MAGAZINE

Not Enough Customs

At Blackie's show in Fresno some years ago, we got nervous over a two-tone Merc. 'Nearly had ourselves convinced we deserved it but didn't move on it. That mighta been the time, because they have attracted more of us recently, not the least of which is one of our old pals (Usta have a '51 Vic?) who is on the trail for a ..........no, we can't tell ya because he'll figure it would drive the price up if we publicize what he's specifically after!

When we first got on the net, the Sultans corresponded with us to encourage more sled stuff, but we failed them. Help! If you're still out there, give us a shout and we'll do the right thing. We promise that we are on a direct path to a legitimate Hop Up custom project but could use your advice, photos, schedules.....

VERY MILD CUSTOM?

Although "Sweet Thang's" driver is a lowered Caddy...........spots, single-bar flippers, etc., it doesn't have "Bodywork" as Botel said, and thus, probably is a mild custom if a custom at all. That's OK for the '46, but we have long had another, real deal, up our greasy sleeve.

We have said here, long ago, that Lenny Welch's Hop Up cover car from about 1952 was as good as they got, and it has been our list-leader for twenty-five years. It's doubtful that its' present owner will part with it, so a guy has to find something else, doesn't he?

TOP OF THE LIST

There's another little-book feature car that is hauled around move-to-move by a guy who has been leaking notes to magazines every five years or so that he's "now in the process of restoring the So and So Mercury", but that dog don't seem to hunt. Maybe he'd sell it? No, too much pleasure in havin' something we less-cooleys want! Don't guess we blame him.

You can buy some of the modern ones, but most of them have a tragic flaw. The look will be there and," What in the flippin' hell is that?" Maybe graphics. Top chop that looks like it was laid out by a crusher. Maybe Boyds. Definitely mixed metaphors . Perfect period piece with - a Le Carra Steering wheel? Where's the Kustom Kops when you need 'em?

You can do your own, which could happen. Or you could run across the one. In progress. In the white, Daddy. No square corners. Perfect whack, and a lovin' laundry list of inspired mods that make intellectual sense. Not baroque. Not mods for the sake of mods.

Stick shift. Three-on-a-tree. God, we'd look cool wearin' our Stingy-brim Sky making the 8 mile-per-hour gear-change into second gear, lookin' sinister-like out the drivers' door, over that sculpted chrome window frame. The sounds are good. It is clean (we think clean is more important in customs than it is in rods). The greenhouse hardly exists, and when you look over to the right, you appreciate your slanted B-Pillar, one-off window frames, correct, tasteful trim............'Dis is livin'.

As we drive by the store-front, the reflection shows us the Full Fade in "House Of Mirrors" images.

You go kinda sideways into the driveway, the tips drag a bit and you wince.........it's a badge of courage that doesn't, in fact, bother you, but you're supposed to hate it. You get out, click the door half-latch, walk over and sit down at the cafe-table with the Cat who just got there ahead of you in a Chevy hardtop. You light up a Lucky..... Zippo...... Slouch. .....Motorcycle boots......cuffs folded up 2.......no..... 3 inches...... Pretend to be interested in the conversation, but steal looks regularly at...................Yeah...... Perfection............. James Dean coulda used that cut top. Could you see him doin' the JD Wave out of that mail slot window? WHOOOA, Daddy.

So, we've I.D.'d the candidate car. The builder says he's doing it for himself, and we figger, "He can do a million of 'em. That's my favorite car in the whole world." We're savin' our money startin' right now. If that Lottery Ticket comes in, we're gonna be some dangerous sonsabitches.

For now, we're sniffin'.

THICKSTUN PARTS SURE LOOK AT HOME

The catch is that these cats are from Scotland. Yeah.

Kinda long commute to Oakland, Eh, Boys?

So we've got Hard Core Hot Rod Hop Up Kilt-Wearin' (We don't really know that, yet) Die-Hard Dudes from 6000 miles away. Believers. Let's make 'em feel at home. Have a block party for them. Give 'em a ride in a California roadster on the Dry (Maybe) Lakes. Show them where all the legends materialized, but above all, be pure. From the looks of this guys' ride, he'll hold with no gold-chain, billet-brandishing power parkers If we're any good at all the word will get back to the Isles that we are still carrying on the tradition that caught Doug's eye somewhere in the past. We will be known for our reverent keeping of the flame; preservation of the landmarks; chronicling of the past.

If there are so few of us here, can you imagine how few really bitchin Rod Dudes there are there? Whew!

Welcome, Doug.

THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT THE THROTTLERS' PICNIC!

T n' A

LET'S TAKE THE FORD ON A HUNTING TRIP

It's not our fault that the hunger for historic hot T stuff is insatiable. It always looked "cute". But when Eastwood (T. Wood ?) decides to include you in some enchanting monologues about how it really was, supported by photos, artifacts, parts, books whose critical pages are marked and well-perused with grubby shop fingers, and first-hand sightings that began when he was a pup.......it's kismet. ......You're a Gone-Daddy.

It's like a test. You stop by for some inspiration, and share some new-found fact or photo, and the guy gets this pensive look - probably thinking , "is this Mug worth the effort?" and there, within arms' reach or a couple of steps at most, is some arcane document or picture that he's rat-holed for just such an occasion and we.........well, we worship.

"Come to the alter, Brother...put your hands on the cast-iron Cylinder Head of the Covenant.......experience the healing...........the clarity..........the purity of the Model T. ........Don't hesitate, my brother........come to the mountain......and know Edsel, the son of Ford, whose journey into the Valley of the Shadow of Henry will give you ever-lasting purpose...You, too,can do meaningful things with Fords.........."

You react, and your reaction is measured. "Aha!" Worthiness. You go on to the next, following item that links the previous ones, and some mysterious relationship materializes between all of them. It is research, exploration, revelation, passion..........I'm just glad I didn't turn up an interest in Geology.

Pete handed over the above photo as a loan, knowing it would appear here. He, of course, thinks T's are a worthy subject, and worthy of sharing. He grew up under the auspices of a Dad who was a twin, and the boys had T hot rods as early as 14 years old.( Maybe Pete will loan us the picture of Doug and Warwick with one of their first T hot rods sometime?) That was only the beginning of their dazzling careers as rodders, restorers, and writers-of-the-book on how to do motorsport. And have jobs. And families. How novel.

So, he has nurse-maided the T portion of T n' A, this month, next including the following picture of a '23 roadster ('Looks kinda familiar, Ed.), taken on Rosamond Dry Lake in the early thirties. This Jitney is the full-on Boyd-Mobile of its' day. Class, recite in unison, please:

Dropped axle
Z'd frame
Buffalos
Ruxtell
Hopped-Up overhead
Cut Windshield
"The" Radiator Cap

He points out that the relevant feature in this picture is the inscription on the door. The scan probably won't show it, but it says,

"Sterling Garage"

The address is there, too, all of it written in longhand with chalk or shoe polish or something. So what? Lemme tell ya what. Sterling Garage was the place you took your bone-stock T for a complete.

The whole list, Daddy.

The Pete and Jakes Hot Rod repair of the twenties and early thirties was the Sterling Garage in L.A. Did they have counterparts anywhere else? They must've, but we don't know of any other examples in other parts of the country. Yet. We're looking.

SOMEHOW WE IDENTIFY WITH THIS ONE. 'SPOSE THAT'S WHY HE GAVE US THE PIC?

Next entry is just luck of the draw. Seems like Pete said this photo was in an antique shop or garage sale. Frame and all. It's a crisp photo and reveals much.

Here's our take:

Three generations are posing (Hey! Coco, Stubby!) for a family portrait in front of what has to be the teenagers' ride. And proud they should be!

THIS IS A NICE CAR. AND FAMILY

We make it Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Builder, and Little Brother. Yeah, Little Brother.......the one with the arch in his back....chest throwed out........hands on hips...... Look at this Slickers' eyes.........he looks like a Dangerous Man. He's living vicariously through that teen brother, but he became.... somebody. He had to. If they didn't eliminate him in WWII, this dreamer made it happen. The one who couldn't do it yet but had the need, surely had it all thought (dreamed) out before his time came. We are convinced the Rascal had vision. Look at him again. See? It's unmistakable.

Do you see yourself in this brat? Betcha do.

Maybe you, too, are a Dangerous Man.