If you're like me you have a hundred different hot rods and customs floating around in your head at any given time. Some are just bits and pieces influenced from fantastic recent builds, or from photos of cars and people long gone. Some of the cars, however, are so vivid you can picture yourself behind the wheel flying around your favorite country road with the smell of oil, leather, and rubber blending into the experience. The struggle that I'm sure most of us have is the brutal realization that only a handful will ever get built. So, let's build a car that can get three of these ideas out of my head.
First off, we have a hot rod in super early '50s traditional attire. The foundation is an A frame stretched to accommodate a 322 Nailhead. Deuce shell, steelies, blackwalls, and a Hallock-style windshield are the keys to the look.
Easily transformed from the hot rod is the lakes-style roadster. With a few modifications we create an all-business straightliner. Lose the 'shield, change out those steelies for some milk-truck wheels, add a tonneau and full hood, and there we have it.
I'll admit the vintage Euro-racer look is a bit more of a stretch. No, it is not at all a pure incarnation, but rather a car that has the influence of aero-engined racers with the exposed valvetrain and super mechanical pieces that keep you looking for more detail. This version isn't trying to be that exactly, but the unique look of the Nailhead, the exposed complexity of the cowl steering, the spectacle looks of the Brooklands screens, and tall, skinny wires playing off the re-worked splash aprons would all keep a smile on my face.