A few more from my archives... Dan Landon 49 Chevy Tommy Thornburgh 47 Studebaker Cushenbery El Matador Barris Kopper Kart and Aztec on a long trip Unknown 1949-50 Mercury... looks like this photo is taken in the late 50's early 60' Another Merc... same time frame?
The El Matador looks copper,is it just the pic or was it done in more than one color through the years?
This car started out as 4-door, why start with a 4-dr. He(Ray) inherated it from his grandma. This picture does not do the justices.
'59 Pontiac tail lights, right? The way they're molded into the rear I'd say 1960-62 time frame. Note how the paint seems rough around the hood-fender area in the lower photo. Might just be the picture's age. Very near the end of the traditional custom era.
Oh man, I remember that chick! My buddies and I used to go to Oakland (GNRS for the younger set) in the late '70s when I was in high school. We'd buy the ISCA show program and drool on those buxom babes.
This is how it all started... Merle Berg at work... Photo from the Myrna Bozarth Collection Finished... Harry Bradley gave it his award...
Actually what you are seeing is the original blended paint job by Cushenbery. Look carefully at the rear fender and you can see the beautiful peak in the blending of the paint on that fender. The blend comes to a peak. You can also see the blend in the middle of the trunk. In later years the car was painted in Cadillac Firemist, as it was when I owned it, then black, then back to candy red when John McNally had it and then the solid candy red that it now wears after Harold Murphy resurrected the car after the fire. It was never as beautiful as it was in this picture with the original blend by Cushenbery
thanks RIK- You did good. It was nice to see Harry Bradley`s artwork displayed in Holland,Mi for the KKOA show where Ray and Myrna won his award. Do you have A picture of Merle Bergs 55 Chevy with The gold Cadilac wheels.
Makes you really wonder why the car is a solid candy red now.. and not that wonderful blended paint Bill did. But still the photo I posted is a bit to much orange/yellow. I think the photo I posted is a copy of one taken by Andy Southard. And the once he has in one of his books show the blended paint much redder. This photo was scanned from Andy's book. EDITED This photo has been removed by request of the copyright holder. Same photo from a collection I bought a few month ago. Looks to be the same photo... but a copy. Colors are not the same though.
Hey Rik,being that it is easter it always makes me think of reading old barris articles about all the kustoms going to Balboa Beach for the weekend of easter. Goerge would rent a parking lot for a weekend to park all the kustoms,while everyone would dance and party the night away.It happened in the early 50's thru the mid 50's.I have never seen any photos of this event but I bet they would be great to see all them great cars together at the beach.Balboa is my favorite beach to go to and everytime im down there I just think of all the kustoms that used to cruise around there. Ever see any pics of this Rik?
I have tried to look it up in so many different books and things.It was a very happening hotspot for the young crowd back then.Im going to ask Jack Stewart when I see him this weekend at DelMar.Who knows maybe he will have some old photos.
There was a very brief feature about Easter Week in Balboa in one of the little books: Hop Up, Car Craft, or R&C back in the early '50s. Two or three pictures were included, and a tease that said a longer feature would appear in the future -- but it never happened.
I think Merle Built the 55 Chevy In the late 50`s. Was it ever painted Before the Lincoln lady photo. I Heard not. In the CustomCarYearBook-1963 it states - El Matador-The basicaly Translucent red paint job was applied quite unussally: the hood, top, deck sides, and fenders flow from a lighter amber to a gold effect. page 94. So there you have it
Merle is one of the unsung heros of custom car building. Small shop, high skills, innovative design. Modest man.
YES I did get to talk to Jack and it was unreal!!!! He was telling me about his 41 and told me a lot about Balboa.I was just hangin out down there on friday I found the location from the Rendezvous thats where they all used to go dancing.He was telling me about how Jerry Q's merc was the first choppd 49, man I was loving it.So I had him repeat it but this time I had my camera rolling. As far as Balboa goes ,It wasnt really a carshow,They would just go down there to dance and party for easter,George would rent a parking lot and they would park all the KUSTOMS there and it would kind of turn into a show.
May be some advice via the Hard top social group ? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=495 . .
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