Buddy Hinman

The car that started it all! This photo shows 11 years old Buddy proudly posing next to the first hot rod he ever laid his eyes on. The photo was taken in a Los Angeles neighborhood in 1947. Photo courtesy of Buddy Hinman.

Buddy and his dad with the Los Angeles roadster. In the photo, Buddy's dad is asking the woman in a white dress in the house about her roadster that was for sale. The asking price was $500. Photo courtesy of Buddy Hinman.

Buddy Hinman's 1927 Chevrolet Roadster. Having an urge for a radically lowered car, Buddy and his brother took the springs off their OHV engined Chevrolet and U-bolted the axles to the frame in 1948.

Buddy Hinman's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster. The build was started in 1947 and completed in 1949 when Buddy was 13 years old.

Buddy Hinman's 1936 Ford Cabriolet. Hinman traded the car for a channeled 1931 Ford Model A Roadster in 1953. The cabriolet came from Clinton, New York, and it had already been channeled and customized when Hinman got it.

Hinman reunited with the roadster at the 2016 Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood, New Jersey. At the age of 80 Buddy was still racing sprint cars, so English let him race his old roadster on the beach. Hinman, who hadn’t driven the car since the 1950s, had a blast during the race. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The builder and the caretaker. Bubby and English lined up with the roadster at the 2016 Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Four generations of Hinman's with the roadster at the 2019 Syracuse Nationals in July of 2019. Photo courtesy of Eli English.

Buddy Hinman of Rome, New York.

Buddy Hinman's Cars

Buddy Hinman's 1927 Chevrolet Roadster
Buddy Hinman's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster
Buddy Hinman's 1936 Ford Cabriolet