Before I move on to the heady heights of the 60s I thought it was about time I did a definition of how the differing styles came about, and also as a place to post some excellent pics of cars that i cannot find further info on.
West Coast Style
West Coast style was born out of the top speed racing on the Dry Lakes. Due to their smaller frontal area roadsters were the basis for the majority of hot rods. With the fenders removed to improve the aerodynamics and the suspension lowered, but with the body and chassis still stock they invented the classic 'hi-boy' look. If a coupe/sedan was used as the base car they tended to be chopped as it improved the aerodyamics (or in a street rods case made it look fast). West Coast hot rods were rarely channeled, as this put them into the Modified Roadster class on the lakes, which meant racing purpose built cars.
East Coast Style
East Coast cars tended to be more sports car like in their appearance, though the main influence on the look is probably the weather and oval track racing. Coupes and sedans were much more widely used, and 'roadsters' almost always had convertible roofs. The base cars used were usally in much worse condition due to the climate, hence an "anything goes" attitude to modification - 'if the floor is rusty anyway, might aswell move it whilst its repaired'. This lead to most cars having huge channel jobs, but with stock height or only mildly chopped rooves, afterall it was no good picking your best girl up if she was gonna get wet on the way home (and not in a good way )
Can see the influence from oval racing here
Matt
West Coast Style
West Coast style was born out of the top speed racing on the Dry Lakes. Due to their smaller frontal area roadsters were the basis for the majority of hot rods. With the fenders removed to improve the aerodynamics and the suspension lowered, but with the body and chassis still stock they invented the classic 'hi-boy' look. If a coupe/sedan was used as the base car they tended to be chopped as it improved the aerodyamics (or in a street rods case made it look fast). West Coast hot rods were rarely channeled, as this put them into the Modified Roadster class on the lakes, which meant racing purpose built cars.
East Coast Style
East Coast cars tended to be more sports car like in their appearance, though the main influence on the look is probably the weather and oval track racing. Coupes and sedans were much more widely used, and 'roadsters' almost always had convertible roofs. The base cars used were usally in much worse condition due to the climate, hence an "anything goes" attitude to modification - 'if the floor is rusty anyway, might aswell move it whilst its repaired'. This lead to most cars having huge channel jobs, but with stock height or only mildly chopped rooves, afterall it was no good picking your best girl up if she was gonna get wet on the way home (and not in a good way )
Can see the influence from oval racing here
Matt