In the past, we’ve had many a post on inspiring ideas gathered from outside the traditional hot rod and custom world. Today, I thought I would feature a specific idea that Silva and I stumbled upon just the other night while thumbing through a recently acquired Miller book.
The above engine features a pretty remarkable v16 Miller mounted in a Cord. It’s a heavy combination for sure and there are tons of little details to stare at, but check out that fire wall. Next to a hand-formed oil tank is a little detail that is just so brilliantly simple - A spare spark plug rack that keeps plugs readily available for the race bred motor.
Norm Jones is one of the most likable and respected car guys in Austin - a town that is chock full of the really likable and the really respected. Truth be told, Norm is the guy that just about all of us aspire to be like when we grow up. He’s “been there, done that” and can tell ya the most elaborate stories of how it all went down.
I’ve mentioned this before, but Marcie and I are getting ready to have our second child here in about three weeks. As you might imagine, I was pretty excited to hear that we were having a boy. Of course, like all parents do when they get the news, Marcie and I both started racing for names. In the end, we decided on “Miller.” Now, technically Miller is a family name… BUT, I would be holding back if I denied my excitement around the history of that name as well.
My old man introduced me to hot rods at a very young age. In fact, my first exposure to cars built with a purpose was the 1980 Indianapolis 500. I was around four years old at the time, but I can still remember the sounds, the sites, and the people as if it were yesterday. It sounds cliche, but Gasoline Alley changed my life forever.
I always feel weird when the Motorbooks boxes show up on my doorstep. I’ve never reviewed any of their publications, but year after year they continue to send free book after free book. This one-sided affair always leaves me riddled with guilt for a few moments as I open those boxes… I’ve never been to sure of what they wanted in return.
