Leif in Calif Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 You see a lot of 50's cars with fuzzy dice. Was this actually something that people did in the early 50's? I was born in '50 so my earliest car experiences are later 50's. I do remember my older sister's boy friend had bongo drums on the back shelf of his '55 Ford. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 JC Whitney/Warshawsky, Pep Boys, and even your FLAPS influenced a lot of "style" and "personalization" in the 1950s and 1960s. Fuzzy dice were one of the milder things that could be added to make your car your own. Never mind airboddy else had the same trinkety stuff on theirs. I came along at a time when hanging your high school graduation tassel on the rearview mirror was the thing. Also putting a piece of colored cellophane inside the dome light lens to create "ambient lighting". About 30 years ago there were LIGHTED fuzzy dice. Plug it into yer lighter socket and hope you didn't forget to unplug it during daylight and come back to a weak or dead battery. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 17 minutes ago, rocketraider said: JC Whitney/Warshawsky, Pep Boys, and even your FLAPS influenced a lot of "style" and "personalization" in the 1950s and 1960s. Fuzzy dice were one of the milder things that could be added to make your car your own. Never mind airboddy else had the same trinkety stuff on theirs. I came along at a time when hanging your high school graduation tassel on the rearview mirror was the thing. Also putting a piece of colored cellophane inside the dome light lens to create "ambient lighting". About 30 years ago there were LIGHTED fuzzy dice. Plug it into yer lighter socket and hope you didn't forget to unplug it during daylight and come back to a weak or dead battery. Hey, Glenn. Don’t forget putting balls of aluminum foil between the hub cap and wheel hoping it would foul cop’s radar readings as the wheel spun. (I can attest that it did not work…😳) Ah, the ‘ol’ tassel hanging on the rear view mirror…I thought that was too impress the radar cop that I was somewhat intelligent…(this also did not work…😳) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Son Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 Faux shrunken heads were the "thing" back in my high school days...late '50's...west coast. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif in Calif Posted September 21 Author Share Posted September 21 56 minutes ago, 7th Son said: Faux shrunken heads were the "thing" back in my high school days...late '50's...west coast. I do remember those! Also there fantastic amount of stuff available from J C Whitney! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 (edited) I was born in 1948, got interested in the car hobby in the summer of 1959. I am in the backwoods of the east coast. A lot of the 1950s we didn't know about until American Graffiti showed up in movie houses nationwide. There is a good chance a lot of today's Kodachrome memories came from the spare bedroom of a script writer's house on Long Island. I had my graduation tassel hanging from my rear view mirror for a year until I enlisted. And I was driving to school for a year before that. Edited September 22 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 Many may not know that Roy Warshawski, owner of JC Whitney, was a collector of Classic era Lincolns. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Trucker Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 10 minutes ago, 60FlatTop said: There is a good chance a lot of today's Kodachrome memories came from the spare bedroom of a script writer's house on Long Island. Sounds like you were originally from Missouri** You should have come out west 60 years or so ago and seen what how it really was. ** "The Show Me State" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CChinn Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I did a little research and this is what I found WRT the origin of fuzzy dice in '50s era cars. "The use of fuzzy dice is believed to be traced back to American fighter pilots during WWII. Pilots would hang dice above their instruments displaying 7 pips before a sortie mission for good luck. It is also speculated that the dice represented a high degree of risk associated with the fighter sorties; hundreds of pilots were shot down each week. Upon returning after the war, many airmen continued the tradition. Another explanation for hanging these in a car has been proposed that "displaying the dice meant the driver was ready and willing to be 'dicing with death' in the dangerous and unregulated world of street racing." There may be other explanations out there. I would be interested in hearing from the forum members who lived and drove during the 50s or if there are few left to tell their story, does anyone here have a father or uncle who may have mentioned this to you to verify if any of this is true? 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 How to say, "The owner of this car is a Boomer" without saying, "The owner of this car is a Boomer." 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I am 100% in favor of making fuzzy dice an infraction with perhaps a $75 fine for the first offense, doubled if on a tri-five Chevy or Thunderbird of the same year span. 2 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I had my graduation tassel hanging from my mirror as a youth, a couple of years ago I was cleaning some stuff in the shop and found it, so I put it back on the mirror of my Trans Am, complete with the Roxy Music button that I bought at Spencers back in the day. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reynard Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 Shrunken heads were the "thing" back in my high school days. Replicas, of course, but still. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CChinn Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 1 hour ago, Steve_Mack_CT said: I am 100% in favor of making fuzzy dice an infraction with perhaps a $75 fine for the first offense, doubled if on a tri-five Chevy or Thunderbird of the same year span. Steve, do I have to go to the penalty box because I have a hula girl on the dash of my ‘53 Packard? She reminds me of my 2 Hawaii tours during my Navy time 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 No, hula girls aren't quite the hackneyed cliche that the fuzzy dice have become. The only thing worse than fuzzy dice is this: 6 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 In the small town were I lived in Minnesota (pop. 975). Anything that was hanging from the rear view mirror or in the back window was an invitation to get pulled over for a obstructive vision ticket and a trunk beer investigation. If you or anyone was under 21 any beer would be relocated to the trunk of the Police car and you were told to "get home" with out a ticket. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 4 hours ago, TAKerry said: I had my graduation tassel hanging from my mirror as a youth, a couple of years ago I was cleaning some stuff in the shop and found it, so I put it back on the mirror of my Trans Am, complete with the Roxy Music button that I bought at Spencers back in the day. Same - except instead of a Roxy Music button I had this cool black panther air freshener - would love to find one today! 😊 I did have a Doors bumper sticker on the back of my Camaro spoiler though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 (edited) @CChinnNo sir. I support hula girls on dashboards... 👍😁😁 @Matt Harwood Mrs. Mack always suggests she could get arrested for drop kicking one of those leaning dolls one of these days... Edited September 22 by Steve_Mack_CT (see edit history) 3 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amateroy23 Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 9 hours ago, 7th Son said: Faux shrunken heads were the "thing" back in my high school days...late '50's...west coast. This is legendary 😂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne sheldon Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 I had one of those fake shrunken heads! Probably about the eighth grade. It hung on a dresser handle, never did go into a car. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KURTRUK Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 5 hours ago, CChinn said: Steve, do I have to go to the penalty box because I have a hula girl on the dash of my ‘53 Packard? She reminds me of my 2 Hawaii tours during my Navy time To the penalty box...only because it's SOLAR POWERED! 😬 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KURTRUK Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 (edited) In high school from 1977-81, (same hometown as George Lucas) the guys hung garters from the rear view mirror. I don't know why. I didn't have a car! 🤓 Edited September 22 by KURTRUK (see edit history) 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 5 hours ago, Matt Harwood said: No, hula girls aren't quite the hackneyed cliche that the fuzzy dice have become. The only thing worse than fuzzy dice is this: Lord deliver us from those creepy crybaby dolls!😬 I don't know who first came up with them but that individual should be beat around his/her ears. Creepy! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 6 hours ago, TAKerry said: I had my graduation tassel hanging from my mirror as a youth, a couple of years ago I was cleaning some stuff in the shop and found it, so I put it back on the mirror of my Trans Am, complete with the Roxy Music button that I bought at Spencers back in the day. Complete with Britcar starting and pulling away! My graduation tassel finally faded from Blue Comet blue to white. No idea what happened to it...🙁 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobinVirginia Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 (edited) 16 hours ago, Matt Harwood said: No, hula girls aren't quite the hackneyed cliche that the fuzzy dice have become. The only thing worse than fuzzy dice is this: Even worse than the doll is the signage stating how antisocial the owner must be. The obnoxious wood sign (zoom in for the full belligerence)up by the hood latch is really classy with the wooden bumper. I don’t understand the disposition of people that do display such items. Is it narcissism or plain ignorance? Both? Edited September 22 by BobinVirginia (see edit history) 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 Bob, I think you answered your own question. 'Round here signage like that is often combined with Tasmanian Devil trinkets. One of the local Chevy-heads even named his son "Taz". The boy (now in his 30s) hates it... Even worse for the kid, his mama is a hairstylist who kept his hair cut in a mullet from age 2 till he was in high school and finally said no more. She also had his ears pierced when he was about 5. Mama was gonna make sure her boy was one of the cool kids! People do horrible things to their children to satisfy their own dreams. But Taz got his revenge. He's a car guy, but his thing is tuner cars which his Chevy-guy dad can't stand. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobinVirginia Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 4 minutes ago, rocketraider said: Bob, I think you answered your own question. 'Round here signage like that is often combined with Tasmanian Devil trinkets. One of the local Chevy-heads even named his son "Taz". The boy (now in his 30s) hates it... Even worse for the kid, his mama is a hairstylist who kept his hair cut in a mullet from age 2 till he was in high school and finally said no more. She also had his ears pierced when he was about 5. Mama was gonna make sure her boy was one of the cool kids! People do horrible things to their children to satisfy their own dreams. But Taz got his revenge. He's a car guy, but his thing is tuner cars which his Chevy-guy dad can't stand. I’m thinking of Joe Dirt’s parents in the movie right now! lol 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerriffic Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 15 hours ago, KURTRUK said: In high school from 1977-81, (same hometown as George Lucas) the guys hung garters from the rear view mirror. I don't know why. I didn't have a car! 🤓 We did the same here. My 72 Chevelle keeping up with the tradition. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Anybody remember the kitty on the package shelf with the eyes tied into the taillights? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
76 Caddy Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 My grandmother had the dog with the bobbing head on the package shelf in her car. Tim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 My dad had a bobblehead dog on the rear shelf in a 1960 Chevrolet. My mama despised it... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Alway did and still do despise the fuzzy dice. When I bought my latest 63 Bonneville convertible it had a pair of "8 Balls" hanging from the mirror. I ripped them of the mirror and threw them back at my buddy who I bought it from. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jubilee Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 I’m from the silent generation. All my antiques have fuzzy dice if they have a inside mirror. Never hung anything on a mirror in the fifties, sixties, or seventies that I can remember, but I think the dice are “cool” now. ( a boomer generation term). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 (edited) I am not much for hanging things in the car but I do have a Rat Fink keychain in my '60 Electra. I bought it from Ed Roth when he visited Lockport, New York. He was a guest of Stevie J. the Olcott Beach cruise night DJ. I got to talk with him a while and hear his stories about how he itched like crazy while building his fiberglass cars like The Beatnik Bandit. At the time I had a Jaguar XJS. What an appropriate place for the Rat, inside the Cat. It transferred to the Buick and is still there for the memories. Edited September 25 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARRYCAROL Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 I remember hanging my graduation tassel from my mirror, now it’s my wife’s handicap placard! 😳 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 (edited) On 9/21/2024 at 8:56 AM, 7th Son said: Faux shrunken heads were the "thing" back in my high school days...late '50's...west coast. Yes, the shrunken heads, easy to get in So. Cal. Right outside of the jungle ride at Disnyland there was shop that sold them. I remember fuzzy dice back as far as 54 but the real excitement for us kids was below. Edited September 25 by Pfeil (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch1929 Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 My Grandfather had the Hula girl in the back window of his 62 Chevy Impala! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Son Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 (edited) I remember having a set of bongo drums on the package tray of my '50 Ford in high school.,but there was a (local?) fad of displaying a brightly painted pith helmet there, too. I even had a chrome plated WW1 army combat helmet on display. Edited September 25 by 7th Son (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 1 hour ago, 7th Son said: I remember having a set of bongo drums on the package tray of my '50 Ford in high school.,but there was a (local?) fad of displaying a brightly painted pith helmet there, too. I even had a chrome plated WW1 army combat helmet on display. I recall a high school fad of wearing construction helmets. I don't think I ever did that, but the cool guys did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge55Royal Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 It looks like Leif's photo was taken while the car was being driven down the road. Why didn't he just take the pic when the car was parked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now