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Author Topic: History behind red brake drums?  (Read 3268 times)
EspenX
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« on: April 24, 2009, 19:30:14 pm »

What is the story behind red brake drums on early cal bugs? Anybody know if it was meant "dead serious" or more of a tongue-in-cheek reference to red calipers? I love the look, but I have wonder if it started out as a humorous gesture or not.
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Zach Gomulka
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« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2009, 19:31:47 pm »

I've always hated that! Why draw attention to your puny drums?? Now red calipers, I can understand Wink
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JS
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« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2009, 19:33:06 pm »

Espen, I think what you mean is if red calipers is a tongue-in-cheek reply to people painting the drums red...  Wink Cheesy
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Dave Rosique
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« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2009, 19:45:53 pm »


In 1974 I ran Porsche chromies with blue brake drums. For me, it was an inexpensive mod to individualize my car a little... Oh yeah, my S&S header was blue too... go figure.
Back in the day, very few cars ran disc brakes... 64-65 356 Porsche or 67-74 Ghia discs were about the only game in town.

~DR.
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Jim Ratto
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« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2009, 19:56:04 pm »

I think the "red caliper craze" trend didn't start until Porsche started it on the 993 series. Guys like Sarge were painting drums various colors in 1965 and earlier... don't think the two are related.
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EspenX
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« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2009, 20:05:24 pm »

Thanks for the replies, that is very interesting! I took for granted that red brake calipers was allready "invented" in those days.
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SlingShot
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« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2009, 20:23:47 pm »

Drugs   +    Spray Paint = Painted Drums  Cheesy
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speedwell
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« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2009, 20:29:56 pm »

not red , not blue , yellow  Grin Grin Grin
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lawrence
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« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2009, 22:19:27 pm »

That ruby red car is sweet! Is this a color version of the picture in the "first book." Dave what was the body color of your car with the blue drums?
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nicolas
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« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2009, 17:06:23 pm »

Drugs   +    Spray Paint = Painted Drums  Cheesy

most likely the answer closest to the truth
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volksnut
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« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2009, 17:27:52 pm »

I'm sure it's carried over from the muscle car days, as I was a product of the yellow drums and on my Pontiac back in the mid 70's ...but it wasn't just the drums...Ive seen many painted rear pumpkins to Grin
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speedwell
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« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2009, 17:47:16 pm »

it' was jim holmes 61/63 who had the car with red brake drums
if i remember the infos i know about that car jim ran an empi/speedwell sprintkit ,sarge can you comfirm that  Wink
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Ohio Tom (DdK)
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« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2009, 03:54:51 am »

Actually, red brake drums were a common cheap hot rodding trick in the 70's. Lots of guys who didn't have the big bucks for fancy wheels would just paint up the stock stuff as best they could.
The Red became real common to see where I grew up anyways. It was the first color I painted my brake drums back in the 70's....

I think it all really started back in the 50's. The earliest of hot rodding days. Before the days of aftermarket wheels and "3/4 race" cams. When hot rods were "Jalopys" that were bought cheap and stripped of fenders an all dead weight. . Flatheads ruled.... Red brake drums everywhere....

 
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Ohio Tom
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« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2009, 04:07:09 am »

Its just an old school speed trick!
everyone knows that Grin
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Rennsurfer
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« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2009, 16:29:52 pm »

Drugs   +    Spray Paint = Painted Drums  Cheesy

HAHA!! Good one.

I've never cared for painting my drums or rotors any other color but black. Went through phases where I ran my calipers either natural or red. But always ended up going with black. I'm guessing that the red stuff stemmed from the American hot rod type cars from years earlier. Another reason that I didn't want any attachment. To each their own.

Carry on.
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