Thread: Why yer hot rod?

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I mentioned in another thread a little blurb about the hot rod I'm building, and someone wanted more info, so I took the advice and started a thread so I could state my reasons for building my hot rod., but so that others can tell their stories about why their hot rods are important to them as well.

I'll start.

My grandmother bought the car that I'm currently building up back in 1951 as the second owner. Back when she lived in North Carolina she used to do a bit of dirt track racing(what eventually morphed into NASCAR). She always seemed to have a thing for the hot rods. Everytime I would bring a car by she would always want a look under the hood. I never understood why she took such an interest in my cars, because when I was growing up she never seemed to like fast cars.

After my grandfather's death I had a dream about an old hood ornament(I think it was a 1950 Buick). When I told my grandmother about it she said that she had found an old hood ornament about the same day as I had the dream. It was found by a bobcat, and unfortunately was almost completely destroyed. She asked me to do some research on where it came from. When I did I found out that it came from a 1947-1948 Nash. Her Nash. I told her that I was planning on making a hot rod not doing a restoration. At first I was planning on rodding the '50 Ford coupe(also could have gotten it free) She and I would talk about engines, speed, horses(both 4 legged, and petroleum kind) and... well... cars. One day she suggested the Nash as a hot rod project. At the time I wasn't interested. I didn't think it would be a good project. I was still looking at her '50 Ford. Then I brought my fiance' out to look at the Ford(now she's my wife) and she brought me over to look at the Nash. It was in much better shape. It didn't have a V8 in it, but everything lined up perfectly. It also turns out that the '50 Ford had been involved in a fatal rollover accident, and I am a bit superstitious about that stuff. I went up to grandma and she said that she might even have the original title to the Nash(now in my posession). I was amazed at how many signs pointed to making the Nash a hot rod.

This car is the car she drove from NC to Colorado. This is the car she drove to work supporting not only herself and her only son(my dad... duh), but her entire family. This is the car she drove in to the dance where she met my grandfather(the one I grew up with). After they met they parked her car on the the farm(one of the first farms settled in Colorado), and that's where it was when I got it.

My grandma ended up buying a 2000 Impala(I bought that at the estate auction) after my grandfather's death. Her first car since 1955(last year she registered the Nash as well). Two weeks later she gets a speeding ticket(My grandmother! It has to run in my family!) 85 in a 55 for those interested, but she talked the judge into a lesser penalty(excessive speed). Now with all of this, how can I even build a different car. The two cars my grandma got caught speeding in.

It looks better with the inside cleaned.

I picked up my 53 Plym running, but exceptionally bad, on a used car lot. The guys who ran the place couldnt believe it started, theyd put in a fresh 6 volter, new gas and tried it. They never heard of a choke, never thought about tossing the clogged oil bath, never let the fuel pump and fuel line cleaner totally fill before pumping it.I drove it home, no brakes to speak of other than the parking. She was a paltry 900 bucks,tax included, not bad for a driver.

Now ive got the almost never working flame thrower installed, the nicely chromed 94 replacing the 1 barrel, 3/4 vintage schneider cam, only the front seat recovered, black vinyl, 47 desoto rims and caps and nice semi gloss black primer.

I guess the purple paint, the 2x2 intake, milled head will have to wait till im more flush, and can get the job done in a weekend. Its tough with it being my driver.

Sweet story.... The ending is a bit weird, it really doesn't have one. lol Where in NC did she have the car? Lucky to move away from here. haha

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
Sweet story.... The ending is a bit weird, it really doesn't have one. lol Where in NC did she have the car? Lucky to move away from here. haha

Well I'm working on the ending to the story.Everything I do to the Nash will be simply adding to the story. Unfortunately she died before I could get all of the details from her. I know she won a few races. At least she saved a clipping of one of her races(I couldn't get that one). I believe she lived outside of Charlotte

Originally posted by Tommycat
I mentioned in another thread a little blurb about the hot rod I'm building, and someone wanted more info, so I took the advice and started a thread so I could state my reasons for building my hot rod., but so that others can tell their stories about why their hot rods are important to them as well.

That's a great story Tommycat. Lookin' forward to watchin' your progress.


My son got me interested in cars again after he bought a Camaro. I decided to buy a car from around my high school era. I first tried to buy a 72 Chevelle but I couldn't come to an agreement with the owner. Then I came across the 70 Camaro z-28 I am now destroying. After I got the Camaro home the guy with the Chevelle decided to take my offer. TOO LATE. Probably just as well since my plans have evolved into a pro street project the Camaro is a lighter car.

Well i've always been a Gm guy so when i decided to build a race/pro street style car i was going to look for another chevelle. I use to have a 71 chevelle and i always wanted a 70 but after thinking about it for a bit i started thinking about how many pro street style chevelles i've seen in my life(no offense to anyone who owns one) and thats when i started thinking about building a GTO since you rarely see a full on race/pro street 68/69 goat.

Long story short a friend of a friend had a running (although a basket case) 69 GTO that he was willing to part with for $1500 so i bought it within 5 mins of seeing it.

BG

Sorry to hear about your grandmother. She seemed pretty damn cool if she raced though. Also Blowngoat, I agree with you big time about the Chevelles man, you see ton's of them all the time, same with impalas and those other cars.... Now when I see one I am just like "nice a chevelle but not big deal". Don't get me wrong, they are really nice cars but too many of them out there.

My very first car was a 1953 Studebaker Champion. I bought it with $$ I earned delivering flowers. It wasn't running, I pulled the flatty 6, rebuilt a Chevy 283 and put it in there. Wasn't sure how to wire it and before I could get help with that Uncle Sam called me and I went into the Air Force. My dad ended up selling the motor and having the car hauled away Now some 35 years later after numerous hot rods and a couple bass boats I came across another '53 Studebaker Champion. This one looked a lot different than my original, but it did have a Chevy V-8! To really bring things full circle, I just finished re-wiring it! Not gonna let that task beat me again! I've always loved these cars and this one has a home for a long time to come now!

By the way, my Mom and Dad had one too, that's the first one I remember.

Pat

Found mine in the middle of a field. Wanderd over, looked around it everything seemed clean enough. Got the number. Guy was asking 1000$. Drove down the next day, it was a cop! Started right up first try, put it down, spun the tires. Talked him down to 800$ and drove it home. Took it immediatly up and it walked through inspection. 6 years later I have to bring it down due to frame damage. NY salt sux. But, guess what im buying next?

I saw my car 3 years ago for sale, I told my mom I wanted it when I first saw it. 3 years passed and I was in the market for another car ( just gave up on 'Benz engine swap for the year ) and I looked around, I looked at the '51 Chevy, a '63 Nash Rambler Classic that was $1,600, I was going to buy the Rambler but, somthing told me to call on the '51 Chevy, the guy wanted $1,200, I talked him down to $800 after looking it over througly and, bought it.