Pork Chops are Done!!

RL Chilton
RL Chilton Administrator, Member
edited October 2010 in HUDSON
My new pork chops were delivered to me yesterday. For those that don't know, these pieces are the end result of the speedline trim on '52-'53 Hornets and Commodores. These pieces were made by Steve Traudt (210-789-1807). These are somewhat different than originals in the way they are manufactured. Originals were stamped steel (in a giant press) and then chrome-plated. These new ones are actually cast in a special mold, very different than traditional sand castings. Flash and oxygen pockets are very nearly eliminated, thus resulting in a superior casting. If I were to grade these pieces, the quality would be 999 points out of 1000. They are so impressively perfect, they almost don't look like they were made by human hands. Absolutely exquisite. Additionally, the fit and form to the quarter panel itself is flawless, almost as if it was liquid formed to the shape of the quarter, itself. I couldn't be happier and these pieces will help compliment the overall quality that is going into this convertible project.








The following picture is a set of chops that I am going to list on E-Bay, but wanted to see if anyone here on the forum would have an interest, first. This set was made by the late Bill Albright. I paid $200.00 for them. They are DRIVER QUALITY pieces. I wouldn't take less than $150 for them, so if interested please make an offer.


Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Bill Albright had them cast in brass a few years ago, they turned out excellent.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    You could be right, Ken. The sets I have appear to be stamped, but I might be mistaken. They certainly don't appear to be cast.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Also, as most of you know I'm a firm believer in the barter system, or as we like to call it, horse-trading. If anyone has an interest in the second set of chops and have something I could use and want to trade, don't hesitate to contact me.

    RLChilton52@gmail.com
  • ski4life65
    ski4life65 Expert Adviser
    Wow! Spectacular Pork Chops. Is Steve going to be making more of these, or was it a one time deal? I would think there is a market for these as well as fender and trunk rockets (I need all of them....).

    Don

    Don
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    man, those look nice!
    Wonder if he would do the Wasp version? I had a chance to buy some aluminum re-pops but my plating man recommended against plating aluminum.
  • hoggyrubber
    hoggyrubber Expert Adviser
    those look so good, i was almost blinded by the light! i got my shades on now, going to take another look.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    edited October 2010
    As far as obtaining more like this, or any other castings (like for the wasps, or the '51 Senior cars), I would recommend contacting Steve Traudt directly. This is what he does for a living. It took a while to get these, but this last year-and-a-half has been tough on Steve with health and family problems. He's much better now, but he still traverses 3 states regularly due to familial obligations and work. The foundry he helped set up specializes in British cars, but Steve does the Hudson work on the side.

    If I had my druthers, I would set up a small foundry and start casting them myself.

    If you are interested in Wasp chops, for example, Steve would need a pristine original example (both sides) for making the mold. Parts would be returned after the mold was made. I'm sure he would need several sets of orders in order to make the new mold and defer the cost of the initial set-up.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    wow Russell! Those look really nice. Once again, pushing the bar,...I love it.:)
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Thanks, bentmetal! Love your new avatar, that's a funny pic!
  • ArkieJazz
    ArkieJazz Member
    All the original porkers were cast. There is even a part number cast into them. They were never stamped.
  • ivanz62
    ivanz62 Expert Adviser
    I must have missed it if the price was ever mentioned...........How much for the pair?
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Ivan-

    I don't think I posted it. I paid $390 for the pair.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Russell, I like the avatar picture too. I know nothing about it. Saw the picture and thought "That's a bunch of work for a joke. I wonder if it's functional? Maybe it has a motorcycle under there?"
    I don't think it would pass side impact crash testing, but it's still pretty interesting.:)
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    bentmetal-

    I didn't even realize it was two halves, I thought it was just the side of a car . . . it's even funnier, now! Yeah, maybe a motorcycle or bike is in there! Too funny.
  • essexcoupe3131
    essexcoupe3131 Senior Contributor
    bent metal wrote:
    Russell, I like the avatar picture too. I know nothing about it. Saw the picture and thought "That's a bunch of work for a joke. I wonder if it's functional? Maybe it has a motorcycle under there?"
    I don't think it would pass side impact crash testing, but it's still pretty interesting.:)

    Hi Bent metal, Your avatar looks like a squashed old British mini, built by British Leyland

    Mike
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    The Bill Albright pork chops have been listed on E-Bay:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230548136569
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Only a few more hours for this nice set of pork chops:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230548136569&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
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