As promised, here’s another batch of anonymous but awesome cars from the early days of American hot rodding.

Since our previous feature on this theme (Six great unsung hot rods of yesteryear) proved to be so popular, we’ve returned with a second assortment of lost hot rods. Personally, we can’t get enough of these cars—for us, they’re pure Americana.

These cars have much to teach us about hot rod history, too. First, they show that contrary to common belief, many style trends go back to the very origins of the sport. For example, check out how low many of these cars are. Also, check out the great variety and creativity on display. Traditional rods these days stick to a rather tight formula, when in the early days, the cars were more freestyle.

In any case, here are eight more great cars from the glory days of hot rodding. Needless to say, if you have any info to add about any of these rods, please give us a shout.

This Model A Ford coupe was built to cheat the wind, with the cab channeled deep over the chassis and a steep rake in its chopped roof. Partially peeking from under the blanket is a full-house flathead V8. Rods such as these were typically built on the quick and the cheap, and as a result, relatively few have survived.

From the snow fencing and the D-A Lubricants timing tower in the background, we know this is Indianapolis Raceway Park, home of the U,S, Nationals, NHRA’s only national meet in the early ’60s. The ’32 Ford A Gasser is a high-dollar rod with Halibrand mags, loads of chrome and gold lacquer, and about all the engine there was to be had at that time: a full-house Chrysler hemi V8 with a GMC 6-71 blower.

This mysterious early custom has appeared in numerous books and mags over the years, reportedly beginning with an Almquist publication in 1947. We’d love to learn more about the sleek machine, which reminds us of the Hollywood wolfmobiles in period cartoons.

Check out this lucky little boy. He’s got a pretty mommy, and his daddy has a gorgeous ’36 Ford three-window with fender skirts, Appleton spotlight, radio, fog lamps, wide whites, and accessory hub caps and trim rings.

Here’s a channeled Deuce roadster that looks like it could have driven straight off the pages of one of the East Coast pocket books. The flattie-powered ’32 is sometimes described as owned by a Johnny DeRusso.

From the towbar, we can guess that this rod was built more for the strip than the street. That looks like the front section of a Model A Ford Touring body perched on the back of a ’32 Ford chassis, with a Chrysler hemi V8 dropped in amidships with a hydraulic clutch. Looks like fun, doesn’t it?

Okay, you got us. This isn’t an unknown rod at all. We slipped in a ringer—an old publicity still from the beloved TV show, Leave it to Beaver. In this memorable episode, Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow, second from right) has dragged home a ’36 Ford, attempting to build a hot rod. Also pictured are Lumpy Rutherford, left, and future U.S. senator Eddie Haskell at far right.

They don’t come any meaner than this ’32 five-window. The chop might be a bit primitive—check out the single door hinge—but the stance couldn’t be more perfect. It’s difficult to get a Deuce this low. What became of the slick coupe? We wish we knew.

to be continued….