Karl and Veda Orr, the first couple of hot rodding

While researching Karl and Veda Orr for the Hot Rod Hero profile in the latest issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines, I noticed something unusual: This power couple had personality enough to jump off the page and played such a critical role in keeping American enthusiasm high for performance cars during World War II, but in all my research, I came across the same three or four photos of the Orrs, none clear or sharp enough to show those big personalities.

That was, until I met Jim Lattin. Jim ended up with the Orrs’ photo collection after they both died in the late 1980s and was able to provide me with a few rare and (to my knowledge) unpublished photos of the couple. Unfortunately, they got in just after our deadline, but that just means we get to show them here on the blog first.

For the Orr story, check out the February 2010 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines, out on newsstands now!

Related – Lost Speed Shops: Bell, Chapel, Orr