TRJ Issue #23

Recapturing the Passion
Colorado hot rodder Tommy Thompson raced his homebuilt “Golden Rod” streamliners at Bonneville for 30 years beginning in the early-’50s. Running under Olds power he earned a spot in the 200mph club, and an eventual partnership with GM when they supplied an experimental Olds engine. After Tommy’s passing, the car was given to family friend Dennis Brackeen, who with the help of Warren Longwell (who also penned our story) restored it to its former glory.

Masters of Subtle
Both of collector Joe MacPherson’s latest hot rods are deceptively simple and drop dead gorgeous. His ’37 Ford Woody wagon is the ultimate surf mobile, with beautifully refinished wood and steel, the perfect rake over painted steel wheels and blackwalls, and an Art Chrisman-built flathead with three deuces. His ’56 Ford F100 is equally subtle on the outside. But beneath the hood is a SOHC 427 Ford built by Mike Chrisman.

Article: 50 Years of Rod & Custom
In part 1 of our sneak peek into our hardbound book, 50 Years of Rod & Custom. We give a sneak peek into the authorized history of one of our very favorite magazines. Included in our preview are images of Spence Murray’s in-progress “Dream Truck,” a behind the scenes look at Valley Custom, mid- ’50s drag racing in Southern California, Norm Grabowski’s “Lightnin’ Bug” T-bucket and Frank Sonzogni’s chopped Merc.

Triple Play
We’ve long been fans of the hot rods rolling out of Roy Brizio’s shop, and our “Triple Play” feature focuses on three of the latest. Cliff Hansen’s ’31 Ford roadster pickup on Deuce rails is powered by a 410hp smallblock Chevy hooked to a Tremec five-speed and Dutchman Champ-style quickchange. Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton has for some time now been a customer of Roy’s, and his latest is a full-fendered Deuce roadster with a 362hp smallblock Ford. Wisconsin hot rodder Richard Munz chose the highboy route with his Deuce roadster, which is also powered by a smallblock Ford.

Paint from an Overlooked Era
Most consider Larry Watson one of the most influential custom car painters in history. Aaron Lobato’s ’53 Chevy proves that influence is alive and well with his wildly scalloped and ’flaked mild custom. The shaved handles, frenched headlights and taillights, a slammed stance, Astro Supremes with narrow whitewalls, the two-tone Watson-esque paint, capture the early-’60s vibe perfectly.

The Birth of Hot Rodding
The dry lakes of Southern California served as the testing ground for early hot rodders. We feature an excerpt from Robert Genat’s book, The Birth of Hot Rodding, alongside images from the immediate post-WWII years on the lakes.

Edsel Ford’s Hot Rods
Edsel Ford had a flair for design and a need to go fast. He built a number of unique automobiles for his own personal use, including the beautiful, streamlined, flathead-powered Edsel Speedster. Ken Gross explores his history and takes a closer look at the Speedster, photographed on location and, appropriately, on the road.

Article: Fittings that Fit
EELCO Manufacturing and Supply Company provided all manner of cast, spun, and fabricated aluminum parts for the hot-rodding community. From gas tanks and gas pedals to multi-carb linkages and gauge brackets, the line of products with the EELCO name was seemingly endless. We’ve got the full story, from Edward Ellsworth Lohn’s humble beginnings in the family garage in the late-’40s through his co-founding of SEMA in the ’60s.