TRJ Issue #26

It was Meant to Be
The Larsen & Cummins A/Modified Roadster raced at Bonneville from ’59 to ’65, earning driver Fred Larsen membership in the 200mph club and breaking class records five years in a row. The Potvin-blown, Hilborn-injected, Hemi-powered roadster was as beautiful as it was competitive. We tell the story of Larsen and partner Don Cummins alongside studio photography of the beautifully restored Modified, which is now owned by Willie Dorsey.

Mechanical Music
Australian hot rodder Bill Mussett’s full-fendered Deuce three-window is a sight to behold, but wait until you hear it. It’s got a 2×4-fed, 6-71 blown smallblock, a Doug Nash five-speed, and a Franklin quickchange. With a chopped profile and polished five-spokes it is very much reminiscent of the Doyle Gammell coupe and it’s an interesting glimpse into the world of hot rodding down under.

A Designer’s Lens: Strother MacMinn
Strother MacMinn is probably most well-known for his work designing automobiles for General Motors, Hudson, and Oldsmobile as far back as the mid-’30s. He looked for automotive design inspiration everywhere, and his scrapbook of photos revealed a treasure trove of early hot rod and custom images from the streets, parking lots, and dry lakes of Southern California in the ’40s and ’50s. We explore his history and impact on the world of design while examining photos ranging from unknown roadsters and taildraggers to well-known examples like Jack Calori’s A-V8, Bob Rufi’s streamliner, and Phil Remington’s Modified.

The U-Fab Specials
Rick “Reeps” Moody and Pat Lash’s Chevy inline-six-powered hot rods are completely unique, yet they share similarities that go beyond their drivetrains. Both Reeps’ ’34 Ford pickup (sans bed) and Pat’s ’29 Model A roadster are packed with handmade details and solid, ingenious craftsmanship. They’re both incredibly low-slung and stoutly built. And we’ve featured both in a series of studio and driving shots to examine those details up close–and see how good they look going down the road.

Custom Cavalcade
Over the years we’ve focused on a variety of traditional custom cars, and in that time, we’ve amassed quite a collection of custom imagery. We take a look back at some of our favorites done in the ’50s and ’60s style, including Joe Figueroa’s Bailon-built ’51 Merc, Jim Glymph’s Watson-style ’56 Chevy, Hub Harness’ ’60 Buick, Frank Livingston’s ’51 Chevy, and a pair of lowriding East Coast Pontiacs owned by Eddie Alford.

Reader’s Ride
Fifty years ago, Hot Rod Magazine published a two-part article written by Bud Neumeister about outfitting his mostly stock ’28 Model A with a flathead driveline. It was a recipe for what would become standard hot rod fare: a ’49 Merc engine with twin two-barrels, a ’39 toploader transmission, and a few other tweaks to get his A-V8 family roadster looking and riding right. He sold it in the ’60s, bought it back in the late-’90s, and it’s now been restored and resides in the collection of Kansas collector Roger Morrison.

Built by the Boys
It’s hard to argue that ’36 Ford three-window coupes make excellent custom fodder, but they have just as much impact un-chopped and with a hot-rod rake. That’s the approach Canadian hot rodder Tim Young took with his ’36, retaining the stock proportions and restoring it to jet-black perfection over a modified and detailed original chassis. Power comes from a 4-71-blown ’49 Merc flathead hooked to a T-5 transmission.

Parts is Parts: Quickchanges
When it comes to quickchanges, most rodders agree form and function go hand-in-hand. While original quickchanges get rarer by the day, there are several new center sections being built that combine performance with rugged, raw good looks. We look at the latest from Halibrand, Cyclone Racing Equipment, Dick Spadaro/Winters, Wilson Welding, The Rod Shop, and South 40 Street Rods.

The “Dyno” Don Nicholson Story
Few can lay claim to the accomplishments of “Dyno Don” Nicholson. He was an innovator and top performer at the drag strip, the dry lakes and on the street, and his contributions to the sport of hot rodding are immeasurable. We’ve got the whole story.