Whats a modified?

[Hot Rod Widow]

I have been reading some of the posts and I do not understand what makes a modified a modified? why is it not just called a hot rod. It sounds like a simple question but I am sure the answer isn't, so can someone please enlighten me.

[31hillard]

i think its because in the 40's and 50's there was rodsters,belly,streamliners etc,but anything that couldnt be put in this category was a modified.correct me if im wrong.

[kapri]

Jane, there are a lot of subdivisions of hot rod based on variations of the style through the years . The modifieds came from the Lakes racing where cars were cut in length and width to improve aerodynamics ( years before OEM even thought about it !) and to reduce weight.

My 'Special' that you saw at the Ace is a 'modified' because it has a Model B roadster body with the back cut off and shortened.

[langysrodshop]

Jane it takes years to learn the various styles etc, At least your not frightened to ask which is good. Interesting posting thanks.

i've attached a pic of one of my faves.

[scottie]

li ike this one

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/tarmacghost/zzzzzzzzzzzz.jpg

scottie

[langysrodshop]

Scottie the engine looks too big for me.

[Banger]

SCTA rules for 1939 defined a modified as follows:

"Modified Class:
Cars competing in the Modified Class must be equipped with a body, either modified stock body or a body of similar construction consisting of firewall, cowl, side and back. There shall be no streamlining back of the drivers seat and there must be a minmum flat area of 400 square inches at the rear in an approximate vertical plane.
Engines must be of American automotive production manufacture, non-supercharged, and must have been under 260 cubic inches original stock displacement.
Belly pans, closed in front, may be included as part of the rear flat area."

There were two main types, those with narrowed bodies for racing, and the full width ones which were primarily street cars. The class was eliminated from racing by the SCTA in 1947. Modifieds were the true budget hot rods of the day as they were generally built from parts from scrap yards rather than starting with a complete car and hopping that up.

Some great example on this thread over on the HAMB.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149631&highlight=modifieds

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/jimmyschev/lake%20modifieds/SCAN0005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/jimmyschev/lake%20modifieds/SCAN0011.jpg

[kapri]

Nice pics .


Kev

[bigbadad]

Scottie the engine looks too big for me.

Can an engine ever be too big?!!

[kev elliott]

Looks like John Wickes sitting on #14! Nice hat too...

[Muroc]

Also they where called just "shorts" and also in certain area's they where called "flivvers" although Im not sure that last word is spelt correctly, these terms are still used today in places although not as common as "modified", and then there was gow jobs as well........

[artiboy69]

Looks like he's trying to squeeze one out.....

[randrhotrodimports]

Me to old looking car with big engine = Hot Rod.

li ike this one

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/tarmacghost/zzzzzzzzzzzz.jpg

scottie

[Banger]

Also they where called just "shorts" and also in certain area's they where called "flivvers" although Im not sure that last word is spelt correctly, these terms are still used today in places although not as common as "modified", and then there was gow jobs as well........

Shorts, flivvers and gow job were slang terms, much the same as hot rod, hot iron, etc. The term modified differs in the fact that it refers to an actual class that raced at the lakes so is therefore more definable.

[Brizey]

Shorts, flivvers and gow job were slang terms, much the same as hot rod, hot iron, etc. The term modified differs in the fact that it refers to an actual class that raced at the lakes so is therefore more definable.

The term `Flivver` originated as an endearing term for a stock model T Ford in the 1920s.
The term was also used by Laurel & Hardy in a couple of their films...

[Crossroads Speed Shop]

Didn't you work as tea-boy on some of those movies Brian?

[Koops]

Can't ever imagine this being driven like Wee Davie's at The Hayride.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/tarmacghost/zzzzzzzzzzzz.jpg

Too clean. Just too clean.:rolleyes:

[kapri]

Koops , have you see the quality of finish on banger racers nowadays ....and look how they end up?!

[Koops]

1939 SCTA (Southern California Timing Association): Modified Class - Car bodies not stock, exceptions where decided by the Technical Committee.

1946 SCTA: Modified Class - Cars are equipped with modified or stock bodies or of similar construction including; firewall, cowl, sides, and back. No streamlining rearward of the driver. Car must have minimum flat area of 400 sq.in at the rear in an approximate vertical plane.

By these descriptions a Fad T could (later) be described as a 'modified'. But that stirs the muddy waters of Hot Rodding law and terms.

[Muroc]

Brizey, yep it was a term of enderment but also use to describe T's with body parts removed, generally used in agri type settings and as early hill climbers as well......Ive been trying to find the article I read it all in, damned if I can locate it..........

[Brizey]

Didn't you work as tea-boy on some of those movies Brian?

Yeh, had to sweep up too, pay was crap then, probably still is!!!!...

[prefect20]

Jane it takes years to learn the various styles etc, At least your not frightened to ask which is good. Interesting posting thanks.

i've attached a pic of one of my faves.

Steve,
Watch where you put your commas, there's a can of worms just waiting to be opened there!!!

[langysrodshop]

Am i bothered !!! LOL




Steve,
Watch where you put your commas, there's a can of worms just waiting to be opened there!!!

[langysrodshop]

Tea boy he was probably in em !!!



Didn't you work as tea-boy on some of those movies Brian?

[kapri]

Way off topic now, could you please pull it back or it'll have to be locked. Rodding discussion only remember?

[Koops]

Jane. There's a series of books by a bloke called Don Montgomery that goes into quite some depth about the early history of Hot Rodding. The books cover 'Rodding' from it's very earliest days, pre-1920s through to the mid 1960s. The subjects matter covered in these books centres predominantly around what has become known as Hot Rodding's "Golden" era. That is the post World War 2 1940s through to the very early 1960s. All the books are excellent in written and pictorial content. Your probably not going to find a better selection of photos from this era anywhere. Anyway, one of Don's books, called "Hot Rods As They Where" particularly investigates the categories of racing and street rods of this particular period in time. Types include; Roadsters, Coupes & Sedans, Modifieds, Streamliners, Track Roadsters and "Early Drag Racers". These are by no means all categories and classifications of Hot Rods.

Since that period many newer terms have been applied to Hot Rods and the slang/lingo used often depends where in the world you come from. Australians, Japanese, Europeans, Americans are all likely to mean something slightly different when using these terms and phrases.

Another book you may want to hunt down is 'Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies' by Jeff Breitenstein. This covers more slang/lingo/phrases/terms used. Again not all variations are used or covered. Fact is new terms and names are always being invented. Some individuals make up their own! :D

Here's some you might want to get a handle on:

http://neptune.spacebears.com/opine/rodphras.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Rat-Rods-For-Sale---What-is-a-Rat-Rod&id=713445

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283(195405)29%3A2%3C89%3AHRTITP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-I

http://www.justabovesunset.com/photography/html/hot_rod_menace.html

http://resources.coker.com/general-classic-vehicle-information/terms/hot-rod-terms.html

http://www.valvoline.com/carcare/articleviewer.asp?pg=res20020601rr&print=true

http://www.hotrodsandclassics.net/hotrodslang.htm

Should keep you interested about 2 minutes :D