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Post by zenrat on Jun 25, 2011 1:15:31 GMT -5
Is this TRaKable? It's traditional, just maybe not the tradition usually seen here.
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Post by RodBurNeR on Jun 25, 2011 1:49:25 GMT -5
There is no denying it's a pretty sweet machine. I am not sure about the trunk lid...someone could have.....I am sure someone did do things similar to it. I guess it's up to you, I don't have a problem with it. It's styled trad , but I bet nobody had Bugatti headlights on their rods back then lol I am just sayin...
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Post by zenrat on Jun 25, 2011 2:56:17 GMT -5
i'm not sure either. There is a small pic in Rod & Custom which sent me to google to find more. I think it's miss-named. It's not what would have been built specifically to race at Brooklands - too polished. To win on the concrete banking you needed lots of power rather than a fancy wooden boot lid. Big arse aero engines in pre (great) war chassis' was more like it - as per Chitty Bang Bang ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty_Bang_Bang ). Mulliner Park Ward Special might be a more apt name as it takes a lot of styling cues from the cars that were both Grand and Toured.
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Post by Bernard Kron on Jun 25, 2011 7:56:02 GMT -5
IMHO, this is absolutely, unequivocally, a Modern hot rod, thoroughly contemporary in its idiom, typical of the pseudo-neo-traditionalist show rods being done these days. It wouldn't even have been a gleam in a hot rodder's eye pre-'69, I don't think. Now somebody get out there on the internet and prove me wrong!
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Post by tjfenske on Jun 25, 2011 11:36:59 GMT -5
I will have to defer the "traditional" distinction to them what has the power to decide. I, on the other hand think it is Damn Kool, and I would drive it in a heartbeat if I had the chance. A rich dudes ride, but he has class above his money.
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Post by Dennis on Jun 27, 2011 14:39:39 GMT -5
This car was built by Hollywood Hotrods out here in SoCal. I'm pleased to say that I know the owner, Ron Lee, and he is one hell of a nice guy. He's got bucks, but he's not a snob. He just loves cars (of all kinds) and has quite an "eclectic" collection. The best part is they don't sit, he drive's them all. He's also the type to get a car, enjoy it for a few years, then sell it and get the next one on his list of "always wanted". IMHO, this is absolutely, unequivocally, a Modern hot rod, thoroughly contemporary in its idiom, typical of the pseudo-neo-traditionalist show rods being done these days. It wouldn't even have been a gleam in a hot rodder's eye pre-'69, I don't think. Now somebody get out there on the internet and prove me wrong! I agree with this with a "but". There has been an increasing number of "what if" hotrods built lately with styling from vintage racers. The Poteet '32 Miller Pickup is another great (and beautiful) example. It may be contemporary but this roadster is definately old-timey in appearance and if one of our TRaK guys could pull off a replica or a similar roadster I would love to watch! There's lots of intricate details on this car that could really test a guys skills to do it in scale. I think if a guy were to just start building a model like this without making it known what the inspiration was we probably would have got caught up in the cool-factor and wouldn't have questioned it. Kind of like Wes' "Saltster". It's not exactly the definition of traditional but it's so bitchin I'm happy to see it on TRaK and follow its evolution.
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Post by robtrat on Jun 27, 2011 19:39:39 GMT -5
Dennis just said a mouthful, thanks mr. Lacy.
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Post by Bernard Kron on Jun 27, 2011 21:01:21 GMT -5
...I agree with this with a "but". There has been an increasing number of "what if" hotrods built lately with styling from vintage racers. The Poteet '32 Miller Pickup is another great (and beautiful) example. It may be contemporary but this roadster is definitely old-timey in appearance and if one of our TRaK guys could pull off a replica or a similar roadster I would love to watch! ...I think if a guy were to just start building a model like this without making it known what the inspiration was we probably would have got caught up in the cool-factor and wouldn't have questioned it. Kind of like Wes' "Saltster". It's not exactly the definition of traditional but it's so bitchin I'm happy to see it on TRaK and follow its evolution... I actually agree with you. In fact, I recently ordered some Dunlop racing tires (early 60's style) from Alan Raab (Ma's Resin) for just such a project. Guys like Poteet have spearheaded this movement and are hugely important for taking their considerable financial firepower and aiming it squarely at supporting superb artisans like Ron Lee. Indeed it was always this way. The stunning customs and hot rods of the early postwar era were quite often commissioned by wealthy individuals with the hot rod sensibility. May it always be so, and I see no reason why we can't indulge a little of this important trend here on TRaK (and as you pointed out, we already do...).
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Post by Kit Karson on Jun 28, 2011 2:40:45 GMT -5
I really like the way you guys are thinking about the growth of our hobby and more, in general, the art of the hot rod! Bob's right... it is about an era - a time; a distinctive period of history: a period of time made distinctive by significant developments, features, events, and personalities. We're recreating that again... in scale, to a great degree. And, what we build and how we go about it can and is copied into our 1:1 lives. Art imitating life and life imitating art, and all that stuff. We have a bit of a different canvas... ours is plastic and up until the mid '50's designers used wood and clay to do what we try to do today. I could go on and on... waxing philosophically sound banter, the real and most important element is our collective love of all sorts of hot rods and kustoms! Build on! KK btw When does a build here become un-TRaKable?
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Post by draggon on Jun 28, 2011 21:52:45 GMT -5
I kind of agree with Dennis on the "but" factor. Theres a difference between "could have" and "came from" the traditional period. If we see a rod and think holy cow, they were ahead of there time, thats really traditional. On the other hand, if we think that they really "tried" to look traditional, well thats an imitation. I've been involved in rods since the 50's/60's, so an imitation to me is as flagrant as donk-ey wheels on a 32. Sorta like, ya know when its real. Not anything one could put on paper, but something you "feel"!
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Post by zenrat on Jul 3, 2011 2:40:56 GMT -5
I've only just noticed - The Special is RH Drive.
I'm glad I asked the question as the discourse that followed has been interesting.
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