#Hot rod lincoln song license

The early Model A's, however (which is the vehicle specified in our song) had only a single seat for the driver. The absence of these features made their bodies light, and because of this (and because of their cool and sporty look) roadsters were a prime target for tinkering with. Traditionally, a 'roadster' is defined as a vehicle that only seats two people and does not have a roof, side windows, or a rear windshield. One theory behind the term 'hot rod' is that it is a contraction of the words 'hot roadster'. The term 'hot rod' was the new, hip term to replace 'gow job' and 'soup-up'. While it's uncertain exactly where it came from, we do know that it specifically refers to the modification of an American car for the purpose of gaining linear speed. 'Hot rod' was a term that first appeared in the American language around the 1930's and early 1940's. In fact, if it wasn't for the Lincolns, we might not enjoy extensive vehicle modification like we do today - they were the first hot rods and while this 1931 Ford has plenty of its own specs, it certainly didn't come off the assembly line that way.Įven while the motor car was in its infancy, gear heads across the country were tinkering with their toys to achieve greater vehicle performance. The popularity of hot rod Lincolns gained so much momentum that they even became the getaway vehicle of choice of bootleggers and gangsters. This Ford had a 12-cylinder Lincoln engine and a 4.11 rear-axle ratio and overdrive. And just like Santa, M&Ms, and The Grapevine, Hot Rod Lincolns do exist.Īt the time the races on the Grapevine were popular, the Hot Rod Lincoln was a 1931 Ford Model A coupe over a cut-down Lincoln Zephyr chassis. California was the birth place of the hot rod, thanks to the landscape of open country, dry lake beds, and to challenge the vehicle's ades just like the Grapevine. These are actually Cimarron grape vines that date back to the 1800s. Even today, while travelling this famous stretch, off the road you will see patches of what appear to be ivy. While many people believe that this highway segment is named because of its many winding turns and switchbacks (resembling a giant grapevine), it was actually named Grapevine Grade because the early wagoners had to cut their way through thick patches of Cimarron grape vines. 'Grapevine Grade' was a 6 1/2 mile section of Ridge Route Highway that was popular among young American motorists with a need for speed. The hot rod race between coupe Fords and Lincolns mentioned at the beginning of the song is a section of southern California's 'Ridge Route Highway', which winds over the San Gabriel and Tehachapi Mountains between Castaic Junction on the south. However, the most popular version, which is the closest to the Charlie Ryan recording, was released in 1972 by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (and how all of that name fit onto a 45 rpm record label, we'll never know). The song was written and first performed in 1955 by Charlie Ryan, and later Johnny Bond recorded the song with some minor changes to the vehicle's specifications. We're long overdue for a good car song - not the kind of song that just happens to mention a car while singing about something else but an song that pays homage to actual, physical, honest-to-goodness American heavy metal. They arrested me and they put me in jail.Īnd he said, 'Son, you're gonna' drive me to drinkin' I looked in my mirror a red light was blinkin' Now all of a sudden she started to knockin',Īnd down in the dips she started to rockin'.

#Hot rod lincoln song license

I said, 'Look out, boys, I've got a license to fly!'Īnd that Caddy pulled over and let us by. We had flames comin' from out of the side. Knew I could catch him, I thought I could pass.ĭon't you know by then we'd be low on gas? My fenders was clickin' the guardrail posts. The lines on the road just look like dots.' Now the boys all thought I'd lost my senseĪnd telephone poles looked like a picket fence. That's all there is and there ain't no more.

My foot was blue, like lead to the floor. So I thought I'd make the Lincoln unwind. Now the fellas was ribbin' me for bein' behind, Passing cars like they was standing still.īy then the taillight was all you could see. The moon and the stars was shinin' bright.

It's got safety tubes, but I ain't scared. That Model A Vitimix makes it look like a pup. It's got a Lincoln motor and it's really souped up. When Fords and Lincolns was settin' the pace. Have you heard this story of the Hot Rod Race If you don't stop drivin' that Hot Rod Lincoln.' My pappy said, 'Son, you're gonna' drive me to drinkin'