The origin of “hot rod” as a term referring to highly-modified American automobiles is unknown. However, it can’t be denied how popular and prevalent the use of hot rod is, from coast to coast and across the whole of the world. This next video, however, is a more literal translation of the hot rod terminology.
While trolling YouTube, we came across this video of an old GM straight-six engine being started up and running for the first time in perhaps decades. And what happens next is perhaps the finest way to send an old engine off to the scrapyard; a flaming grand finale. What better way to celebrate the 4th then to watch a motor go up in flames!
The story behind this motor is simple; it sat around unused, for a number of years, before it was finally decided to send it off to the scrapyard. And as any gearhead knows, you can’t just scrap an engine without blowing it up first. Otherwise you’re wasting a perfectly good motor. And with the age of YouTube upon us, it isn’t hard to find a few videos of old engines getting that final send off.
Smoke starts pouring from this ancient GM engine almost immedietly, and right around the 30-second mark the first flames emerge. Yet even after throwing a rod and catching on fire, this old GM engine somehow keeps motoring on for another 30 seconds at wide-open throttle. But the best part is the guy standing in the background all nonchalant, like this is a typical part of his day.
They just don’t make motors like this anymore.
