Customs The art of the mild custom

It was great to see Hub's copper Buick again this weekend in Dewey. Every time I see that car it just knocks me back. It's been on the road since 1988 (I believe that's what Hub said) and looks as good today as ever.

I have always been a fan of the mild custom. Maybe because I always thought they were a little more in the relm of possibilities as far as actually owning one some day.

From the time I was old enough to sneak Rod & Custom into study hall, I always appreciated the lowered, smoothed, unchopped, simple custom. The ones that didn't have the body lines radically changed, just tweaked enough to accentuate what the original design should have looked like to begin with. The type of car that the more you looked the more aparent it was the amount of attention to detail and all the "little, subtle" changes that went into making it just drop dead gorgeous.

Hub's car does that for me. There was a pink '59/60 Buick and an orange '60 Poncho at the show that were great examples as well.

What mild custom trips your trigger? Got a favorite? Let's hear about it.

 

Lee Pratts Purple Buick. Got me as a kid when it was in Street Rodder

 

Mild customs rule.....
Yeah, I've got a "thing" for Rivs and '61 Olds'......

 

My computer ain't workin so no pics, but that pink Caddy from the last few Stray Kats shows comes to mind. And that orange poncho is bad!

 

Josh, I'll bet you'll like this one then...

 

Oh yeah Bill...that's the stuff!
One of these days man.....one of these days...

 

Mild custom circa 1965

 

My buddy's(meg-lite) 60 Impala.

 

My favorite would have to be Jimmy Vaughns 54 Ford..Simply stunning...Cant get my computer to post a pic right now.

 

Better than Porn! More please!

 

Jimmy Vaughn's 54 Ford x 2!............just clean & subtle.

 

One of Steve Stanford's first magazine drawing sets was on mild customs in Street Rodder, written by Pat Ganahl in the late 70's. Pat was pushing mild customs as affordable daily drivers when customs were still on life support. Wish I had that handy to scan. Man, there was some cool stuff in that set!

 

Here are a couple I wouldn't mind having.

 

Let's not forget Jimmy Vaughan's Fleetline.

 

Here you go drDave. I knew exactly which magazine you were talking about, so I dug it out and scanned it. It was the July '78 issue. Sorry for the split pages, but Street Rodder spread this article out quite a bit. I need the scanner practice anyway.

Stanford's work is genious...........E

 

Well I'm at it, I might as well post a few of my favorites I have saved on my computer........E

 

Yeah, I know this is a new build, but I think its stunning....

 

Gotta love the mild customs. Here's a few more..................E

 

Thanks to all the unnamed photographers I stole these from.. Hope they're all mild enough for you 'lightweights'..

 

I don't think all of these listed are what I consider mild customs. But I gotta throw out Mark Morton's Merc. Perfect in every way for me. I had built that car in my head before I ever saw it and I gotta say he nailed my dreams!

(pic from R&C website-read all about the car here: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0808rc_1954_mercury_monterey/index.html )

 

Just a little education for you about that car..... That car was built by the Bruns custom shop while it was owned by a cat named Ziggy of burbank.Every single body mod and the grill was made while it was owned by Ziggy.The car was in a basecoat green paintjob and the beautiful stance that people talk about was acheived at the Bruns shop here in socal.There are pictures that show Jimmy buying the car while it was in the green basecoat.Jimmy bought the car and changed the interior and gave it that gorgeous paintjob.Im not trying to take anything away from Gary Howard at all but a lot of people think that the whole car was built in texas and thats not the case.

 

I did not realize that was the same car. I have quite a few photos of it in green, and it wasn't till you educated me did I realize it. I will try and get them posted, for people to see. Mark Mortons Merc ranks up there pretty high for me, as well...

 

My Riviera.



I have always liked this 60 Cadillac.

 

This is thread is the best! I am all about the mild customs I wish I could score me a 65 Buick Riv and have had a thing for the mid 60s Cadillacs but i am surprised there isnt more trucks here, talk about affordable and awesome customs I will try and post some pics later. On the fence with getting the roof of my Galaxie paneled and flaked out. Would love to get some of kirks magic and have Gambino do it but moneys tight be a while before I get more done.

 

Mild customs were what most of us drove. Shaved,nosed,decked.dechromedetc.All that chrome trim we threw away is now worth as much as the cars we took it off...But the customs still rule.

 

Another of my favorites, I believe Scott (zman) is doing some of the work on this one.

 

I think there was a post recently of the Rivullac with final paint and looking good.



Here are a few more.

 

I have this pic as my screen saver.
Mild custom are totally cool. Especally with metalflake paint.

Lets see more pics!

 

I Love the mercury grille in this! I looked for one for my 60 for a long time and just didnt find one in the right price range.
-Jamie

 

lil E, that's the one! Thanks for putting that up. There is not a car there that wouldn't still be cool now. The paint on the 60 Chevy might be a smidge out of date but the overall car would be totally cool. I still think the Charger grille would be a neat look....wouldn't beat a 60 Merc grille, but neat just the same.