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Customs "Der Herumtreiber" Custom '40 Ford sedan from the Haus of Style

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Pinstriper40, Apr 23, 2024.

  1. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Well guys and gals, I'm back with another project in the works. This time it's a '40 Ford sedan that is being given the custom treatment.
    It is inspired by the heavily customized '40 Fords of the late '50's and Early '60's. I started with a bunch of stuff I found for cheap over the last 5 years, which started with a '40 sedan body I couldn't say no to for $200! Then came fenders, doors, rear fenders, a frame, dash, etc... piece by piece for about $100 a shot. I figured I've got just over $3k in what you see here, including sandblasting and putting the body in epoxy primer.
    Anyways, I've always loved the Dave Cunningham car, and El Matador, and a few others that are a little less well-known. The truth is, this car has been in my head for damn near 20 years. I've always thought it'd be cool to have a hot rod '40 and a radical custom '40 that look like they could have both been built around '58-62. To me, that's the golden age of neat shit.

    I understand now why I couldn't find legitimate numbers on the Dave Cunningham car, as far as how much it was channelled, sectioned, or what have you. Some people even think that car was chopped. I don't think so. I had read that it was channelled 5.5", though some reports said up to 10". Sectioned 5" or more... The details were fuzzy, to say the least, and now I know why.

    I had a couple friends help me put the frame together last week, and over this past weekend, I held a class with about 12 participants and we went to town cutting, welding, and bringing my vision to life. We channelled the body 5.5" over the frame, but somehow in the back tool tray area there's a 10" difference. The firewall was sectioned 5 inches, and the fenders raised 4" on my car. I've given it the moniker "Der Herumtreiber", or The Prowler, at least for now, because it looks like a big cat on the prowl, and it also translates to "vagabond", which loosely describes me.

    I will discuss other details of the build as we go along, but it'll be a long term project that gets worked on when time allows. It'll either have a Flathead Ford V8 or a '57 Cadillac 365 with 4x2's in it. We'll see!
    IMG_20240423_124542.jpg IMG_20240423_124600.jpg IMG_20240417_223548.jpg IMG_20240419_093618.jpg IMG_20240420_194626.jpg IMG_20240421_091453.jpg IMG_20240421_125335.jpg IMG_20240421_155317.jpg IMG_20240421_162726.jpg
     
    The 39 guy, adam401, Stogy and 48 others like this.
  2. Not bad. Not bad at all. Is it me or does this thing have the same aesthetic as the late Dave Cunningham’s car.
     
    Stogy and Pinstriper40 like this.
  3. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,755

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Kool start Joel. I’ll be following along. Some familiar faces in those pics too… :D
     
  4. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    yes, it's heavily inspired by that car, it will not get the goofy fender coves, though.

    Thanks! Yessir, Merv was there for more fun!
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024
  5. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,657

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

  6. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,848

    goldmountain

    How about the goofy headlights?
     
    chryslerfan55 and Pinstriper40 like this.
  7. Max Gearhead
    Joined: Oct 16, 2002
    Posts: 7,853

    Max Gearhead
    Member
    from Wisconsin

  8. lucas doolin
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 591

    lucas doolin
    Member

    The goofy fender coves were courtesy of George Barris whose shop efforts went south after Sam left (IMHO). All George did was screw up the terrific original design, which (according to what I remember reading) was built by someone other than Dave Cunningham. You could say Dave really was cunning when he latched onto the project.
     
  9. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,411

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nice project, always enjoy seeing rear wheel arches raised to make for lower cars. Bob
     
  10. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,411

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    DSCF1408.JPG DSCF1404.JPG DSCF1405.JPG DSCF1406.JPG
    Just read that the Cushenberry car is the "Matador", and this November 1961 issue of Rod & Custon was sitting on a desk behind me. Dad took me to NYC to the Custom car show at the Coliseum when that car was first build. If I had a camera the photos are long ago misplaced but the grill made a lasting impression. Good luck with your build. Bob
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024
  11. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    My car will get canted quads. Everything else is custom, it might as well get custom headlights as well!
     
  12. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    PC290076-vi.jpg PC290077-vi.jpg
    Inspiration for the interior...
     
    bchctybob, don colaps, drdave and 7 others like this.
  13. Nailhead Jason
    Joined: Sep 18, 2012
    Posts: 4,507

    Nailhead Jason
    Member

    This rules! Having gained a bunch of inspiration on my own 39 sedan from your other 40 sedan I can't wait to see how this progresses. I even have another 39 sedan in the yard that I have mulled over doing the same thing to.!
     
  14. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Let's have a race to see who can build the bitchinest custom sedan... GO!

    Happy to be an inspiration!
     
  15. hillbillyrabbit
    Joined: May 29, 2019
    Posts: 22

    hillbillyrabbit
    Member

    Man, this last weekend was a blast! Probably my favorite class with Uncle Joel so far. I can't wait to get to work on this project again. I bet this project moves pretty quickly.

    Hey Jeff, I think Joel might be a bit excited about this one. See you in a couple weekends at SK500.
     
  16. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,755

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Uncle Joel…lol

    And, probably won’t actually get to see you at SK500 this year. I have to drive to Minnesota that Sunday and then to Colorado the next weekend… Pretty sure I need to stay home for a minute since I have also been in Wisconsin and Colorado this week too. :oops:
     
  17. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Dang, you put miles on like Melty1!
     
    guthriesmith and chryslerfan55 like this.
  18. lucky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 851

    lucky
    Member

    This rules...do I spy fenders ready for Corvette taillights?
     
  19. RICH B
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,899

    RICH B
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Good!
     
  20. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Yes! The fenders will get a slight reshaping in order to accommodate the lights. I remember seeing a '40 coupe at Back to the '50's with Corvette taillights and I thought that was pretty cool... So I'm doing it!

    Bloedorn approved! That's good enough for me!
     
  21. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    I'm going to put a whole row of these ugly blue gauges in the filled dash and probably a few in the firewall too. IMG_20240424_144716.jpg
     
  22. RICH B
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,899

    RICH B
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sectioned, channeled, canted quads, wild insides, along with other who-knows-what custom stuff; the 'vette lights may end up a bit tame.
     
    Pinstriper40 likes this.
  23. BigJoeArt
    Joined: Dec 12, 2011
    Posts: 956

    BigJoeArt
    Member

    Man! this is so cool!

    I actually have a buddy selling a 40 sedan, that I had thoughts of a Cunningham-style-car (with coves though)

    Then I remembered I don't like bodywork, and can't afford a fancy interior....

    But I'm glad somebody is doing it!
     
  24. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    I'll add some scoops or something...

    Luckily I've got the patience for welding and bodywork, and have enough upholstery experience and ideas to get myself in trouble...
     
  25. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    After a fun weekend in Colorado with friends giving a '48 DeSoto a facelift, I'm excited to get back home to Missouri and put the finishing touches on my paint booth, so it can be operational by the end of May. I'll put a few hours a week into "Der Herumtreiber" in the next few weeks and show progress as I go along. IMG_20240427_103622.jpg IMG_20240428_152944.jpg IMG_20240428_153130.jpg IMG_20240423_140212.jpg
     
  26. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Quarters are further along, firewall is completely welded... Next will be molding in the rear fenders and finishing the cowl/ molding in front fenders. The more you do, the sooner it ends!
    IMG_20240524_100517.jpg IMG_20240524_100500.jpg
     
  27. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    I hosted an "Auto Body Experience" class at my shop, and we smoothed out the decklid for one of the class projects. I sprayed epoxy primer last night and high build this morning... I'll be hosting another Auto Body experience class at my shop this fall! IMG_20240526_152349.jpg IMG_20240527_102420.jpg
     
  28. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,680

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    20250317_161129.jpg I will be hosting a part 2 class on this car at my shop in May. We will be finishing the channel job and getting into other custom work. Message me if you are interested in helping!

    ***Also, I am looking for a '56 and later Cadillac engine to Early Ford 3 speed transmission adapter. Any help in locating one would be greatly appreciated!***
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2025
  29. Baumi
    Joined: Jan 28, 2003
    Posts: 3,342

    Baumi
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Wow! That thing will be killer! Now I wanna go out in the shop and cut something up...
     
    BigRRR and Pinstriper40 like this.
  30. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 19,950

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Fuck that thing rules!
     
    don colaps, BigRRR and Pinstriper40 like this.

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