Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[47p2]

Austin A40 Devon 1951

Austin A40 Devon Sedan

Austin Devon A40

Austin 1947 16HP Deluxe
_________________
ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[Old-Nail]

That blue Devon's a beauty, just the sort of condition that I like not much wrong with it just needs tidying!

I quite liked this too as I could quite happily fit modern parts to it knowing that I haven't broken a restorable car.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230240128802&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

[Old-Nail]

And this... Ohhh you've started something now P2

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/morris-major-1950_W0QQitemZ290220524834QQihZ019QQcategoryZ101895QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[47p2]

[Old-Nail]

Yes and just look at the condition of it! Then look at the price with only a short time to run!
If I knew someone was bringing something back and had room in their container my bidding finger would be twitching.

[Craig]

I do like Devons but give me a Dorset any day! Is that the hotrodder in you coming out there old-nail?

[Old-Nail]

Quite possibly Craig.

I've never much seen the attraction of Hot-rods, mainly I think because I was there in the 70's when it was big and witnessed every Tom Dick and whatsit cut up perfectly good old cars to 'Rod' it.
Most of these, and I can swear to this having witnessed it first hand, amounted to no more than obtaining a good solid car, enthusiastically tearing it apart, and then realising that you hadn't actually got unlimited funds/expertise or Californian weather.
The upshot was many many previously perfectly good cars ended up trailered away as scrap, it was heartbreaking to me even then. The few that did make it to the finished product looked stupid, a Ford Pop with wide wheels on the back, 'metalflake' paint, and a furry dashboard... Aaaagh!

I never forgave the 'Rodding' crowd for the carnage during those years, but in reality a proper custom car is an excellent feat of engineering and I do applaud that, it's just those that have greater ambition than ability who decide to 'have a go' gives custom building a bad rep.

So, that's the long winded answer to your question Craig... I would never break a complete original car to rod it...Never, but if I were to come across a bodyshell that has been orphaned?
Well, you never know!

[Giggles]

Not all Rodders do it to prefectly good cars. Take this Humber Pullman, look at the first picture of the car in the scrap yard and see what he has done to the car since. http://aye-deneaux.com/

Yes there are some out there that don't don't know they are doing, but there are a heck of lot that do. Go to any rod show and you'll see plenty of rods that are better looked any than most classics. Read the pages of the National Street Rod Assication website and see what rodders are doing.
_________________
1953 Humber Hawk
1955 Ford Fairlane
1960 & 1963 Humber Super Snipe's

[Craig]

Blimey Old-Nail.

I can see your point with the 70s. I wasn't around but i have read a few mags from the era. Some of the stuff was just damn ugly! I think because in the 70s older cars were more easily found than today people didn't realy care that much. Most of the people i know wouldn't take a good car now and rod it but sooner find a rougher example.

I never understood why Boyd Codington would take a "barn find" which was in reality a good resto and do burnouts in the carpark untill the engine blew. That sort of thing realy gets to me but theres no telling some people.

[Old-Nail]

Giggles don't get me wrong, like I said when a rod or custom is done well then it really is approaching a work of art, and I've seen 'em.

What I can't bear is the folk that might like the idea of taking the custom/rodding route but have none of the engineering skill. (because let's face it it does take some clever redesigning to pull it all together so it works)

Luckily these days kids seem to put big bore exhausts and blue lights on Corsa's which hurts nobody, but in the 70's some lovely old stuff was destroyed by folk in the name of 'customising'.

You still see it today in ebay adverts, "1957 Ford popular, vgc suit rod/chop etc" and I have to ask how many Ford Pop rods can there be before it all gets a bit same-o same-o?

Personally, I'd love to take a container ship over to Australia and NZ and bring back as many bare shells or long derelict cars as would fit on it, and yes, then I'd love something like a Standard vanguard with a smooth V6 and modern steering and brakes - because I do appreciate the craftsmanship [/b]