Who coined the term “hot rod?” I’ve been using the term for over 50 years and thought it referred to an engine part called a “rod” that attaches pistons to crankshaft. Obviously, a car modified for high performance would run hot.

Hot rods were first created in Southern California after World War II when young people, home from war, searched for a hobby using mechanical skills learned in the Armed Services. “Hot” may have evolved from “stolen.”

Hot rods were older cars whose owners added various parts to increase performance, improve comfort, or to create a unique appearance. The term “souped u...