Description
By: Gerry Burger .
Description
Vintage or classic hot rods have been an enduring segment of the hot rod hobby because these retro roadsters, sedans, and coupes represent the quintessential hot rod and capture the hot rodding culture. While many rodders have built vehicles dedicated to a particular era, theme, region, or style, often times these rods have not had all the period correct parts, and therefore the car hasn't realized its full potential. To build a faithful period correct hot rod, it's crucial to get all the parts and details right.
Hot rod veteran Gerry Burger explains how to identify, buy, or build a period correct hot rod that encapsulates the time period—a rod that you will be proud of and will earn accolades. He showcases all the parts that make a faithful and consistent hot rod of a certain era, theme, or style, including 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, both East Coast and West Coast as well as dry lakes. He details the wide range of stock parts and popular high-performance parts from a particular era, and covers when these parts were first produced and when they were in popular use. Once the theme and time period have been determined, Burger shows you how to choose and shop for the period correct engine and parts to match the chassis. Whether Halibrand, Rocket, or American Racing, he shows you how to match era-correct wire, steel, or aluminum wheels to your rod.
The author also explains how to build or buy a frame from a certain era and which frames can be modified for use in a particular hot rod. In addition, Burger details how to pick the correct front suspension-straight axle and traverse-mounted spring for a Ford, or straight axles and some independent suspensions for GM and Chrysler products. He also details the interior, body panels, and gauges that fit a particular period. When it comes to putting together all the pieces to create a true period correct hot rod, no other book is a better guide.
About the Author
Gerry Burger has worked as editor of Rodder's Digest and recently as editorial director for Buckroo Communications automotive titles. He currently contributes to many leading automotive periodicals, including Street Rod- Builder, Street Rodder, and American Rodder. A dyed-in-the-wool hot rodder, he has built many street rods himself and has authored the Hot Rocider's Bible. He currently lives in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
