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

[ea0863]

HRM September 1994 had an ad that got my attention with the weird vehicle in the background:

Turned out to be Rick and Karen Dobbertin's "Surface Orbiter" land and sea toy. And what a cool toy it is! A milk tanker converted into a motorhome/boat.

And when Rick wasn't travelling in his orbiter, he was busy racing his famous J-2000

 

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Bring out your tissues, because this '62 Thunderbird will make you cry!  

HRM October 1994

[ea0863]

Here is the first article I saw in HRM approaching the topic of "beaters", "rusto rods", or what eventually became "rat rods". Other magazines broached this topic earlier, but as far as I can tell, December 1994 was the first time HRM readers were treated to the topic. I myself love "rat rods" because 1) they tend to be driven, 2) they can be done by folks on a limited budget, and 3) they are counter-culture (which is always fun). The only caveat I make is that the end product have some creativity and/or talent on display. Nothing I like less than some poseur throwing a bucket of paint on a canvass and calling it art. 

So with that having been said, here is the first HRM article putting a shot over the bow of the established hot rod scene:

A follow-up article on upcoming trends the very following month had this little spot on "rusto rides"

 

Edited December 25, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Speaking of art: Boyd Coddington (and Chip Foose) "Smoothster". HRM January 1995

I have built the Testors version of this car, and can attest to it being a very pleasant model to build

[ea0863]

Wonderful graphic on the 1909 - 1940 Fords. 

I have also used the following Ford poster to learn the differences between body styles:

[ea0863]

A pair of '39 Chevy coupes. Wow!

HRM October 1995

[ea0863]

A '50 Ford coupe/concept owned by Billy Gibbons and fully customized by Pete Chapouris to be christened as "Kopperhed". The story is as interesting as the car! 

HRM January 1996

[ea0863]

Smokey Yunick's '68 Camaro Trans-Am race car. This would be a fun build for sure. HRM January 1996

[Bills72sj]

On 12/11/2022 at 1:40 PM, ea0863 said:

HRM September 1984 hailed the return of the Thunderbird with a number of interesting custom versions. I liked them all, but the Mercury Cougar racer was my favorite!

It may take me a minute to find a model of this vintage Mercury. Off-hand I'm not finding it...

I used to subscribe to 5-7 car magazines. Due to many of them going out of business, I am down to two. Consequently, I have pulled open my archives and am rereading them nearly 40 years later. This is the one I have been perusing the last couple of days.

[ea0863]

HRM March 1996 had something a little different; an article on Herb Ries' '51 Country Squire Woody. 

[ea0863]

HRM May 1996 had the Boydster on the cover, and a great article inside on how it was designed and built. The article also had both practical and esoteric information on the art of the hot rod.

[ea0863]

A wonderful advertisement showcasing all the Chrysler Pace Cars of the past. HRM May 1996

I was particularly intrigued by the Newport Phaeton Prototype...

Nice write-up on it at https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2012/03/06/indy-pacing-1941-chrysler-newport-dual-cowl-phaeton-restored-for-another-trip-across-the-block

[ea0863]

I personally have a soft-spot for the '65 Impala, thus this beauty spoke to me. And look at the numbers on the strip!

HRM May 1996

Edited December 26, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

I'm not sure what it's called when a modern car gets new body panels to make it look old (i.e. a C5 Corvette made to look like a C1). When I have seen these in the past, I am usually less than impressed because invariably the proportions are off and thus do a disservice to both the current design and the original. Having said that, this article of a '90 Thunderbird melded with a '49 Ford shoebox fascinated me. It just worked! 

I now feel two scale models in my future that shall become one  

[ea0863]

HRM June 1996 had an article on the differences between east and west coast customs. In the midst of this was a  photo that intrigued me.

Turned out to be a '56 Chrysler owned by Richard Zocchi (and yes, it is a west coast car  )

Nice background on it at https://customrodder.forumactif.org/t2867-1956-chrysler-richard-zocchi

[ea0863]

A small blurb on the Doane Spencer '32 Roadster having been acquired by Bruce Meyer. HRM June 1996

After restoration:

A wonderful article on this car by Pat Ganahl at https://patganahl.com/2019/04/01/unknown-doane/

 

[ea0863]

The introduction of the '97 Viper GTS Coupe

[ea0863]

Less readily accepted by hot rodders, the introduction of the '97 Plymouth Prowler. This photo alone must have started a hundred discussions!  

HRM June 1996

While opinions varied, one bit of common ground seemed to be that a Prowler could be a hot rod - if it were customized and unique. To that end, Thom Taylor offered some suggestions 

Edited December 26, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Ad for the newly opened Petersen Museum had this in the background:

A bit of research revealed it was the Peter Stengler '41 Mercury. Way cool in a classy, coachbuilt sort of way!

The engine alone is worth the price of entry

Nice article on it at https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/12/03/built-by-coachcraft-peter-stengels-41-mercury-was-a-masterpiece-of-prewar-design

Just for giggles, I photoshopped the landaulette roof off, and look at the sexy hot rod that appeared!

Edited December 26, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Picking up where HRM January 1995 left off, here is a graphic of the '49-'51 Fords. (Where the '41 - '48 Fords went, I don't know)

Edited December 26, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

These graphic illustrations seem to have been hit-or-miss in terms of years and vehicles covered, but they certainly are educational and artistic. Here is one of the '55 - '57 Chevys.

And two months later, the '55 - '56 Ford

 

Edited December 27, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

Dodge Dakota V10 concept. 

[ea0863]

Okay, I promise - no more Pro Streets after this one last monstrous beast! '59 Cadillac by Paul Barnes. HRM January 1997

BTW; try as I might, I could not find the "Cad-zooks" mentioned in this article online. There was a scale model by that name, but it didn't come till 2004. Anyone know what it was referencing?

Edited December 27, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

A shout-out to the Chrysler community with a graphic of the '62 - '64 Dodge/Plymouths.

[ea0863]

HRM February 1997 highlighted a newfound affinity in Russia toward hot rods. 

A bit of looking, and I found a few samples of such handicraft, such as the GAZ GL-1 racer below which was built in 1938

Or the Toyota Crown rebodied in fiberglass with a GAZ-21 flair 

The Volga V12

And even this cool rendering of a ZIL-130 truck

Edited December 27, 2022 by ea0863