Ryan Cochran may be young, but he lives in the past, at least in terms of his automotive interests. He's fascinated with old- school hot rods, the kind that you would have seen in 1950.

 Cochran and his buddy, Kevin Lee, have everyday jobs in the Internet technology world, but when it comes to cars, they're steeped in tradition.

 Cochran, of Kansas City, hosts a cool Web site called Jalopyjournal.com. Its message board is a lifeline for hot rodders from all across the country, and it spreads the hot rod gospel from coast to coast and beyond.

 Traditional hot rods are experiencing a resurgence, and Lee and Cochran are riding the crest of a new wave.

 Cochran's car is a pristine 1938 Ford coupe that he drives at least once a week. Because its fenders have a few rock chips, he said his '38 is too rough to be perfect, yet it's still too nice to be a rat rod. Cochran found the body in a barn. It still has its original black paint, although it has been polished and coated with clear lacquer. It now sits on a modified aftermarket frame. The Mustang II front suspension has airbags for ground clearance while driving.  The rear axle has coil-over shocks.

 There's nothing old school about the engine, a 424-cubic-inch Chevrolet race engine that has been detuned for the street. Cochran surmises that it pumps more than 600 horsepower through a four-speed transmission into a 9-inch rear axle.

Lee's hot rod is about as traditional as a car can be. It looks exactly like something from 1950. The chopped roadster body sits on a Model A frame. It has a flathead Ford engine that Lee found in a junk store. He made the streamlined nose from commercial trash can lids.

 Handmade spun aluminum wheel covers fit over wire wheels that are mounted with skinny reproduction tires. The gas tank is bolted above the rear axle.

 Lee's rod is pure nostalgia. It represents a time when a hot rod was experimental, dirty and more about innovation than money. The crude paint, hand lettering and bare interior capture that essence.

 Cochran and Lee are planning a project to build a 1930 Ford coupe for the Bonneville Salt Flats. Their goal is to create a car capable of 200 miles per hour, yet they want to drive it all the way to Utah. Just like the old days.