Hot Rod Comics #5

Clint Curtis warns Jim that a man claiming to sell a hot rod for a hundred dollars is likely a thief, spotting red flags in the car’s suspiciously low price and the seller’s evasiveness. After the truth is revealed, the Road Knights rally to help Jim rebuild the stolen car from the ground up, turning it into a custom masterpiece.

The story explores the rise of small, high-performance Class H sports cars in the early 1950s, spotlighting four notable models: the French Deutz-Bonnet, the Italian Siata Spider, the Nardie 750, and the Bandini. Each car is detailed for its lightweight design, innovative engineering, and impressive speed, showcasing how these compact racers challenged larger vehicles on the track.

Clint Curtis and Rusty Winfrey prepare to test drive a powerful custom car built at Mid-City High, but their plans are delayed when Mr. Damon insists it be moved outside. After a tense moment with Mr. Dusenberry, who initially refuses permission for a driving contest, the principal unexpectedly agrees—on the condition that the event be open to the entire school and held under his supervision.