Thought Gears

I'm not what you would call a perfect car guy. I love looking at, studying, and admiring cars. I don't know how an engine works, what the cubic centimeters numbers means or what the difference between a big block and small block Chevy engine is. I don't change my own oil, fix my own problems, or even open my hood unless I'm filling the wiper fluid. I'm not above any of that, I just never learned how, not that I wouldn't be willing. But I am a great admirer of classic cars, why else would I take near 5000 pictures of them in less than 3 years?

And there is a specific type of car I love. Some call them rat rods, others call them traditional hot rods, or suede. These cars aren't shined a showroom finish, tucked away in the garage, only coming out to be loaded onto the trailer to be bussed to the Rod & Custom Show or the West Coast Nationals. They live their lives outside or in beat down garages, they are driven daily if they run, worked on daily if they aren't. They are bare metal, rusted, or primered. Their wheels are usually the cleanest and newest thing on them, because they are the cheapest. They are a mismatch of parts, scraps, blood, sweat and tears. They are obvious works of love by these individuals. These classics don't need to shine, they just have to run.



1952 Buick, no gloss, no shine, just flat paint with hand painted flames.


1950 Chevrolet, a Frankenstein of color, fading original paint perhaps, or the result of different tests


Rust doesn't mean the car isn't loved, in some cases the rust buckets get more love the the gleen machines


Tractors are legitimate sources for parts


1951 Chevrolet, just because you own a Chevy doesn't mean you can't have a Pontiac hood ornament


Rust is a valid color in these parts


You can still color coordinate and still look cool


It worked then, it still works now, what other reason do you need?


What is in a name?


1959 Edsel, this style works even past the Hot Rod era


What is paint but just another expense?


With Bettie by your side, can you do any wrong?


It doesn't even require an engine to be a true piece of work


Just because you weren't born in the USA, doesn't mean you can't still be a true American classic


If your back wheels are almost as big as your body, you are doing something right


Your car is also the best seat in the house


A little nudity is always appreciated


Don't bother cleaning your car after your run through the mud or salt, no one will judge you


And it's always good to bring along a designated driver


I love these cars. If it wasn't for them, I would have never fell in love with classic cars. These cars and their owners showed me that not every car guy owns a car to show off once a year, but there is people out there who do it for the love of the vehicle, the work, and the culture. I salute the owners of these hot rods, rat rods, suede machines and leadsleds.

(Pictures taken from my Billetproof 2006, 2007, and 2008, Midnight Mass 2007 and 2008, and Last Originals 2008 sets)