WANT!

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A random collector, surrounded by his findings. The satisfied smile says it clearly: Everyone needs a hobby. (Photo courtesy Garlits Museum)

General Motors' 1956 lineup, including concepts. There are people out there who actually collect collections like this. Get your head around that. (Photo courtesy Ford Motor Company. Just kidding)

Gotta have it! Against all odds. Despite impending ruination. I am a collector. OCD is but one of the disorder acronyms I live with, but it's certainly the most fun. It started with childhood wrecking yard excursions to gather fasteners, fittings, wiring connectors, horn buttons, shift knobs, and on and on. You know, stuff I'd need when I got a car. That hardware proved to be the gateway drug to hoarding decals, posters, model cars, diecast cars, T-shirts, then on to the hard stuff: Tools, speed parts, car projects, parts cars to support the car projects, garages and storage units to support the ever multiplying number of projects. Before I knew it (way before), I was chronically strung out.

There are dire consequences for indulging in such insanity. For me, the lessons learned resulted in a scaling back of the hunt to better match the dust in my aching wallet. Today I make due with scouring yard sales and thrift stores for vintage car books and magazines, along with orphaned guitars and their associated obsolete parts and accessories. An old man and his hobby. Happily puttering.

Present circumstances dictate a further shrinking of my collecting activities. This latest chapter of my life requires a simpler, more humble existence. The payoff has been improved physical health and a marked reduction of stress. But the collector still wants to scarf up nuts and bolts to fill more fruit jars. So it's off to the internet - abundant with cool photos of cool car stuff. And it's mostly free, which suits my current situation nicely. I'm an irrelevant sidewalk pedestrian now, watching hot rodding roll past me. But the photographs offer me some level of comfort as I grieve. You can guess the rest... There are literally too many files and folders to count in the SGE Photo Archives. It's sick, ridiculous, and sad. Below are cover ID Photos of some of my favorite folders. Some images may have posted previously.

The early days

Street roadsters

Coupes and sedans 

Street racers

Race cars in transit

Lucky kids (Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures [the only movie company I can think of. But it was probably them])

Landspeed racers

Doorslammers

A/FX

Gassers

Funny Cars

Diggers

Miscellaneous drag racers (Photo courtesy Captain Jack McClure)

Hoarders

Muscle cars (Photo courtesy General Motors Corporation - not really)

That's right - we've even amassed a bulging folder of gearhead dog photos (oddly, there's not a single Greyhound in the mix). And thanks to OCD, I too am a dog on a bone.

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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

The hardcore collector will go to any length to search out their prey. This individual sports the same aura of gratification as Don Garlits (in our lead photo). It's universal. NEXT WEEK: The latest CDC report on obsessive collecting. See the unabridged edition here first!

Southern California SGE flatfoot Kristen Cline hit the mean streets to sniff out the latest hot boxes, so you don't have to. You're welcome. But Kristen also had an ulterior motive: It's no coincidence that tool and toolbox collecting go hand in hand. Now that she's splitting wrench time between her Falcon, Studebaker and commuter (a Dipshitzu, I believe), Kristen has the perfect excuse to binge-splurge. Lucky gal! (Photo courtesy Kristen Cline)

GRIN

Drag Race photographer Fred Simmons contributed a ton of info, images, and wonderful stories to the Lost Drag Strips II book. He was everywhere in the Sixties, and photographed everything that happened. We haven't met yet, but the phone calls and e-mails feel like the foundations of a solid friendship. In passing, Fred casually mentioned the drag racing paraphernalia in his basement, and I asked if he had a photo of the collection. Below is part of what I received from Fred...

Fred was presented this gem from Crane Cams Vice President David Smith. The Dyno Don Nicholson photo was shot in the backyard garage of Dyno's Atlanta, Georgia home. Fred adds, "He's working on his red '65 Comet. I have pictures of him moving the rear wheels forward, and doing bodywork." Of course. God bless ya Fred! (Photos courtesy Fred Simmons)

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ITCHY VS RUSTY - NAME YOUR POISON

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 Itchy and Scratchy got nothin' on these guys. This game of rat and mouse probably played out on every strip of macadam capable of hosting two cars. American fiberglass versus British tin: A promoter's dream match. (Photographer unknown)

The Emerson Bros. Corvette first earned fame as a George DeLorean-built 421 Pontiac-powered street racer (infamous on Detroit's Woodward Boulevard). An overload of traffic citations prompted a move to full-time strip duty with an injected 427 Chevy and Midwest Auto Parts sponsorship (as seen in above lead photo). It was also campaigned as"Prontito" before the Emersons took over. Where is it now? (Photographer unknown) 

The Norlock & Worthy Thames (Britspeak for Anglia panel truck. They pronounce it "Tams"), sponsored by the omnipresent Cash Auto Parts. All of the required gasser visual ques are present (enhanced with 'chute pack on upholstered rear panel), but alas, no audio track was included with this photograph. (Photographer unknown)

The above Vette and Thames imagery reflects how the remains of my corroded brain has cataloged these icons of mid-to-late Sixties drag strip cool. Now younger, more open minds - unfettered with the ancient baggage I carry - are reinventing them to suit today's car crafting sensibilities. One can argue traditional versus current trends in construction, styling, and intended purpose, but there's no question that inspiration for all creative endeavors comes from the same place and carries us forward.

During my deservedly brief tenure at Steve's Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon (I wasn't ready for prime time), I became obsessed with an orphaned '48 Thames, banished to the far corner of the parts yard. Today, I'm happy to report that it was finally invited inside for some overdue nurturing. Southeast Portland, Oregon SGE correspondent (and longtime Steve's staffer) CC narrates the Thames' transformation from dirt dweller to princess poodle...

"Art Morrison did the custom rear section. We had to make everything else work." Stock 90 inch wheelbase was extended to 96 inches. In a nod to yesteryear, a dropped tube axle is employed up front, while a 9" Ford brings up the rear. Engine is a mild (355 HP) ZZ4, backed with a 4L60E automatic. The one-off intake crowning the final version is teamed with a FAST EFI system.

"We opened up the body to accept Anglia doors, but only stretched it about seven inches - some in the nose. The door opening cuts into the quarter panel some, in order to keep things in proportion and not look overly stretched. From the door opening back, it's all new sheetmetal. Grille and A-pillar are laid back. B and C-pillars are laid forward. There's a single rear door instead of double doors.We added the rocker panels, and carried the reveal down onto the rocker from the door." 

"The Thames was in the Grand National Roadster Show, Detroit Autorama, and Portland Roadster Show. At all three shows, it won First in Class." It also won some kind of shiniest paint award at each of those events. Not bad for an abandoned car found in a vacant lot and slapped together by a bunch of Oregon loggers. As usual, this Steve's creation was realized via the pen of in-house designer Dave Brost. (Photo courtesy Tim Bernsau)


What good is a Thames without a Corvette sparring partner? Exactly. So Dave Brost scribbled out a rendering and Steve's whipped up a Yankee sibling to rival the teabag trucklet.

Yep, Steve's also gave the Hello Kitty treatment to this '57 Corvette. That original body was laid over a round-tube chassis by SRIII (in New Lenox, Illinois). Suspension is all C-5 Corvette. Drivetrain features a 556-horse Cadillac LSA V-8 and Tremec 6-speed.

The still-in-progress itchymobile attracts lots of attention on the show circuit (the trick wheels are but one example of several subtle nods to Corvette godfather Zora Arkus Duntov). The Steve's crew has plenty to be proud of with these builds. But our queries regarding timeslips for the Thames and Vette were answered with an awkward silence. So the imminent match-up apparently hasn't happened yet. But when it does, cub reporter CC will be there, covering the action for the SGE faithful. This is gonna be unreal (code for 'will probably never happen'). (Photos courtesy Steve's Auto Restorations and CC)


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UPDATE

The Spalding Bros. tested their aftermarket ignition products in real world conditions. Their magnetos had to deliver the goods in the streets and on the track. The Spalding T roadster test mule was constructed accordingly, featuring a versatile and unique suspension, partially exposed in this rare body-off shot. (Photo courtesy Pat Ganahl collection)

Meanwhile, in a humble woodframe shop a few miles outside of Portland, fabricator, racer, and jester Marty Strode quietly chips away at the Spalding Bros. roadster recreation for customer Pat "Too Tall" Ganahl. That's the original, above. Below, we check in on Marty's progress over the last week...

Hit it, Marty: "One of the unique aspects of the original Spalding Bros. roadster was the (four) torsion bar suspension - clearly ahead of its time. In the last week or so, I machined the mounting blocks..." 

"... profiled the blank arms/stops..."

"... and the rest of the work consisted of some time in the bandsaw..."

"... and my Bridgeport mill. A Rotobroach was just the ticket to bore the mounting blocks."

The Spaldings crafted this simple-but-distinctive dash for their center-steer T. After some study, Marty did the same for Ganahl's tribute, employing the same methods as used on the original. No further captioning needed. Enjoy. (Photo courtesy Pat Ganahl)

Strode signed off his missive with, "Plenty more to come!" Music to our ears. Marty, you sure make this work look easy. And pretty. Okay people, you heard the man: Don't touch that dial! This build is too good...(Photos courtesy Marty Strode)

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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

Well, this is disturbing. But the image comes to us via Steve Scott, of Uncertain T fame, so consider the source (it takes a disturbed individual to conceive and build such a car). On a personal note, even though I was raised by squirrels, it was a staple of our family's kitchen table fare. True. And disturbing, indeed. (Image courtesy Steve Scott)

Equally disturbing: This is Trilly - a grunt worker at Jesse Coots' Old Soul Hot Rods shop in New York, where they apparently have no child labor laws. C'mon, New York! Join the civilized world, already. At least Trilly has a decent selection of Snap-On tools to choose from in her well organized rollaway chest. (Secret spy photo courtesy Mr. X)


GRIN

Anglias on parade! This is exactly how they look rolling through my head all day. I've had a couple of these things. There is no cure. (Photographer unknown)

WORLDWIDE GRIN

It's 28 year-old Robert Borba. He's a local (Medford, Oregon) guy, who unintentionally went global last week. Robert's story produced even more ink than the brouhaha over TV everyman Mike "Dirty Jobs"  Rowe's accidental link to a Medford bank robbery last year (true). (Photo courtesy ABC news)

Thanks to some quick thinking and fancy footwork, Robert squelched an in-progress bicycle robbery in a Medford-area Wal Mart parking lot, using the tools of his trade (he's a rancher). Portlandia fans can attest to Oregonians' fierce bicycle protectiveness. Note perpetrator holding up tree, as Robert and his partner secure the crime scene. Heroes! (Photo courtesy KTVL Medford)

Once the police arrived, Robert hightailed it down to northern California to help out on a friend's ranch. Said friend told Robert the rope-a-dope story was getting around, but Robert didn't realize it had gone viral until returning to Medford. The image of wild west justice being served apparently struck a universal nerve. The piece has now been reprinted in several languages, on every continent. Everyone loves seeing someone do what they were born to do. For Robert Borba, that just means getting back to work on his own ranch and keeping his head down. You done good, Robert. Thanks. (Photographer unknown)

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