Hot Rods: From Jalopies and Junkers to Cool Cars

The era of the hot rod was a time when chrome, drive-ins and rock 'n' roll music were all the rage. Hot rods were all about being cool and going fast, making them extremely popular with teens and young adults. The hot rod era spawned a carefree, in-your-face attitude on the streets.

Hot rods grew out of a need to compete with the affluent. Hot rods allowed people to prove that mechanical know-how and manual labor could produce fast, visually appealing cars without much cash.

Hot rods first gained popularity in Southern California during the 1930s. During this time, people modified cars to race them on the dry lake beds throughout the region. During the modification process, people removed hoods, bumpers, windshields and fenders from cars in order to reduce weight and increase speed.

 

After taking away many parts, people would add high-performance engines and wheels and tires that improved traction.

 

Between 1945 and 1964, America became filled with a variety of sporting cars, many of which were produced by modifying the bodies of cheap or trashed autos. Many of the fastest cars emerged from the skeletons of Ford Model As and Model Ts.

 

During this time, coupes, trucks and sedans also found a place in the stripped-down world of hot rods. Hot rod popularity soared in the middle of the 20th century, reaching its peak around 1955.

In broad terms, a hot rod can be any vehicle that is modified to run faster. A street rod is customized for legal use on the roads. Enthusiasts will argue, however, that it is the historical aspects that make a car a true rod. The earliest hot rods, of course, emerged from early Fords, while the later hot rods evolved from classic Chevrolets, Mercury models and newer model Fords.

In the early days of hot rods, people simply modified cars to increase speed. This included removing all unnecessary body parts, including the trim and the windshields.

As the hot rod era progressed, looks became as important as power. People began applying custom paint jobs to their hot rods. These paint jobs often included bold flames and pinstripes. Customized jobs also included lowered frames and fender skirts.

 

Today, you can often see hot rods featuring hydraulic lifts, super-thin whitewalls and plenty of chrome and gold-toned accents.

 

If you're in the market for a hot rod, whether you want to create one yourself or are looking for one that is already outfitted, use caution. Take time to research the type of car you want and also determine how much money you're willing to spend. Establishing and sticking to a budget is extremely important in the world of hot rods, as customizing a car can get expensive.

 

If you're interested in hot rods but aren't sure which hot rod is right for you, you might consider talking to some enthusiasts. Joining a hot rod club is an excellent way to get solid advice.

If you're planning to build a hot rod, you'll find plenty of hot rod parts through local and Internet retailers. Hot rod and street rod magazines also abound and feature parts listings.

 

If you're looking for a fully built hot rod, you can start your search with a reputable specialty dealer. Also, consider checking out hot rod auctions.