Happy Father's Day: A Family Tradition

June 17, 2007

Ask Patty wishes all the father's out there a Happy Father's Day!

And because it's such a special day, we wanted to share a story about one of our dads and grandfathers:

Today I will pack up my things and head up to the L.A. Roadsters Father's Day Car Show and Swap Meet in Pomona, Calif., just like my family does every year. It's a tradition that started with my grandpa Ted McMullen who was a member of the L.A. Roadsters group and who, even though he passed in 1997, continues to have his 1936 Ford Phaeton placed in the show.

My grandpa Ted was one of those unsung heroes of street rodding. He had a tremendous influence on the history of street rodding by introducing a style and design that has lasted decades. Ted was quite humble about it. His satisfaction was in the fact that he had done something well, had enhanced the hobby he loved and influenced so many others to also enjoy the hobby.

His shop, U.S. Speed Sport was born through Theodore P. “Ted” McMullen’s life long love of cars. Ted was born in 1929 in the car crazy capitol of Los Angeles. Growing up in L.A., Ted displayed a talent for things mechanical and an appreciation for things artistic – these elements came together in automobile designs.

Ted had a plan. His plan was to build a production line style car that could be easily adapted to any combination of engine, trans, rear end, steering, etc. Thus, the new and original "Instant T" was created.

In 1963, Ted started U.S. Speed Sport Mfg. and started building his line of jig-welded frames and fiberglass bodies that could fit any car platform. Ted's original example "T-bucket" rod was placed inside the shop as a floor model. The car had been stored since 1967 in Ted’s garage and until it was reborn in 1995 with a full restoration and now sits proudly inside the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Ted passed away in 1997 but his passion for Hot Rods and good times still lives on, not only in the automotive industry, but in his family as well.