A Hot Rods & Kustoms Puzzle - Solved by Many!

Otto Puzzell · October 18, 2009, 08:18:20 AM

The origin's of the term "hot rod" (or "hotrod") are unclear. A contraction of hot roadster? The temperature of the often-exposed exhaust? No matter. They were built (at first) for speed, often on dry lake beds. The earliest examples were not much more than stripped roadsters. Over time, the engines became hotter, and the look of the car came to take on more importance. In time, the hot rod look was adopted by customizers, who built cars as much or more for show, than for go. The California Kustom Kar Kulture grew up in the postwar year, starting off slow, with de-chromed and cleaned-up every day cars. As time marched on, these too became increasingly complex, and often incorporating engine mods that the rodders could appreciate.

In this puzzle, there are pictured 12 hot road and/or kustom cars, from mild to wild. To score points, you'll need to tell me more than just type of car, or the name given by its builder. You'll also have to give me either the builder's name, the shop it came from, or what kind engine motivates it.

Enjoy!

Bill Neumann1932 Ford Roadster / pnegyesi

Barris Mercury Super Marauder / Paul Jaray

Ken Kveseth's '27 Model T 5-Window Coupe / João

Dick Bertolucci 36 Ford Cabriolet / Ray B.

1961 Chevy Impala "Cheemer" by Lars Lindberg / neilshouse

The Alexander Brothers' "69er" 32 Ford / Paul Jaray

Bill Cushenbery Marquis 56 Ford / Paul Jaray

Otto Ryssman's Rocket / Scott Miller

Dave Cunningham's 40 Ford / Ray B.

Greg Gammack's 1923 Model T Roadster with a 1956 Chevrolet V-8 engine / Tom_I

Tony Ivo's T-Bucket Hot Rod / Ray B.

Roy Delaney's 1947 Chevy / Ray B.

Ray B. · October 18, 2009, 11:37:13 AM

I know an expert who's gonna eat his hat knowing he misses this.
As for me, being not exactly the specialist you once wrote (but thanks anyway), I'll have to do some serious research, if there are some left when I come back.

Otto Puzzell · October 22, 2009, 12:34:58 PM

No worries, Ray. Look's like you'll have this one to yourself.

Paul Jaray · October 22, 2009, 01:04:35 PM

#2 Mercury Super Marauder 1964, George Barris.
#6 Alexander Brother's Ford Hot Rod, Olds-powered ,built for Don Vargo
#7 Bill Cushenbery's 56 Ford Custom Marquis

Otto Puzzell · October 22, 2009, 04:23:32 PM

I suspected you would rise to the challenge.

neilshouse · October 22, 2009, 08:14:56 PM

#5 1961 Impala Bubbletop built by Lars Lindberg, powered by a BMW V12.

Otto Puzzell · October 23, 2009, 04:15:47 AM

Ray had better hurry his recovery!

Ray B. · October 24, 2009, 04:37:41 PM

I'm ready, and willing, and I'm able to rock'n'roll all night, guys.

But I still haven't identified any of those

. I was sure there would be other amateurs!

Ray B. · October 25, 2009, 09:08:40 AM

HRAC #9 is the second version of Dave Cunningham's 1940 Ford Sedan known as Lil' Beauty. First and second version were done at Barris Kustom. It was powered by a Chevy 396 cid engine with a Hurst shifter.

Ray B. · October 25, 2009, 09:12:41 AM

HRAC#4 is the 1936 Ford Convertible owned by William Yee. Bertolucci's Body and Paint Shop made a removable top for the car. When William did not want to pay the extra $75 to make it removable, Dick Bertolucci welded the top to the body.

Ray B. · October 26, 2009, 01:43:19 PM

HRAC 11 is Tommy Ivo's Ford T bucket, powered by a (thanks to the help of Max Balchowsky) Buick engine, stretched to 402 cid and fed by a six-pack of Strombergs 97.

Ray B. · October 28, 2009, 06:11:46 AM

HRAC 12 is Roy Delaney's version of the original Dream Truck. He built it himself using his 1947 Chevrolet 1/2 ton truck, with a whole Plymouth powertrain, V8, transmission, drive shaft and rear end.

pnegyesi · November 02, 2009, 09:59:47 AM

I have to bark in: No1 is Bill Neumann's car: "a 1931 Ford body on 1932 rails, chopped and channeled. It was completely finished in 1954 doing all the work myself. Then, in 1957 I took the roadster apart. Added lots of new up-dates, a great paint job by Jack Lentz (owner/builder of the Golden Rod), and a Chevy OHV V8, which I built-up with my signature three carb setup."

Otto Puzzell · November 02, 2009, 12:30:00 PM

Guys - I'll update tomorrow before leaving town.

Ray B. · November 21, 2009, 04:02:25 AM

HRAC #3: Do you know where the picture was taken? California? Florida?
HRAC #8 looks like the body is wood. Am I right?

Otto Puzzell · November 21, 2009, 05:31:18 AM

HRAC #3: Do you know where the picture was taken? California? ~~Florida?~~

HRAC #8 looks like the body is wood. Am I right? I believe so.

Ray B. · November 21, 2009, 06:08:20 AM

Quote from: Otto Puzzell on November 21, 2009, 05:31:18 AM
HRAC #3: Do you know where the picture was taken? California? ~~Florida?~~

Thanks. All I have to do is find in what town one can find this cone shaped roof and i'm done

Ray B. · November 21, 2009, 06:22:12 AM

It looks furiously like the Hotel Del Coronado... San Diego?

Otto Puzzell · November 21, 2009, 06:30:43 AM

Could be.

I'm assuming the picture was taken in Cali because the builder is from there (though not San Diego). It's not a long drive in a cool coupe, though.

Otto Puzzell · December 17, 2009, 03:14:25 AM

Vroooooom pocketa pocketa pocketa

Ray B. · December 18, 2009, 04:43:50 AM

I've spent hours on the remaining ones, with no results....

Otto Puzzell · December 18, 2009, 05:24:26 AM

I'll assemble some clues.

Ray B. · December 24, 2009, 10:32:34 AM

Vroooooom pocketa pocketa pocketa

Otto Puzzell · December 25, 2009, 03:29:02 AM

Quote from: Ray B. on December 24, 2009, 10:32:34 AM
Vroooooom pocketa pocketa pocketa

See above! Santa brung some clues!

Ray B. · February 08, 2010, 10:45:24 AM

Car 3: like Graham Gouldman?
Car 8: Some guy named Howard, Sanders, if not Sinatra?
Car 10: Buick nailhead engine?

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A Hot Rods & Kustoms Puzzle - Solved by Many!