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Featured Customs 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Custom That’s Been 30 Years in the Making

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by mlagusis, May 28, 2025.

  1. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Hey everyone,

    Thought I’d share the story behind my family’s 1956 Chrysler New Yorker — a project that’s been part of our lives for over 30 years.

    My brother actually started the build, mainly handling the mechanical work and getting it on the road. After he broke his neck in a pool accident, I put my own 1960 Buick 2-door hardtop on hold to help him out with the Chrysler. That’s when we got into the custom body work together.

    We’d spend hours in the garage — I’d wheel him out in his wheelchair, crank up some heavy metal, and we’d get to work. Whenever we got stuck, I was lucky to have Acme Auto Body nearby. Darryl Hollenbeck and John Aiello owned the shop, and they were awesome enough to let me hang around and pick their brains. John especially helped guide me through the chop, and helped more than he probably realized.

    We also got some advice and hands-on help from local legends Frank Russo and John Cardinale. They were huge support for my brother while recovering and with the build as well

    Here is what we got done back in the day:
    • Frenched headlights and tail lights
    • Smoothed hood and deck lid
    • Molded drip rail
    • Smoothed bumpers
    • 1952 Plymouth rear glass
    • Mid-70s Trans Am front suspension with heavy sway bars — this thing corners like a champ
    • Rebuilt high-compression 354 Hemi with an Isky 280 Hydra Mega Cam
    • TH350 transmission
    • Ford 9” rear end from a Torino
    • Upholstery done by Bob Divine back in the ’90s when he was still working out of his garage in Antioch/Pittsburg area
    My brother did all the mechanical work, I took on most of the metal work and bodywork, and my dad added the rear window and front clip. My brother (Nick’s) buddies Phill and Max helped finish up the bodywork and got all the door gaps cleaned up.

    A few years into the build, my brother recovered from his injury, which was amazing. Not long after, I moved out of state. Nick got the car on the road and put a thousand miles on it or so, then he lost interest in the car, so the project paused and the car sat untouched for almost a decade — unfinished, but always on my mind.

    Over the years I would bust Nick’s chops and encourage him to finish the car, or sell it to me. Earlier this year, after 5+ years of heckling, we worked out a deal for me to take the car over. Then, just a few weeks ago, my parents sold our childhood home — where the car had been sitting all this time — so we had to move it out. Now it’s finally with me in Texas.

    I plan to finish it the way we dreamed about 25 years ago. It’s not just about the car — it’s about family, brotherhood, and the memories built into every inch of this ride.

    Thanks for reading — I’ll share some pics soon. Would love to hear from anyone else bringing old dreams back to life.
     
  2. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Here are some photos of the car sitting at my parents house, late last year IMG_1109.JPEG IMG_3774.JPEG IMG_3775.JPEG
    IMG_1109.JPEG
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Here are few detail photos of the head lights, smoothed bumpers and tail lights
    IMG_1102.JPEG IMG_1105.JPEG IMG_1106.JPEG IMG_1107.JPEG IMG_1108.JPEG
     
    osage orange, HEMI32, Thor1 and 21 others like this.
  4. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Here are some photos of the upholstery that have been sitting in a closet since 1998. The seats are in the car and the upholstery matches the door panels and dashpad IMG_0969.JPEG IMG_0971.JPEG IMG_0972.JPEG IMG_0973.JPEG
     
  5. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    here are some photos of the car getting loaded into the haulers trailer
    IMG_4141.JPEG
     
    osage orange, HEMI32, Thor1 and 16 others like this.
  6. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Last batch for the night. I got new tires put on and have been cruising it 10 miles or say a day for the past week

    IMG_5850.JPEG IMG_5852.JPEG IMG_5856.JPEG
     
    osage orange, HEMI32, Thor1 and 38 others like this.
  7. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,907

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    How could anyone lose interest in that? It's gorgeous!
     
  8. Anthony, Anthony, Anthony, we are all aware that you’d drive just about anything. Hehe.
     
    40two, Sharpone, 49ratfink and 9 others like this.
  9. 60 Special
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 286

    60 Special
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Omaha Ne.

    I would drive it too, I really like 56 Chryslers! That thing needs to be driven 568.5 miles north to Wichita in July!!:D 60 Special
     
  10. Okie Pete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2008
    Posts: 5,837

    Okie Pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Beautiful lines and profile . Good to see it out on the road . Hope You continue to work on the car and enjoy it .
     
  11. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 10,971

    BJR
    Member

    Now that’s just cool. Keep us posted on your progress. Love to see it finished.
     
  12. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    If you find your way out of the Twilight Zone and end up near Austin, reach out and let's go for a cruise
     
    Thor1, 40two, Sharpone and 5 others like this.
  13. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Lots of big events happened that delayed progress. He had another bad accident (hit head on). After recovering from that, he shifted focus to building 1930's hot rods
     
    Sharpone, Okie Pete and guthriesmith like this.
  14. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    the mid 50's Mopars are unlike any of the other cars from the era. What show is in Wichita in July? Might be a fun first road trip.
     
  15. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Thanks. I am driving it while sorting out all the little things. Planning to keep it on the road until paint and chrome. Hopefully I can get it wrapped up by early 2026. Also helping my son with his 1950 Chevy 2 door fast back. Our goal is to get his Chevy and the Chrysler at the Round Up next year. His goal is to drive his Chevy to school before he graduates next year so his can being finished is higher priority to me
     
  16. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Will do. I am tinkering with little things here and there and will post updates
     
  17. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 10,411

    Rickybop
    Member

  18. The story and the car are both rad
     
  19. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 7,443

    RodStRace
    Member

    Great to hear it's getting driven! That ought to light a fire on working to finish.
     
  20. Model A Gomez
    Joined: Aug 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,805

    Model A Gomez
    Member

    I like it except the modern LED style headlights, they aren't right for the style.
     
    BrandonB and Spoggie like this.
  21. 60 Special
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 286

    60 Special
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Omaha Ne.

    KKOA Kustom Kemps Of America July 25-27 2025
     
  22. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,477

    Spooky
    Member

    I like it!! Nice '58 Edsel by the way-
     
  23. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,449

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nicely done! The car has balance and is not over the top. Well executed.
     
  24. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Thanks!

    Thanks! Very grateful to have this in my garage!

    Absolutely. I love driving this car and am slowly tinkering a bit here and there.
     
    Thor1, 41 GMC K-18, Sharpone and 3 others like this.
  25. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    They are halogen light bulbs, not LED. These kind of look like the old Lucas light bulbs
     
    Sharpone, Spoggie, Okie Pete and 2 others like this.
  26. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Got it. Need to check my calendar
     
  27. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Thanks! Here is the Edsel. Its a pretty clean survivor. Has 54,000 miles. A rebuilt 361. I left California for Texas 9 years ago. I had the engine rebuilt and had about 500 miles on it when a few ignition wires fried right before we moved. It's been sitting indoors ever since. Now it's in Texas sitting under a car port out back. Going to build a shop in the next few months so it will eventually be indoors and get some love. IMG_4134.JPEG IMG_5780.JPEG IMG_5781.JPEG IMG_5782.JPEG IMG_5783.JPEG
     
  28. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    Thanks! I appreciate the feedback on that
     
  29. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,200

    mlagusis
    Member

    My brother sent me this photo. This is right after he picked up the car 32 years ago!
    IMG_0622.JPG
     
    osage orange, HEMI32, Thor1 and 15 others like this.

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