By: Phil Salvatti

Los Angeles has always been a hot spot in the heart of hot rodder’s and the hot rod writer’s community.  With the many classic hot rod runs, weekly car shows at 50’s style restaurant hops through out the southland, the opportunities to mingle with other enthusiasts, get suggestions for improvements, talk shop for building and maintaining classic roadsters or write about their cars are endless.

For new hot rod enthusiasts just beginning to get their feet wet, where to begin exploring the wonderful world of hot rods and classic cars? One of the first important things to be aware of is the difference between classic roadsters and replicas. The hot rod writer’s community includes Blog’s and forums as a great way to get immediate questions answered by the backyard pros and the many magazines that have been around for years to completely fin in the gap.

What’s your goal? Classic roadsters are maintained from their original conditions, or rebuilt/repaired using original parts. As genuine classic parts may be difficult to obtain, these tend to be much more expensive to purchase as a finished product. The building process, for those who are interested in building or repairing their own classic hot rod roadster can also require a lot more money and effort to recreate the “real deal.”

A replica may still have some classic car parts, but is often rebuilt using what is available to look, sound, and run like a true classic. For all but collectors who are set on genuine classics, a replica can often be a better deal in the long run.

● Easier to obtain parts for construction

● Much more cost effective in the building stage and long term

● Less worry about repairing and maintaining decades of wear

●  Can be built to look exactly like the real thing!

Can customize options that don’t “belong” in the real thing; for example, if an enthusiast loves the model of Corvette released in one specific year, but the authentic models were only released in one color.

Enthusiasts and purists have differing opinions on whether classic roadsters should be lifelong projects, restored simply for show, or rebuilt to cruise through LA in style. Regardless of the end goal, the pursuit of a classic car is an adventure!

Rod Writers spotlight:  Garage builder video pick of the week

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As the unofficial hot rod writer community, we thought it would be great to start off with discussing why building or buying a hot rod can be quite an exciting venture. It’s a big decision for any car enthusiast to join the hot rodder’s community. The process of buying a hot rod can be especially intimidating, with all of the choices available. The best place to start is with a little research about the hot rod writer community.Try using these 4 tips to help narrow your focus by asking a few questions.

Hot Rod Writer Community Tip #1

What kind of body type do you intend to start with?
If your plan to build and maintain your hot rod yourself, keep in mind what parts which be accessible. Parts for some exotic hot rods may need to be special ordered, adding time and money to your calculations. Using hot rod writer community experts can help shorten your search too.

Hot Rod Writer Community Tip #2

What’s your starting budget?
If you are buying a partially finished hot rod, make sure that the completed labor was done proficiently. Budgets often don’t, and shouldn’t need to, include repairing faulty work by a previous owner. On the other hand, if there are mechanical procedures you don’t feel comfortable undertaking, look for a hot rod that has already had these improvements.

Hot Rod Writer Community Tip #3

Is there a decade or a year you prefer for certain car styles?
If you intend to purchase an unusual body type, remember to check the condition of items that may be difficult to replace, such as grills and trim on the exterior and in the interior.  

Hot Rod Writer Community Tip #4

How much work do you plan to put into it; do you plan to buy a completed hot rod, or build the rest yourself?
Another important consideration is whether the hot rod will be for personal use, or resale. Some models are only valuable for certain years, depending on the materials used that year and modifications available. If it’s for resale, find out what years are ideal for the body type you intend to purchase.

No matter how confident you feel after your purchase, it never hurts to ask a hot rod Writer community expert about safety items such as the brakes, suspension, and any sounds or smells you may have noticed.

Copyright © 2011 Rodwriters

All rights reserved

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