Here are six fabulous but forgotten cars from the golden age of hot rodding. Can you help to identify them?
Not all the noteworthy hot rods from back in the day made it into the rodding magazines, not by a long shot. The cars featured here have been discovered, if you will, on the Internet all these years later, where their photographs now make the rounds of forums, blogs, and Facebook pages. Not all of them are magazine worthy, perhaps, but that doesn’t make them any less fascinating.
The images provide just enough info to tantalize us. We crave more info. Who built these cars? Where did they come from? Do any of them still exist today? We don’t mean to suggest these cars are unknown—rather, only unknown to us. We know these cars made lasting memories for the people around them. If you can help fill in the blanks for us, please drop us a line.
Check out this sweet Ford Model A coupe with a deep rake and wide whitewalls. Was it a group effort, as the photo suggests? A hot rod club or auto shop project, perhaps?
The scene is the Detroit Autorama, reportedly, and thanks to the placards on this crazy three-wheel Harley dragster, we have some info: the creation belonged to Jerry Salt and Jim Frost from Findlay, Ohio, who called it “the world’s lightest V8 dragster.” Sure. Note how the flathead engine serves as a fully-stressed chassis member.
There’s a lot going on in this Model T Ford built to race in NHRA as an A/Street Roadster. Just look—at the rear springs, the spare tire, the curious links that run from the front axle to the rear.
This channeled Model A roadster pickup hails from Winfield, Kansas circa 1958, still sporting an original Henry four-banger for power. Where are the truck and its owner today, we wonder.
This full-fendered ’32 Ford is said to be from Portland, Oregon around 1947, and displays a radically lowered stance, a relocated fuel tank, and ’39 Ford taillamps. Has a Deuce roadster ever looked better with its top up and side curtains in place?
We don’t know anything about the owner, but we’d say he was in tall cotton. Brand new tract house in the ‘burbs, a gorgeous lady, and two fine rides: a Harley Knucklehead bobber, and a ’37 Ford coupe in black primer with a wicked chop in the top. Life was good.
