Iron Cross in hot rodding - why?

Goes back a long way, and with all things that do go back a long way there will be several variations on the story. But here goes.

back after world war 2 a lot of US servicemen came back from the war as disolusioned and anti-establishment because of the hell they'd been through, the people they'd lost and to the US the war was a "European thing" a lot of people didn't "get".

Not all servicemen were affected this way obviously, some were proud of the service they had done etc etc. Anyway, they had all come back with mechanical training and an interest in thrills and adrenalin. Front line combat and flying fighter planes and all that... Two groups basically formed, those into two wheeled transport and those into 4 wheeled. (although there is an increase in power boat racing, "extreme sports" and suicide in the USA after WW2 as well)

The first group became The Hells Angels and The Outlaw Bikers. The 4 wheel guys formed "hot rod gangs". Lots of these had their own names and it wasn't until Wally Parks and the NHRA that there was a national "structure" like the Hells Angels association, but by this time the Hot Rod thing was cleaning up its act.

As rebels, anti-establishment figures, and general ruffians the early rodders and bikers wanted to upset middle class American values. And a lot of them just wanted to shock. So they borrowed nazi insignia and sometimes complete nazi uniforms (kinda like the punks did in the 1970s) as a big fat "FVCK YOU" to the man. Basically to offend and upset the people they saw as responsible for sending them off to fight and die in a war they didn't much understand or want much to do with.

As time wore on th whole war thing faded, people got into bikes and rods who were too young to have been enlisted '41 - '45 and the excesses of the regalia passed by for the most part. Certainly in rodding. However certain elements remain, like the iron cross, and a lot of the art on early hot rods and bikes was inspired by the nose art on the war planes of WW2.

A lot of the top engine builders and racers were guys who'd served in USAF working on high performance aero engines.

Lots of military links...

By this time a lot of companies had incorporated the iron cross into their company logo. So a lot of people just think the iron cross is some thing to do with the Moon Equipment Co.

Kenneth Howard (the late great Von Dutch) was a tremendous hot rod artist and biker, and pinstriper and used a lot of mixed influences in his work, and his work influenced a generation of stipers and artists ad is still looked on today as (one of?) the founding father of hot rod and biker art. However there are persistant rumours I know little of the truth of that he was an extreme right winger politically. How "extreme" and how active I dunno, but this kind of motivation must also have an effect in the art... If true?

So basically thats where it comes from. dp may have a better version of the story and maybe a bit more detail but thats the way the story always was told to me.

Also I know a lot of people recenrtly (erm since the 1970s!) have been trying to get politically correct and call it the Maltese Cross.

flowers can look cool.

so can lace! 70s are cool man.

Now THAT's why I come on here. Someone asks a question and you get a quality answer like that, brilliant!

top gears standards of journalism are about there with the Sunday Sport IMO.

AFAIK the K in Kustom was introduced by Sam Barris to stop people calling the shop to ask for pricing on custom coachwork - when they meant fitting out busses! It also matches the K for "Kemp" which is what all the hep kats called their kustoms back in the day daddy-o.

Funnily enough Von Duch's biography doesn't mention any of his far right or racist interests, but some journalists are apt to whip up a storm about nothing and the guy's dead now so he can't sue for deformation if its OTT or inaccurate. I'd look to a source closer to the scene for a real history of the man, but there is a tendancy to regard him as a god and whitewash any of his faults so its tricky to know the truth.

phatphord - the Iron Cross was the award of the SS for bravery or service to the fatherland. It also formed the basis of the german navy flag, SS and Ghestapo insignias, etc.

I thought the Maltese Cross was a simply religious symbol? The maltese cross is a slightly different shape to the iron cross. There was a piece on the differences between the two in Hot Rod magazine a while back!

I agree about overkill on the thing at the moment and "inappropriate" use. But who am I to say whats "appropriate". Like I saw mooneyes sticker on a Focus. Hmmmm.... Could just be a hot rodder or a bug guy who runs a Focus daily but I think probably not.

I'd heard he was an anti-semite as well.

I am building up to a rant but have a meeting to go to now...

Also, be aware. Not everyone understands why people put them on cars. My mate nearly got a kicking of a group of Asian lads when they assumed that he was a racist for having his truck painted like this.

This thread is ace. As said previously, RR rules the roost as far as knowledge goes, and that why i love it! There isnt another forum on the net where i learn like i do on here.

Excellent job guys!

J

I don't fully understand it, so I won't be adding one to my car.