The notion that one man's junk is another man's passion certainly rings true when looking back at a true American marvel--the hot rod-- and few aficionados celebrate those cars with the passion of our old pals at The Jalopy Journal ("spreading the gospel of traditional hot rods and kustoms to hoodlums worldwide"). For instance, the images above and below (which we poached from the TJJ site -- thanks, guys!) accompanied a two-part treatise on jalopyjournal.com called "As They Were," in which the fellows who started the whole hot rod phenomenon are recalled in words and not a few amazing, evocative black-and-white pictures.

The era of the hot rod took off when some visionary speed demons discovered that a huge supply of "junk" cars that had been manufactured prior to 1942--particularly Fords and Chevys--could be purchased on the cheap. These cars were then heavily modified, with engines and transmissions replaced to increase the cars' power and speed.

While in the mid-sixties the need for hot rod construction waned as the supply of junk cars diminished and newer autos were being built specifically to handle greater speed, the "kustom kulture" around these cars refused to die. And the hot rodders' handiwork had, in effect, launched a cultural phenomenon--music, fashion, art and television shows all emerged out of the scene.

Roots rockers, drag racers, low riders, punk rockers, and scooter boys have all customized vehicles to go along with their off-the-beaten-path lives and outlooks. Looking back, one senses that the "Greatest Generation" and the one immediately following it didn't just build America into the world's premier economic powerhouse; they also helped create one of the nation's most original and longest-lasting counter "kultures."

--NIA ELIZABETH SHEPHERD