Hot Rod Ramblings: Mild Customs

It’s been too long since I rambled on about Hot Rods and Customs, I mean Kustoms.  My crazy car brain has gone down the path of  “Mild Customs”.  I’ll say it right now, the car that really got me started digging Customs was Nick Hoesing’s ex-Ford Galaxie I scoped at Bonneville last year.   Peep it below…

Then I picked up a Rodders Journal that featured Kirk Jones’ 1960 Ford Starliner.  Kirk’s a member at MyRideisMe.com, see his Garage Here for more pics.  Our camera man Swanee grabbed this first pic at last years Grand National Roadster Show.  This ‘Liner blew me away!!!  I pulled that TRJ #45 out again last night to re-read the story and stare at the rad photography.  Man, this kustom is mad rad!

 Ok, so it may be categorized as a Mild Custom, but this thing is Wild!  That paint (better pics in the Rodders Journal, you’re just gonna have to go buy a copy) is nutty!  The interior is grade A.  This Ford oozes style and stance.  Can you imagine the hours spent building this car.  I bought this magazine when we were staying in the hospital for the birth of our 4th boy last fall and so, the late nights/early mornings combined with the top notch photographs of this Custom just made me crazy for it even more. 

Just sit and stare at this thing…it will make any die hard hotrodder really appreciate the work the Custom boys are doing…  Take a funky late 50′s, early 60′s land yacht, drop it, add wheels and tires, paint it and you’re crusin’!  Ok, its not that easy, but the formula is simple.  Nice pic Pikesan!  Oh that you woulda had the wide angle and D90 for this ride!  Oh, and anybody know (cheaters can read The Rodders Journal article) where the name “May Cause Dangerous” came from?  It’s pretty funny!

 

This is my favorite Kustom photo at the moment.  Props go to Swanee for the photo.  This was taken at the 2010 Grand National Roadster Show.  Man!  These Kustoms (red is a ‘ 54 Chevy and black a ’51 Merc’, thanks for the heads up Swanee) are amazing.  The red one is LOW!  ……………sorry, I was staring again!  I’m back now.  ha ha  Love that grille.  Are those lights in the outer edge of the grille factory or is that custom?  Either way I dig.  I’m the biggest fanboy of white walls!  I mean come on!  Even Disney knows whats up.  Remember when “Lightning McQueen” got a “Pimp My Ride” makeover in the Cars movie?  What did Luigi recommend?  WHITE WALLS!!!  So rad!  This picture is my current background desktop at work. 

 

Swanman at it again at GNRS 2009.  This is a ’62 Chrysler Newport.  I’ll take your word for it man.   Are those the stock headlights?  I’ve seen a lot of Kustoms with that style of canted headlight design.  It looks factor on this ride, it just has a matching style doesn’t it?  I’m not usually a fan of flames, but this one works.  Doesn’t this have a low rider look to it?  The mini white walls and the Astro wheels give it that look I think.  Super low ride height is required for a Kustom. 

The takeaway from this pic is grab an early 60′s large coupe or sedan on the cheap and apply some tasteful Custom touches and you’ll be cruising in style like this Newport!

 

Continuing with this oddball Chrysler Newport above is this Station Wagon.  I think Pikesan said this is a Mercury Comet wagon?  It’s sporting the same Astro Supreme wheels and mini whites.  Nice custom grille too.  But, that paint.  Custom paint is key to pulling off a top notch Kustom.  Man, the paint alone is a work of art.  These early 60′s wagons have Loooooong roofs, that’s for sure!  “All the better to store surfboards on my pretty!”  (quote a la Little Ride riding hood ha ha).  I’ll try and get more pics from Pikesan and Swanee of this ride.  It deserves a blog post all its own!

Last pic of this rambling session.  I really dig trucks.  I think the Kustom look applied to trucks is a perfect combo.  This time, instead of high gloss super detail paint like the Starliner or Wagon above, this truck seen at Viva Las Vegas last year sports a satin red suede with tan panel.   Again its got the tail dragger stance, wide whites and custom wheel covers.  Oh and a trick grille too.  I love the snouts (big hood) of these late 40′s, early 50′s pickups.

Got pictures of the “May Cause Dangerous” ’60 Starliner above or that Lowrider/Kustom station wagon?  We’d lvoe to see them and post them up for all to see.

Hechtspeed

Hot Rod Ramblings: Ford Falcon is “Car of the Week”

After doing the Volk ’29 Roadster story last week, I was way into traditional hot rods.  But, knowing that my daily driver/hot rod needs to be more practical, have a heater and a back seat, 1960′s rods make more sense.

My parents were up visiting from California and of course, poppi and I talked cars.  He had a 1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone for about 15 years or so.  I’ve thought many times I should do a tribute Comet, black just like dad’s, high revving 289 ci or 302 ci and a modern 5 speed.  The problem is, Comet’s are hard to find clean.  Plus, they’re a little bigger  than I typically like.  I’m a small car kind of guy.  The Ford Falcon is the Comet’s baby brotha from another motha.

I was doing my usual daily classifieds browsing on Craigslist and found this 1964 Ford Falcon Futura with a V8 and 4 speed trans, front disc brakes,  and a straight body already being used as a daily driver.

Typically what I do when I get hooked on a new “Car of the Week” is I go straight to Google Image searches.  My ultimate Falcon build would be a combination of Trans-Am, SCCA, Pro-Touring and Restomod build styles.  These were some of the inspirational cars I found on Google.  Enjoy!

This Falcon has a great road race feel going on.  I love those wheels and the flat cornering.

I really dig the 5 spoke grey Torque Thrust wheels on the left above.  Silver is a good color for the Falcon.

Pikesan found this one and sent me the link.  Thanks buddy!  I think this is the perfect setup for a Falcon road racer.  I really like the mini-fender flares.  The radiused rear fender is just what the small rear wheel well needs to fit these 16×10 wide PS Engineering wheels on a Falcon.  I think it looks great don’t you?  That 2 tone paint is a nice touch too.

Found this red one on RacingJunk.com. This is a perfect example to start building a track ready Falcon.  It looks clean with the painted front and rear bumpers.

I’ll finish up with this resto-mod Falcon running 17″ wheels.  The Falcon looks good in white I think.  The hardtop coupe Sprint model is a great cruiser.

So, I check Craigslist (Utah, Phoenix, LA, Vegas), RacingJunk.com, BringaTrailer.com.  What else do you guys use for finding your project cars?

Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Hechtspeed

“Car of the Week” Hot Rod Ramblings Part 2

Part 2 of Hot Rod Ramblings “Car of the Week”, we take a look at some rear wheel drive beauties from all around the world, Japanese, European and even American.  These 5 cars have all been “Cars of the Week” in the last few years for me.  They all have great aftermarket support, wheels, suspension, exterior, engine, etc. and can all be built into multiple different styles, drifting, road racing, street car or show car.  Each has tons of potential to let their owners be creative and make their Ride an extension of themselves.

Toyota AE86 Corolla GT-S “Hachiroku”

A 1980′s Corolla?  You’re probably thinking I’m nutty.  I am, I love this car.  Why?  It is probably the ultimate drivers car.  Ever heard of Keichii Tsuchiya, the “Drift King”?  Heard of the Japanese comic book “Initial D”?  Anyway, that should give you guys something to Google today.  I can’t spoil all the fun.  But, suffice it to say, it has all the makings of a drivers car:  rear wheel drive, 5 speed manual, high revving 1.6L DOHC fuel injected aluminum 4 cylinder and lightweight construction.  I love the boxy lines of the “86″ (or hackiroku in Japanese) as its known.  This Orange beauty grabbed from Speedhunters.com is a circuit, track day example.  This one sports a big carbon GT wing, fender flares to fit bigger meats and a gutted interior.

This next example is a sweet street version, looking the part as a Japanese street/touge drifter.  This one also has aftermarket fender flares, carbon fiber vented hood, wide 15 or 16 inch wheels and body kit front, rear and sides painted in a typical for the mid 80′s two-tone jobby.  Boxy cars with flares just looks so good!  The 86 is a lightweight car that you can flick around.  It’s a nimble street car that can be made to drift, autocross or canyon run.  Too bad they don’t have airbags.  :(  If you wanna “Live the 86 Life!” go check out one of the top forums, Club 4AG and soak it in.

Nissan 240SX/Silvia

One of the cars that has recently been a “Car of the Week” favorite is the Nissan 240SX, also known in Japan and around the world as the Silvia, 180sx or 200sx, depending on what engine spec.  As is the case, the USA got the watered down version and in this case it is no different.  Instead of getting a highly modifiable Turbocharged SR20DET 2.0L DOHC 4 cylinder engine rated anywhere from 200-250hp, the US 240sx received the dull and weazing 2.4L DOHC 4 cylinder turbo-less truck engine rated at 155hp.  That of course doesn’t stop the enthusiasts in the know to swap in a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) SR20DET engine into their chassis.  This red aggressive S14 240sx runs with the Risky Devil Street Drift Club, one of the crews that knows how to setup a Nissan!

There is a huge following and many forums and websites dedicated to the Silvia.  The 240 runs independent rear wheel drive, 5 speed tranny setup and weighing around 2800 lbs, making for a ball to drive.  Turbocharge that stock KA engine or swap in the SR and you have a Mustang beating, drifter or road racer!  Here’s another red Risky Devil 240SX showing us how its done sideways!

Why Nissan stopped selling the 240 in the USA is beyond me.  Apparently they didn’t sell well in their day, but now its hard to find a used example without an angled exhaust and some drift rash.

2005-2010 Mustang GT

Ah, the retro styled Mustang S197 chassis.  Released as a 2005 model, it came with a 300hp 4.6 3 valve V8 that could run on low octane.  The chassis and body was totally revamped from the Edge SN95 Mustangs and with that, a much improved handling suspension package.  So much so that the S197 Mustang has been very sucessful in GT racing around the world.  In 2008, Ford released its Cobra Jet special edition drag pak, I think only 50 were sold, body in white versions sold to drag racing teams that wanna cough up the dough of course.

If you don’t know yet, I’m a huge drifting and Japanese car nut.  Vaughn Gittin Jr is a drifter who has taken on the S197 chassis and shined, taking a few wins and many podiums in his new 2010 Mustang GT.  Here is his street car!  I here from Speedhunters/Motor Mavens (can’t remember which one) mentioned this week that JR will be going to the aftermarket selling Mustang parts and such.  This stang is clean looking.  I’ll take one in Grabber Blue though!  I love how the ’Stang has been updated for the 2010 model, with its more aggressive front end, angled rear and bumped up power.

Datsun 510

To me, the ultimate Japanese classic car is the Datsun 510.  Rear wheel drive with independent suspension, OHC 4 cylinder, manual trans and great looking boxy lines.  It was super successful in SCCA small bore racing in the 1970′s.   Throw a front airdam, wide sticky tires, roll cage and go racing!  Paul Newman learned the ropes of wheel to wheel racing behind the wheel of the 510, lovingly called the “Dime” by its followers.

If only Nissan or Toyota or Mazda could produce a modern version of the 510 or AE86 or even the 240SX, it would rejuvenate the sports sedan/coupe enthusiasts for sure.  I even saw a “dime” for sale in the local classifieds with a 350Z 3.5L V6 engine swap.  Wow!  They don’t make cars like they used to, in the USA or across the Pacific.

BMW M3/3 Series

If I had a little more money and didn’t live in Utah with its snow and long winters, I’d be driving a BMW M3 CSL (Club Sport model).  Look at this M3 running at the world famous Nurburgring race course.  Talk about grip!  Not sure what’s cooler, pulling the front tires off the ground at a drag strip or in a corner while road racing.  The M3 sold from 2000-2006 ran a 3.2L inline 6 that made 333hp and could rev to over 8000 RPM’s.

I’ve driven an E46 M3 right after driving a Terminator Mustang Cobra.  What a smooth revving engine!  One of the best sounding engines ever in my opinion.

One of the best looking and handling cars from the 80′s has to be the BMW E30 M3, with its fender flares and high performance 4 cylinder engine.  When tuned just right with suspension and wide wheels and perfect fitment, there’s not many cars cooler!

They’re hard to find used anymore.  They’re actually becoming a collector car of sorts for those who are BMW aficionado’s.  I can see why.

That’s it for this post.  What do you guys think?  Any of these cars fancy you?

Hechtspeed

Check out Build-Thread.com’s Project Datsun 510 story here

“Car of the Week”: Hot Rod Ramblings

Many of you hot rodders and car nuts are able to stick with one car for years.  I don’t know how you do it?  I have what what is called “The Car of the Week” syndrome.  Sometimes its as simple as seeing a cool car on the road.  Then I get on the laptop and start google searching.  I look at the classified ads for used examples, forums to see what people are doing to them, and pictures to find inspirational examples.  I thought I’d ramble a bit about a few of those cars to give you an idea of how all over the hot rod map I am.  There is a goal to this madness, and that is trying to decide on what my next car will be.

This week’s “car of the week” is the first gen’ Scion xB.  That’s right.  Did I not mention that my car passion has no boundaries?  Did you read my Pro-Touring meets Hellaflush story?  Just a glimpse into my funky car taste.  So, Scion xB…check out this woody xB.  I’d build a Box a few ways, old school hot rod is definitely one.  It would have to have wide steelies and white walls.  Probably not the wood though.  But the xB has so much style and character.  Plus, it gets awesome gas mileage (35+mpg).  One of the requirements for my next car is a big aftermarket.  The xB has tons. 

The other way I’d wanna build a box is seen by this example.  Check that demon camber in the rear.  I know, I know, its front wheel drive and yet it has wider wheels and tires in the rear than in the front.  WHO CARES!  IT LOOKS RAD!  The tires are stretched over the wheels and its almost riding fender on the tires.  I don’t even know how to explain why I think this car is sooo cool!  The closest I can come is that its the modern equivalent of the 60′s VW Bus.  So fun to drive, so much style and uniqueness.  And its practical, roomy and affordable.

 

 

One of my other recurring “cars of the week” is the Ford Falcon slash Mercury Comet slash Ford Fairlane slash Galaxie.  OK, so that’s more than one car.  ha ha  But, they all have the same basic look.  So much potential and so many ways to build those Ford products.  You’ve got the gasser look, pro-touring, muscle car, low kustom, NASCAR inspired road racer, pro-street and many more.  Parts are fairly easy to find, affordable even.  If I had my choice, I’d love to do a 1964 Comet Cyclone because my dad had one.  There’s a couple pics in my garage of poppi’s ’64 Cyclone in black with chrome Cragars! 

One of my favorite cars at Bonneville Speedweek 2009 was Nick Hoesing’s 2 door Galaxie.  I hope to bring you a full feature (hint, hint Nick! ha ha).  Check out this teaser pic from the salt.  This Galaxie hooked me bad and I spent a few hours searching Craigslist across the country.  Nick’s ride is perfect!  Low, clean and cool!  It has such style.  Nick, if you’re reading this, we need to hook that feature up man!

 

 

The other car type I drool over is 20′s-30′s Ford hot rods.  They are basically the all-time hot rod.  These models were the first ever hot rods and custom cars.  They have so much character and style, its crazy!  There’s just something about these rods that gets me goin’.  There’s the new Factory Five Racing ’33 Hot Rod, all the Brookville metal bodies and chassis’ and so many more.  These old rods are another with so many modification options:  Gasser, 50′s-60′s dragsters, El Mirage and Bonneville land speed racers, street rods, traditional rods and so on.

I think my favorite body style would have to be a chop top coupe, 3 or 5 window, it doesn’t matter.  Coupes are just so cool looking.  The body lines are just…perfect.  It’s hard to explain. I love the old manufacturing techniques and design cues that go with the technology of the day.

My second favorite body style is the sedan.  Being a family guy, to have a rod like that with a backseat would be a winner for sure.  Plus, a chopped sedan rod just looks so clean.  Check out these pics I found while searching the net.  On a side note, for me, there’s no better look than a traditional wire wheel or painted steelie with wide white walls.

 

The other “car of the week” is not a car, but a truck.  I’m a huge sucker for the 1948-59 Ford 1/2 ton short bed pickups and the early-mid 60′s Chevy C10 pickup.  One of the great things about these pickups is they are not uber rare.  You can find good project pickups all over the place for cheap.  Parts a-plenty too!  The body lines of these pick ups are gorgeous.  I love the “stand up” or “straight up” cabs with the big fenders of the old Fords.  Those big grilles just say “I’m automotive art on wheels!”.   The other thing I love about old cars is the metal dashboards.  I hate how today’s cars are so boring inside and out.  A metal dashboard continues the beautiful designs of the 50′s and 60′s, designs inspired by the aerospace developments of the day. 

One other detail of these old pickups is the wood slat beds.  Wood has gotta be the best and most stylish material.  You can beat it up and replace it.  Restain it when it gets weathered. 

 60′s Chevy pickups with their slab sided beds that run smooth, and with the cab when slammed down low is one of my favorite looks.  Match the ride height with a sweet revving 283/327 cu in small block Chevy motor and killer wheels and you have one great hot rod.  I also really dig the idea of painting a “shop logo” on the door of these old pickups.  Shop Truck hot rods are a great concept!

 

I’ll finish off this rambling blog with one more “car of the week”.  The 2002-07 Subaru Impreza WRX and 2003-06 Mitsubishi Evolution.  These are a modern “rod” of sorts.  Their roots are in the World Rally Championship series, doing 4 wheel drifts, jumps and crazy scandinavian flicks.  As a daily driver, there aren’t many cars that can do it all like the Suby and Evo.  They are 4 door sedan’s in compact car size with an all wheel drive and a turbocharged and intercooled 4 cylinder powertrain.  In factory trim they come with 227-300hp/tq.  They are great in the snow (good since I live in Utah), very practical for car seats in the back and have huge aftermarket support. 

The “offset is everything”, aggressive fitment scene has brought some style that I personally dig.  Those flares are made for wide wheels and tires.  One of the coolest features of the WRX and EVO are the rally spec fender flares and intercooler cooling hood scoop/vents.  They get decent mileage too.  My buddy just picked up a modified 2007 WRX pumping 360hp and while on a road trip going 70-75mph averaged 27+mpg.  These cars are amazing grip cars, meaning they can be setup to kill it on track days on road courses and cone dodgers at autocross events.  Enjoy these pics of some of my favorite hellaflush Subaru’s and EVO’s.  Oh ya, you can even get the WRX in wagon form!

So, I’ve probably just made my decision process that much harder by reminding myself how much I dig the various vehicles noted here.  But, I failed to mention some of my other faves like the Mustang, Nissan 240sx/Silvia, Honda Civic, the 50′s lead sleds and even the classic aircooled Type 1′s (Beetles) and Type 3′s (Squarebacks, Fastbacks and Notchbacks).  Stay tuned for those ramblings in part II.  In the meantime, post up your favorite cars that I should look at in theh comments below.  You can tell I’m open to it all.  I’m looking for other car crazy opinions and suggestions.  Comment below, let’s hear your hot rod ramblings!

Hechtspeed