Flame painting origins?

[Earl Marischal]

When did ‘flames’ first appear as a decoration on cars? Is it known who started it, and why?

Thanks

steve

[stitchdup]

the story i've read (more than once) was returning airmen from ww2 used them on their hotrods (nose art was the inspiration) and it progressed on to drag and lakes cars. I dont recall if it said who was first

[StevenGuthmiller]

I can almost hear the first guy's buddies.

 

"Why in the h*ll do you want your car to look like it's on fire?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited March 24, 2024 by StevenGuthmiller

[espo]

Started to become popular in the early and mid '50's. Design styles have changed over the years and started a comeback when the "True Fire" style flames starting around 2000. There is just something about a '40's and on Ford with a deep black paint job with the hood and front fenders on fire that just says Hot Rod. 

[Joe Handley]

Thought I read somewhere that it was inspired by a car that had no hood sides running at a lake bed and had an engine failure. There were flames coming off the engine and down the sides of the body, which fave somebody the idea.

[Ace-Garageguy]

29 minutes ago, Joe Handley said:

Thought I read somewhere that it was inspired by a car that had no hood sides running at a lake bed and had an engine failure. There were flames coming off the engine and down the sides of the body, which fave somebody the idea.

Yup, that's pretty much the classic explanation, though I've heard versions where it was an Indy car with a fuel leak, or a short-track dirt car.

Whatever the truth is, the origin story is good enough for me. 

Edited March 24, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Daddyfink]

https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/flame-job-the-hottest-cars-were-an-entirely-american-invention/

[Ace-Garageguy]

Early flame jobs were pretty basic.   

Check out the 1948 Hot Rod Magazine cover car about halfway down this page...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/traditional-50s-hot-rod-flames.1024947/

 

Edited March 24, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 minutes ago, Daddyfink said:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/flame-job-the-hottest-cars-were-an-entirely-american-invention/

THIS ^^^

[Ace-Garageguy]

1955:    

1956:    

[Earl Marischal]

Thanks everyone, particularly @Daddyfink for your responses.

I think it’s settled now. ?

steve

[Richard Bartrop]

As always, the H.A.M.B. is a gold mine of info on the subject.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-history-of-flames.321688/

Here's a photo of a flamed racer from before the war., George Rubsch's Skip it.

The photo that some claim is the inspiration for flame paint jobs.  Taken in 1938 at Gilmore Stadium.

 

[Sledsel]

On 3/25/2024 at 12:04 PM, Richard Bartrop said:

As always, the H.A.M.B. is a gold mine of info on the subject.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-history-of-flames.321688/

Here's a photo of a flamed racer from before the war., George Rubsch's Skip it.

The photo that some claim is the inspiration for flame paint jobs.  Taken in 1938 at Gilmore Stadium.

 

Now that looks bad...... especially around his face