Dave, You're right --- back then we all used all kinds of bits and
pieces of metal
--- some of which were never automotive to begin with --- it's still done
today, but nowhere near as much as then . We used the ends of old " bugle "
style car horns
as exhaust tip bellmouths --- still have four of 'em buried in a pile of old
tubing .
In early 50s I was helping a high school buddy who was welding up a
set of
homemade headers for the 59AB flathead in his newly channeled ' 35 five
window
coupe --- we were in a hurry --- as youth usually is --- and he needed a hunk
of metal
to fill a ( too large ) gap in the last pipe, and I spied a beer can opener
on the bench,
flattened it on an anvil, banged it into an arc, trimmed it a little on the
grinder, and
he welded 'er in, right where it could be seen by anybody looking at the
motor, since the front fenders were now old spare tire covers : " cycle type
" We took off, with
one hot pipe, for the stock car races to see our heroes, with their flathead
"cutdowns" roar around the now long - gone Norwood Arena, which is a used
car
lot today , in Norwood, Mass. Thereafter, the biggest attention getter on
the car
was always --- to our surprise and amusement , the header " trademark "
------
" RHEINGOLD " --- and my buddy would always keep it buffed and
clean !
Thanks for sharing an old timer's cherished memories ----- one day even you
YOUNG GUYS --- now --- will be doing the same --- It's all part of a good
life !!!
Bruce Ferguson Black Radon Racing
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