The world of hot rodding is full of familiar names that gearheads throw around a lot. These terms are used throughout the hobby and describe many different customization techniques and parts that people use when restoring classic cars. But what about the “hot rod” concept itself?
Most of us probably have an iconic image of a hot rod in our mind – something like a custom ’32 Ford coupe or roadster with flares and a rumbling V8 engine between its frame rails. While that is the traditional idea of a hot rod, the term has grown to include many types of vehicles optimized for both speed and style.
Sure, some purists may have a strong view of a hot rod only as a stripped-down, modified American car from the 1940s or earlier, but the term is now used in a looser sense to include everything from 1970s muscle cars to modern NHRA funky cars — and even imports. For us, it’s this loose definition that makes hot rods so delicious. To that end, we’re going to discuss five unique categories that can make for cool, affordable, and often unusual hot rods. While cars from any era can qualify here, we’ve kept a special focus on cars from the 1960s and earlier to keep the old-school vibe strong.
Chevrolet Corvair
The iconic Chevrolet Corvair of the 1960s remains one of the most distinctive cars ever produced by General Motors. While most Chevrolet cars of this era were personified with V8 engines and traditional, front-engine, rear-wheel drive layouts, the Corvair threw all that out the window.
Designed to compete with Volkswagen’s hugely popular Beetle, the Corvair borrowed that car’s rear-engined, air-cooled layout — but used a larger flat-cylinder engine than the Beetle’s. The result was one of the most European-feeling American cars ever made – and one that is sometimes called the poor man’s Porsche. Whether you agree with that or not, the Corvair has undeniable potential as an unconventional hot rod platform.
Stylistically, the Corvair has a very different look, with the second-generation cars boasting a sportier profile to match their revised independent suspension. Engine-wise, you can keep your Corvair hot rod traditional and upgrade the original flat-six engine for more power, or you can go with a V8 engine swap. Something like a mid-engined LS shifter, for example, would be very strong. Looking for a different Corvair-based hot rod? Chevy also built the Corvairs pickup and truck – like the iconic Volkswagen II.
Nash Metropolitan
AMC cars have long been underappreciated in the muscle car world, and the same can be said about their prowess as hot rods – especially the early Nash and Rambler products of the ’50s and ’60s. The compact and elegant Nash Metropolitan is one of the most recognizable classics of this era, even if the average person doesn’t know the car’s name or history.
An Anglo-American hybrid of sorts, the Nash Metropolitan was designed and marketed by Nash (who merged with Hudson to form AMC in 1954) in America, but was actually built in England, with an Austin four-cylinder engine under the hood. The classic Metropolitan is an eye-catching car in stock form, and has incredible potential as a hot rod or custom base. Even better, the prices, even for the beautiful Metropolitan, are still affordable by classic car standards – meaning you can start your project without breaking the bank.
Although they are not very common, hot Metropolitans do exist, some of which are highly modified. Some owners choose to fill the engine bay with big V8s, while others stick to single-cylinder engines, including the mighty Honda K20. In 2019, a customized Nash Metropolitan hot rod won the coveted Hot Wheels Legends Tour award and was transformed into a Hot Wheels toy car.
Ford Econoline truck
Classic, 1960s era trucks have become very popular among collectors and customizers alike, sometimes outselling equivalent passenger cars in value. Some owners keep these trucks in original condition, but many of them are converted into hot rods – and if you’re looking for a 1960s hot rod truck that stands out from the crowd, give the 1960 Ford Econoline a look.
The Econoline truck, which went on sale in 1961, looks completely different from other conventional trucks because it is based on the Econoline van. Rather than a traditional hood, the Econoline’s engine sits between its front seats to maximize cargo space in its small footprint. Although Ford only sold the pickup version of the Econoline until 1967, these trucks’ distinctive looks earned them a cult following — and they made some seriously cool hot rods.
Although these trucks come from the factory with only inline-6 engines, V8 conversions are common – and that includes the ubiquitous Ford V8s and General Motors V8s. Some hot rodders took things a step further, too, using the Econoline’s open bed to accommodate big-bore V8 engines. That said, you have options if you’re looking for something similar without the Ford badge: The Dodge A100 pickup of the same era is basically the same formula from a different manufacturer.
Classic Toyota Crown
Does a proper, classic hot rod need to come from America? The classic Toyota Crown certainly doesn’t suggest it. First introduced in the mid-1950s, the Toyota Crown has a long and interesting history, including being the first Toyota model ever sold in America.
The Crown has evolved a lot in its existence, but the first model cars from 1950 to 1970 have designs that are very reminiscent of American cars of different decades, so they will look the part. Another cool thing about the old Crowns is that Toyota offered them in many body styles, including a two-door coupe, a station wagon, and even a truck version that closely resembles a Japanese take on the Chevy El Camino or Ford Ranchero.
Toyota is bringing the Crown nameplate back to America in 2023, after a long hiatus, so old Crowns are very rare on American shores. However, there is a thriving customization scene around the early Crown in Japan, with cars often modified in a clearly American-influenced hot rod style. Looking for more energy? You can swap in an American V8, as is often the case with imported hot rods, or you can keep it in the Toyota family by swapping in a 2JZ inline-6. You can even swap in one of Toyota’s modern V8 engines like the 1UZ-FE, as some early Crown owners have done.
First generation Pontiac Tempest (1961-1963)
The Pontiac Tempest may be better known as the mid-size model on which Pontiac based the GTO muscle car, but that didn’t happen until 1964 – when the Tempest was in its second generation. The first generation Tempest/Le Mans, sold from 1961 to 1963, was its own unique car, different from other Pontiac models that came before and after it. That’s exactly what makes this car an interesting candidate for smuggling.
Like Chevrolet’s Corvair, the original 1961 Hurricane was designed as a competitor to the Volkswagen Beetle. Instead of going with a rear-engine, air-cooled design like the Chevy did, however, the Hurricane kept the water-cooling, front-engine, and rear-wheel-drive setup. While the drivetrain was standard, the Tempest distinguished itself with a rear transaxle and a different four-cylinder engine that was actually part of the 389-CI Pontiac V8.
In addition to the four cylinders, Tempest buyers could also choose an aluminum Buick-built V8 and, in 1963, Pontiac’s own 326-CI V8. The compact size and unique looks of the first-generation Tempest make it a potential hot rod platform, even if off-the-shelf parts availability is worse than other Pontiac models. We’ve seen first-generation Hurricanes built into stylish road cars and competitive race cars alike, showcasing both the versatility and hot potential of this unique platform from General Motors.