That and the knowledge and know how from the hot rodder down the street is gone. I have found that most of the old hot rodders started there own business and don't want to lose the money to show the kid down the street how to bend metal or hot rod a engine. And most kids don't want to put in the effort. It is a shame!
the knowledge can be attained far easier now that all the pioneers have had 70 some years to publish everything they ever did, and everyone has analyzed all the cool old stuff from the 40s, 50s and 60s... the hands on experience is hard to find, but never needs to be invented again. It's all been done, only now, the parts that once were cheap and easy to source from junkyards are all unobtanium due to all the collectors paying for and warehouseing the cool stuff. Stewart Warner and Airguide guages used to be as cheap and easy as a junkyard run, now, forget it. All the original stuff is too far decayed or already snapped up by collectors. Same with quick change gears, hemis, and factory paxton and McCullogh superchargers. So, my point it, it was relatively cheap and easy in the 40s 50s and 60s to be a young hot rodder, and there ain't no way in hell that photo could be recreated with young adults of a similar age, that own hot rods that nice... simply be cause the parts are too expensive. Von Dutch would Dutch a car for a 12 pack of beer, or 20 bucks, he did thousands. Not one pinstriper today will pick up a brush for less than 5 bucks at a car show or convention, much less lay a line on a vehicle for beer PLUS a twenty. The paint alone would cost as much as either the beer, or bill. Not to mention the brushes. So, yeah, young people can not afford to be hot rodders. Not legit roadsters and coupes from the 20's and 30's
Yeah......, But I miss the old bastard junk yard smarts. Those that only come from years of handling old cars and parts. The last old champ I had the pleasure of talking to, was telling me about the 4banger he was building for his A sport coupe. The old guy was describing how, on a quiet afternoon. He took the main shaft out of an 18R Toyota distributor and turned it down so it fit the A 4cyl. While showing me the manifold he made to take the down draught carb on the chev 6 cylinder head with the end chambers cut off, creating a cross flow head, and allowing him to now do 100mph+. And much more I struggle to recall. ..........Clever old pricks.........
yeah, I did my junkyard crawls about 10 years ago, and once I was done scavenging for my R/T, I was done with junkyards. Those were some interesting days
I disagree a little bit - every generation has their hot rods built out of old cars that were undesirable and cheap. The kids in the photo above bought Model A's and such because they were worthless junk that older people had cast aside. When I went to high school in the 80's I drove a '70 Road Runner - a car that had become worthless. My wealthier schoolmates laughed at my Dukes of Hazzard junker. These days I see kids hot rodding v-tec Hondas and cast-aside work trucks and see a new telling of the same old story.
I see your point, but it's not the case I made, that those young people in the photo, they OWNED those incredible hot rods. People their age can NOT AFFORD the same cars today. The parts etc are not available. Yes, you're right, every generation has made a similar fad happen, with old dodge musclecars, or older hondas... true. Rich kids drive BMWs and Mercedes, or back in the day, Marmons and Duesenburgs.... but the point is, when they really made hot rods in the 40s and 50s, legit hot rod roadsters and coupes, they could afford the damn things, and now, those very model t and model A hot rods are mid 5 figure to low 6 figures to assemble from the real legit hot rod parts, the Stewart Warner gauges, LaSalle transmissions, Caddy or Lincoln engines, quick change gears, and Firestone land speed tires, or Hurst pie cut slicks for drag racing.
Gimme a sec to check that out, and then I'll weigh in. Was this something you wanted to discuss? Or just provide this example of why you think I'm wrong?
ok, the guy tells J that he put 6 thou in, and paid 800 bucks. So, there is 6800 cash into that car... and I seriously say NFW you are going to buy a good model t for 800 like this guy did. Not going to happen. Also, lets get back to the original photo, and the original point: young people today, of an age like those in the photo, can not afford cars like those in the photos, simply because the parts in those cars in the photo, are far too expensive. What seems to make this something you want to argue? Your example, a model T jalopy? Not similar to anything in the photo I posted. For gods sake, there are two belly tankers in that photo!
That and the knowledge and know how from the hot rodder down the street is gone. I have found that most of the old hot rodders started there own business and don't want to lose the money to show the kid down the street how to bend metal or hot rod a engine. And most kids don't want to put in the effort. It is a shame!
ReplyDeletethe knowledge can be attained far easier now that all the pioneers have had 70 some years to publish everything they ever did, and everyone has analyzed all the cool old stuff from the 40s, 50s and 60s... the hands on experience is hard to find, but never needs to be invented again. It's all been done, only now, the parts that once were cheap and easy to source from junkyards are all unobtanium due to all the collectors paying for and warehouseing the cool stuff. Stewart Warner and Airguide guages used to be as cheap and easy as a junkyard run, now, forget it. All the original stuff is too far decayed or already snapped up by collectors. Same with quick change gears, hemis, and factory paxton and McCullogh superchargers. So, my point it, it was relatively cheap and easy in the 40s 50s and 60s to be a young hot rodder, and there ain't no way in hell that photo could be recreated with young adults of a similar age, that own hot rods that nice... simply be cause the parts are too expensive. Von Dutch would Dutch a car for a 12 pack of beer, or 20 bucks, he did thousands. Not one pinstriper today will pick up a brush for less than 5 bucks at a car show or convention, much less lay a line on a vehicle for beer PLUS a twenty. The paint alone would cost as much as either the beer, or bill. Not to mention the brushes. So, yeah, young people can not afford to be hot rodders. Not legit roadsters and coupes from the 20's and 30's
DeleteYeah......,
ReplyDeleteBut I miss the old bastard junk yard smarts.
Those that only come from years of handling old cars and parts.
The last old champ I had the pleasure of talking to, was telling me about the 4banger he was building for his A sport coupe. The old guy was describing how, on a quiet afternoon. He took the main shaft out of an 18R Toyota distributor and turned it down so it fit the A 4cyl. While showing me the manifold he made to take the down draught carb on the chev 6 cylinder head with the end chambers cut off, creating a cross flow head, and allowing him to now do 100mph+.
And much more I struggle to recall.
..........Clever old pricks.........
yeah, I did my junkyard crawls about 10 years ago, and once I was done scavenging for my R/T, I was done with junkyards. Those were some interesting days
DeleteI thought i was done with junk yards too, until I realized I actually visit an awesome world wide junk yard all the time......EBAY.
ReplyDeleteI disagree a little bit - every generation has their hot rods built out of old cars that were undesirable and cheap. The kids in the photo above bought Model A's and such because they were worthless junk that older people had cast aside. When I went to high school in the 80's I drove a '70 Road Runner - a car that had become worthless. My wealthier schoolmates laughed at my Dukes of Hazzard junker. These days I see kids hot rodding v-tec Hondas and cast-aside work trucks and see a new telling of the same old story.
ReplyDeleteI see your point, but it's not the case I made, that those young people in the photo, they OWNED those incredible hot rods. People their age can NOT AFFORD the same cars today. The parts etc are not available. Yes, you're right, every generation has made a similar fad happen, with old dodge musclecars, or older hondas... true. Rich kids drive BMWs and Mercedes, or back in the day, Marmons and Duesenburgs.... but the point is, when they really made hot rods in the 40s and 50s, legit hot rod roadsters and coupes, they could afford the damn things, and now, those very model t and model A hot rods are mid 5 figure to low 6 figures to assemble from the real legit hot rod parts, the Stewart Warner gauges, LaSalle transmissions, Caddy or Lincoln engines, quick change gears, and Firestone land speed tires, or Hurst pie cut slicks for drag racing.
DeleteMillennial Hot Rodder Calls BS on "Hobby Too Expensive" http://blog.garagistry.com/2016/07/milennial-hot-rodder-call-bs-on-hobby.html
ReplyDeleteGimme a sec to check that out, and then I'll weigh in. Was this something you wanted to discuss? Or just provide this example of why you think I'm wrong?
Deleteok, the guy tells J that he put 6 thou in, and paid 800 bucks. So, there is 6800 cash into that car... and I seriously say NFW you are going to buy a good model t for 800 like this guy did. Not going to happen. Also, lets get back to the original photo, and the original point: young people today, of an age like those in the photo, can not afford cars like those in the photos, simply because the parts in those cars in the photo, are far too expensive. What seems to make this something you want to argue? Your example, a model T jalopy? Not similar to anything in the photo I posted. For gods sake, there are two belly tankers in that photo!
Delete