Ideas for a "hot rod" style garage!

[CamaroChick]

I really enjoy all things old and retro (which probably explains my antique cars and 60+ year old house!) but unfortunately my house didn't come with a garage. I'm starting to build this year and I want to keep it retro, to match my current style. For example, my kitchen and dining room is currently (elaborately!) decorated like a 1950's diner! The new garage mustn't be any larger than 600 square feet and must house 3 large cars (6.5 footx16 foot each.) I'm looking for ideas to make my garage look like an old hot rod shop!

For example, I will be decorating the garage with a 1960's tomb stone style coke bottle vending machine, and hoping to find an old gas pump, possibly Gulf or Texaco. I have old tin signs, and may make a couch out of a large coke cooler I have. Any and all ideas are appreciated!

(P.S. I have Chevy vehicles.)

 

[1948]

*see my thread on my old service station, it is a hotrod shop now lol http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120929

 

[Fudge]

600 square feet and three cars sounds really tight. Good luck though, I hope you will post updates.

 

[Falcon67]

That's is a squeeze. I have 672 set aside (24 x 28) as a work area and three will fill that 28' length to the point where you can only get in one side of at least one car, probably two. However, space is space. Go to the Gallery and review the builds in the Index sticky - lots of GREAT ideas there. Also google 1950s gas station images for other ideas.

If I had the extra cash, one thing I would have done to "old school" the inside of my shop would have been to insulate the walls, then cover them with an open wall old garage look of 12" pine boards and 2x4s. That costs an extra 4 1/4" of floor space along each wall though.

 

[CamaroChick]

Thanks 1948, I really enjoyed your build thread and I got a lot of ideas from your pictures!

600 square feet, in my opinion, is ridiculous for a cap on size! I live outside the city but still have to follow city regulations- I live on 3/4 of an acre of land and I'm surrounded by farms that have HUGE cow barns, and my neighbor on the right has a 50X70 heavy equipment garage. The city made the 600 square foot regulation a couple months ago because people were complaining about garages being an eyesore

Here's a couple pictures of where it's going, but I'll be sure to start a build thread when we start!

 

[D.J.]

Any way to call it agricultural to get around the size limits?

 

[mtwaterguy]

Are there any height limits? A 4 post lift could really add vehicle storage space.

 

[darkk]

600 sq ft for 3 cars? You better have some really small chevies...like maybe a fleet of chevettes.

 

[Herb]

Ok, you have a hill to build into. Make your garage 2 stories, drive into the basement for 600sf, and then drive around the side to the upper level for another 600sf.

 

[d110pickup]

Check the zoning carefully. I was limited to 900 SF for a "garage", but an "agricultural outbuilding" was unlimited as long as I fit inside the setback of the lot.
I love my agricultural outbuilding.

Also look at whats needed for a waiver. Maybe a certain style of garage will satisfy them. If you go too small you'll regret it forever.

Mike

 

[CamaroChick]

The rules here are terrible: garage must not be any larger than 600 feet2, and the ceiling is limited to 12 feet- so no 2 story buildings. Not even a loft. Although I live in an agricultural area, MY land is zoned residential only- so no out buildings allowed, which is also another huge downer, as I have a horse and have to board him at a neighbors barn.

My 3 Chevy's are a Chevelle, a Camaro, and my dad's Monte Carlo, which I promised to store this winter. they each take up approximately 6.6 feet. I plan to build the garage 24X24- parked side by side I will barely be able to walk between them. BUT this garage is for storage only, I rent 1/5 of a garage where I can work on my car.

I'm looking for ideas for the side of my garage- which has 2 windows and a man door- to make it look like an old style service center. I've been googling a bit, but I am looking for personal feedback!

Thanks,
Kelly

 

[dawgee]

Time to buy a different house

 

[CamaroChick]

Lol, the garage regulations are for both cities here in Newfoundland, not just for my little piece of land I spoke with the council and they are willing to let me go with a 24x30 as long as the adjacent neighbors sign off on it, and since one of them has a warehouse and heavy equipment yard, and the other raises beagles, they aren't really the complaining type.

Still looking for hot rod garage ideas; I picked up this Coca Cola cooler at a junkyard and am going to restore it this winter, hopefully I can get it working and use it to keep drinks cool!

These are my babies, the 2 cars I need to build a garage for. Now, I live in Newfoundland where I'm surrounded by salty ocean, so no doubt they have a bit of rust- please be kind!

 

[JC23]

Ask about a variance for a bigger garage. They may have to Vote on it. If you have the land it might fly.

 

[HotRodChef]

The challenge is getting all your cool stuff (coke coolers, gas pumps etc.) and the cars inside. First everything needs to be on wheels. I had a 1 car garage with a lean-to off the side. I kept a pinball machine, bumper pool table, 50's kitchen table and a coke machine and my Chevelle in that garage. Everything was on wheels and rolled into the lean-to when the car was parked. Then... I bought a house with a three car garage. Old and New pictured below.

 

[sirsloop]

Definitely put some sweet retro garage doors on with some asymmetrical pattern on the door. Absolutely have the rubber hose dingggg thing laid out across the floor. Get yourself a nice retro neon clock. Install an old school tube radio in there. Of course some signs are cool... I like old racing flyers too. If there is an old track around see if you can find some of the old flyers to frame up. I grew up in Watkins Glen, and they have tons of old Grand Prix stuff, WGI stuff, F1, etc.

 

[aus55]

Does it change if it is attatched to the house somehow,just an oversize garage?

 

[CamaroChick]

HodRodChef- I LOVE the diner booth in these pictures, and the coke merchandise. These are the types of ideas I'm looking for, exactly what you have here.

I picked up the back glass from a pinball machine at a fleamarket, which isn't as cool as the whole machine but will definitely save space and still be quite cool. My boyfriend dragged home a 6 sided coca cola hanging lamp but it's broken on 3 sides- hoping I'll find replacement glass, but if not I'll cut it down and mount it flush to the wall instead.

Guys, this isn't a thread about how to get a bigger garage... I appreciate the help, but I'm satisfied with a 24x30, and also it would be a bit of a financial strain to build anything bigger lol. I'm loving the hot rod ideas tho!

 

[eastbaysubaru]

Another option that my father has utilized in quite a few builds is to build an exterior storage closet on the side of the building. This typically does not count toward the SF of the building. Then, once the building is signed off by the permit folks, you simply enclose the "closet" from the outside and open it up on the inside. It may not seem like much, but every inch counts.

-Brian

 

[Justanoldguy]

Best Hot Rod shed I have seen on here is that of KiwiKev.

 

[brownbagg]

if you want a true hot rod garage, you get rid of all that coke machine and fuel pump **** and get some hot rod tools like english wheels, and pan benders. get something you can actual do stuff with instead of keeping the beer cold

 

[The Hot Rod Grille]

To make the most of your available space you might want to modify the roof trusses and put in a 4-post lift to store 2 cars in the floor space of 1. Plus having a lift makes a lot of car projects much easier! Looking at my garage from outside, you wouldn't know it had a high ceiling to accomodate a lift, so your neighbors won't have a reason to complain!

Jim

 

[kald]

Best Hot Rod shed I have seen on here is that of KiwiKev.

I would second this. I like those glass roll up doors as well like I used to see around here(FL) on small service stations.

 

[CamaroChick]

Hot Rod Grille, I love those shots of your place. I'm trying to appeal to the city for a higher roof, but if they turn me down I;m just going to cheat and dig a deeper floor! That way I can get a ramp for storage as well.

Work is progressing, boyfriend is out now digging and levelling the ground, but he has to dump the fill in my rock garden in as orderly a manner as possible so the going is a bit slow. I think what I am going to do is build the garage, put a front patio on it and make a sun room for my coke and gas pump merchandise. It will be a seperate permit and not count towards square footage!

 

[mad57]

You have good ideas ,alot of good ideas, i think to much to fit comfortable in the size they allow. Altered truss,s are an option as well as 4 post lift for storage....OR can you buy (3) 24 ft car trailers and register them and park them next to your new garage?? That way you can build a kickin garage with all your toys and possibly a lift and bring 1 car in at a time to wrench on. trust me i really thought my 30x80 was gonna be big enough...no way. good luck mad57.

 

[Justanoldguy]

if you want a true hot rod garage, you get rid of all that coke machine and fuel pump **** and get some hot rod tools like english wheels, and pan benders. get something you can actual do stuff with instead of keeping the beer cold

You don't like cold beer?

 

[onething]

So, you're trying to figure out how to build a bigger garage than the city will allow?

IMHO, go slow. Get the building finished and then add stuff as you find it - stuff that really appeals to you

And do what I'm doing: spend the rest of your life on GJ stealing ideas instead of in the shop doing stuff

Can't wait to see the build thread. Good luck.

 

[CamaroChick]

You have good ideas ,alot of good ideas, i think to much to fit comfortable in the size they allow. Altered truss,s are an option as well as 4 post lift for storage....OR can you buy (3) 24 ft car trailers and register them and park them next to your new garage?? That way you can build a kickin garage with all your toys and possibly a lift and bring 1 car in at a time to wrench on. trust me i really thought my 30x80 was gonna be big enough...no way. good luck mad57.

I don't even have to register them, I can park them wherever I want on my land and put as many cars in as I want- only 1 problem lol. WHERE am I getting the money to buy 3 24 foot car trailers lol? Or even one for that matter Maybe in the future...

 

[CamaroChick]

At this point what I am hoping for is some ideas on the outside structure of the garage, stuff thats harder to change when the thing is built. I'm putting 2 garage doors on the front so I can drive the Camaro and Chevelle in each night easily, but on the other side (facing my house) I am thinking of going for an old storefront look.

I'm not sure if I want to place the people door in the middle of the wall with 2 bay windows, or place the people door near the front of the garage with one big flat window, which is the most cost effective choice. I've got some old store memorabilia to go in those windows, like coke signs and candy signs, and that way I can put my little porch on the front and stretch it over the lawn overlooking the house.

 

[mad57]

I don't even have to register them, I can park them wherever I want on my land and put as many cars in as I want- only 1 problem lol. WHERE am I getting the money to buy 3 24 foot car trailers lol? Or even one for that matter Maybe in the future...

You can buy the trailers with the extra money you will save by not fighting the town, and from the extra money you wont spend going bigger than your allowed. trust me again the town goes the distance i know, but patience will pay off if you go that route. good luck.

 

[James Aiello]

I like the idea of "Sun porch" you can put the pumps on the side and it will look like a old Gas station.

One way to make it look old is to use old barn boards for siding.. you may get lucking and find some cheap... you can offer to do a tear down and use the wood for yourself.

If money is a issue then good luck finding signs... big real signs are big bucks.
Even trashed gas pumps can cost 500.00


James

 

[Travisnd]

Nice Camaro!

 

[CamaroChick]

Thanks Travis! I've had it 12 years, so I'm pretty much in love with it lol.

james I love the idea of the old siding! I'm posting an add on the local classifieds looking for it now, even some old clapboard would be more vintage. Signs around here are not only expensive, they are extremely rusty- we are surrounded by salt water. I recently found a very large Uniroyal Tire sign someone threw out! It's in excellent shape. And I work at a tire dealership thats about to be torn down and I've got some old signs earmarked for myself

 

[TX63CONV]

I would look at some creative ideas on car parts that you can hang on the walls. I have a small garage as well and cant afford to give up valuable floor space for coke machines and juke boxes--I would love to have them but dont have the room.

A couple of ideas that I came up with is the dash out of my 69 mustang--the crack is towards the back but I am going to fab up some stainless steel panels to go where the glove box and gauge cluster goes then re-dye the pad and hang on the wall.

I know you are canadian but one thing I see at all the swap meets is a map of the US with each state cut out of an old license plate. Again to hang on the wall.

Check out summit's Hot Rod catalog for reproduction signs. There is also a thread on here somewhere about someone who makes custom vintage signs for a reasonable price.

 

[James Aiello]

camarochick,,

Also try to look for old cedar fencing people are getting rid of.. that works well for siding if not for outside then inside.

Maybe find a local artist to paint signs for you or a mural on the wall.

 

[BigE]

Maybe this will help.

www.tedsgarage.org

 

[marty_p]

And do what I'm doing: spend the rest of your life on GJ stealing ideas instead of in the shop doing stuff

Can't wait to see the build thread. Good luck.

Good luck indeed, Kelly, and a big welcome aboard The Garage Journal!

I'm sure you'll also find it to be the best resource on the 'net -- albeit an expensive addiction...

Maybe this will help.

www.tedsgarage.org

I would be a horrible guest at a party there, and would probably fill up a camera's memory card!

 

[CamaroChick]

Well the garage has been built, which is why nobody has heard a peep from me! I'll upload some pictures later after work

I penned a very sweet letter to the city explaining why I needed a bigger garage, and had my neighbors on both sides write letters saying they were ok with the size. I included so many drawings, plans, designs, etc it cost me $5.65 to mail the package lol. The city inspector approved it immediately because he didn't want to argue with me, since he was afraid he'd get even more drawings and letters. So I built the garage 30x30, 10 foot walls, gabled roof with a 9 foot 8" peak (even though I'm not allowed a second story, there's enoguh space for attic storage and a single 12 foot wide door. We just finished it in time for 30 cm of snow, so there's no siding right now or door.

 

[St-rider]

Great to hear you were able to build bigger. Would love to see some pics of the kitchen and dining room too. I love diners.

 

[Lippyp]

It makes me chuckle when I see someone referring to a 60 year old house as "Old" but then I do live in a house thats nearly 400 years old, even my garage is over 100 years old.

Sounds like you got a good deal in the end, the fun stuff comes now in terms of fitting it all out and decorating it.