The Cal-look Lounge

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.

I've always hated that! Why draw attention to your puny drums?? Now red calipers, I can understand ;)

Espen, I think what you mean is if red calipers is a tongue-in-cheek reply to people painting the drums red...  ;) :D

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.

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.

Thanks for the replies, that is very interesting! I took for granted that red brake calipers was allready "invented" in those days.

Drugs   +    Spray Paint = Painted Drums  :D

not red , not blue , yellow  ;D ;D ;D

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?

most likely the answer closest to the truth

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 ;D

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  ;)

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....

 

Its just an old school speed trick!
everyone knows that ;D