Can we get a loud amen, please, for the indoor car show? A couple of weekends ago, we got up very early on a Saturday morning, shot through the morning ritual, and headed our trusty ride from the suburbs down to the beating heart of Detroit to attend the 58th annual Detroit Autorama at Cobo Center, one of the oldest, largest and most widely respected indoor hot rod and custom … [Read more...]
Full Race Jalopy
The American Heritage Dictionary defines jalopy as a word used to describe an old, dilapidated motor vehicle - especially an automobile. The origin of the word itself is hazy. The Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary goes further, suggesting the word may have come into being as a result of many dilapidated automobiles sent to the Mexican city of Jalapa. The second definition of the word … [Read more...]
Country Squire Wooden Wagon
The seventies were the absolute zenith of American station wagon manufacture. The flagships of the Ford station wagon fleet featured acres of simulated wood paneling - usually a shade lighter than the millions of sheets of actual dark brown wood paneling used to convert the basements of American split-level homes into rumpus or bar rooms. This fake wood paneling trend began … [Read more...]
What, Me Worry?
Early hot rodders squeezed the best out of the junk they had. Fenders and running boards came off to save weight. Hop-up parts scored second hand from circle track racers made their way onto flathead eights for more horsepower. Keeping with this pioneering spirit but using modern technology and parts is the Truckster, seen here on display at the Painless Performance Products … [Read more...]
Onward Thames
From the project cars we wish we had money and time to build department, comes this 1959 Thames Trader 300E panel wagon. The complete and original if not somewhat rusted vanwagon was for sale at the NHRA Bowling Green Hot Rod Reunion swap meet - with a bonus. Inside the van-like wagon's cavernous cargo area were all the parts to fix or replace any rusty bits. Also included was … [Read more...]