Thread: Whatcha reckon????

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Here's one for you,

What are the most unlikely choices of Hot Rod fodder, that have been rodded, or in 'your day' what were the fugly ducklings that are now considered a prime canvas for a rod.

The '37 would be a case of this, would it not??

There are many cars out there, which you would have to question 'what were they thinking' when they were designed, or were they just too far ahead of their time......???

I've got bits of an early 30's Vauxhall, which were given to me, they are all the bits which make em look ugly, or give em the Vauxhall flavour, it only earns critisism, but I don't care, hehehe

A rodder who got the car, chucked the front, and I came along to pick up the pieces, it cost me nothing, and kept me occupied while I was at School and when I had nothing else to work on....
It now hangs in Dad's shed...

Outback

The '37 Ford is probably the best example of what you refer to. I'm sure it's mostly due to changing tastes, but I do believe the '37 began to gain respect in the early '70's when a guy named Orv Elgie built a sedan delivery. His workmanship and eye for detail, along with a good sense of taste in color and stance, got people's attention. He and that car got a lot of ink, most of it expressing surprise about the transformation of a previously labeled "ugly duckling". He didn't have to do anything wild, just detail, detail, detail, that the discerning eye could admire.

Personally I like the '38 standard better with the upper grille strakes sweeping back along the length of the hood sides, but apparently I'm in a minority. I've been a fan of art deco for a long time, even before it's recent re-emergance.

When you put the word "prime" in there, you just about eliminated anything else. As time, and vehicle availability, has evolved, more "off" brands have gotten attention. The "bullet" Studebakers of the late '40's are probably the best example. One guy does a really good job, lot's of pictures are taken, and others are inspired. But the peak for these was probably about 6-8 years ago. Similarly other unusual rides have mini-splashes like prostreet Metropolitans, and rodded late '50's Rambler Americans. After that there are any number of four door sedans and various "orphans" that get the treatment from time to time, but no major trends shaping up.

How's this? Since the market keeps moving up in years (muscle cars from the late '60's are showing the most strength right now) maybe we'll see stuff from the '70's start to catch on soon. I can see it now! Dave Brisco (see, he's the "right" age, is an artist, and is a bit twisted ) comes rumbling into the fair grounds with his totally tweaked AMC Pacer!!!!!!!! The crowd goes wild!!!!!!! Cameras are clicking, flashes are blinding, pretty girls swooning all around!!!!!!! It's an amazing car that transcends all ages and tastes!!!!!!!!! It appears on the cover of nearly every magazine (okay, maybe not the tuners )!!!!!!!!!!! Within a couple years Pacers are all the rage. They become so popular that fiberglass replicas hit the market. Then of course you'll have a whole contingent of the usual "nut cases" who decry anything popular, and an "I hate Pacers" website grows. It COULD happen, right?

Ok Bob; Right next to the Pacers will be the Yugo's,Yuck!!!
I don't see it, butt you could be right, because I can't see any one dying thier hair and finger nails black and then piercin thier
nose, lip,nipple and belly button.


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How about the 49-51 fords. They were to me like a shoebox witha no good looking grill and that small wheelbase that made it look punny compared tothe late 40 fords. Some people might take the late 40's to early 50's mercury coupe as a too wide of car. To me though those early merc's were beautiful. It's all in the eyes of the beholder

Originally posted by Streets
So when are you and Dave gonna start "toolin' up" for your new fad "Greenhouses" BBBob??

Probably a week after you do that "cheap" hot rod kit you were talking about a while back. Besides, Dave is much younger than I am, so he'll have to carry the trend himself.

dave is out of town till fri , but i cant wait to see his reply on this

I think that surprisingly, AMCs are indeed becoming popular. Car Craft had the spirit from hell, and the aftermarket distributors are becoming supportive of the engines. The only problems are that A) the AMCs are few and far between and B) the most oddball company in the modern age is going to have a lot of posers. Part of the reason I bought my Eagle was because NO ONE ELSE HAS THEM! Now, if pacers become popular, and the spirits and (god forbid) the Eagles start becoming popular and built aftermarket, wheres the individuality? I Just hope that Oldsmobiles dont become popular after the company goes. Whats the point of having a oddball car if everyone else has it?

Nash Metropolitan was always a funny car to me, makes me laugh, needs a big whined.-up key on top. How about the lowly chevette, pinto, or the fairmont. Maybe the Granada, or the vomit.....i mean Comet, yes i know they came with a 302 but they're still ugly. How about those early 80's Kleenex box t-birds, ppppppeeeucky

Well, the Pacer might be a stretch. Have ya ever seen a tubbed, caged, and slammed Gremlin, kind of a neat car!! But yanno what?? There's just not much box stock stuff off the showroom that I can get excited about. Brand new Corvettes, Prowlers, Porsches or whatever are just plain boring!!! Geez who wants to drive down the street and have another one just like yers in a different color pull up beside ya???

I have seen everyone of the cars that diamond mentioned modified, customized, tuned, twisted, and tweaked into wild looking, hard charging rides. I mean come on, the best part of Hot Roddin is to take something most people would not look twice at and turning it into a neat ride. I love coupes and roadsters, but eventually ya just get tired of lookin at another 34 glass whatever with a 350/350 in it.

Hey Bob, ya know what?? Think I might go look for a Pacer!! Then I would need a 427 Cammer, Top Loader with a Gear Vendors OD on the back, mebbe one of them Heidt's 9" IRS units, a little chop here, french there, some wheelie bars out the back, loose the quarter and rear glass to some tin panels, 12 point cage, tubs..................................................WHY NOT???????

Over here in Aus, we have the benifit (I dunno if benifit is the best word but anyhow) of having a wide range of cars, of Aussie origin, American origin, and finially Pommy/English origin, maybe more so (??) than the states.

Because our Rodding scene is closer to the US one, English cars are usually kept for the 'sport car' crew. There are however many which have gained respect (?) usually on the Drag strip in the 60's, ie the Anglia, and Fiat Topilino etc.

byt there are many other less desireable ;even still today; motor cars.
There are the likes of Ford Zephyr's of the 50's which may be Kustom fodder. But there are still many other 'unlikely choices' around, shure many have been done, but over here if it's not American, then 'it'd better better be good', before it'll get accepted. Many of these cars were 4 cyl or 6cyl from factory, so this also helps one understand why they aren't so popular (yet).

It'd have nothing to do with style, or oil leaks would it?? :lol:

Like Bob was sayin in his "Dare to be Different" thread, there is nothing new under the sun, you may not realise it that's all.

Outback