The embroidered car club jacket with its traditional chain stitch embroidery and embroidered patches was introduced during the 1940s and early 1950s when hot rod enthusiasts began forming car clubs to celebrate their love of the hot rod. .

The first car club embroidered jackets consisted of leather jackets with the car club name and a simple logo indicated on the back of the jacket. Like motorcycle gangs with their colors, car club patches also had their own meaning.

Some auto clubs incorporated the particular brand of vehicle their club focused on, such as Ford, and some even embroidered a real Model T on their auto club jackets.

Hot Rods in America after World War I

The introduction of the Ford Model T was the beginning of the modernization of the vehicle manufacturing industry. Ford’s assembly line production, higher wages, and changing schedules heralded the era of mass production. Eager job seekers flocked to Detroit to find work in the suddenly booming economy of the old logging town.

The Ford Model T sold for less than a thousand dollars at its peak, a considerable sum considering the country was still battling the Great Depression. However, since it was a mass-produced vehicle, it was the most affordable car model for the normal American. The Model T was robust, reliable, and easy to assemble and disassemble.

Food stores soon sprang up and became popular across the country. The Model T’s were the first hot rods to be disassembled and reassembled to maximize speed and staying power in drag racing. Racing was especially popular in Southern California due to the dry desert climate and the proliferation of isolated areas suitable for drag tracks.

Hot Rods in America after World War II

After World War II, the returning troops struggled to find a way to assimilate into civilian culture. Hot rodding became a favorite pastime for these young men who craved camaraderie and an outlet for the skills and techniques learned during their enlistment.

The young men had learned many odd jobs during their time in the military. They were trained to cook, clean, repair machinery, and basically any other task that would have been required of them to learn and be useful during their time in the military.

Ford Model Ts were affordable, easy to disassemble and modify. Some modifications to the Model T included the addition of dual carbs, which meant that an engine could absorb more fuel-air mixture, making the car faster and more equipped for racing.

Car enthusiasts rallied during this time and members had embroidered car club jackets, special plates, and license plate holders made to signify their association with a particular car club. The jackets were often adorned with a patch with the club’s name, the type of car around which the club was formed, a simple chain-stitched direct embroidery design, and the street name of the car club’s jacket owner. .

Members shared their knowledge and information about their beloved vehicles, as well as workshops and tools. They also helped stranded motorists who were later given courtesy cards that were used to boost the reputations of reputable organizations.