Synopsis
You've seen these cars before. They're some of the best-known, coolest hot rods ever built. Each represents a clear vision, usually from one talented person. These hot rods set the standards; they were imitated, and when they made show appearances, they were coveted and revered. Hot Rod Milestones covers 25 of the most influential, innovative hot rods ever built from the late 1940s to the mid '60s. Each car's history, technical background, and influence is discussed, along with information on the builders and owners. Photos include contemporary pictures of the cars as they exist now, along with vintage photos of the cars when they were first built and shown.
From the Inside Flap
Hot rodding, at its core, has always been about speed. But the best examples of the breed have also been able to go fast with style, and often the styling cues – chopped tops, rakes, belly pans, etc. – are what make the speed possible. If a hot rodder builds a car that succeeds and looks good in the process, it’s a sure bet that their efforts will be duplicated, in part or in whole, by future hot rodders. That’s what this book is about – cars that, by virtue of their performance and style, defined what a traditional hot rod looks like today. The authors picked 25 of the best and took an in-depth look at each one. Who built it, what did it win, who else owned it, and most important, what makes it significant? For example, look at the McGee ’32 highboy on the cover. This car was built nearly 60 years ago, but it was done so well that thousands of hot rodders still emulate its look and stance when they build a deuce, and the restored car is virtually priceless. We can’t give you lessons in hot rod taste, but we can give you the history and show you the details that make this car – and 24 others – icons. Ken Gross is the former director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, and is intimately familiar with many of the cars featured in this book. He’s also a well-known automotive writer whose articles have appeared in Hop Up, The Rodder’s Journal, Playboy, and many other magazines. His garage includes a very correct post-war-style ’32 Ford highboy roadster, a ’34 Ford coupe, and one of the world’s largest collections of flathead Ford intake manifolds. (John Lamm photo) Robert Genat is a prolific photographer and writer who has produced numerous magazine articles and more than 20 books, including The Birth of Hot Rodding, American Drag Racing, Retro Rods, and Little Deuce Coupe. He recently built a nostalgic, primered ’32 Ford five-window highboy coupe; that car was sold to make room for either a ’49 Merc or a ’57 Chevy – he’s trying to decide. We’re betting on the kemp.
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