Thread: 1st Hot Rod

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Looked for a thread for something like this in search but struck out so thought I would start this. These are pics of my 1st hot rod circa 1961. Just got back from Tijuana where I had my 35 4 door sedan upholstered top to bottom/front to back for $100. The kid holding the door open was my brother; I should have had him take the pic while I held the door. I drove down to TJ from Sunnyvale Ca. after dinner friday night and got to TJ about 7:00 AM sat, shopped for the cheapest shop and they started right then and there. I stayed there and watched the whole job, I was told by friends that if you aren't there to watch they will stuff the pleats with "used" barn straw. They used cotton fiber. I did leave for about 20 min to get something to eat and no, I didn't see any girly shows, didn't have time. They finished about 7pm that evening and I started right back, got home in the wee hours Sunday. The shot of the Plymouth was my cousins first hot rod circa 1959. It had a Studi V8.

cool old pics.i could look at em all day.very nice to see.

Wow, wished I could get a $100 upholstery job now. Cool story Jack. I lived in Gilroy and worked in San Jose for years.

TJ tuck and roll..................how cool is that..........................

I don`t have any pics of the tear apart , but my `33 interior was done in Mexico, the guy I bought from said so, and low and behold, straw and newspapers...

Jack, you are living my dream. A TJ upholstery job is something I have always wanted. Wish I had gotten one when I lived in So Cal, but now it is just too far to go from Florida. That had to be a great experience and that interior looks fantastic.

Don

Thanks guys,

Let's see some more. Pics of other's first hot rods I mean.

Jack.

Does look very cool,can't beat those old pictures.

A friend who has since passed on left Upstate NY for Tijuana for an upholstery job on his '54 Ford Victoria. He was gone a week or so and when he returned, there was this "beautiful"(?) roll and pleat - bright red and white covering everything inside his maroon and white car. The entire trip including the upholstery was about $250 with .23 cent a gallon gas and $5/night motels.

Go to Tijuana these days, you might return "headless".

Dave,

I hear you about the danger now days. I would not go down there now for any amount of money. One thing I remember about Tj was insane way the natives drove and the condition of the streets. The potholes were so big that complete cars would disappearin them.

Jack.

I was raised in Orange county. Had my 1st car, 34 ford tj upolstry done in 55. Second car a 50 olds done in tj, 57. Third car 40 ford done in tj, 58.

I now live in Humboldt county CA, but a friend told me that all the low riders now go to Union city (near San Dego) for all their upolstry needs.

Originally Posted by Bruce lee

.................. now go to Union city (near San Dego) for all their upolstry needs.

It was announced yesterday that Presidente Calderon is moving the capital of Mexico from Mexico City to San Diego................................he said they wanted to be closer to their population.

Bruce,

I was born in Eureka and the pic of that Plymouth was taken at my cousins parents place in Mitchell Heights just outside Eureka. He still lives in Eureka.

Jack.

Man, that is a beautiful car. I am so jealous!

Welcome Pop,

Bought that car for $30 from a friend of mine. Took out the original 35 V8 and put in a 50 V8, got a 39 box with zephyr gears, truck tail housing and tail shaft from the same guy I bought the car from and put a 50 merc rear end in it with open drive. It ran like a top and got 20+ mpg.

Jack.