Hot Rod Photos from Chuck Vranas – He’s Like That

Hot Rod & Custom Car Photography

Jeff Norwell’s perfect hot rod pickup at the Moody Mile in Syracuse

Whether your building your first hot rod or a website about hot rods, it’s best to have a little help. The most generous people you meet help when really, there’s nothing in it for them. They’re just, “Like that”.  That’s the case for this featured photographer, Chuck Vranas.

I met Chuck at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA. He was floating around shooting here and there, but didn’t look overly busy and rushed (like me), so I asked who he shoots for. At the time, he was shooting for Source Interlink powerhouse Street Rodder Magazine.  Chuck shoots and writes feature car and tech stories for Street Rodder quite a bit, especially lately. Check out the newest issues and you’ll see stories Chuck did. It’s almost like seeing someone you know on TV! (but totally different)

Chuck is the real deal when it comes to hot rods too. Doesn’t it kinda show when a photographer really likes what he’s shooting? Ansel Adams can shoot some landscapes like nobody’s business, but does he see the beauty in a salty lake bed filled with hot rod coupes like this? I guess not my friends…

With the help of his Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop buddies, in 2008, Chuck grabbed his rookie license in a Flathead V-8 powered ’32 Ford roadster to the tune of 117 mph. That might not sound like much, but what a thrill! I’ve bumped into Chuck a couple times on the salt and it’s no wonder some of his favorites photos are also mine from Bonneville Salt Flats.

Chuck’s also a car owner and driver whenever his photography lands him back at home. I saw first hand what Chuck and his wife Kim can do building a hot rod! (OK, it was mostly Kim) I called the story “Lady’s Choice” because most of the key decisions were Kim’s and she got it dead on with her 27 Ford Touring Hot Rod that competed for the AMBR award in 2009.

So look for Chuck at a show near you. If you see him… he’ll most likely be the relaxed, on-pace guy I first met at GNRS. Yea, I found out why… he’d been at the show almost all night. With his hook ups, he can shoot at night, with no people walking around and… AND with none of those ropes and barriers in his pictures. Jealous? YES!! But that’s what hard work and being, “Like that” will get’cha in the end.

Chuck’s got his own book he’s working on along with a the books he’s collaborated on. “Great American Hot Rods: A Full Throttle Chronicle of Custom Cars from the Street, Show and Strip” on KP Books, and the children’s book “Custom Cars (Motor Mania Series),” with Lerner Publishing.

I liked so many of Chuck’s photos, instead of jamming them all into this story, I made an “Event” called Chuck’s Hot Rod Photo Fantabuli. It’s full of some choice shots from around the hot rod and custom world.

Thanks for everything Chuck!

51 Deluxe Cruisin for a Bruisin

Flat Black 51 Chevy Deluxe Cruiser

Author and Photographer: Mike Harrington

We have all heard the expression. “I’m going to beat you till your black and blue”. I don’t know about you, but anyone I’ve ever seen with a black eye or a serious bruise, the bruise looks more black and green. Kind of like this here ‘51 Deluxe custom owned by Dead Sleds member Crow and his wife Adrianna. Now before you splatter your drawers thinking “not another black primered car!” Throttle back for moment and take our word for it… This suede sleds body work is smoother than a velvet Elvis under a black light while puffing a cigarette packed with Mexican hay.

Many times a black sled will be bathed in apocalyptic black to hide the flawed body work. However, during the construction process of Crows blacktop bruiser he and club member Cepe spent a year massaging the metal on the ’51 Chevy bringing her back to life. That massaging came in the form of shaving all the prickly protrusions from the body of the Chevy. Some prefer to call them emblems and door handles, we’ll call them gone. What’s a proper cruiser with out some sort of a shave job?

As is typical of many a hot rodder or sled pilot they can’t seem to leave well enough alone on their vehicles. You may notice in the pictures that in some of the shots there are green metallic scallops and in others, they’re not there. It’s simple really; it’s the theory of evolution taking shape.

It started as an out-of-date stocker, then to the black and green machine you see here and finally a few more green scallops were added between photo sessions. No hot rod or custom car is ever finished they are just abandoned. And with just a few years of ownership of the 1951 Chevy Deluxe under his belt, evolution is key.

Besides the ever trusty small block Chevy mill residing under the hood, what makes the 51 Deluxe good is the air ride system that gives the Chevy its brutish stance. We could take another page describing all the things that have been done to this car, but the best part of it is that Crow, his wife Adrianna and the kids hop into the car and take it on rides any time the mood strikes.

Here’s the complete photo gallery of Crow and Adrianna slick black 51 Deluxe. Let’m know if you approve!

60s Attitude 63 Ford Fairlane Custom

1963 Ford Fairlane 60s Custom

Author and Photographer: Mike Harrington

Less IS More

We Americans seem to have this “bigger is better” mindset. After all if a little is good then a lot is better right? We can biggie size our French fries, biggie size our body parts with pecker pills or bags of silicone. Big, big and bigger! We are obsessed with size. Don’t take me wrong, if someone wanted to put a 572 cubic inch big block in my classic ride, I surely wouldn’t object, but is bigger always better? I guess it all depends on your perspective.

(Editor’s note: Maybe less isn’t more with the lovely Cherry Doll! She’s smokin hot…)

I once heard a saying that has seared its self into my memory. “Less…is more”. This saying holds true to music, design and even meal time. It also holds very true in the case of this ’63 ½ Ford Fairlane. With all the subtlety of a serpent, Ford introduced the 260 cubic inch lightweight Windsor featuring 164 horsepower, that was the “Challenger” versions of Ford’s mighty small block. At 12 inches shorter than a Galaxy and a good 16 inches longer than a Falcon this Fairlane and its owner don’t care about size, it’s all about the aesthetics.

RJ McRae, owner of the mid-size 63 Fairlane seen here believes in the less is more philosophy. He ply’s this philosophy everyday with his customer’s rides at his garage known as the Madratter Garage, so why not with his own personal rides?

The Fairlane, when first acquired, was in a very cherry, yet stock, state of existence. Why mess with perfection some may ask? Keep the Ford stock and enjoy it as is! But, where is the fun it that? Owing to his less is more philosophy, a few subtle modifications were made to really give this little Ford a beautiful mild 1960’s California cruiser look.

With four months of hard work, the Fairlane was sporting some new skin. R.J. repainted the body in the stock “Viking Blue” colored metallic blue DuPont paint, but when it came to the roof, a silver metal flake was sprayed giving it that all important sparkle.

Bedsides the paint, the stance and wheels will make or break the look of any vehicle. This Fairlane struts its stuff with set of 14 inch Supreme’s with ½ inch whites, air springs on all fours corners and a set of chromed Bellflower pipes cinching the mild mannered ‘60s custom look.

You better make sure your backside is free of any oil stains before you climb into the cabin of this cruiser. The attention detail in the office space is no less important than that of the exterior. The mid-size Ford is draped in white tuck & roll with blue piping accents, blue carpet, a white Mooneyes wheel and genuine Hurst 3-speed shifter. The rest of the interior, the instrument panel, the door panels etc. remain in their stock configuration, sometimes leaving well enough alone is the smartest action.

Less is not more when it comes to photos so here’s a few more shots of RJ’s 63 Fairlane featuring Model Cherry Doll.

Barn Find, Bare Bones 1934 Ford Hot Rod

1934 Ford Hot Rod at El Mirage

Author and Photographer: Mike Harrington

We first spotted this ’34 ford at the Antique Nationals. There she was sitting in the staging lanes waiting to race with the rest of the antique American iron. A picture was snapped at the Antique Nationals. One thing led to another, and there we were a few weeks later in the blistering heat on a dry lake bed doing a photo shoot.

Ron Hammack owner of this ’34 5-window has an interesting story to tell. This machine is a genuine Northern California barn find and had been sitting since the early 1970’s until he recently acquired it. As to the history of the vehicle prior to Ron’s ownership, and where it was raced; it’s still shrouded in mystery.

Suffice it to say that when it arrived on the trailer it still had the grill shell, body, hood and frame. Rats had long eaten away sections of the wood floor and left a dung heap the size of Rhode Island inside the cab. Brenda, Ron’s wife, insisted that it be taken to a car wash first and have the Hantavirus blasted out of it before it came home. Once it was in the family two car garage it took only three weeks of re-construction before she was ready to roll again.

According to Ron, the original frame was butchered like a Jimmy Dean hog at harvest time, so it had to go. He purchased a frame from Rudy Rodriguez in San Diego and had it rolling in no time flat. Ron threw in a 302 small block Chevy that came from a ’68 Camaro along with the TH-400 transmission. For good measure, a cam with more lumps than a Waffle House bowl of oatmeal was thrown into the small block to give it some growl. And right about now we know what you’re thinking. Not another small block Chevy! Fret not, like any true hot rod the work is never done, and Ron’s ‘34 is no exception. The small block just doesn’t have enough power for Ron’s liking, so a 500 cubic inch Cadillac is the next engine up grade that is in the works.

Along with the engine a new sturdy frame from the Kiwi Konnection in Bakersfield, California is likely to be next. Ron tells us that he will most likely tear the car apart three more times before he gets it where he wants it. Having just recently retired he’s got the time to do what he wants, and don’t worry he plans to leave all the patina on the car much to his wife’s chagrin.

Now about the racing part of this story. Like we mentioned earlier we first saw the ’34 at the race track. During one of its trial runs the TH-400 blew out first and second gear, so it had to be raced in slower bracket class on account of having just D or the 3^rd gear. One thing is for certain, we look forward to seeing the ’34’s progress and catching glimpses of it at race tracks around California.

Here’s a few more shots of Ron’s 34 Ford Coupe featuring Model Dolly Marlowe at El Mirage.

Rusty, Old and Artistic: Don’t Miss Michael

Hot Rod & Custom Car Photography & Writing

Through some good luck and a willingness to talk to everyone I meet… “Hey Do you use the internet!?” is a favorite thing my buddies tease me about… I bumped into Michael Harrington up at Bonneville Salt Flats in 2010. He was photographing a sick gasser Corvette (yes, on the salt!) and I asked who he shot for. Well, he’s worked for a few Primedia/Source Interlink titles you’ve heard of, most recently, Super Chevy.

Flash forward to present and Michael and I are back in touch and we’ve worked out a deal to publish his incredible photography and musings here at MyRideisMe.com. It’s incredible to publish professional pictures like this! Michael’s got a gift and I know I’ll learn from staring at his work.

I snaked this info from his photography home page Automotive-Photography.net to let you know more about him:

I don’t know how it happened, but it did. I guess most of us enthusiasts can blame it on our fathers. In my case, I can definitely pass the blame. My father was never a huge Hot Rodder by any stretch of the imagination, but as a child I do remember him working on other people’s cars and his own Grand Torino. From an early age I learned to appreciate the aesthetics and sounds of the American automobile. Then in the late 1980′s my grandfather gave me his 1973 Camaro. That act of generosity pretty much sealed my fate. A 17-year-old kid behind the wheel of a muscle car is altogether an exciting and stupid thing. That love — the love of feeling the torque throw you back into your seat; the curves, the chrome — it has always stuck with me.

In college I would daily drive my lowered ’59 Buick Lesabre to school, attracting the strangest stares of curiosity (even from fellow “art” students). To them I was known as “that car guy”. How I became an automotive photographer was really quite by accident and not by my own design. If I was smart, I would have learned something practical like business or finance. But sometimes we don’t choose what we become, it chooses us. Besides, I think I would rather be strangled by a piano wire if I had to chain myself to a desk every day. Taking a beginning photography class for “fun” steered me into a whole new direction and ultimately became my career choice. After doing some freelancing for various automotive magazines during college, I was recruited and offered a job at Super Chevy magazine. I quit college and took the job, working for nearly five years writing and shooting stories all across the country. Working for a magazine and traversing the country was quite an exciting experience. Working for a giant corporation that owns nearly all the popular titles on the shelf, however, was not quite as exciting.

These days I have gone back to freelance photography, shooting and writing for various publications and companies. Of course, everything I do is still related to the automobile — that love will never die.

So as you can see, he’s a car guy that’s been into it forever.

Michael’s got an impressive resume of pictures and has an easy reading way of describing them too. Car Tech agreed and published a book of Michael’s work called Rusty Pickups: American Workhorses Put to Pasture. You can grab it over at Amazon.

So enjoy the stories and pictures and let Michael know you’re dig’n it by leaving a comment here and there. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it and we’ll both know if we’re on the right track with the stories we’re publishing.

 

Thanks!
pikesan

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