Customs New member. Searching for grandfathers old ride

Nice looking car. Best of luck on your search

 

I’ve been reading this entire thread daily, and thought there was a picture of it shown from some event in 2015, or did I misunderstand?

 

Maybe the new owner WAS from Cali, and had moved to KY. Maybe they sold their hotrod before moving east and decided that they needed something to remind them of home. What is more Socal than a Watson painted rod??

 

Phil said it didn’t have a fuel gauge so he kept a 1gallon can with him always full so when he ran out he could make it too gas station.


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I think that picture your talking about is a replica 3 window in Washington state.


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I getcha. Well, I’ve been reading, I guess it the comprehension part I’ve been missing

 

Just read the entire thread, awesome story ! Can’t wait to see what happens next! H.A.M.B.-POWER!


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That's an interesting point. There ARE some folks out there that HAVE seen (and remember) this car in the days after Gramps sold it. The question is, are they still alive...and if so, are they STILL car guys who may hear about this search?

 

That sighting was a Hotrod with a similar paintjob not the Coupe being searched out...dead end...the most recent sighting was that 1979 Magazine and that was probably a vintage pic cropped and collaged...so we basically have a previous Owner Phil that sold it and That is a long time ago...

The pics we are seeing are vintage pics if I'm correct from the early sixties...

Sorry I see Searching already addressed your query...but I expanded a little...

 

The pictures of it at car show are 58-59 if I remember Phil correctly. The picture of my grandfather is somewhere between 62-64. So yes late 50’s early 60’s.


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The Illegible 1995 Ebay Deuce story would be worth a read to determine its history as it may have been repurposed...like I said just like Flames, Panel Painting is a personal preference and many can't stand either let alone wwws on a Hotrod...

This may have sat behind a barn and looked at much like The Choppers and their Riders in Easyrider just fancy paint and a symbol of something not appreciated as it would be by those that relate to Hotrods as many do here...

I totally believe it may be in the hands of someone here that acquired there ride painted as you alluded pink without knowing what they really have...

I think the 32 Coupe Threads and even the show me your dash Threads may help...

Many mention their builds were Old Hotrods before they did their magic...they may have missed a provenance innocently...

Did Phil have a Nickname for the Coupe?...Stogy's gotta go back to the Showcard now...

 

All of this is possible without a doubt. If so it will be super hard to find.

I’m not sure about a nickname. I’m supposed to talk to him again soon I’ll make sure and ask


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@Searchingforaclassic...even with the Watson Connection perhaps Phil can allude to whether his Coupe did get Ink at the time...I mean in any of the Zines of which there were many...sorry if I missed that...

 

I’ll double check with him.


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Nope. California's laws regarding privacy are quite strict, as they should be.

 

There was a recent You Tube video on Larry Watson called " Customs by Larry Watson The early years"


At 8.08 mins in there is a picture of the car that is the subject of this thread. I haven't been back 10 pages to check if this was mentioned before

 

Thought that would be the case, but hey, you don't know if you don't ask...

@Searchingforaclassic , I, and I'm sure others, haven't disappeared from the search. Not much of a fruitful nature happening recently. Quite a bit of "it could be anywhere", which doesn't really lead in a direction to explore. Waiting for your info from Phil, and any other worthwhile leads to research...

 

I understand no worries here. I’m gonna contact him again tomorrow and what all he has found. If you can think of any specific questions let me know.


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I have one......who are the two guys in the last two photos I posted (the interior & engine)? Is he one and where were they taken? Didn't know if they were taken in Cali when/after the car was painted or later back in Louisville....or if he doesn't know.....after he sold it?
Make that two....have you considered (if you haven't already) telling Phil about this website and thread, so he could follow along if he's interested? He posted 3 years ago on the website that featured pics of the car. He might not want to get bombarded with questions.....but just throwin it out there.

 

These are the guys in the images Joe is asking about.
It's kinda freaky, but I didn't even see them until I went back and had a look.........

 

...Nice Hotrod...polished Aluminum Firewall is a really nice touch...that reflected engine look is a real boost to the overall Hotrod feel...

So 1964 or so was the year that Your Gramps let it go for any number of reasons...sorry if this has been already mentioned...I remember now someone did that math...but it is indeed Hotrod Gold if still packed in grease...in a Building somewhere high and dry...

@grumpy65 yes those fellas were well hidden...a glimpse into time...

 

I know this going to be vague as most of the info turning up so far has been but I can say that I have loved this car forever...sometime around '81-3 or so I found a book/mag about customs they weren't my thing but they were old cars and an old book/magazine so I read it. In poring through it I was amazed at the workmanship/paint jobs etc. but still wasn't getting my blood running like early ford hot rods did... I used to love finding a B&W pic or story about the early days in the mostly street rod/muscle publications of the time. Then BAM! there she was just 2 or 3 pics in the midst of all these (what I considered) showboats...THE quintessential Hot Rod! one of which was the pic posted on the first page... I immediately desecrated that book and cut those pics out keeping them taped on various walls throughout my teens...to me it really couldn't get any better...Deuce coupe, chopped, channelled, dropped, with a Hemi and the capper.....chrome and paint!!!! This was Bud Crayne's (Hot Rod) car but all dolled up like Ricky Madison's (Street Rod) a car in which you could "drive your way out" of any trouble! I also remember a 4 pg. centrefold in an old mag which featured 20 of the most influential Rods/Customs of all time and this car was on it...in my humble opinion it is still in my top 10 at least...it really doesn't get much cooler

this cover is also familiar...could be one and the same

Not to segue too much this mag had one other early '50's custom that was amazing and I would love to know what happened to it...it was a pearlescent Gold '34 coupe channelled but full fendered it had a really pointy V-shaped grille from a '30's art deco car (@IronTrap had one recently that he picked up in his swap meeting travels) ?Brewster?...gorgeous car very classy

 

well that was easy lol! https://www.hemmings.com/stories/20...ties-oliver-hines-1933-ford-five-window-coupe ...ok back to the quest!

 

Lets not tarnish this thread with a search for another car. Maybe you should start a whole new thread for that one.

 

Those picture were taken back here, well they were takin at the Columbus auto show in Columbus Ohio. He said he took the car to 4 car shows total in 58-59. One in St. Louis , one in Indiana can’t remember the town, one in Louisville, and then the one in Columbus. He said there was a 5th in West Virginia (Bill Carr’s hometown) but he didn’t make it too one because of school.

I mentioned that I posted looking for it but I will for sure tell him where. I don’t think he would feel bombarded he seemed to really enjoy talking about the old car


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Yes 63-64 is around the time it was sold. My dad can’t remember exactly


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Already found and saved (see link)...the points that I was trying to make is that even as late as the '80's these 2 cars were considered Customs!...not Hot Rods. Time has blurred the lines...and that this car was (is?) famous not obscure it was in lots of publications which probably mention current or one time owners...so you might have better luck talking with people who travelled the '60's Show Car circuit...like Blackie G. or Roth family etc. or someone who has catalogued an extensive car magazine collection or has a good memory...

 

\_._{"}_._/

 

Looks as though it may have been the inspiration for a model..although the model has a nailhead instead of the hemi





https://www.corvette-plus.ch/HOTROD/hotrod_118.htm

 

Tried to call Phil a Monday and today no answer.


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