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"Legendary hot-rodder Charlie Ryan, who co-authored the famous song Hot Rod Lincoln from his personal commutes in such a car that he had built, passed away at age 92 over the weekend, following a lengthy battle with heart disease. " Just saw this on another forum.
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Re: Charlie Ryan passes away....
Sorry to hear it. One of my favorite songs, listened to it today.200 mph or bust....... -
Re: Charlie Ryan passes away....
I never even knew who wrote it. I remember it from when I was a little kid. Always liked it.Cognizant DissidentComment
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Re: Charlie Ryan passes away....
it had longivity for sure - - after Charlie and his band, The Timberline Riders, recorded it, Johnny Bond had a big hit with the song and then years later Commander Cody and The Lost Planet Airmen did a real Rockin' version that was a Huge Hit.
R.I.P. CharlieComment
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Re: Charlie Ryan passes away....
that is sad.
Rod In Peace Charlie!Comment
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Re: Charlie Ryan passes away....
Always thought his version of the song was best. Dad still has it in his record collection.Comment
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Hot Rodder Charlie Ryan
LYRICS:
Have you heard the story of the hot rod race,
where the Fords 'n' Lincolns were settin' the pace?
That story is true, I'm here to say,
that I was drivin' that Model-A.
It's got a Lincoln motor and it's really souped up,
that Model-A body makes it look like a pup.
It's got eight cylinders and uses 'em all,
got overdrive that just won't stall.
With a four-barrel carb and a dual exhaust,
with 4-11 gears you can really get lost.
Got safety tubes but I ain't scared,
the brakes are good, tires fair.
Pulled outta San Pedro late one night,
the moon 'n' the stars was shinin' bright.
We was drivin' up Grapevine hill,
passin' cars like they was standin' still.
All of a sudden in the wink of an eye,
Cadillac sedan passed us by.
I said "Boys that's the mark for me,"
by then the tailight was all you could see.
Now the fellas ribbed me for bein' behind,
so I thought I'd make the Lincoln unwind.
Took my foot off the gas'n'man alive,
I shoved it on down into overdrive.
Wound it up to a hunderd an' ten,
my speedometer said that I hit top end.
My foot was glued like lead to the floor,
that's all there is an' there ain't no more.
Now the boys all thought I'd lost my sense,
them telephone poles looked like a picket fence.
They said "slow down, I see spots,"
the lines on the road just looked like dots.
Took a corner'n'side-swiped a truck,
crossed my fingers just for luck.
My fenders was clickin' the guardrail posts,
the guy beside me was white as a ghost.
Smoke was comin' from outta the back,
when started t' gain on that Cacillac.
Knew I could catch him, I thought I could pass,
don'tcha by then we'd be low on gas.
We had flames comin' from outta the side,
you could feel the tension, man whatta ride.
I said "look out boys, I got a license to fly,"
and that Caddy pulled over and let us by.
Now all of a sudden she started knockin'
down in the dip she started to rockin'
And I looked in the mirror, a red light was blinkin',
the cops was after my hot rod Lincoln.
They arrested me 'n' they put me in jail,
'n they called my pappy to throw my bail,
'n he said "son you're gonna drive me ta drinkin'
if you don't... stop... drivin'... that... hot... rod... Lincoln!
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Charlie Ryan...musician, songwriter and a car guy.
In the late 1940s, he purchased a used 1941 Lincoln Zephyr four-door sedan. After a couple of years, he decided to make a hot rod out of it. He removed the Zephyr body, cut two feet off the frame to shorten the wheelbase and dropped a 1930 Ford Model A coupe body on it.
Charlie installed a '48 V-12 engine in it along with the 3 speed + overdrive '48 transmission. The car has a lot of Lincoln touches on it, including cut-down Zephyr bumpers, a Lincoln emblem on the radiator, an the Lincoln greyhound radiator ornament. The interior has a narrowed '41 Zephyr dashboard.
At first, the car was painted black with red wheels. Later, in 1960, the car was repainted red. It was repainted again in 1986 in Datsun Z-car red. Charlie says, "The paint's the only Japanese thing on it."
While he was working on the car, Charlie was thinking about the song. By the early 1950s, he had the lyrics worked out and began performing it. Charlie Ryan recorded 'Hot Rod Lincoln' in 1955; it was released as a single by Souvenir Records in 1957. It became a major hit in many regions of the United States.
While traveling to perform, Charlie and his wife Ruthie often took the Hot Rod Lincoln on tour. By 1960, it needed another engine. Charlie installed a 1939 Lincoln V-12. It's still powering the car today.
Other car songs were written before Charlie's, everything from 'My Merry Oldsmobile' (1903) to Jackie Brentson's 'Rocket 88' (1951 - and, with Ike Turner on keyboard, it's considered by many to be the very first rock n' roll song). But 'Hot Rod Lincoln' was the first car song to become a major hit and make the Billboard top ten list.
'Hot Rod Lincoln' has been performed by many artists - Johnny Bond had a regional hit with the song in 1959; Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen covered it in 1972. In the 80s, Asleep At The Wheel did a very nice version. In 1995, Jim Varney (Ernest) recorded a cover which was used in 'The Beverly Hillbillies' movie.
Today, Charlie Ryan is semi-retired - but he still occasionally performs the song. At the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club's 1994 National Meet in Silverdale Washington, Charlie brought the car and gave a live performance of 'Hot Rod Lincoln' - to the cheers of a room filled with over 300 Lincoln enthusiasts.
Article copyright 1999 Joseph M. Sherlock. All Rights Reserved.
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Update: Charlie passed away in early 2008. Here is his obituary:
Ryan, Charles "Charlie" S.: Passed away February 16, 2008. Charlie was born in Graceville, MN on December 19, 1915. His parents moved to Polson, MT, and he attended school there. He met and married Ruth Scheffler on December 22, 1937 in Polson, and they had three children when he was called to serve in the Army during WWII. After his discharge, he moved his family to Spokane in 1943.
Charlie was a cowboy and spent his life as a songwriter and entertainer touring with his band with Jim Reeves and Johnny Horton, to name a couple. Charlie wrote and originally recorded the 'Hot Rod Lincoln' song. He was a member of the Country Music Association, Dukes Auto Club, Lincoln Continental Owners Club, VFW #1435, DAV #51, and Local #98 Carpenter's Union. He was a member of the Music Hall of Fame in Arizona and Minnesota.
Charlie is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Ruth Ryan, of Spokane, WA; daughter, Beverly Triber and husband, Rick, of Spokane Valley, WA; daughter, Terri Hambrook of San Juan Capistrano, CA; son, Joe Ryan and wife, Carolyn, of Valley, WA; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, one grandson, and one great-grandson.
Memorial services were held Friday, February 22, 2008 in the Alwin Chapel at Hazen & Jager Funeral Home, Spokane, WA. Following the service, there was a gathering at Spokane Valley VFW Post 1435, Spokane Valley, WA.
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More information on Charlie and his famous car can be found here:
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