Free access to all Hot Rod Magazine issues 1948-2021 online!

[JollySipper]

1 hour ago, ea0863 said:

A beautiful custom job on a 1950 Olds 88 Holiday called the Polynesian. I love the subtle changes that gave it an almost European feel. HRM September 1953

Now, This is right up my alley! If you like early customs, check out Custom Car Chronicle........ Mr. Hoving is like an encyclopedia of this stuff, and it's all on the site.

[ea0863]

1 hour ago, JollySipper said:

Now, This is right up my alley! If you like early customs, check out Custom Car Chronicle........ Mr. Hoving is like an encyclopedia of this stuff, and it's all on the site.

You're not just kidding. What a great site!

[ea0863]

Sometimes I found some really interesting cars by squinting at the ads. This is a case in point (enlarged for your pleasure). I have no idea what it is, but love the wraparound grill/molding treatment. HRM March 1954

[ea0863]

In terms of our hobby, more and more articles and ads begin to appear in the 50's, including these:

I'm assuming this was a quality model, as $10.95 would have been a lot of money back then. Anyone heard of this company or model? HRM May 1954

Not exactly a model, but I want one! HRM July 1954

HRM October 1954

[ea0863]

An article on scale model building by Al Jimenez again. HRM November 1954

[ea0863]

Three stunners on one cover; a dropped Studebaker concept with clear roof called "Panoramic Panic", '34 Ford coupe with track racer front end named "Homespun Terror", and a one-off racer called the "Pomona Dragster". Any of these would be worthy of creating as a model in my opinion.

[ea0863]

Then there's this beast right out of "Mad Max" meets "Star Wars".  HRM September 1954

 

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Here is a gullwing creation befitting any race car museum... HRM November 1954

 

[ea0863]

Somebody's gotta tell me this chopped and channeled '39 Ford racer named the "Bonneville Boomer" is famous - - - because if it isn't, it ought to be on looks alone.

[ea0863]

And finally, the "Shadoff Special" Bonneville streamliner. Did anyone make a scale model of this one? BTW; Grant Piston Rings seems to have been the number one advertiser for HRM, beginning with their very first issue. This one is from HRM December 1954.

 

[Oldcarfan27]

11 hours ago, ea0863 said:

I'm assuming this was a quality model, as $10.95 would have been a lot of money back then.

I can't vouch for the MG, but the Corvette was NOT a quality scale model. Very big and very basic. Not very accurate, either. 

Speaking of model cars, Hot Rod sponsored a contest in the 80s where you had to use any of the "Hot Rod" issue Revell kits to enter. Sounds like a product placement boon for Revell!

[TransAmMike]

Cool stuff.  Signed up to look at the magazines and now I'm getting other emails (not happy) so beware if it matters to ya'll.

[ea0863]

2 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Cool stuff.  Signed up to look at the magazines and now I'm getting other emails (not happy) so beware if it matters to ya'll.

I haven't had that experience at all, but will be on the lookout

[Richard Bartrop]

Got the emails, and really, I can live with those.  They did mention that more magazines are on the way.  Hoping Rod & Custom is one of them.

[Calb56]

1 hour ago, Richard Bartrop said:

Got the emails, and really, I can live with those.  They did mention that more magazines are on the way.  Hoping Rod & Custom is one of them.

I'd love to see that, I have a book of Rod and Custom in the 50s, it'd be cool to have all the issues available. 

[ea0863]

20 hours ago, ea0863 said:

And finally, the "Shadoff Special" Bonneville streamliner. Did anyone make a scale model of this one? BTW; Grant Piston Rings seems to have been the number one advertiser for HRM, beginning with their very first issue. This one is from HRM December 1954.

 

I think I will double-dog dare our friend @Claude Thibodeau to build this one since he is such a lover of Bonneville streamliners!  

[ea0863]

Okay, where did we leave off? Aah yes, 1955. The January issue of HRM had this little photo among their shots of Motorama. Quite a beauty, and very emblematic of the fiberglass customs that were being made at the time.

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Wonderful article on a highly customized '49 Ford truck. This would certainly test the skills of any scale model builder to replicate. HRM March 1955

[ea0863]

Dodge Firearrow. 'Nuff said...

[ea0863]

Sleek streamliner design called the "Belond Miracle Power Special" that I would love to build. HRM June 1955 showed how it was created.

Edited November 24, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Somebody actually raced B.A.T. VII?!!! All the B.A.T. cars as fascinating, and I know many have been reproduced in 1:43 scale miniatures. I do not know of any, however, that were done in 1:24 - 25 scale. HRM June 1955

[ea0863]

Now, who wouldn't want to travel the country in this setup? Seems like a great idea for a diorama...

HRM July 1955

[ea0863]

I saw one of these Bosley racers at the Petersen museum a couple years back, and it is a dramatic car to say the least. HRM October 1955

[ea0863]

A pair of studly Studebaker customs. I personally favor the one on the left, but both have very interesting touches worthy of incorporating into a model.

[ea0863]

Wouldn't it be fun to build this 1956 DeSoto, complete with Official Pace Car paint and graphics? HRM June 1956