Thread: Who took the "hot" out of hot rod?

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Originally Posted by halftanked

Dave, when I started collecting parts, one of the first things I bought was a good used stereo sound system. I don't think that it will put too much strain on the electrical system, as they bolt to the exhaust ports,and run down either side into about 30 in long muffled speakers lets say. Hank

now that is my kind of stereo!!!!

Bob,

Thanks for the reply, I do go to Shows and read everything I can get my hands on. I've pretty much finished my main Body (Chop Fill, smooth, some Body Mods)-Frame's done, and so on- it's just the pieces that give that "style", you know?

Have already figured out the main Color (Black-you mean there is another Color?), with Black Moon Gauges-it's in keeping with a theme-I've seen some Cars that were a mish-mash of parts, and I'm trying to not get off track.

HOTRODPAINT,

Unfortuneatly, I'm no "Artist", just a dumb grown up kid with an idea that keeps evolving, changing and is kinda blurry.

Thanks again for listening guys, it just seems like the line between Street Rod and Hot Rod is very blurry when you have that Catalog in one hand, your Credit Card in the other, you are on the phone ordering parts and you just lost track of your "vision"-

Sounds like you've got the right outlook.

We each have our own vision, but I'm going to throw out a pic to help inspire you toward the hot rod end of things. It's a year off, but close enough......

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

now that is my kind of stereo!!!!

I have joked with our kids, telling them that our cars "thumped" too, but we used a flat tappet, headers, and a pair of resonators. :-)~

(QUOTE) "Unfortuneatly, I'm no "Artist", just a dumb grown up kid with an idea that keeps evolving, changing and is kinda blurry".

Being an artist doesn't necessarily mean you have to be able to draw.....you just need to know what you like, and what you don't! ...then you make a vision in your mind, and try to build it. :-)

some of the crap I've cobbled together makes me question my skill everytime I look at it, but I had fun doing it. and learning something in the process is a bonus.
to me, utility is the primary function of any car. does it go and stop reliably?
then performance is the next priority, followed by ergonomics and interior refinement. no need ignoring available technology to improve life.
lastly when all this stuff is in order any paint so long as it stops the rust.
I love looking at nice paintjobs but not owning them

only one of these must be met for me to consider it a hotrod.performance.
add too much of the other things and it kinda loses its appeal to me.
starts looking too much like something that belongs in a museum and less like something I could have fun floggin around.

to each his own I guess

True. I have done my own projects to almost every degree, except show cars. I wanted to drive 'em too! I never compromised on mechanical correctness, and they always had to have enough power to scare me a little! Like you, the appearance came last, but was always a part of the plan.

Somewhere along the line I got interested in them as art. They had to sit just right...have that look of power....(and intimidation)....and there was nothing wrong with being able to say "I did it myself"....especially if the workmanship was stunning, which makes you even more proud.

I think looks are important to every rodder. Otherwise, they would build a $500 lightweight '80s model, instead of spending countless hours trying to find and save a relic?.....Because the relic gets people's attention! "Looks" do matter!

The major difference I see today...and I've been in this a long time...is that, for many guys, the appearance has become a "social statement", or a sign of rebellion. For my generation, the looks were more for getting attention, (from the ladies, too), and being proud of what you had put together. I liked it best when the guys got a real good look at my back bumper, as I smoked their a$$! :-)

so is this a hot rod??





Pardon the crappy pics, its about time to retire my digital camera

That!....is most definitely a hot rod! :-) I think of them as the "chopper of the car world". Minimal bodywork, radical appearance, plenty of throttle!

One of my favorite stories is the blown Chevy T-bucket, complete with slicks, that belonged to a couple with two toys. The Tee was officially hers, and when she picked it up from the shop, she showed us she was not intimidated by it, and proceeded to "restripe" the street, as she left! :-)~

minimal body work?? how bout NO body work....body pannels weigh too much!! take a look

whats up with the pictures not showing up in the thread?

yup thats a hot rod , you need to use the [IMG] tags for them to show up..

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Sounds like you've got the right outlook.

We each have our own vision, but I'm going to throw out a pic to help inspire you toward the hot rod end of things. It's a year off, but close enough......

Bob,

Sorry, I was away from the Computer this weekend, and thanks for the "Inspiration"-I was working on my Car this weekend, thinking of this conversation. To me , there seems to be no real definition of "Hot Rod"-you can put so many styles and "looks" in either Category that it is a moving target.I looked at some old magazines this weekend, trying to decide the definition of each one, and some of them could be either class. I guess you just buy the parts you like and hope they work. I have done some sketches (and believe me, I am NO Artist), so I guess I have an idea-it's the little parts that get me-like, who's A/C Vents to use, Pedals, Knobs-that sort of thing.

By the way, love the '36!