Kinda hope Hot Rod mag is wrong

[Damn True]

Anyone see this months issue yet? The cover story, "The Next Big Thing" details the growing trend toward the street-rodification of muscle cars.

I sincerely hope they are wrong about that. These things are meant to be driven. Not sit on a convention center floor with mirrors underneath, bathed in be-bop music with a crying toddler doll leaning on the fender.

.....and if Boyd, Foose, and Trepanier's customers start seeking out musclecars in large numbers what will it do for the value of the cars? I fear it will drive the prices out of reach of many enthusiasts.

On the bright side, the more money that goes into it, the bigger the aftermarket will become.

[Johnny Blaze]

I think Hot Rod has lost touch with its readers a lot in the last couple years. I rarely look at it anymore.

[Travis B]

I see no problem with it ......only dollar signs! and muscle cars being built to a higher level than before which is good! SAR the shop that built that GTO has built some awesome rods in the past and the GTO is definitaly a nice car!

I think it is good for the hobby and will bring the value of everyones cars up! Unfortunatly the value of street rods is going to fall!

[TonyL]

not to sure I'd trust Hot Rod to tell me what the next big thing is. They missed the whole pro-touring movement because they were so entrenched in pro-street.

the next big thing? Nascar'd muscle cars.

[Steve Chryssos]

No. Hot Rod's right. And it's been coming for a long time. The traditional street rodder is getting up in his years. The new-age street rodder can relate to muscle cars. So there will be an inevitable blending of the two. Which is fine. They're all hot rods. It was obvious at Goodguy's Columbus. For the first time in the history of the organization, the 2006 Goodguys give-away car will be--a muscle car. Specifically: A Unique Foose Camaro. So goes the mainstream.

BUT

Just as rat rods serve as a reaction to street rods, there will be a reaction to these "modern street rod" muscle cars. I, for one, am doing everything possible to make sure that happens. Because mainstream sucks.

[Damn True]

Travis,
Well, since you are a guy that makes a living building street rods, I can understand your POV.

...and the rising value of the cars is only a benefit if you ALREADY own one. Which thankfully I do, but in terms of growth in the hobby (ie new blood) I think it will be restrictive.

I think the musclecar side of things has always had a fantastic degree of creativity and personal expression (not all of it good mind you) such as the growth of PT. I hope we don't start seeing everything clad in billet and covered in tweed.

...and as for the street rod value dropping....I have always wanted a flat black, chopped, fenderless '32 5-window with a tri-power 327 and hard as rock Cokers (better burnouts). Maybe I can scoop up someones trailer queen on the cheap?

[Travis B]

Travis,
Well, since you are a guy that makes a living building street rods, I can understand your POV.

...and the rising value of the cars is only a benefit if you ALREADY own one. Which thankfully I do, but in terms of growth in the hobby (ie new blood) I think it will be restrictive.

I think the musclecar side of things has always had a fantastic degree of creativity and personal expression (not all of it good mind you) such as the growth of PT. I hope we don't start seeing everything clad in billet and covered in tweed.

...and as for the street rod value dropping....I have always wanted a flat black, chopped, fenderless '32 5-window with a tri-power 327 and hard as rock Cokers (better burnouts). Maybe I can scoop up someones trailer queen on the cheap?

I agree it will be harder to pick up a good solid project but they will still be out there...granted you might have to give a little more but in the end you will get a little more it is a tradeoff that has been going on in street rodding for awhile!

I also do want to see chrome everything and polished this and that.....Hopefully what we will see is very nice cars with sublte body mods and new innovative ideas to the industry.....along with very drivable cars (hopefully)

fenderless 5 windows are cool!

[Damn True]

Just as rat rods serve as a reaction to street rods, there will be a reaction to these "modern street rod" muscle cars. I, for one, am doing everything possible to make sure that happens. Because mainstream sucks.

Can I get a "hell-yeah"?!

A big-fat, punk-rock http://www.spex.de/web/pic/gallery/403b87ce261b4.jpg to "pretty" musclecars.

[Bill Howell]

One point here guys. Street rodders have always been about driving their cars. Yes, the do get together and do the beebop thing, but most rank and file members drove there, not trailered. In the seventys they were putting mustang II stuff under street rods and at the time that was upgrading at its finest. I do not see this as a bad thing, there will always be different interpretations on trends. Look at us here, we agree to disagree on what we are. Anything that puts the spotlight on upgrading old cars will help us. Go to a streetrod event and see what venders are there, yes it is the same folks we buy from. The medium age of the regular streetrodder is getting up there, and venders know that they must change with the times if they intend to keep the doors open. While there will be different degrees of improving, it has to be a good thing as I see it. I know that at big streetrod shows five years age the big thing was to put in an LT1, now everyone that is anyone is doing LS conversions. This only helps us. Yes, it will drive up prices, but guess what, that is supply and demand, the good ole American way. My suggestion is rather than complain, just out there and get a deal before they go up more. Look what 69 camaros have done in the last two years. Who would have thought we would be paying 10K for rollers five years ago, but find a decent car now for less, thay are not out there. It will only get better (or worse) depending on your point of view, but I bet if you pay retail for something today, it will be worth more this time next year.

[6'9"Witha69]

To each his own. I have always wanted my car to handle well and have all the modern comforts. Here it has a name. Many of us didn't have a name for it a decade ago. Now we are seeing a new trend. I don't plan on changing so I don't mind. As long as it means more eye candy and a beefier aftermarket I am all for it.

[JL8Jeff]

I don't think it will be as much street rodification to musclecars as much as street rodification to old cars. A 6 cyl or 327 Camaro is not a musclecar so street rodifying it into something special is a great idea. Taking an original SS396 Camaro and street rodifying it doesn't make much sense unless the car is already missing most of its original drivetrain. But in the end, it's your car and you can do whatever you want to it. The prices will continue to climb no matter what the next trend is. Now if I could only get my JL8 restoration done so I can get some sort or pro-touring 2nd gen Camaro before the prices are insane!

[MuscleRodz]

I also think Hot Rod is right to a point. Look at the Camaros that won SMOTY and Columbus, as well as a lot of the other very nice muscle cars we keep calling "posers". They are essentially the street rodification of muscle cars and they are here to stay. If that is what they are calling main stream now, I would have to say we hard core types here should be relating to "pro-racification".

Mike

[Restomod]

If this trend is true it will do to prices of the rest of the cars we love what "Gone in 60 Sec." did to the price of FB Mustangs.......you wont be able to pick up JUNK for less than $5K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for picking up a finished steel 32 5w cheap...HA!! never happen. But I have almost enough body parts to build 3 34 Fords right now ,a 3w,5w and a Tudor!

[trapin]

I guess I don't know what 'street-rodification of muscle cars' is exactly?

Are we talking about 'Foose quality' show cars that don't get driven or something else?

[Travis B]

I guess I don't know what 'street-rodification of muscle cars' is exactly?

Are we talking about 'Foose quality' show cars that don't get driven or something else?

They are talking about guys that usually build street rods getting into the muscle cars because that is where the market is going! Which means more pro-built muscle cars showing up than there have been!

[trapin]

Ahh...I see.

I don't know how I feel about that. That's a tough one.

[Steve Chryssos]

I guess I don't know what 'street-rodification of muscle cars' is exactly?

Good question. Let's build one (on paper) It really doesn't matter which muscle car you start with. It could be a 62 Bubble Top or a 77 Trans Am. Just apply all the "must have" parts and labor from a killer street rod.

CHASSIS
-MII front suspension with air ride
-Air Ride "Air Bar" Rear suspension
-18"FR/22"RR billet wheels
-4 whl disc brakes (killer street rods do have good brakes)
-Big rake
DRIVETRAIN
-Crate small block
-TH350 Trans (with a big tire and a highway gear, the TH350 is still king of the street rod. Overdrive is very optional)
-9" rear (Any rear will do, but 9" is most popular)
BODY
-Shaved door handles
-Shaved window molding
-Billet grille
-Painted everything including floorboards
-Detailed bodywork is set off by extensive chromed and polished parts.
INTERIOR
-Tea's Design seats (comfort is of greater importance than support)
-Custom console
-Everything covered in leather or tweed
-Dakota Digital Dash
-Billet steering wheel

Now before anyone bitches "Wait! I have a crate engine and a digital dash. Are you callin my car a street rod?" NO. I'm saying that it's the SUM TOTAL of those key parts and cues that make a modern street rod or "Mod Rod". Style and comfort are of greater importance than performance. Nothing wrong with that at all. It's just a different set of priorities. No different than comparing a street rod to a hot rod. Street rods are clean, colorful and user friendly. So it should be no surprise that "Mod Rods" will gain in popularity. But "the next big thing" does not mean they will take over. It's too much work. It's still way easier to buy a kit 32 Ford.

In the end, I'm glad that Hot Rod is finally identifying these mod rods for what they are instead of just lumping them in with Pro-Touring cars based on sidewall height alone.
/Steevo

[parsonsj]

In the end, I'm glad that Hot Rod is finally identifying these mod rods for what they are instead of just lumping them in with Pro-Touring cars based on sidewall height alone.

Excellent point. For years we dealt with Freiberger calling us posers, and took great offense. Now that HRM can differentiate between the posers and the pro-tourers it will be to our benefit.

jp

[Travis B]

a kit 32 Ford.


/Steevo

The same bolts are used to bolt that kit car together that bolt your camaro together! Fiberglass or steel does't matter

[Steve Chryssos]

Sorry JP, but the poser term really blows. It's a direct and unfortunate reaction to the lumping of different cars together. You can still thoroughly enjoy a mod rod. It just has a different set of goals. Once you differentiate the two build styles, the mod rod stands on it's own merits.

After drooling over Pigford's Nova and Alloway's Challenger, I would absolutely love to mod rod my 65 Rivi, then proudly park it in the garage next to my pro-touring Camaro. It would be stupid to put hard suspension and bolstered seats in the Riv. It's just the wrong platform.

And if someone walks up to my mod rod Rivi and says "Hey, nice pro-touring car", I'll explain the difference.