Return of the hot rod?

[Hugo a Gogo]

you like all modified cars?

you can call them all whatever you like, for the rest of us, it's easier if we all have words that apply to different things

If I like to refer to all cars as 'sports cars' on the basis that any car could be involved in some sort of sport, that doesn't help us when someone else wants to talk about buying a new sports car

[Streetrod]

HBFS said:

Streetrod said:

So here are a few examples, this was my first car which I still own 30 years later, although it looks like a Hotrod, it is actually a Custom/Street Machine because it is based on a 68 Beetle

Got any more pics of this? It looks fantastic and usualy I hate all Beetles!

I've got loads, but for some strange reason very few on my computer, I must sort that out. This pic was taking back in the late 80's after I had resprayed the car and done various other mods. Please excuse my dress sense; I thought it was cool back then



Some of you with long memories might actually have seen the car when I was asked to make it a feature of a TV programme called "Mad About Motors" The show charted the car's build process and featured a couple of my mates and their Hotrods. The show also notably had some rather mullet headed Mustang owners that was fun at the time.
I still have a copy on video in the loft, I must get it digitised at some point as I cant find a copy on Youtube

[300bhp/ton]

Hugo a Gogo said:

you like all modified cars?

you can call them all whatever you like, for the rest of us, it's easier if we all have words that apply to different things

If I like to refer to all cars as 'sports cars' on the basis that any car could be involved in some sort of sport, that doesn't help us when someone else wants to talk about buying a new sports car

Nah that's not what I'm meaning.

For example if you post a poll up in GG and say "is this a Hot Rod?" with yes/no as the answers.

Do you honestly think most people will say no it's not a hot rod?





Yet it fails the pre '49 reg/law/rule/idea. So therefore can't be one.


Same story with the "aluma-tub" from Coddingtons. It might be in the image and style of an older car, but so is an X358 Jaguar XJ. It doesn't mean it is an old car in any shape, form or construction.

[Hugo a Gogo]

pre 49 style with seperate wings (and it's mostly based on the Pre-War Anglia/7Y anyway, so it fits the definition perfectly)

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Tuesday 14th August 11:23

[300bhp/ton]

Hugo a Gogo said:

pre 49 style with seperate wings (and it's mostly based on the Pre-War Anglia anyway, so it fits the definition perfectly)

That is a Ford Popular which entered production in 1953, so certainly isn't pre '49 if you want to be strict about it. Which you appear to want to be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Popular

[Streetrod]

300bhp/ton said:

Streetrod said:

300bhp, by your own admission you are way too young it seems to be fully aware of the rich and extremely well documented history of the Hotrod culture with its origins dating back before the Second World War. Your comments above about the two scenarios of two cars built a few years apart illustrate this all too well. The fact is that certain modifications that help define pre 49 Hotrod's cannot be applied to cars of a later design.

That the various governing bodies including the NSRA, SCTA, and NHRA etc have all adopted the pre 49 standard I think is all the clarification you need. And let’s not forget that all these organisations were set up by Hotrodders for Hotrodders as a way of organising themselves.

The Hotrod and Custom business is now globally worth multiply billions, and that does not include the ranks of modified modern cars. The biggest car show in the world is a pre 49 Hotrod show so any claims that the hobby is past its sell by date are somewhat unfounded

Who said past its sell by date??

I love rods, a goal (if I ever have the money) is to build a chopped '32 5 window coupe.

It doesn't change the lunacy around what is and isn't called a rod though. And in many cases it really is just people being a little too precious about it, rather than simply enjoying the cars.

I like them all, who really cares about the name?

The sell by date comment was not referring to you but to others comments.

As for the "lunacy" you say, mate it does not exist within the hobby. As someone else said "If you know, you know"

One thing you will find about the Hotrod community is that a large proportion of the people involved have been in it for decades, myself for other 35 years. A lot of my mates for a hell of a lot longer. Politics rarely raises its head; in general we all know what’s what.

[300bhp/ton]

Streetrod said:

One thing you will find about the Hotrod community is that a large proportion of the people involved have been in it for decades, myself for other 35 years.

Trouble is, if you were born in a different decade you will be unable to claim such a feat. Doesn't mean you are any less of an enthusiast though does it?

I might not be a hard core hot rodder, but I've been around the scene on and off over the years too. And maybe not at shows, but at other times it is amusing on what is and isn't deemed acceptable. Like some hating the idea of a modern V8 over a flathead, because it isn't traditional. Yet happily ignoring the fact the flathead actually proceeded the early 4 cylinder rods. But how accepted would a 32 coupe or model A be today with a 2.0 lite DOHC Zetec or Honda K20 engine?

[Cledus Snow]

300bhp/ton said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

pre 49 style with seperate wings (and it's mostly based on the Pre-War Anglia anyway, so it fits the definition perfectly)

That is a Ford Popular which entered production in 1953, so certainly isn't pre '49 if you want to be strict about it. Which you appear to want to be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Popular

Is it not an E494A?

[Hugo a Gogo]

300bhp/ton said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

pre 49 style with seperate wings (and it's mostly based on the Pre-War Anglia anyway, so it fits the definition perfectly)

That is a Ford Popular which entered production in 1953, so certainly isn't pre '49 if you want to be strict about it. Which you appear to want to be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Popular

I know what it is, almost identical to the previous Anglia E494, which came out in 1949
which was an update of this previous Anglia E04, which came out in 1939

which was a facelift of this Ford 7Y which came out in 1938


same body, just the grills changed, and some mechanicals

[300bhp/ton]

@ Hugo a Gogo

I know what you are saying and I'd personally count a Pop as a hot rod. But going by what is posted it simply doesn't count, no matter how you slice it.

Remember some full body cars where only as you put it "some body and mechanic" changes. Under the skin they could well be the same.

I do think this is splitting hairs slightly, but it goes to prove how fickle it is, that a hard and fast rule exists, but hay we'll still allow other cars to count as and when we feel like it.

[Hugo a Gogo]

of course it counts, under NSRA, NHRA etc etc rules

it's a pre 49 body style

they're will always be exceptions, but the Pop isn't an exception, it's solidly within 'the rules'

[JakesterUK]

Streetrod said:

I've got loads, but for some strange reason very few on my computer, I must sort that out. This pic was taking back in the late 80's after I had resprayed the car and done various other mods. Please excuse my dress sense; I thought it was cool back then



Some of you with long memories might actually have seen the car when I was asked to make it a feature of a TV programme called "Mad About Motors" The show charted the car's build process and featured a couple of my mates and their Hotrods. The show also notably had some rather mullet headed Mustang owners that was fun at the time.
I still have a copy on video in the loft, I must get it digitised at some point as I cant find a copy on Youtube

OMG I remember that programme, didn't you have all your pals stood in a lock-up saying this is what I've got (pointing to the beetle) and this is what I want to build, showing a poster of a wizards beetle. To which your mates all laughed and wanted to know if 'does your mum know you're out'......

[Cledus Snow]

300bhp/ton said:

Streetrod said:

One thing you will find about the Hotrod community is that a large proportion of the people involved have been in it for decades, myself for other 35 years.

Trouble is, if you were born in a different decade you will be unable to claim such a feat. Doesn't mean you are any less of an enthusiast though does it?

I might not be a hard core hot rodder, but I've been around the scene on and off over the years too. And maybe not at shows, but at other times it is amusing on what is and isn't deemed acceptable. Like some hating the idea of a modern V8 over a flathead, because it isn't traditional. Yet happily ignoring the fact the flathead actually proceeded the early 4 cylinder rods. But how accepted would a 32 coupe or model A be today with a 2.0 lite DOHC Zetec or Honda K20 engine?

Streetrod, What was the name of that chap who built an MR2 powered '32 Roadster in the mid 90's? Buggered if i can find it on Google.

Also,

[Streetrod]

300bhp/ton said:

Streetrod said:

One thing you will find about the Hotrod community is that a large proportion of the people involved have been in it for decades, myself for other 35 years.

Trouble is, if you were born in a different decade you will be unable to claim such a feat. Doesn't mean you are any less of an enthusiast though does it?

I might not be a hard core hot rodder, but I've been around the scene on and off over the years too. And maybe not at shows, but at other times it is amusing on what is and isn't deemed acceptable. Like some hating the idea of a modern V8 over a flathead, because it isn't traditional. Yet happily ignoring the fact the flathead actually proceeded the early 4 cylinder rods. But how accepted would a 32 coupe or model A be today with a 2.0 lite DOHC Zetec or Honda K20 engine?

300bhp, again I'm not sure why you are picking this augment but again you are showing your ignorance of the subject matter. Within the hobby no one has ever set down any rules as too which engine you can use. Many very well known Rods have used modern four cylinder power plants. In fact there is now a movement to revitalise the old four cylinder flathead market that existed during the 40's and 50's. This old speed equipment is much sort after and extremely valuable.

The flathead V8 over the last 20 years has also come back very much to the fore with moves towards more traditional builds. Again the Flathead speed equipment market is very healthy. If fact if you have the money you can now buy a brand new Ali flathead block.

So go ahead and build your 32 five window and stick a Zetec in it, as long as you build it right no one will have an issue with it.

[Cledus Snow]

Ahhh, Found it.

http://www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk/sas%2032.htm

[300bhp/ton]

Hugo a Gogo said:

of course it counts, under NSRA, NHRA etc etc rules

it's a pre 49 body style

they're will always be exceptions, but the Pop isn't an exception, it's solidly within 'the rules'

Out of curiosity where would something like the Dodge Prowler fit in? I'd say it's a "pre '49" style, but clearly is a much more modern car and is built by a big car maker.

But is it really any different from many other new builds that are merely built in the image/style of, rather than actually being pre 49?

[Cledus Snow]

300bhp/ton said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

of course it counts, under NSRA, NHRA etc etc rules

it's a pre 49 body style

they're will always be exceptions, but the Pop isn't an exception, it's solidly within 'the rules'

Out of curiosity where would something like the Dodge Prowler fit in? I'd say it's a "pre '49" style, but clearly is a much more modern car and is built by a big car maker.

But is it really any different from many other new builds that are merely built in the image/style of, rather than actually being pre 49?

Is a 2012 VW beetle a hot rod?

[Hugo a Gogo]

yep, the prowler is definitely 'pre 49 style, just as much as something like Coddington's Aluma coupe

if it's standard though, it can't really be a hot rod though, can it?

there have been some rodded versions though, Chip Foose did one

Cledus Snow said:

Is a 2012 VW beetle a hot rod?

oof, I'd say you could not make a hot rod out of a 2012 VW - feel free to try

[Roo]

Hugo a Gogo said:

yep, the prowler is definitely 'pre 49 style, just as much as something like Coddington's Aluma coupe

if it's standard though, it can't really be a hot rod though, can it?

there have been some rodded versions though, Chip Foose did one

Is he still credited with the original design?

The Prowler, despite its style , is only a modern day production car so in standard form is nothing other than that.

[Streetrod]

JakesterUK said:

Streetrod said:

I've got loads, but for some strange reason very few on my computer, I must sort that out. This pic was taking back in the late 80's after I had resprayed the car and done various other mods. Please excuse my dress sense; I thought it was cool back then



Some of you with long memories might actually have seen the car when I was asked to make it a feature of a TV programme called "Mad About Motors" The show charted the car's build process and featured a couple of my mates and their Hotrods. The show also notably had some rather mullet headed Mustang owners that was fun at the time.
I still have a copy on video in the loft, I must get it digitised at some point as I cant find a copy on Youtube

OMG I remember that programme, didn't you have all your pals stood in a lock-up saying this is what I've got (pointing to the beetle) and this is what I want to build, showing a poster of a wizards beetle. To which your mates all laughed and wanted to know if 'does your mum know you're out'......

Yep that was the one, except the pic I was pointing to was a real Willy's coupe