It’s another freezing night here in Denver, a freezing Thursday night on one of the coldest winters I’ve ever experienced (but remember, we only have a few more years to stop the “global warming crisis,” so we’re banning your car!) So what was a body to do on such a night? Descend into the toy room and play, of course!
Any muscle car fan knows that the right set of wheels can make the car, and here’s an example right here: this pair of ’64 Dodge Polara Hemis haven’t even had a chance to strut their stuff on the track yet, but they’ve already been back to the shop, with awesome results!
I’ve profiled both these cars before; the light blue one was originally introduced here; the second of these bodies I landed, and at a good price, was blessed with the name “Boneshaker” and was originally fitted with a set of Vincent chrome reverse wheels with Vincent low profile tires. That looked good, but it occurred to me that this particular car is perfectly capable of being fitted with the full size silicone tires that many of my cars can’t wear but that I prefer to use whenever I can. I recently had a misfire with this set of Vincent ARE wheels, trying them out on one of my ’67 Chevelles and deciding I didn’t like the look. That car can only take the low profile tires, and this wheel style just doesn’t seem to look right without the “big meat,” so this was the car they went on. And, boom! Look at the results! Cletus “Catfish” Carter is going to be an even stronger new contender now!
I was so impressed with these results I decided to make for a redo on the more recently purchased version of the same body. This one, originally introduced here, was assembled on X-mas day, and to celebrate its birthday was given the name “Vixen,” making it one of only 2 cars that race at Drag City-or will– with a female driver, Hungarian-born Donna “Double-Dare” Draganov. This car was thrown together during that week’s deep freeze rather haphazardly, and although it got a killer chassis, I fitted it with another set of Vincent chrome reverses that were never really right for it, because they were sizes “A” and “B” and were too skinny for the car. So those were returned to stock and replaced with a set of newly acquired wheels of the same style from Road Race Replicas. The beautiful “lipstick red” body enticed me to fit my last set of Hoosier RWL tires on it, and I think that was a good move!
Someday I’ll run a full tournament again; someday these cars will get a chance to race. Until that day comes, I tinker in my shop making little improvements; sometimes, when inspiration strikes, you win. Tonight was a win! I tell you, dear readers: it’s the simple things that make a man happy!
How quickly we forget that one winter where your Mercedes wouldn’t start and you had to hook up one of those battery warmer things. It was in the negatives for a week! The ice froze in my beard from the house to the car. Brrrr. I almost had to wear long pants. Lol
In terms of snow totals 2006 was worse, but when it comes to cold, nothing tops this one; the X-mas deep freeze was -18 in my front yard! As for the Mercedes, that was a diesel; they don’t like cold weather But yeah, I do remember that.
It is just amazing how something like the right wheels can make such a deference. Obviously for performance but so much on looks as well. I would certainly consider these two winners!