I definitely have an affinity for all 2 doors over 4 doors. I will say that the availability/cost made it alot easier for me to get a project (4 door) I can cruise with my wife and kids and not break the bank.
I rarely get green with envy. This is one of those rare moments. That is the one car I have been kicking myself for not buying when I could/should have.
farmergal, why the shaved rear door handles, an attempt to make it look like a 2 door? Nads....I don't know how old you are or anything about your background, but removing just the rear door handles on 4-door customs was a very popular thing to do on conservative customs, and no it wasn't because they secretly desired a 2-door. Nobody was fooled.
It's been traditional to shave rear door handles on four doors since the 50's or earlier. I'm sure it started as a veiled attempt to make them look like two doors at a glance, but it's asthetically just cleaner looking, and adds a bit of personalization. I shaved mine because I can't ue the rear doos anyway, but even if I could use them I'd still shave them.
1933-34 Plymouth/Dodge 1936-37 Cord Graham Sharknose Any Duesenberg 1949-52 Chevy fastbacks 1953-54 BelAir any mid 50's GM hardtop Tucker Alot of the 28-31 vintage longer wheelbase cars look decent too...
if you can see why guys do it and why they did it back in the day than how can you say it seems really pointless? It smooths out the lines of the car and it makes the lines a bit more appealing to the naked eye. It's quite amazing how a set of shiney silver handles could throw off the over all "flow" to the picture. A lot of cars had all of the handles shaved off of the doors. no different than shaving the handles on a 2 door. it's all the same concept.
A mechanic I once worked for when I was a kid bought one from a little ol' lady... That car was sharp!.. It was a '69 with a factory metallic pink paint job with wire wheels and a white vinyl top... It had a 345 horse 390 FE motor in it...
Besides the obvious suicide door Lincolns and flat top 59-60 GM cars, the 49-51 Mercs are some of the better looking more door model cars... And this Merc you posted is a good example of one! I like Model A Town Sedans as well.
If anyone thinks it was done for any other reason but to make it look more like a 2 door they are delusional. History will not be changed 2 doors are the most desirable. Always will be. 4 doors weren't. Yes there were some that got a little love, but nowhere near what you see today. And hardtops will always be better looking than posts. Love your four door all you want but this site is about preserving the history as well. Now what about the best looking 4 drs?
while i agree with you that 2 doors will always be more desireable that 4 doors; there is nothing saying that they do not have their own spot in hot rodding or "kustoms" history. There were plenty of them that WERE done back in the day and many of them won-out at the shows over the 2 doors. 4 doors very much have their spot in the history of this hobby and they very much belong on this site.
People get WAYYY too hung up on trying to re live the 50's. The unfortunate reality is that it's 2012 now and not 1952 anymore. As much as the trad. nazis try to deny it, 4drs are traditional too. I guess I'm a hippocrite because I don't actually own a 4dr but I think that they deserve a little respect along with their owners. If some people on here had it their way, Model A coupes with deuce grills, 40 ford brakes and steelies and triple stromberg flatties would be the only thing considered traditional. Please guys, LESS OF THE SAME!
First off I think you may want to look up the definition of plenty and many. I think you are confused about those words. Second, most of these pictured, including yours, probably don't do much to qualify as either a hot rod or a custom. A stock 4 door just doesn't cut it. Yeah some certain cars that are 4 doors may have their place but it takes a special car to earn that place.
You've been here all of a few months and you think you're going to change the HAMB. HA! This place is about that era and a few others, about preserving them. If the site is not what you want there are plenty of others. We spent plenty of time hammering out what traditional hot rods and customs are as it pertains to this site. Hell it's even gotten softer as far as that goes.
Its just a generation gap. The majority of guys who lived through the prime of hot rodding dont care for the 4drs, while today us youngsters dont really care about the number of doors. No need to try to convince each other. Drive what ya like BTW that Dixie DeLuxe looks fantastic
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