New project.

I've been amassing parts for a T project. The initial idea was to throw together a quick semi-tarditional rod to flip. Well,  I'm already getting attached. My budget is forcing me to make decisions on where to spend and not to spend. The original plan was inline six chevy, T-5, 57 chevy rear. This plan was based on budget. Now I'm deep in the money pit building a flathead/banjo hot rod. This is where it starts. Steel turtle back T-roadster, 51 flatty, model-a frame and 32 grill shell.

Sports Illustrated 1961

In 1961 Sports Illustrated ran a pretty in-depth article on Hot Rod culture. It's an interesting read. Here are the pages. Thanks to Nate for loaning me his copy.

Lowrider Super Show

We went to the Lowrider Super Show this weekend. It took place at the fairgrounds, the same location for the NSRA Streetrod Nationals. I'm one of those characters who attend both events, so it was difficult for me not to make comparisons. We show up at the gate a bit early, along with around a thousand other attendees. La Raza was in full effect and the neck tattoo count was high. There were signs posted that said: No Drugs, No Weapons, No Club Colors. We waited for about twenty minutes to get searched and then into the show we go. Standing in line, I'm amazed at how quiet it is. I waited in line at the nationals once and the chorus of bitching sounded like the inside of a chicken coupe. And as I recall, no signs, no cops, no search.
Walking around a Lowrider show is a lot like any other car show with a few exceptions.  I'm a picture taker; and taking photos at a car show can be frustrating. It's really hard to get a picture of a car without someone walking in it. It's also difficult to ignore the judgmental attitudes of attendees. Sometimes it just seems like people are there to judge the cars, not admire them. Maybe folks were just in a good mood or something, but at this show, the over all attitude was positive  and respectful. Whenever I snapped a photo the crowd parted like the red sea. All smiles and families. Really good morning.........

Shop truck update.

When I bought this thing last year I was stoked. After putting little time and money into it, it was riding. Then about 4 months in, the tranny goes. Well truth be told, the truck had a lot of other issues. You know how it is though, you just want to ride. So when the tranny went, the decision was made to swap both the engine and transmission. Well one thing led to another and the truck now has a 350 crate motor, 700r4, A/C, all new brake lines, rotors body mount and frame repairs, and it's still not finished. Well today it got new shoes and it's so bitchin I was inspired to post.

Starsky and Hutch scene. Some seventies cool.

Watching some old Starsky and Hutch can be pretty rewarding if you like some 70's car chases; but there's some other hidden jewels if you watch past the opening credits. Watching this episode at 2 A.M., I'm made aware of a term I'm unfamiliar with. The word "short" to describe a car. I had that feeling, like I wasn't cool, because I didn't know, witch just made it cooler. This episode also features a 55 Nomad that sits pretty right.

Wing

Big Daddy's museum.

Living in Florida, Hot Rod hot spot's are a bit scarce, but we have one thing we can be real proud of, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. It's a bit like an antique mall; there is so much to take in that you begin to go snow blind. You suffer from sensory overload. You have to slow down, take a deep breath, and focus. The museum changes a little every time you go so revisiting usually brings new sights. Walking around, randomly placed, are other artifacts around the cars and if you can take your eyes off the dragsters, some of those smaller raritys are worth attention. Here's a few shots.

.

Thanks Draplin.

If you're into great design check out draplin.com. I stole this link from his site. Check it out. http://portfolio.streetnine.com/machinery/?utm_source=20x200+List+-+Survey+A&utm_campaign=1433b3ad0c-Tuesday_Edition_Joseph_O_Holmes_200_Minute&utm_medium=email

Les Dunham

Maverick is an overused word these days and it seems the folks who refer to themselves as mavericks rarely deserve the title. The ones who do, could care less if they are or not. Les Dunham seems to be the latter. If you read old custom mags, Les's name pops up randomly. He's not the kind of guy who stayed hemmed in by any one type of custom. You'll find references to a 50 ford pick-up, a v-8 chopper, an all fiberglass show-rod and who knows what else. Les would get an idea and run with it, no matter how over the top, and it seems the mans approach payed off. Les started Dunham Coachworks in the 60's and it's still there in Boonton N.J. today. Les's attitude, and a little timing, would eventually gain him a prosperous business, fame, and the lasting title: "Father of the Pimp Mobile" . I wonder what Boyd Coddington or Chip Foose would have said if approached by a New York pimp with ideas on building a custom Cadillac. The answer would likely be along the lines of: " I don't do that kind of work." Well Les, like in everything else he did, saw this as an opportunity to do something unique, and with that decision, added an important element to American auto culture.

After building the first Pimp Mobile, the orders to build more started coming in and Les's creations would become part of the North East pimp aesthetic. He would find himself a key architect of pimp style. A pimp spends more time in his car than anywhere else, it represents who he is and Les would be the guy they trusted with creating it.

So it's the seventies and Hollywood wants to cash in on urban culture. Blaxploitation films are being made and Dunham built cars are already on the streets waiting for staring roles. By the time the projectors stop, Les's cars are seen around the world in two landmark films: SuperFly and James Bond Live and Let Die. It's important to note Les created this style. He didn't follow the trend, he started it. And after the movies were made there was no reason for him to stop.


The mid seventies gas crisis left car buyers with choices devoid of that classic American, over the top, luxurious  design. Excess was frowned upon  and the mid-century attitude of the 50's was viewed as ugly. Cars where toned down, smaller and humble. So the buyer that wanted a glitzy custom, a flashy, big, American car had to have one built. The place to go would be  Dunham Coachworks and Les ends up selling customized Cadillacs worldwide, to Pimps, Texas oil barons and anyone else who wants to strut there stuff with there feathers out. He continues to build cars to this day and since the early seventies has created some reoccurring designs. The two most popular being the Corvorodo and the Caballista. Both cars are based on the corvette chassis, with body designs hearkening back to classic American Luxury. The Corvorodo (the design featured in Live and Let Die) is a blend of Corvette and Eldorado, a true luxury sport coupe. The Caballista, a later design, being Corvette and early touring car.

Les has always done what he wanted no matter how out of step, and in doing so, inadvertently changed the face of American car culture and became a creator of pimp style. He never went looking for an audience, his audience found him. He's a real custom guy, a real maverick.


http://www.retrocycle.com/DunhamCoach.html

Dirt Bikes!

Remember that guy who lived in your neighborhood growing up? The one who was a little older than you and your friends, rarely wore a shirt, and smoked cigarettes like he invented it? Well that guy road a Dirt Bike. He never wore a helmet or any other riding gear. He wore Vans, or Chuck Taylors with Blue Jeans, and when he did wear a shirt, it was a beat up concert shirt like: Iron Maiden Number of the Beast tour, circa 1983. That guy didn't care about Motocross, Supercross, MotoX or the latest in shock technology. He road a Dirt Bike for the same reason he wore that Maiden shirt. Because it was dangerous and he didn't give a fuck. He didn't want to practice riding and jumping so he could win races, that's boring. He wanted to ride illegally, on the street, to the SHOP & GO to buy beer with a fake I.D. . Dangerous.

Vintage CHA CHA