When rodders aren’t working on cars, they’re perusing street rod magazines or websites for hot rod photos and bargains to purchase. Though they expend time and money, street rodders frequently get great returns on their investments. If they find a bargain, they frequently manage to sell the rod again and make a profit on the sale.
Hot Rods and Street Rods Defined
Hot rods are modified with huge engines for speed. Hot rodders modify their cars for speed to race them. Street rods are cars manufactured prior to 1949, modified with more reliable late model drivetrains. Street rodders focus less on racing and more on street performance and on their rods’ unique, personally customized appearance. Emphasis for street rods is on elaborate custom paint jobs, luxury leather interiors with all the amenities, and modern engines.
History of Rods
Some hot rod aficionados speculate that the word, hot rod, may have come from a contraction of the words hot roadster, which meant a roadster or a car that was modified for speed. Others speculate that the word hot rod came from the fact that the mufflers were exposed, or there was a hot muffler neck when the engine was running.
Nevertheless, the term hot rod was first used in the 1920’s and 30’s to describe a car that had been "souped up" by modifying the engine for speed and performance. According to autos.msn.com, the real pioneers of hot rodding were Californians in the 1920’s known to “hop up” their Ford Model Ts.
In southern California in the 1920 and 30’s, rodders raced their modified cars in immense, empty dry lake beds. Modification then consisted of removal of hoods, bumpers, windshields and fenders, and replacing engines with more powerful ones.
In the 1970’s, automakers began increasing automobile performance. Muscle cars could be readily purchased. However, after the oil crisis in 1973, automakers were pressured to offer fuel efficiency and safety as a priority over performance. This decrease in vehicle performance popularized hot rodding again. The term street rod was coined about this time. Street rodding differed slightly from hot rodding in that it focused less on racing and was and is more family oriented.
Fascination with Street Rods and Hot Rods
Rodders are allured by many aspects of the hobby. Most were fascinated with cars at an early age and were able to identify makes and models of cars from great distances. Being able to build a car from scratch or make one run better is a demonstration of a rodder’s mechanical abilities, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Hot rodders who like to race and manage to turn an ordinary car into a speedster can legitimately claim bragging rights. Wanting to drive fast and be seen in a really cool car is a big part of the rodders’ allure for their hobby.
For street rodders, there is sentimentality in restoring an antique car and making it into a virtual showpiece. Street rodders love the pre 1949 cars, and when they’ve customized a beautiful showpiece, other people take notice. Rodders enjoy that sort of appreciation of their craft.
Another allure for rodders is the camaraderie with other enthusiasts. Rodders, at rod events, spend time with kindred spirits. They talk shop, check out the rods at the events, and have an enjoyable time doing what they love.
Necessary Investment for Rodders
Purchasing and restoring rods takes financial investment and time. An amateur mechanic can spend around $3000.00 to restore a cheap clunker by scouring for parts. Such work takes much time and effort, however.
Some rodders have the money but lack time needed to do the work. Such rodders shop around to purchase a rod that’s already “sweet” looking, and then improve upon it with what time they do have.
Some enthusiasts fund rod restoration with financing similar to a home construction loan. Street rodders having considerable investment in their rods don’t want to risk racing them. They prefer firing them up, going to rod events and cruise-ins, and basking in admiring glances. Many street rodders prefer to pull their street rods to events in enclosed car trailers to keep the cars in buff condition for the shows.
Resources for Rodders
Resources of interest to rodders include the “National Street Rod Association” and the “National Hot Rod Association”. Scheduled show events can be found at both sites. Enthusiasts will enjoy browsing the “Good Guys Rod and Custom Association” online site, as well as the online site, “Hot Rod Hotline: World’s Largest Online Rodding Magazine”. Both offer interesting information, as well as hot rods and street rods for sale or trade.
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