392 HEMI"!!! These "hemicars" had to be some of the earliest forerunners of the Muscle car era.

Also, of the fin cars produced in the late '50s, the MoPars were among some of the cleanest designs. I would guess that their size had to be a factor that kept them from being known as "quick", and may have kept them from becoming popular for modification.

The model B is one of the "backbone" cars of the hobby. It was produced during the Great Depression, so compared to other Fords, it is somewhat rare.

In the earliest days of rodding, the '32 had some big advantages going for it, so rodders immediately considered it a favorite choice.

It was the first model to come with the Ford flathead V8, which was the most desired performance engine, when the hobby was starting to take off, right after World War Two. This meant an enthusiast did not have to do serious fabrication before he could even get a suitable engine into the car.

The other big advantage was the fact that it was the first body that Ford made with a steel inner structure, instead of the "shakey" wood structured bodies made before then. It also happens to be a very nice body style, that was offered in many forms.

It has been built into every kind of custom or race car, but still remains primarily "street rod material". Today many aftermarket producers offer new steel and fiberglass bodies, since the supply of original cars started to disappear decades ago.

More body styles.

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".

Sure was nice when the only catagories were show or go!!!! I do like the hi-tech engine and trans stuff, but I certainly do miss the glory days of the Kustoms and Sleds....

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....

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