THEY may be known as "hot-rods", but the souped-up classic cars are definitely "cool" according to one set of Bury enthusiasts.

In fact, the practice of customising graceful old vehicles with powerful new engines is enjoying something of a renaissance, say the Route 66 Roosters.

Car lovers Bob Anderson and Phil Hoger decided to rekindle their lifelong interest in hot rods when they formed the Route 66 Roosters last year.

The group now meet regularly, with vehicles, at the Pilsworth's Paper Mill Pub, close to the M66 motorway, from which their name comes.

At their first meeting in October last year around 70 cars turned up. "We were amazed," said Bob.

Bob (49), of Hawes Close, Tottington, was something of a hot-rod construction star in the 1970s, when he worked as a mechanic.

After a break, he started to work seriously again on cars around six years ago, building a Ford model "T" from parts. To boot, Bob revamped an old Ford Pilot, thought to be the only car of its type in the world, which he currently drives. Beneath its elegant 1950 exterior runs a supercharged Cosworth V6 engine.

Bob said: "When you open the bonnet people are amazed to see its running that sort of engine. It's like a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Meanwhile, Phil drives a 1966 Wolseley, complete with Chevrolet engine. He was presented last year with the "Spirit of Hot-rodding" trophy for a lifetime of involvement.

Phil (47), of Whalley Road, Shuttleworth explained the origin of hot-rods: "It stems from before the second world war, but it really became popular in the 1950s in America when the GI's returned home and started to put their mechanical skills into practice."

And the new lure of the activity is simple, says Phil. "I'm a plumber and I'm the same as everyone else, we all do something different throughout the week, he said. "Building and racing hot-rods gives some people the escapism they need."

Psychiatric nurse Tony Rollason (38), of Barnard Avenue, Whitefield, confesses that he "must be mad" to drive a supercharged Ford Model "T" the same one that Bob built.

And he is pictured putting his feet up in his gleaming and eye-catching car.

"I've been into rods ever since I was ten years old and used to live in Australia. I've had a lot of different cars and hot-rods in my time, this is just the latest one."

But you don't really need to drive a top hot-rod to join the Roosters for their meetings on the second Thursday of each month, when a variety of cars are welcome. The group have even forged links with the Rossendale based "Mud and Monster club", whose passion is for Japanese four-by-four trucks.

Bob said: "The people that come along are here to have a good night, they don't all have proper hot-rods. There's somewhere for the kids to play and we've made it into a bit of a family thing, it's not just about lads bringing their cars out."

For more details on Route 66 Roosters, call 763 9385.

The Roosters will put on a special "Hot-Rod Extravaganza", at the East Lancashire Railway's Transport Through Time weekend. They will be at Rawtenstall Station from 10am on Sunday, July 22.