Bit by the Hot Rod Bug: A Passion for Power, Noise, Glitter and Chrome

As a teenager growing up on a farm in Jarrettown, Pa., during the1950’s and early 1960’s, Frank King was always around all sorts of machinery and says by the time he was in high school, he was getting his hands on some “different” types of machines.

Motors… drive trains… transmissions.

The hot rod bug had bit him.

Frank says that he really enjoyed hotrodding and drag racing as a teen; but, he adds that he was married at the really young age of 20-years-old, and responsibilities took precedence over enjoying the cool cars.

Yet, he adds that his enthusiasm for hotrodding never once left his system.

“If you’re a car guy, you’re a car guy,” explains Frank. “It’s that pure and simple.”

And, it is that pure. And, it is that simple. Frank’s a car guy. And, with his first opportunity to dive back into the hobby upon his retirement from a career in banking, there he was-- buying a 1960 Corvette.

Around that time—in the early 1990’s— his youngest son Drew, now in his late 30’s, also jumped on board and bought a 1966 Chevy Nova Super Sport, into which both father and son put a great amount of work.

“And, it all snowballed from there,” he says.

Since jumping back into the hobby with his purchase of his 1960 Vette, Frank continued adding to his collection: a 1931 Chevy 2-Door Sedan, a 1930 Ford 5-Window Coupe (Model A Ford), a 1939 Ford Deluxe 2-Door Sedan, 1955 Chevy Belair 2-Door Sedan and a 2005 Corvette that Franks describes as a 185-plus mph vehicle. (He adds that he absolutely loves power.)

Frank says that out of all of his vehicles, he is especially fond his “little yellow Coupe,” the ’30 Ford.

“I’ve poured my heart and soul into it,” explains Frank. “And, I changed almost everything on it. The drive train, 4-speed transmission, new interior, a lot of wiring, new wheels, new tires, new engine, even shoulder harnesses…” And, lots of chrome! ... which he says is his favorite color.

“It’s my favorite car right now,” he says. “It’s a pure hot rod. And, that’s where my heart is.”

Today, Frank owns “five toys and two family cars,” and his playground is a garage he built a few years ago that will house seven vehicles.

“It’s basically where I live,” he explains.

But, that’s not to say that Frank does not get out. He adds that for a while, he attended 30 to 50 collector car events each year.

“There’s a cruise just about every night of the week in the summer,” explains Frank. “You could go to a Saturday show and turn around and go to a cruise that night.”

He explains that recently his car show and cruise attendance and been limited to “only” 20 to 25 events each year. These events include shows all over the east coast and cruise nights around town. He is also deeply devoted to his car club, The Philadelphia Modifiers Street Rod Club, a group of around 60 car guys that share Frank’s love for “the noise, the glitter, the chrome.”

He says that his favorite part of being involved in the hobby is the camaraderie and fellowship that he finds while participating in club events and other events that are held by various clubs. And, Frank says that he enjoys going to events for just that reason—“and not to win anything.”

“It’s amazing how much knowledge you can gain and how much you can also help,” he says. “There is that fellowship of those with the same interest. And it has grown. It gets bigger and bigger.”

This summer, Frank and his wife Janet will be be-bopping around the country with a handful of other couples. Frank and Janet will cruise from the Philadelphia area to Columbus, Ohio in their 1931 Chevy that Frank says is his nicest, most valuable collector car. From Columbus, the crew will travel to Bowling Green, Ky. to visit the Corvette Museum and factory. Finally, the group of friends will make their way to the Street Rod Nationals, held in Louisville, Ky., where they will “enjoy the hobby, the fun of it… and shoot the breeze and enjoy some fresh air.”

Story by: Becky McLaughlin