Anybody have any pics? I am thinking about one would like, but I can't imagine the car in my head. Need some ideas... Thanks
The early hot rod and custom magazines were filled with 4door customs especially in the reader's rods columns. Let's face it Fordors and four-doors other than Fords have gotten a bum rap over the years. Every one and their brother was building and enjoying them but the magazine writers and photographers just ignored them. We used to say Fordors were simply parts cars for Coupes, Roadsters and Tudors, but it was never really true.
It was certainly true where I grew up in the 50's and early 60's. 4 drs were an old mans car and if you were cool you wouldn't be caught dead driving an old mans car. I certainly don't remember the magazines being filled with readers 4 drs either
There often were. Usually covered with whatever you could buy from JC Whitney and stick on with sheet-metal screws.
(Thanks to Rikster and to Kustomrama for the archived photos.) Dave Jenkins' "50 Fleetline Phil Macchiarella Bill Bush-Barris Barris, "The Grecian" Ray Vega, Valley Customs built '38 Joe Brenner-Valley Customs O.H. Hooker-Valley Customs '41 Pontiac Last complete car to come from Valley Customs
LOL! It didn't stop there. Barris bought it back, and re-dubbed it "Modern Grecian". How about those perforated tailfins? I think at some point, it may have gotten lights on the top.(?) Interestingly, someone chose the modern Grecian as one of their "Top 3 Favorite Customs" in a thread currently running on the HAMB. To each his own.
I remember a few 4-doors in some of the little pages mags I've picked up over the years too. One I remember best was a mild '56 Olds 4dr ht.
I bet you mean this beauty, done by Winfield. Interesting to note that, as uncool as they are "supposed" to be, many of these four doors were not customer cars, but done for the customizers themselves (Cerny, Barris, Valley, etc.) Might as well include Watson's '58 Caddy.
What is it that makes the 4 door haters feel the need to jump into every four door thread and say the same thing? Yes, there were professionally done 4 door customs back in the day, no that doesn't mean covered in crap from the J.C. Whitney catalogs, and just because you don't remember it and never heard it before doesn't mean it didn't happen. See, I think the problem is that for those of us that actually like more door cars we view our rides differently. I build the cars I want. I don't care if I'll never get my money back out of them because I don't see them as investments. I see them as my cars. I own two four doors right now, my 66 Galaxie, and my 49 Plymouth. Both are customs in progress, and I happen to like the 4 door body style on both models better than the two door style. I didn't end up with them because I was in too much of a hurry to wait around and find a two door, I bought them because I wanted them. Rant over, on to some kustoms
These two are by far my favorite sleds, and what drew me towards the 49 Plymouth that I now own. Mine is still a long way off, but is deeply inspired by these two
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=850 if anyones interested i started a 4 door custom social group
But, I do see a theme here. For the most part, the four door customs that "work" started as very upscale or exotic four doors. The Chevy fast back, could never be called a common four door, Watson's Brougham, Late '30s convertible sedans, mid fifties upscale hardtops.... All these cars would be "something" even if they weren't customs. Sorry, but I have to agree with the four door dislikers that a common four door sedan just doesn't work.
One of the very first responders. (Post #5). I was glad to see it there. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=808671
I have a customized 4dr 1950 Ford that we bought in 1967. No recent pictures but I will have to photograph it. It had Missouri license plates when we got it.
Here is my 51 Chevy, I started kustomizing a couple of years ago(been a stalled project, but hope to get back on it soon).
I love this thread! I don't have a 4dr anymore but I love 'em. They need to get more respect because they can make really kool Kustoms. Keep 'em coming guys!
That's a great start, DL49. Maybe another look at Australian HAMB'er hughsey's similar kemp will help re-light your fire.
There were a few in the upper mid west where I grew up but the first thing out of most peoples mouths was "too bad it's a four door".
I think there are a few four doors that make great cars. Us guys didn't use them as much probably because two door lines were and are more condusive to customs.
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