Hot Rod disappointment

[Don Jordan]

I went to the Hot Rod show in Pamona Saturday and while I was impressed with the amount of craft and power I was disappointed that there was a poor showing for MoPar. There were the usual 'muscle' cars (I have one or two pictures) and a lot of 'trailer queens.'

The one picture I got of a MoPar was in the parking lot.

There are people with a lot more time one their hands than I could ever have and a lot more money that I will ever have. Some of the engines must cost more than my entire car.

I'll see if I can get the picture to post.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

I'm a hotrodder, not a restorer, and I find most shows a disappointment too. I wont even look at trailer queens, I dont care how good they are. One area that really gets me going is how many idjits have no idea of a theme, their car is a mishmash if ideas. For example, 29A fenderless roadster painted flat black (trad) with late model 350 crate (mod) and two 4's on a tunnel ram (comp). Lakes headers (trad), KH wires (trad) with radials (mod), discs (mod), moulded upholstery (mod) but wide whites (trad). They just dont get it.

[Don Jordan]

You're right - I did see those.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

The one that bugs me most is when magazine articles state a rod is "traditional" because it's got satin black paint, and there's a billet steering wheel, billet wheels, rockercovers with flames CNC'd in them etc, non of which is traditional. Even the satin black is marginal, but it is accepted. (I never remember seeing any satin black paint in the 60's). Magazine editors should know better.

[49DODGEBOY]

I'd have to agree with all of you. It was my first trip to what was supposed to be the "Roadster show", if I had wanted to see tri5's, muscle cars, I'd do the Goodguys. Yes there was plenty of roadsters, most beautiful, some traditionals, and some works in process in the Suede Place. Hell I spent alot of time looking at the lowriders, the paint on those cars are incredible.

Overall, was not impressed with the show, I think I,ll see more what I want to see at shows like Mooneyes and the Primer Nats.

[bob westphal]

Has anyone actually seen a car that has been built in the last decade that is actually built like they really were? I built my P-15 the way I did when I wasa kid, Torched springs and all! Now that's a traditional car! The traditional rods aren't built in the real tradition like us old timers built them. However, To each his own!! I like cars! Period!!!

PS: I do get tired of all those tri5s.

[49DODGEBOY]

Has anyone actually seen a car that has been built in the last decade that is actually built like they really were? I built my P-15 the way I did when I wasa kid, Torched springs and all! Now that's a traditional car! The traditional rods aren't built in the real tradition like us old timers built them. However, To each his own!! I like cars! Period!!!

PS: I do get tired of all those tri5s.

I,m trying to, although I,m not THAT old

I cut my springs, used blocks, am making my own intake and split exhaust manifolds, found seat covers from the 60's and still have the 3 on the tree. etc...........but safety is #1.

[james curl]

The reason the old cars had satan black paint is thats what Henry painted them and by the time we got them all of the shine was gone from the paint. Old paint must be polished to maintain its shine and back in the 40's and 50's no one ever polished their car. The first car that I compounded and polished was a pea green 55 chevy, no shine ended up using Johnsons Glo Coat liquid to get a shine on the thing

[Plymouthy Adams]

A lot of alkyld paints were used back in the older days..these paints would shine big time but was a constant maintenace issue as they 'chalk' in sunlight. They were very flat in no time. Even in later days the alkyld paints were a favorite for blending panel repairs to existing acrylic enamals. Alkyds are very heavy with pigment in their base mix.. Early Henry's used a varnish based product.

[Normspeed]

Actually Don, there were probably 10 to 15, maybe 20 older Mopars at that show, maybe more. They ranged from near stock to trailer queens. There were six or seven buildings of cars plus the outdoor show on Saturday. After three days I was still seeing cars I had missed earlier.

This isn't my favorite show either, because so many are trailer queens. But it's where they award America's Most Beautiful Roadster each year so the big bucks cars all show up. Did you see the original George Barris Ala Kart? That little white/purple bucket you posted was actually built by a young gal, no more than 20 years old. Nice to see the younger ones giving it a try.

As I remember it, the satin black originated as black primer jobs back when I was a kid. It wasn't considered the final paint although low budgets sometimes made it that way.

[49DODGEBOY]

those outside were gone sunday, wish I would have seen them.

the bucket was built as a husband/wife thing, the truck next to it was the husbands. That thing was beautiful, one of my show favorites

[Don Coatney]

Did you see the original George Barris Ala Kart?

I think I have the original Hot Rod magazine that featured that car somewhere in my stash. I remember drooling over it in high school.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

I remember it on the cover of Hot Rod.

Bob Westphal.... I like your way of thinking. My ethic with the Savoy was to build it as I would have in 62-63, had I owned it then.

[49DODGEBOY]

nice!

clean and simple

[Normspeed]

those outside were gone sunday, wish I would have seen them.

the bucket was built as a husband/wife thing, the truck next to it was the husbands. That thing was beautiful, one of my show favorites

This one?

[BloodyKnuckles]

I remember it on the cover of Hot Rod.

Bob Westphal.... I like your way of thinking. My ethic with the Savoy was to build it as I would have in 62-63, had I owned it then.

Super nice!!

BloodyKnuckles

[49DODGEBOY]

This one?

that's them, that bucket is just beautifull,