Announcing...the "Cult Theme" for the 2015 NNL Nats next month...

[tim boyd]

is "TRADITIONAL HOT RODS".

With the introduction of Revell's new '29A Roadster kit, and the popularity of 1/25th scale Traditional Hot Rods (as demonstrated by the many posts on this topic here at the Model Cars Magazine Forum), what better time is there to celebrate this building style in scale?

Many of you fully understand what i mean by "Tradtional Hot Rods" based on your posts in several categories in this Forum.  

But for those not fully familiar with Traditional Hot Rods or their build styles, you can refer to my Traditional Hot Rods Portfolio at this link: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/11-scale-automotive/traditional-hot-rod-1/traditional-hot-rod/  which includes nearly three hundred photos traditionally styled hot rods from the 2014 Lone Star Roundup and the 2015 Detroit Cobo Autorama.  To summarize, they would be any model that is based on a 1920's through 1948 Ford or other make, AND reflects the sort of build trends that you would see on Hot Rods built anywhere from the late 1930's through to the late 1960's. Street rod era trends like white letter tires, wire wheels, resto rods with full factory chrome accessories, pastel monochromatic paint, graphics (other than flames, scallops, and pinstriping), billet parts, "phantom" bodies like the Testors Smoothster, and 23" wheels are NOT traditional Hot Rods. (These models are still welcome at the NNL Nats as well, but they should be displayed in the regular street rods table near in the center tables of the NNL Nats.)

Basically, any model that reflects the design cues of cars featured in Hop Up and Rodder's Journal magazines, is welcome at this special NNL Display area next to the magazine photograph booths at the NNL Nats facility.

Still want to see some more pics before you check out the photo portfolio referenced above?   OK....

We'll also setup a "Friends of Traditional Hot Rods" area immediately adjacent, for traditional customs, and any other models that are close to, but not entirely reflective of the Traditional Hot Rod genre.

While all Traditional Hot Rods are welcome, we expect that a number of NNL participants have new models under construction based on the aforementioned Revell kit, that will not be completed by the NNL Nats date. "No worries", as our mates in the UK like to say. We'll welcome any partially built models based on the Revell kit as part of the 2015 NNL Nats Traditional Hot Rods Cult Theme. Please let me know if you have any questions....and take a look at the link if you need any fresh inspiration. And spread the word, as this will be your only notification of the NNL Cult Theme this year.

Looking forward to it, for sure! Best Regards...TIM

[Greg Myers]

What is a "TRADITIONAL HOT ROD" ? 

[tim boyd]

What is a "TRADITIONAL HOT ROD" ? 

As if you don't know...(smile)....TB 

[Aaronw]

 

 

While all Traditional Hot Rods are welcome, we expect that a number of NNL participants have new models under construction based on the aforementioned Revell kit, that will not be completed by the NNL Nats date. "No worries", as our mates in the UK like to say. We'll welcome any partially built models based on the Revell kit as part of the 2015 NNL Nats Traditional Hot Rods Cult Theme. Please let me know if you have any questions....and take a look at the link if you need any fresh inspiration. And spread the word, as this will be your only notification of the NNL Cult Theme this year.

Looking forward to it, for sure! Best Regards...TIM

Sorry for a bit of a tangent but what is the purpose of the louvered trunk lids, just a style thing or do they actually have some sort of function? I would think cooling, but cooling what, so I'm guessing just cool.

[tim boyd]

Aaron...I think louvered trunk lids are entirely a style element.  But a pretty cool one, at that.   Cheers....TIM

[oldnslow]

While louvers do serve a purpose on race cars, they're just a styling element on street cars and more is not always better.  

[Greg Myers]

"cause it's "Bitchin'"  

[Greg Myers]

and at some point moving air 

Edited September 12, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

[Greg Myers]

and then there's the current retro - retro Shelby / '66 Mustang fastback trend.

 Shelby went to a lot of trouble desiging and installing rear side windows giving his GT-350 a distinctive look from the mundane '65-'66 Ford fastbacks.

and now new mustang owners want to retro style backwards. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Sorry for a bit of a tangent but what is the purpose of the louvered trunk lids, just a style thing or do they actually have some sort of function? I would think cooling, but cooling what, so I'm guessing just cool.

Do the research on early rods, cars that ran on the dry lakes in particular, and you'll see the original purpose of louvers on the rear of a car...decklids, rolled pans, bellypans etc...was for aerodynamic enhancement.

The idea was to let air escape from the inside of the body, at speed, in the hopes that some 'pressure equalization' and filling of the somewhat negative-pressure area immediately behind a fast-moving car would decrease drag, enabling a higher top-speed.

Honest. Then, like lakes-pipes and moon-disc hubcaps, they became a fashion-statement.

AND...on something like a '30s-'40s coupe, a well thought-out louvered decklid (that prevents water, critter and fume incursion) can be a BIG help in getting flow-through cabin ventilation to work. Its not enough to just have a forward vent or a fan. For effective ventilation you have to let the air go somewhere, and real rear louvers can work very well for that.

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Greg Myers]

Of course there are window Venetian blind lovers as well  

[Greg Myers]

Do they realize what they are REALLY copying ? 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Seems like the Bertone Carabo of 1968 was one of the earliest uses of exterior rear louvers for shading a large piece of glass and still allowing outward vision.

[Greg Myers]

" and now folks, back to our regularly sponsored show. . . " 

[Matt Bacon]

Do they realize what they are REALLY copying ? 

This, I think:

;-P

bestest,

M.

Edited September 12, 2015 by Matt Bacon

[Jon Haigwood]

Would disc brakes be included in the Traditional Hot Rod" category ?

First used on American cars in 1963 (Avanti) and then in all of the big 4 in 1965.

I personally would not put them in a "THR" build  

(Love your THR photos)

Edited September 12, 2015 by Jon Haigwood

[Jon Haigwood]

Do they realize what they are REALLY copying ? 

Styling cues brought forward from the  65 Mustang Fastback and the Mach I Mustang

[tim boyd]

Would disc brakes be included in the Traditional Hot Rod" category ?

First used on American cars in 1963 (Avanti) and then in all of the big 4 in 1965.

I personally would not put them in a "THR" build  

(Love your TRD photos)

John...good question.  I wouldn't disqualify based on disc brakes alone.  But as we all know, many of today's 1/1 scale Traditional Hot Rod builds use disc brakes up front, disguised to look like Buick finned drums.  Or for even more plus points, Kinmont brakes.

Still, that's why we have "Friends of Traditional Hot Rods" section right next to the Cult Theme display.  

Best Regards...TIM   

[Ace-Garageguy]

Would disc brakes be included in the Traditional Hot Rod" category ?

First used on American cars in 1963 (Avanti) and then in all of the big 4 in 1965.

I personally would not put them in a "THR" build  

(Love your THR photos)

This is where some technical history is interesting, and it simply depends on the manufacturer, design and vintage of the brakes themselves to determine whether they're correct "traditional" or not.

Crosley offered Goodyear/Hawley disc brakes on an American production car in 1949. Chrysler Imperials from '49-'53 are reputed to have had disc brakes, but I've never actually seen them.

4-wheel disc brakes had been known in the US, on circle-track cars starting with the 4-WD Miller Specials in the late 1930s, and some racing units inevitably made it on to street-driven hot rods. You have to remember that guys made things work together that didn't come out of catalogs in those days, so just about anything was possible in reality.

I have a client with a real-steel '32 5-window that was built originally in '64 with '63 Jag XK-E junkyard-sourced front torsion bar suspension, and Girling disc brakes. The car is as "traditional" as you can get, and the brakes are right.

Lockheed, Hurst /Airheart, Kelsey-Hayes and ATE disc brakes have also been used on "traditional" hot-rods in the period builders today are emulating.

 

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

And Matt Bacon's right about the Lambo Miura preceding the Carabo by a couple of years (1966) in using the slat-louvered rear window treatment.

[Matt Bacon]

And Matt Bacon's right about the Lambo Miura preceding the Carabo by a couple of years (1966) in using the slat-louvered rear window treatment.

'cept of course in the Miura, it's less the rear window, and more "the only way the heat from the V12 is going to get out without frying the driver (and his friend....) ;-P

Makes you wonder what radioactive "Repo Man" Macguffin those 'rod guys were keeping in the trunk that needed heat-exhausting vents as well...

bestest,

M.

[Aaronw]

"cause it's "Bitchin'"  

 

Kind of what I figured but wasn't sure. It is an interesting look.

 

Do the research on early rods, cars that ran on the dry lakes in particular, and you'll see the original purpose of louvers on the rear of a car...decklids, rolled pans, bellypans etc...was for aerodynamic enhancement.

The idea was to let air escape from the inside of the body, at speed, in the hopes that some 'pressure equalization' and filling of the somewhat negative-pressure area immediately behind a fast-moving car would decrease drag, enabling a higher top-speed.

 

Thanks Bill. I thought it was probably just a style thing on these cars, but figured the style came from some functional purpose.  

 

Tangent over, thanks to all who responded to my curiosity.

 

[wayne swayze]

I converted the "ZZ Top"  '34 coupe into a slot car, and placed open louvers in the deck lid for allowing some air to escape ( for quicker E.T. s). And like Greg said, "They look bitchin' ".