I've always been a fan of sectioned but un-chopped customs. Think the Ron Dunn Ford and Jack Stewart's Polynesian. Sure, it may be a lot more work, but there is no denying that it looks great when done well. What are your favorite sectioned but un-chopped customs? Post those pics!
Charles Lacey's '51 Studebaker starlight coupe. Two different versions of that unusual car. Photos courtesy Rick Hoving.
The only known Photo I have and it's a picture of the photo. Let's see if it turns out. Pretty Fuzzy to say the least. Here is just a front end shot. That little girl is now 40. She was 4 at teh time. The Wizzard
The Jade Idol was the first sectioned unchopped Custom that I had ever seen. After Mr Winfield sectioned it four inches, and did that stunning paint job, it didn't have a very happy future. Shame it wasn't restored back to its original build IMO, but that's life in the modified car world. Here's the story from Kustomrama. http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Jade_Idol
Here's a link to an old Jalopy Journal piece on sectioned (and un-chopped) shoebox Fords: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=10741 ...and here are the pics from that article. Great stuff!
Pacific Northwest car Just after Paul Harper had rescued it and restored it to this point. .The gent crouched down beside the car is Bob Jasper noted PNW trimmer who was contemplating what to do with the interior. The car was shown unsectioned for a while and then sectioned in the early 60's
Found these pics on Facebook, this morning. I've been around Studebakers (including a dozen or more international meets) for decades, and never saw this one before. Nicely done.
It still looks good, as this photo from Rikster's will attest. I had read long ago that the car had run aground (before restoration) in a vain attempt at a bubble top. This photo (also from Rikster's) will verify the fact. Interestingly, the original bodywork was said to have been commissioned not from a customizer, but rather a body man who normally performed straight bodywork.
Close friend of mine, picked up a basketcase 2dr Shoebox Ford, a few years ago. He cut the roof off to install one from a '61 Bubbletop Chevy. (never finished, natch') I begged him to section it, instead. Doubt there are ANY sectioned cars running around Orlando. Can't swing a dead cat around here, without hitting a chopped '49-'51 Ford Jus' Sayin' JT
My high school shop teacher had this one, built around 1961 I think, with a nailhead in it, he nicknamed it "the fish". He was always looking to find out who built it but I'm not sure if he ever got the history on it, and he ended up selling it about 15 years ago. I'd really love to hear what happened to this car, if it's still around, if it ever got painted. Some of the custom tricks on it are not the prettiest, but the section job was very well done and I think it was deserving of a sympathetic restoration, even if some tweaks to it's design needed to be made.
I think this is an interesting topic. Always liked to see sectioned cars. However, it seems to me the same mistake is too often made with 'sections' as with 'chops'..... too much is taken out and the proportions end up being more dramatic than they are good. I think the most successful custom work seeks to improve proportion and the flow of body lines more so than emphasizing extreme changes. Sort of like a woman's perfume.....it should be subtle and alluring, not overwhelming. Several cars featured in the pics in prior posts illustrate the differences in approach or taste. In any case, thanks for sharing the pics. Hope to see even more. Ray
Missing the top is pretty much how I first saw the car after Paul first bought it and hauled it back to his garage in Roslyn. The car had sat outside for years and was pretty sad. Last time I saw it it looked just like it does in Rickster's photo. Somewhere in the file cabinet I have the program with a photo of it in the Seattle Show in the early 60's just after it was sectioned
Madfish posted these over on the PhotoShop thread, so I thought I'd share them here. Terrific skills!
Found this pic on a Mopar forum with the following caption: "Location: Newcastle Australia Appearing on the South Australain Hertiage Hot Rod Facebook page. The age of the photo is unknown and the current whereabouts of the car also unknown. Appears to have taken at the Victorian Hot Rod show held at the Melbourne Exhibition Hall" Not sure what I think of it.
Peanut, I got to admit I like that sectioned 4 door Dodge. I wonder whatever happened to it? I wish there were more photos!