Hot rodding dates back to the 1930s in southern California.  Backyard mechanics stripped down older, mostly antiquated cars by removing fenders and making other modifications to lighten the car’s weight.   They also found ways to get more power from stock engines of the day (usually from flathead V8 Fords).  These homebuilt race cars could be driven on the street, or at least to and from the race venue.  And, for a decade, this was the center of the hot rod world.