Customs History of the Custom display ~ GNRS ~ OFFICIAL thread info & photo's

for christsake grampy.. im just getting back on my feet, after writing the check for him to feature your car!! im not made of 3rd party out of state personal checks ya know!!

 

This is still around, Isn't it?

 

I'm not sure if it still is around... but if it is... and anybody has any info on where it is right now.. We would love to know. This would be a great car to add to the exhibit.

 

Alex, Rik, and everybody: great, amazing job organizing all this.

I really hope you get the Glenn Johnson car. It's one of my favorites--but I'll see you there, in any case.

Can't wait.

 

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Yes .was at the owners house this week.
TwoChops

 

Bill... do you have contact info for us... We would love to talk to the owner and see if he would be interested in entering the car into the special Customs Then & Now gathering.

 

Rick Klibenski owns the car now He is very busy
right now building a contender for the Riddler Award
at Detroit. If a telephone number would help you
just let me know and I can send you a pm
(I don't want to list his telephone number here.)
Bill

 

Be, nice! That's Joe "The Fonz" Carloni. His cars may not have been killer kustoms, but he had a passion for this stuff that was unequaled. That guy had a heart the size of Kansas & was always willing to help anybody, friend or stranger. He lived Kustoms & the Fifties lifestyle everyday of his life. He drove those cars in the snow! He passed away in 1999 & we still miss him.
Your post had nothing to do with this thread & was completely unnecessary. This show means a lot to those of us passionate about Kustoms & this thread doesn't need any wiseguy posts. Please refrain form doing so.
To everbody else, I apologize for getting on my soapbox.

 

Luke & Rik, I have not seen Billy to ask him about the Idol, but I should see him this week. I'll do my best. I'm really gonna stress the historic significance of this show. Wish me luck!

 

Not a critism- just a reflection of how kustoms have come full-circle to the original cars from the fifties after converging with custom vans in the '70s. Those cars were important in keeping the spirit alive, but I much prefer where it has all landed today and feel lucky to have seen it get here.

 

Agreed!

 

Jim , you will see a section at this event that will be a very accurate display of how customs have come full circle back around to the early styles and trends that most of us into customs really appreciate. That is why I personally believe that eary tradition never goes out of style ,so if people stick with it, then their cars will always be looking good. I feel that you get into trouble when you try to keep up with the latest trends. So Jim you will really love this part of the show.

 

Man am I looking forward to it!!!!! It's taken A LONG TIME to here here from the bell-bottom kustom era when I was a kid. I didn't know ONE PERSON the first half of my life into kustoms (that was tough as a kid- even my dad was all hot rods). That changed in 1990 when I met The Choppers (Chislers) who were the first people my age who actually knew what I was talking about.

 

You will not be disapointed at all . I assume you are talking about the same Choppers that im thinking of ,its funny you bring up "Chislers" .... I was just having a conversation with a guy who swore that those guys never called their club that before.I could o
f swore I remember that name from back to the beach in Huntington,it was like 1998 or 99.

 

Hi guys,

I have spent the past couple of weeks on and off conversing with several die hard custom guys on the East coast and never realized just how many serious custom owners live in New Jersey. As many people have told me in the past couple of weeks "New Jersey is the California of Customs" . Well, although i cannot confirm this with 100% certainty , the chances of the following cars attending the History of the Custom display are extremely good.

The Alexander Bros. "Golden Indian"

Alan Lewenthals 54 Olds pick up with early Vette roof

The Kopper Kart

The Mooglow

Dick Dean built 56 Dodge convertible - converted pick up

Keep your fingers crossed that we get these cars.

Still working on Sonny Daouts awesome full custom 49 Dodge from Chesapeke Virginia.

And Harold Murphy's El Matador from Loxahatchee Florida.

 

Thanks for those pictures twochops! I saw the original "Lil Beaver" when I was a kid back in the 60's!
I always hated what they did to it as the crown coupe,, but the pics you posted show the rear as well as the front.. The back looks awesome!

 

59Kustom -good luck, the Idol needs to be there.

Couple cars I haven't seen mentioned, but I thought I'd throw out there:

R&C Dream Truck -of course if McCormick still owns it and is already bringing two cars, I guess that is a good reason

Joe Flower's Venus '56 Chevy - first ISCA Champion, Larivee built a clone years ago, don't know if he still has it or where it is now.

Finally two from the modern era:
Chezoom (I know not a Hamb car, but still influential)
Keith Weesner's shoebox - car speaks for itself

 

couple others that just came to mind...

The 'My Blue Heaven' sectioned '59 Ford and Carl Casper's Exotic Empress Chevy.

 

Hey Alex- pretty sure the roof on Alan Lewenthals 54 Olds pick up is the original Olds roof chopped way down- not a Corvette roof- just looks like one. Just so you know. There was a TV show about the restoration of that car I'd really like to see.

 

Hooray the Kopper Kart will be there!

 

Wupps, Tailights are off of an early Vette

 

Fingers crossed for you Rick.Hope you catch him in a good mood!

 

Here's a photo of Joe Flowers driving the 56 Chevy clone.
TwoChops

 

[Keith Weesner's shoebox - car speaks for itself[/QUOTE]

I think this is right up there with the more influential cars of the kustom world. The chop on that car is what made a lot of chops look the way they do, agree or disagree??

 

i've gotta say, there's been some pretty good shows here in so-cal in the recent
past.... but i don't think any will match this one.

 

TwoChops - where was that picture taken? It looks like the KKOA show in Springfield, OH back in '83. That's went I saw it in person.

 

Never seen Moonglow and I hear that clone is spot on. I'd definitely like to take a look at that one.Q

 

Alex, you talk to Chico about The Busonic?

 

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You're right,we were both there.I also showed with Joe when
he had the original.


TwoChops