Jalopnik
Parked just down the street from the '68 Fairlane 500, this bright pink customized Dodge caught my eye from blocks away.
The owner was out working on his other car (a '50 Ford) in the driveway, so I was able to get some of the story of the Dodge from him.
Turns out he rebuilt the engine and drove it every day for years until the transmission blew. Unable to find a replacement trans, he ended up getting a custom adapter made so he could install a TH350. Now it's back to normal daily-driving duties for the ol' reliable Dodge.
Fender skirts... visor... ram's head hood ornament... whitewalls. This is so much better than a painstakingly restored car sitting at a car show while the owner drones on about date codes.
Wait, it's not a Dodge- it's a '52 GOD!
Alameda has a lot of young guys who dig the old iron and old ways of customizing it; it's not a new fashion, just something that never died on the island (this is a big part of the answer to the question "Why so many old cars on the street in Alameda?"). The only difference between the 70-year-old Alameda hot-rodder (and there are plenty here) and his younger counterpart is the type of music they listen to while wrenching.
The pink bumper guards look a little odd, in my opinion.
Since the Ford wasn't parked on the street, I didn't shoot it (DOTS cars are required to be parked on the street, though maybe I'll shoot driveway cars when I run out of street ones). The guy said he bought the Ford in New York and is now replacing acres of rusty sheetmetal.
Comments
I know a guy with one of these, but it's baby blue. Great car.
those bumper guards look like penoobs.
I really like that all of these are drivers - easy in California but bravo none the less.
Those early 50s cars '49-'55 had a style all theri own that is unique. Id love to have one as a streeter, but it just doesnt make sense in this part of the courty. Id have to spend endless time and money updating it.
Maybe when i have both, thats what ill do. lol
You did some good investigative reporting, but left out the million-dollar question? Why did the (male) owner paint it PINK?
There's gotta be a story behind it. Wife's car, maybe? Went through a phase in college and just got too lazy to change it? Got Punk'd on Overhaulin'?
Still, glad to know that somewhere in a corner of the world people still enjoy working on old cars. Must be automotive heaven over there in comparison.
While I enjoy the JFG debates, this is always my favorite Jalop column. I have a particular fondness for the Bay Area and old cars as daily drivers. Thanks for making the effort to do this so often for us.
This Dodge is not as bad as the one that electrocutes the dog, but almost: It's nearly perfect except for its nauseating color.
Is that a 50 shoebox in the background? I want one!
The "GOD" badge reminds me of dudes who switch their GRAND AM badges around to make a pontiac GRANDMA.
@bzr: Why did the (male) owner paint it PINK? Guy's a homo and he drives a 1952 God.
Just kidding. Pink OK for guys as long as it's outrageous, and this thing qualifies. My favorite guitar is pink; pink metalflake with a black/opal green metalflake back cut out in an oversize spaceage Rickenbacker 365 shape with pearloid bindings and pickguard. Nothing ghey about it.
@lascauxcaveman: I'd say the pink paint is part homage to 50s automotive glory and part big punk middle finger raised to the world.
Fuck yes. That thing is awesome.
I want nothing more than a pink & black Roadmaster -- this thing is rad incarnate.
@bzr: girls love men in pink.
If you run out of cars in Alameda, check out the 40th and Telegraph hood in Oakland, specifically around Ruby Street. Lots of 60s GM iron on the street (Rivs, Buicks, Olds).
I know these cats. I race them now and then in my DOTS featured datsun. They always win.
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