He Said, “Son, You’re Gonna Drive Me to Drinkin’ . . .”

“If you don’t stop drivin’ that hot rod Lincoln.” The song was written and recorded in 1955 by Charlie Ryan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0yqU8Q8888

You probably remember covers by Commander Cody or Asleep at the Wheel.

Ryan actually owned a hot rod that was just such a Frankenford: a 1932 Ford body on the shortened chassis of a 1948 twelve-cylinder Lincoln like this one.

At the quarterly car swap meet at LaGrave Field on Saturday, this car was on display and turning a lot of gearheads.

Count ’em: twelve cylinders (but only 306 cubic inches in its largest version). That vertical cylinder at the far right is the windshield wiper motor. Engine oil level is checked by reading a floating needle just right of the carburetor.

The car is not quite drivable. But at age sixty-four it makes an elegant still life.

For only $8,500 you could haul home this potential hot rod Lincoln. But your pappy is gonna have a hissy fit.

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2 Responses to He Said, “Son, You’re Gonna Drive Me to Drinkin’ . . .”

  1. Steve A says:

    Had no idea that song has been around so long!

    • hometown says:

      Nor did I for the longest time. Heck, sheltered child that I was, in the 1960s I thought those covers by the Beatles were their original works. “Hot Rod Lincoln” was an “answer song” to a 1951 song “The Hot Rod Race.” The answer song refers to the first song early in the lyrics.

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