Not only was the May '53 issue great because it was the first one, it was a great issue anyway, with a perfect balance of the stuff that has been our bread and butter for half a century. From the beginning, our commitment to covering the best of rods and customs was apparent. In addition to stories on a T roadster, an A highboy, a Deuce coupe, and Chuck Price's Deuce roadster cover car (all running flatheads, of course), Issue 1 included a custom '50 Chevy and Olds 98, a gallery of pre-war customs, and a 7-page custom pictorial. There was also a truck (Gil Ayala's custom GMC) and a look at some L.A.-area dragsters. Tech included a test on a hot rod '50 Chevy and a tour of the Star Radiator Manufacturing Company. Here's a detail for trivia buffs: About half the pages were printed in black ink and about half in green-and just to make that perfect balance extra perfect, four beautiful pinup gals. -Tim Bernsau
Also This Month:
One of the customs presented in the May '53 issue's untitled "salon section," featuring beautiful customs posed in beautiful settings, was this stunning custom Merc convertible, owned at the time by Ralph Testa. To the best of our knowledge, the Merc, buillt by brothers Sam and George at the Barris Kustom Shop, is now in Spokane, Washington, and has been well cared for.
Vintage Tech Tip
Quite often a fellow will decide that he can go faster by simply putting higher gears in the rearend. This procedure will get the desired results if he does something to increase the engine's torque. This is a must because the so-called high gears have a numerically smaller ratio which results in less mechanical advantage or leverage. If the engine's torque is not increased, less thrust will be available at the rear wheels, and the car will actually go slower. -from Barney Navarro's tech story, "Through the Gears!"
Quote of the Month
"In conclusion, let us say that RODS AND CUSTOMS is your baby and it is entirely up to you, our readers, to make it whatever it may eventually become."
-Editor Spencer Murray, concluding his first of many editorials in the new magazine.