TRJ Issue #24

Two Simple Sedans
We traveled half-way around the world to photograph a pair of simple and undeniably cool early Ford Tudors from Australia. Graeme and Lynette Blaby’s full-fendered ’33 Tudor combines a nice, original stock body with a smallblock Chevy and Ford four-speed top loader for power and a lowered and raked stance over steelies and wide white walls for attitude. Beau Ledger’s Deuce highboy sedan turns the clock back even further with an 8BA flathead with twin Stromberg 97s, a later Ford four-speed, and a chopped silhouette.

Roth Rivalry
Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was one of the wildest and most revered characters in the history of hot rodding and customizing. Our story takes a look at two well-researched, beautifully designed hardbound books about his life, cars, and art. The first, Rat Fink: The Art of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, was written by Douglas Nason and Greg Escalante and designed by Rod & Custom art director Aaron Kahan. The second, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth: His Life, Times, Cars, and Art, was written by Pat Ganahl and features a foreword by Roth’s friend and cohort, Robert Williams.

The Real Deal
Pennsylvania hot rodders Butch and Doreen Pletcher’s Deuce highboy roadster has all the hallmarks of an early-’50s hot rod, and for good reason. Butch was particularly taken with the classic styling and good looks of the Ray Brown roadster. Taking cues from that, he assembled his traditional Deuce with a Brookville steel body with a heavily louvered hood and rich ’51 Ford Meadow Green paint.

The Purple Impala
When it comes to mild customs, Lee Pratt seems to have all the details nailed. His latest is a ’58 Chevy Impala, which many consider to be one of the early Detroit factory customs. A heavily lowered stance, Buick Skylark wire wheels, and subtle body modifications are offset by flawless black paint and a beautifully paneled and lace-painted roof. The wildly sculpted interior, designed by Steve Stanford and stitched by Frank Gonzales, is the icing on the cake.

50 Years of Rod & Custom
TRJ #24 features part II of excerpts, outtakes, and extras from our hardbound book: 50 Years of Rod & Custom. In this second installment we focus on color images from the ’50s through the early ’70s, capturing some of the most well-known hot rods and customs of the era. Among them are Ed Roth’s “Druid Princess,” Neal East’s Deuce roadster, Danny Eichstedt’s “Leg Show T,” Sam Hollingsworth’s ’57 Chevy Nomad, and the restoration of the Niekamp roadster.

Competition Coupes
The heavily hammered, lightning-fast Pierson Brothers’ 2D and So-Cal Speed Shop ’34 Ford coupes are considered by most to be the quintessential competition coupes. Both were meticulously restored to exacting specifications for Don Orosco and Bruce Meyer, respectively. We tell their history through studio photography, historic images, and a Darryll Mayabb-penned cutaway drawing of the So-Cal coupe inspired by the Rex Burnett drawing of the Pierson car in the April 1950 Hot Rod Magazine.

The One That Didn’t Get Away
Street Gassers have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, and in some way most have them have been inspired by Randy Dubb’s famous ’42 Willys. Randy bought the nose-up canary yellow Gasser while in high school. He cruised Whittier Boulevard, raced it on the street and strips, and it was featured on multiple magazine covers, including the August ’67 Rod & Custom. It’s been restored to its former glory by California Street Rods.

The Stu Hilborn Story
Of all the innovators and engineers who have made significant contributions to hot rodding, few have changed the sport quite like Stu Hilborn. Our feature delves into his racing days and the development of his game-changing fuel injection systems, as well as the evolution of his famous and elusive streamliner.