Friday’s Feature

Winter is here at least for the day.  Cold and rainy weather makes you want to stay in the garage and work on your car which is exactly what I did.  I mounted the transmission in Andre and modified the center crossmember for the tail shaft to fit. Tomorrow I will cut out the remaining rivets and install the new crossmember pieces from TCI.  Yes, I found them but they are made by Magnum Axle now and Fred promises to keep the flame burning for traditional hot rods.

My neighbor is moving to Colorado and is having his delivery repainted.  He is leaving the flames alone as they are fresh and painting everything else. Masking off the flames is no big job, but pulling off the tape and keeping the edges looking good takes patience.  I have always been attracted to a flamed car but I don’t think I would flame one I owned.  I am afraid I would tire of the fire look in a hurry. Forties and flames go together as Lobeck used to say and his was one of the first real nice 40 coupes I saw with good looking flames.  Flames take on many different shapes and colors but the end result is the same….they do stand out in a crowd or going down the highway.

The average flame job on a car will run you about $2500 on the West Coast and cheaper in someone’s back yard garage.  I have seen some very nice flame paint jobs done in the backyard by amateurs.  I think the total cost to one of my buddies was about $1100.  Considering what paint cost I would say he got a bargain.  If you like flames keep them simple, subtle and you will be happy.  Too much and you will wish you had been a little more conservative.

I hope to go to the Long Beach Swap meet if it doesn’t rain.  Bob is hauling his 40 coupe to the meet to see if he can attract a buyer.  I never saw a 40 coupe so hard to sell.  Must be the economy or the early Christmas fever.

Have a good weekend and stay warm.

Stay Tooned!

Lynn

Here are some real fire flames coming out the hood on this Deuce sedan.

A 40 sedan has been flamed with large flames covering the front end and door area.

David likes his roadster with the slim flames running down the side of the car.

A little different style of flames done in a golden tone on this sedan.

Here is a copy of the McCoy 40 that started the flamed forty fad.

Bruce sold this one to my friend and he is having the time of his life.  He is selling his Nomad and Deuce coupe and will make this his permanent hot rod. The grandkids love it.

I do like the coupes with the flamed front end.  It seems the red rims with whitewall tires add a lot to the overall look of the car.  The stance is really nice on this standard black coupe.

This is the Custom 40 sedan with flames.  Appeltons, lake pipes louvers and Mercury hubcaps make this one a true custom.  The small flames are a later style than the earlier ones shown above.

Here is my neighbors prior to heading to the paint shop.  He also likes the large flames.  Andre is watching out of the garage hoping to join the 40 tour next year.

Today’s Deuce…Dreaming!

Here is my old Deuce 3 window from the 70’s.  I moved to LA, met Boyd and this was the result.  I owned this car for many years in the stock form and the 80’s sickness took hold of me.  I do regret selling this one for $25k but I am glad I still know where it is.