Hot Rod Comics #6

This practical guide walks you through the most common sources of squeaks and rattles in your hot rod—from loose bumpers and fan blades to worn door latches and gas tank pipes—offering straightforward fixes you can tackle yourself with basic tools and a little elbow grease.

Richard Harp, a young man from Boonsboro, Maryland, spent countless hours designing and building his one-of-a-kind three-wheel Jetmobile, a sleek, rocket-shaped machine that showcases genuine mechanical ingenuity. The handcrafted vehicle features a sliding plastic cockpit, cleverly repurposed aircraft and motorcycle parts, and a potent 75 h.p. air-cooled Lycoming engine that makes this 1,600-pound roadster a genuine performer.

This non-fiction feature explores the Fulton Airphibian, an ingenious vehicle designed to bridge the gap between highway and sky travel—capable of cruising at 50 mph on the road or 110 mph through the air. The piece breaks down the machine's clever engineering, from its 165-horsepower engine that powers either the propeller or rear wheels, to the quick-release system that lets a driver convert from air to road mode in just five minutes. Whether you're fascinated by automotive innovation or early jet-age design, this is a glimpse into the kind of optimistic transportation dreams that captured imaginations in the 1950s.

The Phantom Corsair stands as one of the most strikingly engineered automobiles ever designed, a six-passenger luxury coupe built by "Rusty" Heinz at a cost of $23,000 and packed with innovations in comfort, safety, and performance that were decades ahead of their time. From its all-steel construction and aviation-grade welded tubing to its V-8 Lycoming engine driving front-wheel-drive through an electrically controlled four-speed gearbox, this streamlined marvel combines air conditioning, electric doors, and a built-in refreshment bar with the kind of mechanical precision that delivers speeds approaching 115 mph. Hot Rod Comics takes you inside the design and specifications of a true automotive masterpiece.

Clint Curtis and the Road Knights Club tackle an exciting challenge when they're invited to compete in a hillclimb event at Mt. Washington State Park—a treacherous, unmarked course that's never been conquered by a hot rod. After consulting with his dad on engineering strategy, Clint transforms his car into a rear-engine machine designed to handle the brutal terrain, then faces off against rival competitors in a high-stakes race up the mountain. When his first attempt hits a snag, Clint and his crew must think fast to find a way to conquer the course on his final run.

Tightwad Tad spots Frank Bates on the street, a man who owes him ten dollars from a year ago—and Frank has quite a tale about his recent cruise ship disaster to tell. As the two catch up, Tad sees an opening to remind his old friend about that debt in the most comedic way possible.