10 Cool Facts About McCord's '34 Ford - The California Kid 

Hey folks, so for the many of you stated in the comments of previous videos that the the audio was too quite; I have made a significate adjustment to that on my end starting with this newest video. So, any feedback on whether or not the audio is loud enough now for those of you had that issue before, please let me know in the comments below how this one sounds to you. Thank you!

In 1983 my late father and I had just finished a ground up build on our 1940 Ford 2 Dr Deluxe sedan. He was an old school flathead Ford racer who spent a lot of time at the dry lakes in SoCal in the early days. So, it had a very hot stroker flathead in it. We took it to Merced for the Western Street Rod Nationals, and I had the honor of driving it into the fairgrounds after a 4 hr road trip. They pointed us to a parking spot and lo and behold not 50 ft away there was The California Kid, which was my dream ride. I am 6-3 and Dad and I didn't think I would fit in a chopped Coupe, and we were looking at the car and talking about it when I heard a voice behind me say "well, open the door and try it on, man" Turned around and it was Pete. He and my Dad talked flatheads the next couple of days, and I sat in that car at least 3 times, and even got a ride around the fairgrounds in it. Pete was very nice to a 24 yr old guy with lotsa dreams. I fit...but just...barely... I still have the 40...the flatty has been repurposed and will soon come to like in a Roadster...and the coupe...someday...

The California Kid car was displayed at a show in Des Moines Iowa at the turn of the century. My oldest daughter had recently been in an accident that left her with a damaged arm. My wife and I were going to go to the show, and after some discussion, convinced my daughter to go with us. While at the show, we saw the car, and I explained to her about the movie and the significance of the car. It was decided to take a picture of her with the car, standing in front of the rope that protected the car. A gentleman that was with the display, saw us and came over, dropped the rope, and encouraged her to go pose, leaning against the car. Since I was an avid classic car enthusiast, having owned many myself, she was knowledgeable in respect towards show cars, and that one never touches a show car. The gentleman was able to finally persuade her and helped her to pose with the car for a photo to be taken. That car, the memory, and the gracious gentleman, have made the car special to us. I should mention that my daughter has since received an invitation to visit the car at her convenience, which we are hoping to do this summer.

I loved this car so much, I had to have one. Mine is also black but without flames. Couldn’t find an affordable 3 window, so mine is a 5 window. Had it 39 years now and still drive it all summer long here in Indiana.

One of my all time favorite custom cars...this car formed my idea of what a custom vehicle should look like...I love everything about it...

Love the fact this iconic baby is all Ford!! Love it❤️❤️❤️❤️

I live down the road from the current location of "Pete and Jakes". Still an awesome hot rod shop and it's like being a kid in a candy store every time I go in there.

I have always been a big fan of this movie from the first time I saw it on it's first showing on TV in the 70s. I have the now privilege of owning a copy of the movie that Pete signed I purchased from Pete and Jakes a few years ago. RIP Pete. I kind of thought over time the reason they used the Graffiti car's engine as a stand in may have been because the movie was set in '58 and filmed in the same area of CA. as Duel. As the producers etc. kept a pretty good eye on accuracy for a TV movie, it comes to mind that while a small block Chevy engine likely would have been the chosen plant in '58, the small block Ford that the Kid has would not have been available until a couple of years later as the 260. Another 8-10 years for the 302. Thus the seemingly odd close-ups (you can see the 302 when Sheen opens the hood for Vic Morrow but the close-up is the Chevy) make perfect sense for continuity. I actually now praise the decision to use the Graffiti stand in.

Loved the movie and eventually bought a DVD copy when it became available. I also purchased a 1/24 replica of the California Kid car produced by Danbury mint (offered in 2007). I noted that the Danbury Mint issue had the chrome mags and the nerf bars. I'm a sucker for anything with suicide doors! Thanks for spotlighting this particular car!

It’d be a hoot to do a follow up episode with Sheriff Roy’s ‘58 Plymouth, including a engine shot of the “ Dual quads he put on himself “. At least I think that was what the line was in the movie when one of the kids was talking about the Sheriffs car....

I saw the car on display in Pomona, California in Feb 1986 at the NHRA Winternationals. That black paint was the shiniest I have ever seen! Watched the movie at 10 years old which started my love affair for cars!

Did anyone ever notice that Martin Sheen knocks off the side mirror when he get out to check for damage after almost going off the cliff. I watched this movie a 100 times it’s what got me into cars at 13 years old.

My brother lives in Peculiar,MO and we both have known Jerry Slover over 58 years. It was quite a big deal when he bought the Pete & Jakes name, intellectual property etc. and brought it all back to Missouri. The California Kid sits around and is rarely driven. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for the backside Grind On The California Kid. It's a cool car and I've always liked it.

I remember watching this when it first hit TV and have a VHS version I’ll have to dig out and rewatch. A few years later Hot Rod was another good made for TV movie in this genre. Really appreciate and enjoy what you’re doing here, thank you! ~ Chuck

Great episode. 👍

Those side pipes were just wrong for that era! I had the privilege of seeing this actual car at the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville.

Great movie! Love the channel, keep up the good work🤘

I remember when that car was brought to Australia and displayed at the Melbourne hotrod and custom show at the exhibition building. I still remember it like it was yesterday.

I wish more people still drove Hot Rods. There's 3 guys in my neighborhood, a yellow fenderless roadster, a red fendered tudor, and a purple/white late 30's/early 40's coupe. I like seeing 'em on the road.

Awesome car movie! 👍👍

I’ve still have that magazine pack away somewhere

I go to Pete and Jake's open house every year. I have a picture of me sitting in the California Kid. I had met Pete in California at the So Cal speed shop. RIP Pete. Jake is still around, and building cars for himself at his home in Calif.

Great vid and learned a few things too!!!!!! 👍 🙂

Awesome content. Keep em coming!!

I've gone on a binge watching your videos, and I gotta say you make great content, especially for us geeks that have to know everything on anything! Keep up the great work!

The 302 in the coupe came out of Pete's '23 T-bucket that subsequently recieved a hemi.

As soon as Martin Sheen pulls the hood up for the Sherrif, you can see the spark plug wires run to the front mounted distributor used by low deck Ford Windsors...but the 327 in the Graffiti coupe has its distributor at the rear of the block.

Great vid of great car👍😎. Nice to get the info. Thanks for showing and best wishes from jolly old England 👍😎Pete 🤓

Funny you mention this - I just watched this movie for the first time last week. 😊😊

Your videos are really BOSS! And they seem to magically appear when I'm taking a break from working on my own cars! 😎 You have also improved the audio. Great job!

THE CALIFORNIA KID WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ELEMINATOR COUPE. OWNED BY BILLY GIBBONS.

Been watching. Not subscribed. Last American Hero, Greased Lightning, White Lightning, Macon County Line, My Science Project, and more. 55yrs-old now and been a gearhead my whole life and glued to the TV until around 2010 when I quit watching most TV and newer movies. Older stuff....I'm all over it. Consider more big trucks and then military vehicles. Lots of tanks and such were lent from museums and private collections for TV and films. Many are still around. Planes and bikes might be neat too. The variety you're posting thus far is great. I would suggest sitting on some until you have enough information/tidbits to come up with 10 solid items. Oh....and there are plenty other vehicles in the Hooper movie. Fall guy...the stunt truck is alive and well being driven all over to shows. In TN for several years now. Bigfoot (several) from police academy, cannonball run, roadhouse, tango&cash, and more would be a very interesting and perhaps longer video. Maximum Overdrive would likely need to be a half-hour episode. Fast Times at Ridgemont High.... There are so many....🙂 Real gearhead stuff....the World's Fastest Indian, Heart Like a Wheel, Stroker Ace, Snake&Mongoose, and a bunch more. You could also do Stars' cars. EVH, J. Giles, Sammy, Tim Allen, Billy Gibbons, etc. Real gearhead celebrities and not just enthusiasts or owners. Jeff Beck....up to his elbows in hot rods. John Oats and Brian Johnson....racer men. Tom Hammond, Dan Pasterini, Reggie, and more ball players that raced and played with cars their whole life.

The Kid was bought and brought to the east coast by Cris Carrier. where we installed a period correct interior, replaced the damaged grill shell, they say a movie light had hit it, the front fenders were worked on and repainted by Danny Hyde of East Hamption, CT. at the time. After our work the car was bought by Pete and we took P&J's Ford car frames in trade as part of the deal. The car deserves "steelies" on it!

It also inspired a Monster Truck based on same name, built by Mike Welch. The California Kid Crusher.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOT RODS AS WELL. GREAT VIDEO AND THANKS FOR SHARING.

Very cool, because of your video, I watched the movie, someone uploaded it here. Very cool information, particularly the history of Pete and Jake's and the tie in to American Graffiti (another great movie) I was wondering what year it was set in.

Very cool video. I got to see this car and get my picture taken with it at Jerrys shop on the first Rod and Custom America cruise.

I like that movie a lot

Cool car Cool movie 😎

I used to see this car crusing PCH in Newport Beach from time to time...

Thanks from England.

Always loved that car

Love this movie

Hey man. I'm the original artist of the art piece your using at the beginning of this video from Coolness68Art. I don't mind you using it as your videos are awesome but if you could please ask for permission next time. Thanks. Take care.

Fun movie. Watch this movie and see how many time that you can spot Martin Sheen do a James Dean pose... and that's all I got to say about that.

Thank you!

Very cool nice work I allso liked gone in 60 seconds back One it got by me next time 👍👍👍👍👍😊

great channel!

Great vid, explains a lot. Wondered about the shifts n the movie, sounded like double shifts.

Love the video, but I will admit that using just one car for the movie sounds strange but they've had their own reasons for doing so, still a good looking car in its own right for sure.

You have the coolest channel.

Nice video, as always! If I may drop a wish (actually 3 wishes): the Chevy Nova and Dodge Challenger and Charger from Tarantino's "Death Proof". 😎

I have a copy of that magazine cover hanging up in my basement

Fact good film

How about doing the sheriff’s car next?

There was one technical mistake in the dialog. When the Sherrif tells McCord he clocked him over the speed limit, McCord looks at the sheriff's car and comments that his oversized tires will make his speedometer read fast. Oversized tires make the speedometer read slow.

@3:05 The movie cover version of the car also seems to be missing the fake side pipes that were on the car in the movie

Can you look into whatever became of the yellow Camaro from the film The Gumball Rally?

Correct me if I'm wrong. But Maggie. The girl that works at the Cafe and has a trailer in the back. . . Question. Is Maggie the young girl on the Mommas & Pappas?. . They look very much alike. 🤔 . . Austin, Tx.

Supposes to be a manual car, but at @2:16 the shot from the movie shows no clutch peddle.

Geez, I haven't seen that one since I was a kid. Wasn't bad from what I remember.... but that's from a kids brain..

Wait a second wasn't the sheriff responsible for all the accidents including hero's brother too.

Is it you putting your stuff on TikTok? If so i will sub there to... If not I will just enjoy the original 😉 Looks like most of your episodes are there..

03:30 "The car now resides in Peculiar, Missouri." ... Now, "Ain't That Peculiar?" Did the owner change the writing on the doors to "The Missouri Kid"? 😅🤣😂

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

What ever happened to the Cop car from this movie 57/58 Plymouth.

Too bad it didn't have a built up Boss 302 in it instead of a stock 302 with an aftermarket Holly. Or if had to be period correct set in 1958, a 312 Y block Thunderbird engine with the McCullough supercharger.

My appreciation of the California Kid took a hit. Knowing there were so many fake or manufactured elements in the film, left a bad taste in my mouth.

Can you do corvette summer

I remember the TV movie when it came out, and thought what an awesome hotrod, now that I know they faked the motor, the sound and the transmission....Hollywood Sucks

Very disappointing news for me

That would have been a pretty good movie if the casting director had picked a decent actor. 😂 That clown was about as believable as Biden telling us he's a good President.

This hot rod needs some spinner wheels. It would be a good choice.

The side pipes looked stupid...