Oh man, I just gotta get my 2 bits into this conversation! I once owned a Dodge POWER WAGON! Circa 1972 issue 1/2 ton. A step side running a 383 cubic inch engine as I wore out the 360 that came in it. I lived in Idaho at the time. This truck went places that guys only took Jeeps! It had the factory locker in the rear and I added a locker in the front along with a Warn winch and bumper. Upgraded all the u-joints and there were 6 total in the drive lines. It had an automatic that was upgraded and built by an outfit in California that built them for off road race trucks. Ran 11:50X16's on American Mags! Folks thought it was a 3/4 ton! I used to skid trees down the mountains with the winch. It's too bad that the factories don't build 4x4 trucks like that anymore. When it went away finally , I think I cried ! Hell I still miss that truck! ... View more

I'd trade all my grandkids and the wife as well for a new Blackwing! Oh yeah! Caddy had hotrods even back in the 1950's! V-8's, hot cams and 2- 4 bbls! Ran like stink! Was fun to watch a big sedan smoke the back tires! Well, on second thought, I guess I'd keep the grandkids and the wife who has put up with my strange, according to her, hot rods and Harleys! But I'd sure would like to have the new Blackwing! ... View more

Hot rods are from the early times to 1948 -- - then they became "Street Rods" because they were more of the more modern look and that started in 1949 to the era of the factory muscle cars of the 1960's. So say around 1962 it became the muscle car era the lead up to a whole bunch of name changes like "Pro Street', "Pro Stock", then to what we in the 1960's called "Beaters"! Those were cars that were gotten for cheap, made to run and no one cared if they had side glass or even upholstery! As long as they ran and got one from point A to point B. Ahhh yes, those were the cars of many colors and patina because we couldn't afford paint jobs! Actually the 1960's was a great time to be a hotrodder! ... View more

Now this is interesting to say the least! As for me, an electric powered rig, irregardless of what is being said, is simply just too complicated for off road use. Around town and if you never want to take your rig off road, well that's just fine. However for off-road use, the simpler the better. I'd hate to have to do a trail repair to that particular drivetrain out in the middle of nowhere, USA! ... View more

Ahhh but we can dream- - no? ... View more

As I'm an old gearhead, it'd have to be the track Roadster! All the newer vehicles just seem to leave me hanging. But, that Track Roadster, that is something else. That'd have to just sit next to my "32 Ford 5 window highboy. ... View more

This was fun reading! Considering that I may be way older than the majority here, I may be getting older but I refuse to grow up! Anyway, after many--many years of buying vehicles, I chanced upon a book that showed dealers prices, wholesale, cost of options, etc. Seeing as how I was in the market for a basic new pick-up, I wandered around hitting the various marques of the automotive world. No one wanted to deal with me when they quoted a price and I'd whip out my little blue book, where upon seeing that book, the salesman would say that he couldn't deal with me. After a bit, I wandered into a GMC dealer and seen a pretty basic pickup. A saleswoman came up, seen the book and said, "Oh now, this will be fun!" After a bit of haggling, I got my truck, at my price! A couple of years ago I decided upon a late model Corvette, after studying up on them, I realized that the dealers around me kept a pretty cool head on ordering only the favorite things that buyers like. Hence, I got my Corvette with the options I was looking for. It seems to me that GM and Corvette keeps their enthusiastic buyers in mind when setting up their various models and what sells well in the marketplace. Yup, they offer many colors but there are several very popular ones also, Torch Red comes to mind, like mine! Every so often they will offer up a limited optioned car, like the Z06 or the Indy Pace car. The 1979 model comes to mind. Anyway, great article and it opened discussions to banter about. Peace brother! 🙂 ... View more

Not a bad article for those who don't have any plans or goals. So, after reading it, thought, ahhh- - - yes! New retractable running boards for the GMC. Hmmmm and oh yeah- - - gota buff the paint on it also. Need to farm that one out! The C5, new tires and alignment as the rears have indicated. Oh yeah, the "32 Highboy. Hmmm- - - - put new carpeting in it last year but really need to install self adjusting brakes on the rear axle. Maybe install a locker? So I have a few grand in parts needed so will need to budget! Wait- - - does anyone still do that? So new tires and the retractable running boards- - remember - "Happy wife- -Happy Life! " So to all, Happy Motoring in 2021! Get the cars out and use'em! ... View more

I'd just love to stuff that engine into my 1932 Ford 5 window highboy coupe!  It'd be a nightmare but so very worth it!  ... View more

Geat article.  I still have my original "Jerry Cans" purchased in 1971 for $ 10.00 each.  I have seen the same can go for over $50.00 and don't look like they are as well built as the one's I own.  The Jerry can had a screw in cap while the water can had a sort of flip cap.  During our time in "Nam, everyone was cautioned to not put gasoline in the water can.  The water can was lined while the gas can wasn't.  The gas can was sealed of course but there wasn't a liner visible.  I did have a couple of the water cans used during my escapades into the desert regions of Nevada back in the early 1970's.  Kept the gas cans but don't remember what happened to the water cans!  Getting old I suppose?   One other thing, there were jerry cans of the 2.5 gallon variety that were strapped on the fender of the jeeps surrounded by the roll bars.  Then with one or two depending on how one did it, strapped on the back you have 20 to 30 gallons to extend your travels.  Now those were some great adventures they were!  ... View more

Oh this was funny!  We owned a Tiffin motorhome for about 10 years.  Towed a off-road loving and built for, Jeep Wrangler.  Oh yeah- - - we know all about looking for dump stations.  Fortunately our motorhome had a system that we could hook up a hose (not the one used for freshwater) and flush out the dreaded sewer hose.  When we bought it, used, no one gave us any information regarding the "Dumping".  Learned the hard way, but by watching others and the movie, "RV" I did learn rather quickly!  Anyone thinking about an RV ought to watch the movie, its hilarious!  Now I thinking I need a "Teardrop" trailer to pull behind my 1932 Ford Coupe highboy.  Yeah, its a "Hotrod"!   ... View more

Got to agree with you on your basic premise.  The Jeep Wrangler 4 door is a veritable joke!  May be OK for a family vehicle in nasty weather country (read snow) but there isn't any room for an adult in the back seat, much like the Camaro, firebird and mustang.  I see lots of blvd cruisers with jacked up rigs and huge tires/wheels.  Not serious off roaders in the least.  The same with the huge blazer's & bronco's as river toys.  As for the Raptor, I have always liked the styling but to what end is it?  Overpriced and not meant for daily commutes unless you live in the tundra wilderness!  I guess I'm just too much old school.  I was a member of the National Off Road Racers Association in the early 1970's as I ran a Jeep CJ-5 in off-road competition.   ... View more

When Ford quit building the small Bronco, like the one Bill Stropp ran in Baha, a legend came to a close.  Who in their right mind would want a full size Bronco?  Full size like the trucks that is.  The original Bronco gave Jeep a run for their money as well as other brands.  I'm going to the web site to see if this new Bronco will stand up to its origin! ... View more

I also use note pages to keep track of things needed.  Thee is a old fashion clip board hanging over my main work bench with things listed.  I also have maintenance books for each vehicle in our garage.  Everything from minor work to major repairs is listed by dates and mileage, what was accomplished, etc.  I also have a binder for each vehicle that has all receipts for virtually everything purchased for that particular vehicle.  I have used it many times going back to see where I purchased something or other.  I also have all the instructions for virtually everything, if they are out of the ordinary, in another book.  Sometimes buddies will come over and ask how something was done so we dig thru the books until we find it.  The little time allocated to keeping records can be well spent in the long run.   ... View more

Boy howdy!  I so remember the Gene Snow Super Stock running the paint off its rivals!  Yes, it did shake the ground!! Awesome!   ... View more

Well now this is interesting.  There are several types of coupes as there are several types of sedans in the hot rod world.  I.E., Coupes:  3 window, 5 window, cabriolets, sport, delux, tc.  A club coupe was a coupe with a back seat and the business coupe didn't.  Those evolved later in the years, like the late 1930's and 1940's.  The sedans were 4 door, 2 door and the Victoria.  Roadsters were the standard, deluxe and the options were varied.  One option for coupes and roadsters was the rumble seat or as some called them, the Mother-In-law seat.  Then after being hot rodded, they were full fendered, channeled and highboys.  Highboys could be seen with chopped tops like mine or chopped/ or not and channeled as they were in the East Coast.  The West Coast mostly were high-boys sitting on the frames but they could be had with a chopped top or not.  Of course we had the "Touring Car", an open top sedan of sorts.  Most were had with canvas tops.  The Euros had dual cowl bodies like our own Duesenbergs. We had "Woodies" or open sided station wagons as these were intended for use at train stations.  Then we had the multiple versions of racers and those were extensive.  This is what I have learned over the last 74 years.  I know there are probably lots of old guys that were more involved than I.  At any rate, it was a pretty good article.   ... View more