Air Pumps is a site dedicated to documenting and showcasing the best and most attention grabbing forcers of Air that I or any future editors on this site cross paths with. Any particular Air Pump need only have a very limited set of criteria to be showcased on this site. They need to, in some way pump air, and do it in a way that grabs attention, and shows some sort of dedication, and handiwork that went in to its conception. Whether that be in a factory, in a garage, or in some cases, a backyard.
This Pump, with some argumentation could easily be of the latter conception location, but with no less hard work and dedication than other Pumps documented on this site.
The thing I loved most about this Rat Rod is the contrast that is seen throughout. This is shown quite well in the patina red bodywork, and the stainless louvered trunk. This particular piece is completely unnecessary, unless you have a barbecue in the back and need vent the smoke from the tasty roasting steaks. In this case there was no barbecue and therefore no need for the louvers, but, they are very, very cool. It adds so much more interest to the rear section of the car. I have always loved louvers and took a different mindset to them after seeing the 2015
Speedhunters Scion Tuner Challenge Scion frs, and I have to say adding them on this rod is only for the better.
The contrast continues to every corner of the car, the pin-striping, on a weathered and battered headlight housing. It just shows the level of artistic appeal this car has, and I don't think you can walk by this car without appreciating that at least a little bit.
This Rod and the few others that were with it were put together by a group of Rat Rodders called
Knuckle Scrapers based out of Palouse Washington. They are a pretty low key group, that make some pretty special rigs. I know one of the members who also owns a company that specializes in hot rod header flanges pretty close to where I live, I'm thinking about contacting him if I ever decide to do anything with an exhaust manifold on any of my cars. Here's his neat website.
Website
Anyways, back to the Rod, the thing I love about these types of builds is how just about anything goes, as long as it reflects the creativity of the builder and stays true to "never quite finished on a low budget" unwritten build guidelines for Rat Rodders.
Another thing I loved about this car was the very subtle throwback to the fighter plane of a similar vintage as the chassis. This is easily seen here and even in the jackets the crew wears, to the accents on the engine, the interior accents, again more pin striping, stylistic contrast just oozes from this build.
It continues from the interior to the engine, the quartet of bell stacks with independent throttle bodies on the Offenhauser engine. Both the stacks and the engine were something I had never seen before and loved researching. Turns out this is an American company with a rich vintage racing history, real neat stuff.
This type of thing is what brings the level of the build up to more than just a creative level but a historic and nostalgic one. One of the most interesting items about these cars is how they interest a wide range of people, the contrast in the types of people that take interest in these cars is almost as interesting as the cars themselves. From a late teens blond hooligan with a camera, to an older looking gentleman in a red shirt. Fascinating these connections..
Joshua Sewell
Instagram: josh_sewell_photo
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