Smithville Car Enthusiasts of the Past

Clyde Shubert

Henry Racke

Chuck Tyner

Ernest Vachek

In the late 1950's it was popular for the teenage boys to rebuild old cars into hot rods. Old cars were abundant then and could be found throughout the U.S These four Smithville friends were involved in this pastime. Here are some of thier handiworks! Do you recognize any of them? Let me know if you do!

I bought this 1933 Plymouth in Smithville and had it re-upholstered and painted green. It had a 1955 Plymouth engine in it with the shift gears backwards. (I used a green 6-ball for a gear shift knob).The drive shaft was only about a foot or so long and I had to keep replacimg the ball bearing universal joint from time to time which I kept in the trunk. I had the interior re-done with rolled and pleated naugahyde and installed a radio. There was no heater, but the engine was so close to the driver's compartment that it kept you warm in the winter.

I bought it while I was in high school for $500 and drove it to Houston where I lived. I drove it to high school every day and kept it for a couple of years, 1961 & 1962 when I attended Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas. It was a great car and I wish I still owned it today, but not to drive back and forth from Houston to Nacogdoches like I did back then!