This scene stopped me in my tracks.
The house is from around 1850. The car looks like its vintage is around a hundred years later.
Hot Rods always seemed like they were just a little before my time. Like Elvis and bongo drums. As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate early Elvis and early Hot Rods. (Maybe I’m still too young for bongos.)
The car was basically hand made by a man named Bob Merkt, who runs a body shop not far from my house.
Aside from mechanical and fabricating skills, and thousands of hours, it takes some serious creativity to achieve this look – the stance, the paint, the right wheels and tires.
The body is still in flat white primer, which will some day be covered with a pearly white finish. Bob’s hesitant to invest in the fancy paint, because he actually drives this car, as you can see. Personally, I hope he never does.
Bob told me with obvious pride that his son, Bob “Bleed”, builds hot rods down in Austin with Jesse James, and is a noted constructor himself. This kind of thing is hereditary.
Bob Sr. told me that this car has won several best-in-show awards down in Texas, and that Jesse James’ ex, Sandra Bullock, once sat in it. (Maybe that’s her hairbrush!)
“Women love this car!” Bob said, shooting me a grin and shaking his head. “They wanna just hop right in!”
The house is from around 1850. The car looks like its vintage is around a hundred years later.
Hot Rods always seemed like they were just a little before my time. Like Elvis and bongo drums. As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate early Elvis and early Hot Rods. (Maybe I’m still too young for bongos.)
The car was basically hand made by a man named Bob Merkt, who runs a body shop not far from my house.
Aside from mechanical and fabricating skills, and thousands of hours, it takes some serious creativity to achieve this look – the stance, the paint, the right wheels and tires.
The body is still in flat white primer, which will some day be covered with a pearly white finish. Bob’s hesitant to invest in the fancy paint, because he actually drives this car, as you can see. Personally, I hope he never does.
Bob told me with obvious pride that his son, Bob “Bleed”, builds hot rods down in Austin with Jesse James, and is a noted constructor himself. This kind of thing is hereditary.
Bob Sr. told me that this car has won several best-in-show awards down in Texas, and that Jesse James’ ex, Sandra Bullock, once sat in it. (Maybe that’s her hairbrush!)
“Women love this car!” Bob said, shooting me a grin and shaking his head. “They wanna just hop right in!”
All contents copyright Jeffery Blackwell 2011
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