Featured Customs Amazing Garage Find Merc at Detroit

If it just showed wear and tear I'd say leave it as is, but this is a case of a failed paint job that needs to be redone to preserve the car.

The aluminum radiator sticks out like a sore thumb too, on a car that's all about preservation.

 

So..the driver side was likely better due to the way it was stored. As for the paint, it’s lacquer and probably lots of it..so I imagine after going thru many years of weather changes, not being washed/waxed, it started to give up…yes the new owner got it mechanically going, had new freeze plugs in it and the aluminum radiator. All the Kustom work was intact and perfect! Whoever did the car, did very nice work. Whatever it is I loved it and if I owned it I’d have a hard time deciding what to do with it, other than staring at it….a lot….

 

You build Kustoms to leave the hood shut haha..I think the new owner isn’t as “traditional” as most of us here are…I gave him my thoughts..

 

So, when was that rule written?

Kustoms with the hoods open look pretty traditional to me.

 

I like the car… however I would have to do something with those tail lights…

 

I really enjoy all the comment about the paint, which has occurred did to age and proves this is a legitimate old custom, and it needs to be changed to meet the modern standard of style standards of traditional, but the aluminum radiator doesn't seem to bother anyone.

The only thing I hate more than Aluminum radiators are LS swaps!

However, at the end of the day this isn't any of our car, all we can do is hope it doesn't end up in the hands of a Tech-NO! rodder.

 

So ?

 

I like the car the way it is. I had the same dilemma with my storage find merc. Which was an old Dean Jefferies custom .Paint it or leave it. I decided to get it it running and enjoy it as is. Maybe one day I'll paint it , it d0es run and drive now! Maybe the next person will redo it. At least it's out of the storage yard and on the road again.

 

Left headlight, right headlight, taillights on or off individually. Not that I ever had a setup like that.

 

Maybe the owner just put the radiator in there temporarily like I did just get it running . I painted it black so it wouldn't stand. Eventually I'll put a stock one back in!

 

So, while the arguement continues about wheather to leave it or redo it, what about "WHO ORIGINALLY BUILT IT AND WHEN"?

 

I'm not digging the air cleaner, how does that work, anybody know?

 

I was wondering something similar.

 

it doesn't work at all, it is missing the lid.

 

Chop it and blend in the cut areas to match the rest

 

Not certain, but depending on storage conditions the Naugahyde interiors will get mildew with temperature & humidity swings from summer to winter & back again, moisture collects even on concrete floors, small lily pad size mold can develop without some form of ventilation in even the best of storage buildings.

 

Would all the "paint it" folks also re-do the interior? Fresh paint with a splotchy and faded interior would be silly.

Then since it's being painted and getting a new interior, why not just make it your own car and do your own thing with it?

 

The used car managers where I used to work referred to this as a "scuff & squirt", or giving it "a lick and a promise".

 

What a kool find. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

In the early 60's I bought a 32 Chevy 3w coupe that was burned in a garage fire, the nicely upholstered black/white rolled & pleated seat was in a separate area & received only heavy smoke damage, cleaning did little to eradicate the smokey & yellowed white potions & shopping around found a white aerosol specifically for Naugahyde color changes, I'm certain something similar is still available, I could only take a guess after so many years but probably mail ordered from J.C. Whitney's catalog. I still have that seat in my 31 coupe with only a tinge of age beginning to show.

 

Seriously...do some of you guys never wash your jeans because it will ruin the patina?

 

Found more pics, kool to see it with the doors shut.

 

Anazimg
Hard to get paint perfect t like that

 

As much as I love the patina look, I think she deserves to be brought back to her glory days if she were mine . She's too sweet to be left all raggedy cuz ,"She got a purty smile". It's a really cool car

 

Is this stuff from AutoZone junk?

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what did they use to do that grill? Are those parts off another car or were they custom made? I like the look!

 

Hell I’m digging it!! I might would leave it alone and drive the snot out of it for a while but I would have to paint it back to it’s former glory

 

Many of the customs that are famous have been repainted at some stage in thier life. Why would this one be different?

 

Probably almost as good as what’s on it now
The tech sheets on the new lacquer usually uses reducer.
But a quality thinner is what I’d use. Not the gun washing grade

 

So, do you always wear a new suit, or do you prefer faded and broken in jeans? That’s how I feel about this car.