Thread: "Traditional" ???

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Ok, not to start another heated debate, as in rat, but I ask. What is a "Traditional Hot Rod", or built in the "Traditional" style. Now before you jump on me, let me explain. I know what is a traditional hot rod. At least what I think one is. I know I could give 6 examples and most if not all would agree these are "Traditional". Now the reason I ask for opinion is this. I look at rules to enter a Billitproof Show and one of the few rules is "Traditional". But when I look at cars and trucks in attendance, I see vehicles that I would think are "Non Traditional". Hot rods, yes. Customs, yes. Traditional I didn't thinks so. Also a nameless site such as this (a hoaky place), says if you have to ask you don't need to be here. But again I see members with what I think are cool rides, but if you had asked me were not "Traditional" or built in "Traditional" style. So now without upsetting anyone, or setting anyone off. I seek some opinions on what is "Traditional" to you. And if you know what is "Traditional" to them. And maybe more importantly, what is NOT. And yes I know that Honda ricer with the turbo and nos if very cool to the owner is not "Traditonal". And I thank all of you in advance for your input.

I'm am not afraid! :-) I am a long time fan of rods (since the late 50s) and I would say that it has to be a 'fifties style build, as those that were done post World War Two, when the hobby was just getting established nationwide.

I have a feeling that the "vintage rod movement" will add to that basic definition things like:

must look amateurish...

cannot cost much.... or at least not look like it...

must be painted a flat finish...

extra points will be awarded for rust, patina, and zero ground clearance. :-)~

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

extra points will be awarded for rust, patina, and zero ground clearance. :-)~

See this is one point where I get lost......... Ground clearance. They were rarely ever that low. Roads were bad, and Police enforced minium height, mostly to hassel hot rodders, who were thought of as punks and thugs. Even some old photo's of lakes cars, ie roadsters really weren't that low, by todays standards. But I don't know........... thats why I ask. Opinions obviously differ. Appreciate your input.

There is a very very fine line between a "Taditional" and a Rat Rod. Except one costs $3-5,000 and the other $20-30,000.

Traditional in many instances seems to be what some mid-30 or younger dude has in his mind how Hot Rods were built in the 50's and 60's... Unfortunately this is most often based solely on his and his follower's opinion..

"Traditionally" in the area I'm from a car might come out of the shop for a shake down run while still in primer, but very soon went back in for paint very soon!!!! There certainly wasn't anyone paying money for flat paint and fake "patina"!!!!!

"Traditionally" Hot Rods were very unique, built by the owner and probably a few buddies stopping by to help a few evenings. They were not copycats of other cars, you used what you wanted for parts, not what some group "ordained" as being "correct" for your car!!!!! Most, if not all, were built with some of the most state of the art parts we could afford!!!!
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Probably nothing like what some of these clowns evision as traidtional now.

Want to see the cars most closely resembling how things were done "traditionally"? Take a look at Don and Dan's rides!!!!! Well planned out with great attention to fit, finish, and detail... THAT is traditional!!!!!!

Doesn't anyone have some car magazines from the 50's laying around? That should give a clear picture of "traditional."

Originally Posted by falconvan

Doesn't anyone have some car magazines from the 50's laying around? That should give a clear picture of "traditional."

That's a great idea. I'm NEW to the hobby, and, while searching for information, came upon "Hot Rod Deluxe". They're focus is on rods of the '30s, '40s, '50s. While my ideal car is circa a ZZ top style rod of the '80s, this magazine is incredibly interesting!

http://www.hotrod.com/whereitbegan/h...sue/index.html

[QUOTE=Dave Severson;382621]Traditional in many instances seems to be what some mid-30 or younger dude has in his mind how Hot Rods were built in the 50's and 60's... Unfortunately this is most often based solely on his and his follower's opinion..

Hmmmmmmmm...... It's clear to me, (clear as mud). I may have to retract my original statement. Maybe I have no idea what is "Traditional". See I kinda thought this was an example of a "Traditional" hot rod.
0807rc_01_z+1931_ford_roadster+.jpg

???

"Traditional" is like saying "religious." For example, some people are religious.....they go to church most Sundays. Then there are people who are "RELIGIOUS".........they go to church on Sunday and a couple more times during the week. Traditional is like that in the respect that some people, like me, like cars that sort of represent what we had in the 50's and 60's. But we are not a slave to making sure every little part is absolutely correct. I refuse to run generators and mechanical fans because I had enough of those years ago. But if I were "TRADITIONAL" it would be a sin to see an alternator and electric fan on my car.

It all depends on your perspective. Plus, I view tradition as us back then trying every new gimmick we could find to IMPROVE our rides. Every month when the new hot rod mags came out we couldn't wait to see what the latest hot setup was so we could try the same thing.

Finally, some people think only flatheads are traditional. In the 50's we couldn't yank them out of our 50 Fords, etc and transplant in the newer, better, Olds, Caddy, and yes, even small block Chevies when they came out. Now you hear some people moan when they see a hot rod with a small block Chevy because it is "not traditional."

Don

Opinions are like ...........uh......bellybuttons..............everyone's got one, some even more than one. As such there is no "correct" answer, even back in the day folks followed different themes; West Coast, East Coast, and variations in between.

Then you have to ask, "traditional for when?" Cars in the '40s were slightly different than cars in the early '50s which evolved considerably in the late '50s, vs cars in the '60s, and on and on. In addition to the Hot Rod Deluxe stuff, there are some great books done by Don Montgomery with actual period photos. Contrary to what a lot of folks want others to believe, not all rods back then were rusty hulks. There were talented mechanics/body-painters/fabricators then just as today. Materials available were different, but equivalent in function. So like the roadster you showed, nice paint, probably decent interior, and solid running were not uncommon. Yeah, there were some klutzes then too who couldn't put together a decent car if their life depended on it, but they weren't necessarily the norm and certainly not what most aspired to. Add to that that there weren't/aren't any "rules" and that's where the variety comes from. While we don't have rules, there is typically consensus about what looks decent and what doesn't. Some examples are bigs and littles, lowered stance (though that changed over time too), colors, power plants, and on and on. Some folks pushed the envelope, and as with most "art" some experiments were more successful (read acceptable) than others. Just to get away from the car idea to make a comparison, most people would prefer Sandra Bullock to Rosie O'..............but there's probably some small set of opinion that goes for Rosie. Same with cars.

For a couple examples here are a roadster and a coupe. The roadster is pretty much late '40s, very early '50s theme. Nothing on it is newer than '52 in the hardware realm. Sure, the seat vinyl was probably produced in the '90s, the tires in mid 2000, but are the equivalent to the materials available in the designated period.

The coupe spans a much wider range of style, and mixes in some later themes. It's basically stock with just a few roddy mods. Dropped axle, reversed eye springs were all available from the '40s on up, though guys prior to roughly 1980 didn't go for quite this low of a stance. Wide whites (though these pictured are radials that weren't prevalent before 1980), dual exhaust, some mild engine mods, and you've got a car mostly like some kid or young family man might have driven every day up through the '60s. Pretty much just an old, affordable car with a touch of individuality.

Both are "traditional" in their own way, one moreso than the other, but represent different themes.

Pick a year. You can build to any decade & be traditional.
There are the hard core traditionalist where a car has nothing new- including th tires. Others will build to a traditional flavor.

Mine is a 60's traditional build. Steel body 32 but with modern parts. Since I don't sit & look at my car parked in the driveway or at a show- dependability was priority one for me- because I drive it.
So the engine isn't considered traditional (ZZ430 w/ a 700r4)
That's good enough for me & the HAMB people don't seem to mind- as long as you say what it is.

As for those shows? They are getting as anal as the Corvette & street rod guys that they complain about. Screening cars sucks IMO. Set a cut-off year & let them show up.
This is why I rarely do shows anymore. I don't need a 30 year old kid telling me how it was back in the day because he read it in a book. I was there.

Here's mine.

Love the "piecrust" slicks! :-)

Yea- for local use- long trips get the radials.

In my opnion these are traditional also.

Here's my car from several years ago. Total different look, more 50's.