During the Great Depression of the 1930s, new cars were often too expensive to purchase. So the youth at that time began to “soup up” older cars with spare parts and salvage from local junk yards.
Young builders were trying new and better ways to increase vehicle speed, be it through replacing original engines with more powerful V8s to removing all non-essential components to lighten the vehicle and improve aerodynamics.
The term “hot rod” entered the national vocabulary in the late 1930s. Its specific origins are unknown, although it may be a contraction of the term “hot roadster,” or may refer to the connecting rods or pushrods inside the often over-heated engines.
“Hot rodding” took a short “time out” during WWII, then came roaring back with a vengeance in 1946. Between 1946 and the late 1950s, car customizing, drag racing and street racing exploded in popularity along with the post-war youth culture that also gave birth to rock-and-roll.
By the 1970s, the emphasis has switched from mere speed to customized exteriors, interiors and paint jobs.
Of course, we had to sing about it and dance to it. We loved the thought of speed and daring and youthful fearlessness.
HOT ROD RACE
Written by George Wilson, it became a major hit for Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys, staying on the charts for 7 weeks, peaking at #5 in 1951
The lyrics and variations and performance information can be seen HERE at rockabilly hall.
Kathy Mattea performing 455 Rocket from 1997, written by Gillian Welch
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