Hot Rods at Pebble Beach?

Just How Did They Become so Respectable?
From the February, 2009 issue of Hot Rod
By Harold Pace
Photography by Harold Pace

Who would have ever guessed that hot rods and exotic classics would ever hold hands? This year the Pebble Beach Concours played host for the third time to some of the finest historic hot rods ever built, many of which have strong connections to Hot Rod magazine. The first two years roadsters were featured, so this time the coupes had their day in the sun (er, thick Monterey fog) at the stylish Pebble Beach Golf Course. With $100 tickets selling like discounted Rolexes to the bucks-up crowd, the rods were in esteemed company, lined up alongside rows of Bentleys, Ferraris, Duesenbergs and other classic exotica. And they held their own quite well, thank you, surrounded all day by fans from years past who knew them before they became legends. Even those who didn’t quite "get it" couldn't help but smile at the newest members of the classic car family, and thoughtfully sip wine over them. (Still, this clash of car cultures brings to mind that wonderful line from Groucho Marx, who quipped that he’d never join any club that would have the likes of him as a member!)

So how did hot rods, the invention of the low-budget racer, end up at Pebble Beach alongside the darlings of automotive aristocracy? Recently there has been an acceptance of hot rods as a legitimate segment of automotive history. Just as classic Indy and Formula One cars have obvious collector appeal, so do the classic rods that blitzed across the Salt at Bonneville or scorched the strips at Bakersfield. And customs are gaining in popularity as well, being recognized as examples of "special bodywork." Ferraris and other exotica with one-off or modified bodywork done in period have long been the most sought-after (and valuable) examples, and custom rods are now being viewed in a similar light. You don’t get a lot more exclusive than a one-off car.

About ten years ago a few astute collectors began snapping up older rods with racing history or that had been featured in magazines (predominantly Hot Rod). The days of the cheap garage find are coming to an end, as historic rods have broken the $80,000 barrier at auctions, and some of the examples shown this year would easily top that figure if put on the block.

Not that the owners would necessarily turn a profit if they sold their cars in that price range. Many Bonneville and drag cars were continuously raced, wrecked and modified over the years, and many customs were a "work in progress" that was changed at the whim of the latest owner. To return these cars to their original (or most famous) condition can be a daunting undertaking. For instance, the cost of properly restoring a race-prepped stroker flathead with Ardun heads can be staggering, so the best cars typically end up in the hands of wealthy enthusiasts who also may have more typical Pebble Beach fare tucked away in the garage. However, there was also a car on the field this year whose wise owner had held onto it for over 40 years! (Check out the Arnett coupe below.)

When the fog cleared, the Xydias So-Cal Special took home top honors, with the Pierson Brothers’ coupe second and the Chrisman coupe third. And the prestigious Dean Batchelor Trophy went to the Pierson coupe as well. Judges included former director of the Petersen Museum Ken Gross, former Hot Rod staffer Ray Brock, Don Montgomery and Dave Simard.

It was an auspicious tribute to the great coupes, and Hot Rod is proud to have featured so many of them over the years. In fact, serious rod collectors always prefer cars that have been featured on the cover of Hot Rod.