The History of Hot Rods

The history of hot rods can be traced back to the Great Depression of the 1930s, when young Californians raced stripped-down Model T Fords on the impromptu hot rod circuits of dry salt lakes.
 
Since those early days, the rise of the hot rod was interrupted by World War II and then demonized as both dangerous and a cause of delinquency. The creation of Hot Rod Magazine and regulated hot rod circuit tracks brought legitimacy to hot rod cars, and today hot rod cars and hot rod trucks are part of a thriving car culture.

Early Hot Rod Cars

The earliest hot rod cars were single-seater Model T and Model A Fords. Lightweight, mass-produced and affordable, these models were perfect for early hot rods.
 
At this early stage in the history of hot rods, the cars weren't called hot rods. The first hot rod cars were "soup ups" or "gow jobs." Drivers stripped the vehicles of any unnecessary weight. It was standard practice to immediately remove the following from a Model T gow job:
  • fenders
  • hoods
  • ornamentation
  • running boards
  • windshields.
By the 1940s, sedans and coupes were also used as hot rod cars, and the term hot rod had been coined to describe these souped-up roadsters.

Cruising and Hot Rod Passenger Vehicles

Early hot rod cars had to fulfill several roles. Most drivers only had a single vehicle. As such, hot rod cars were used for regular transportation as well as racing.
 
A single-seat hot rod has limitations for day-to-day transportation. Hot rod passenger vehicles became more common with the introduction of coupes and sedans.
 
Cruising with hot rod passenger vehicles became popular. As cruising was essentially a way to show off hot rod cars, customization of hot rods became more elaborate. The primary attributes of hot rod cars remained speed and power, whether in older single-seaters or in hot rod passenger vehicles.

World War II and the History of Hot Rods

World War II interrupted the history of hot rods, but paradoxically increased interest in hot rod cars. Many of the young men driving hot rods went to war (at the time, hot rod drivers were almost always male), reducing the number of races on the hot rod circuits.
 
Just as many soldiers carried pictures of girlfriends, wives or family, many hot rod owners carried photos of their beloved cars. These photos were eagerly shared with other soldiers, along with stories of thrilling races and engine modifications.
 
Soldiers heading for the Pacific often left through California, where they were also exposed to hot rod cars. Military experience often included mechanical training, so these young men returned home with the desire, the money and the expertise needed to enter the world of hot rods.

The "Evils" of Hot Rod Cars and Rock 'n' Roll

The history of hot rods hasn't been without controversy. Hot rods soared in popularity after World War II. Illegal street racing became popular, which inevitably led to tragic and fatal accidents.
 
Public opinion associated hot rod cars with recklessness, delinquency and gang activity, charges that were to some extent true. Hot rods, along with rock "n" roll, were seen as a corrupting force that was eating away at the morality of the American teen.
 
In the face of such stern opposition, it's no surprise that the American teen embraced hot rod cars and racing even more. Serious fans of hot rod cars and hot rod trucks were concerned with negative public opinion, however, and were determined to bring hot rod cars into the mainstream.
 
Developing the Hot Rod Circuit

Organizations such as Hot Rod Magazine and the National Hot Rod Association helped restore the reputation of hot rods. The NHRA worked to ensure safe hot rod circuits as an alternative to street racing, and worked with both hot rod owners and the police on safety issues and mutual cooperation.

Hot Rod Passenger Vehicles

The late 1960s saw a drop in the popularity of hot rod cars. Car manufacturers were producing models with power and design that rivaled many customized hot rods.
 
Hot rod cars survived, in part, due to the quintessential hot rod passenger vehicle, the lowrider. Lowriders grew out of the Southern Californian Hispanic cultures in the 1970s.
 
Customized with elaborate paintwork and designs, lowriders have hydraulic suspension that lifts and lowers the height of the car. By working the suspension controls, it is possible to make the hot rod trucks or cars appear to bounce.
 
At roughly the same time lowriders gained popularity, nostalgia for early hot rod cars began to build. Organizations such as the Los Angeles Roadsters began to organize rallies and car shows that focused on hot rod trucks and cars. Rallies were especially popular with the owners of hot rod passenger vehicles, who could make rallies a family affair.
 
Today hot rods thrive both as sport and hobby. Hot rod circuits are available for both professional and amateur drivers, and customizing options have never been so diverse. The history of hot rods is by no means over.
 
Resources
 
Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (n.d.). History of Hot Rods and Customs. Retrieved December 28, 2007, from the HowStuffWorks Web site: auto.howstuffworks.com/hot-rod.htm.

Warde, J. (n.d.). A Short History of Hot Rods. Retrieved December 28, 2007, from the MSN Web site: editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=435974.