It is imperative, therefore, to figure out which pair of shoes fits your feet. Are you prepared to take on a project that could last a number of years? Do you have the properly stocked workshop to facilitate such a project? Or do you want something you can tinker with and drive at the same time? Maybe you just want something you can get in, turn the key, and go. Remember that the finished project often overruns the initial budget by two to three times, so budget appropriately and don't be afraid to adjust your figure. Deciding the stage in which you want to start is the first step at figuring out what will become your new street rod, and all that depends on your budget. What can I afford to buy? What can I afford to build?
Category: DriverPrice Range: $5,000+Pros: Hop in and drive it while it's still in progress!Cons: Changing the previous owner's poor taste in parts. If the driver status is to remain, projects must be relatively short-term.Required Skills: General mechanical knowledge.
What do I want?Now that you've come to terms with yourself and decided you're not going to fashion a roadster body out of aluminum with a table saw and a sledgehammer, it's time to decide what you want. Many things will factor into this equation, the least of which is personal preference. If you're a family man and want to take the missus and the little ones with you on the road, then obviously a two-seater coupe or roadster won't fit the bill as well as a sedan would. If it's just you and the old lady, a coupe or roadster would probably suit you both just fine. Buying a street rod should be treated just like you were buying a new car. Pick the right model for your needs. You wouldn't buy a Ferrari to haul manure around the farm now, would ya? Think of it that way.
Another thing to think about is your location. Hot rodding started on the streets of Southern California for a reason. The place gets something like .2-inch of rain a century and the temperature in the winter hovers around 70 degrees. That's roadster weather right there. But, if you live in International Falls, Minnesota, where the mean temperature is 36.4 degrees, you had better bundle up. A closed car, even a convertible, would be much more sensible in a colder climate. Keep in mind that being locked down into a "weather permitting" driving schedule can mean only a few weeks a year in certain locales. If this describes your situation, buy a car that will suit this environment.
Many of us are locked into a certain body style or model based on sentimental reasons alone. Perhaps it was the car you drove in high school or the car you always wanted in high school but could never afford. Some of us are just too stubborn to care if it rains 10 months out of the year-you're gonna own a roadster! If that's the case, more power to you; just bring along a poncho or two and a change of clothes to the car show!
One thing to remember is that fads change. Be aware of the current trends and the fact that, 10 years from now, most of what's in now will be different. A black highboy roadster is a timeless car while a turquoise and fuchsia sedan on Centerline wheels would date itself rather quickly. Try not to date the car as much as possible because, five or 10 years from now, you may find that it's like trying to find someone to buy that yellow corduroy leisure suit in your closet.
Category: finished car
Price Range: $10,000+
Pros: Turn the key and hit the road!
Cons: Not damaging the paint or upholstery
if changes need to be made.
Required Skills: Can you write a check?
While the aftermarket doesn't...
While the aftermarket doesn't support the misfit makes as much as it does the more common Ford and Chevy brethren, you can't aruge that this '48 Plymouth could be a cool little ride for the asking price of $4,800
Here's a roller Deuce roadster...
Here's a roller Deuce roadster for those of you who have to have one. A Brookville body sits on a stock chassis with all the right vintage parts, including the dual-fed, Edelbrock-headed Flattie. Keep in mind that a car like this fetches more than a new Lexus.
You can't beat the bargain...
You can't beat the bargain of an early pickup for the look and vintage feel. With all the style of a coupe, these can be built in exactly the same vein as a coupe or roadster at a fraction of the price.
Slapping a small-block Chevy...
Slapping a small-block Chevy in a car doesn't get any easier than it does with Tri-Five Chevys. Rebuild the brakes and suspension, drop in an engine and trans, and you've got yourself a clean little driver.
With the brakes rebuilt and...
With the brakes rebuilt and the stock Flathead in great shape, leave the paint in that patina look for a year or so, slap on a set of wide whites, and hit the cruise circuit in style, making upgrades as you go.
A second-owner '46 Ford Tudor...
A second-owner '46 Ford Tudor for $5,500?! The motor needed some attention, but, with 83,000 original miles, it doesn't get much more cherry than this for a car that's 60 years old.
These Ford Starliners look...
These Ford Starliners look bitchin' slammed on the ground, and, with a little elbow grease, all that's needed for this little gem is a lowering kit and rub-out job on the paint.
Don't know much about this...
Don't know much about this '32 roadster other than the fact that it ran, drove, and sold for $38,000 at the L.A. Roadster Show in 2006.
This '41 Ford pickup had all...
This '41 Ford pickup had all the required upgrades to go out and put some serious worry-free miles on it: a 350 combo, Heidt's IFS, power steering and brakes, Chassis Engineering rear suspension, A/C, heat, and defrost.
This '36 Plymouth coupe is...
This '36 Plymouth coupe is perfect for those non-Ford guys. A 318ci Mopar engine is backed by an auto trans and a Chevy 10-bolt rearend. Up front, the suspension has been upgraded to a Mustang II IFS.
Perhaps the perfect cruiser...
Perhaps the perfect cruiser for the whole family, this '38 Fordor was priced at an affordable $18,000. The drivetrain was stock, but easily hot rodded if the thought arose.
At $19,500, this '39 Ford...
At $19,500, this '39 Ford coupe was priced to move, and compared to the '40 Ford sheetmetal shown earlier, paying almost $20K for a finished car seems like a bargain.
On the flipside, here's a...
On the flipside, here's a '40 Chevy two-door sedan with a 327ci Chevy/700-R4 combo, Mustang II IFS, power steering and brakes, new paint, and upholstery for $28,000 obo.
A finished car doesn't have...
A finished car doesn't have to be in shiny paint, as is evident by this immaculate '33-34 Ford five-window coupe.