Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[s.e.charles]

[Riley Blue]

[Ray White]

I would certainly concur that interest in hot rods is increasing. The sad fact (which customisers get touchy about ) is that for every new hot rod project a corresponding stock vehicle has to be found. It is the wholesale destruction of historic vehicles that fuels the hot rod fashion and hot rods built today are entirely dependent on the sacrifice of historic vehicles. The only advantage to the classic car fraternity is that as the stock of historic vehicles is depleted ( they are not building any more pre war cars) the survivors will increase in value.

You don’t see valuable collectors cars being “Rodded.” If it was the right thing to do then these cars would no doubt all benefit from Chevy V8 engines.

[mikeC]

[alastairq]

In the end, is it not the owner's choice with regards to what is done to an 'original' car?

I'm afraid, in my view, it comes down to 'function', or 'style?'

By 'function', I mean, perhaps, fitting a more easily available engine [as an example] with a good spares back-up, in place of what would be a horrendous piece of junk..........just to keep the rest of the car useable..ie, give it a purpose? I had that dilemma [as if?] with my old Morgan 4/4 series 1. The engine, [Standard Special] was a nightmare....replacements either vastly too expensive, or unobtainable....even new castings were a lottery.
The club experts agreed in suggesting taking it out, and popping in something like a BMC A-series? Then, at least, the rest of the car could be used....and I don't 'do' lifting of bonnets in public, so who really cares? [The car, in the hands of another, is now immaculate and useable, but not without its nightmares.]
The options of [a] more power, and [b] reliability were almost overwhelming.

I know little of 'style'....preferring a Jeep to an MGA, for example.....for getting about, that is.
Probably why I don't 'do' Shows and stuff?

[Ashley]

My son spent last night at Interlaken and is today crossing the Alps on lesser roads in this.



As always parts quality is an issue, he’s had a GM alternator and a brand new petrol pump fail. Luckily the Hotrod movement is huge and he was only a few miles from help in both instances.

This 41 Business Coup has one of 54 million Chevy 350s sold along with a GM400 box.

[mikeC]

Of course it's the owner's choice, even if it's a unique one-off of historic significance.

In the case of your Morgan, however, why not pass it on to someone who appreciates it as a pre-war car, and replace it with a more modern Morgan? Sticking an A-series engine in may make it more practical, but it severely limits its use if you or a subsequent owner wants to use it in exclusively pre-war events.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

Of course it is the owner’s choice to hot rod an historic vehicle and thereby destroy the historic element. Indeed, it says more about the owner than it ever does about the car.

History has no value to a philistine and it would seem an historic vehicle is worth more dead than alive.

[alastairq]

[Ray White]

Surely there is a world of difference in swapping out different engines in an old car to keep it on the road ...and building a freak? With a hot rod, the intention from the start is to junk most of the original equipment in exchange for new and modify the body to conform to an established format. To me it’s all as dull as ditchwater and pointless.

[Ashley]

[Ray White]

Ashley. I have been arguing against the rape of surviving old cars to fuel this grotesque abuse of our motoring heritage for over 50 years so I think I have a good idea of how vast the damage is.

I agree that hot rods go back a very long way but when it all started the supply was cheap and plentiful so no harm done and a great time was had by all. The problem as I see it is that the demand is increasing while the supply is diminishing. The “culture” as you amusingly describe it, is about as naff as MacDonalds and Cocoa Cola and attracts the same kind of mentality.

Just imagine if someone were to fit UPVC windows to a listed building or paint a moustache and glasses on the Mona Lisa? No one would think it appropriate to ruin proper culture in favour of popular culture so why should it be an intelligent thing to vandalise our motoring heritage? I have already accepted your argument for historic hot rods but what I cannot stomaching is what is happening now. If we continue to divest our hobby of it’s original vehicles we will surely see rarity values soar beyond the reach of all but the rich.

[Richard H]

[Rootes75]

I agree with that, so many cars at shows we go to have been customised and a lot of younger people do like them. Its hard to dismiss the custom movement, its just another branch of interest in older vehicles.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Ray White]