50's and early 60's Customizing

I was wanting to get a 57 Chevy and fix it up like they did back in the 50's and early 60's. What did they do to them back then? How accurate is American Graffiti? I've heard people talk about chrome reverse wheels and such.

 

They bought them used for $500-$600. That where you should start

 

Search this site and you will find a lot of information. Take a look at some vendors' websites, like Night Prowlers, too. There were a lot of different trends and techniques back then, so no-one can tell you one particular way to do it. ... But whatever else you do, start with a car that's already in good condition (which will cost a lot more than $600-800, by the way) or you will get bogged down in restoration issues. Remember, in the period you're talking about, '57 Chevys were new or late-model cars, not restoration projects. Good luck.

 

Who are the "they" you refer to? Different folks did different things in different locales...

 

Saw a lot of brand new '55, '56, '57, '58 with bright work removed, nosed, shaved, decked, frenched, swapped grilles, then primered, was popular in the mid-late 50s.

 

Is this a serious post.....I mean REALLY!!!!!!!!

 

like 29Nash said it Depends which coast you lived on
Here in the Right Coast we Nosed & Decked, Dechromed put ****ons on the Rocker Panels to open the Doors
on a More Redical note Choped & Channel & Lowered it to the Point you S****ed Bottom
getting out your Driveway
and Drove the Hell out of it
just my 3 cents for what its worth

 

check riksters site and will get a better idea
http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...cars/49-51_chevy_custom_cars/50s_build_49-51/

 

I really don't see what's not serious... the guy has a question. Sounds like he's new to the game. We need to encourage.

James, search, study and ask questions. Pick an idea and direction you want to go. But, only use as guidelines, take bits and pieces from all and add your own flair...

Some want to be period correct, some want to have reliability, you decide...

Most of all get an education from it and ENJOY it...

 

I guess I'm refering to teenagers on the west coast! Thats where all the hotrodding and custom stuff started ain't it?

 

Its time to start your vintage magazine collection. You'll learn more from that than anything else.

 

Yep. In Tucson AZ lowering was a bad idea, no storm sewer system, even to this day, washes were on top of the ground. Out on TanqueVerde Wash road, if you had a lowered jalopy you might not get back to town. We thought those push****ons were toot-sweet. I didn't even have a car until '58, a used '52 Willys Aero Lark. My buddys had '55 , '56, and '57 Chivvys. I nosed and decked the Willy, but couldn't afford to repaint it so just shot the hood and trunk lid with flat red-lead primer that I borrowed.