Ok, that was my lame attempt at a clever title, but it kind of hots on what I'm trying to find out. I was looking through one of the Barris books(Custom cars of the 50's), I noticed that a lot of the earlier 50's stuff, like the Hirohata Merc, the Bettancourt Merc, etc. ran fender skirts, but the later 50's stuff were skirtless. Even earlier 50's models that were done later in the decade. Was there a certain point when skirts became old news? I was thinking skirts went out in the early 60's as wheel covers started to replaced by newer, flashier wheels, but apparently it was even earlier than I had previously thought. Any ideas? Thanks
It may have been caused by manufacturers offering skirts on a wider scale than previously. If a family fordor Chev or Ford comes from the dealer in '55 with skirts, the customisers are going to perceive skirts as being lame. We see it different now because we're looking back 50 years.
Skirts peaked with the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser skirts in '57-'58. I wasn't into customs, but it seemed to be one of the natural progressions of the time, going from the norm, to a whole new look. No different than today, as fads become old news, and young guys try to creat their own look, to show they "get it". The style of the cars had a lot to do with it, as well as the desire to "modernize". It was a fickle time.......it also depended on where you lived. Mutt
When the performance look started to surpass the custom look on the street. By 1960 it was more popular to radius the rear wheel wells than to add skirts. There were two schools...The mild customs where split manifold sixes are completely acceptable and the street racers whose mantra was..."If it don't go...chrome it". They were taking the fenders off to go faster. Adding skirts was counter productive. It was an evolution not a revolution.
My 64 T-Bird was skirted. Gals I knew prefered skirts UP not off, so they could cover up if discovered.
Yes, it seems to depend on what class the car fit into as to whether skirts were trick or trash. A '62 Cadillac looks worse without them, but in my opinion, a '62 Impala hardtop looks stupid with them--the Impala is more suited to the American Torque Thrust look. If you ever see a pair on a '64 GTO, do everyone a favor and loosen them up so they fall off on the way home.
In Indiana the use of fender skirts became less in vogue beginning around 1960 when the forward rake became more popular. There were still cars with skirts, but not as prevalent as in earlier 50's. This picture was taken in 1962. Ol Blue http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/image.php?u=9340&type=profile&dateline=1133753251
It depends on where you were at the time. Skirts went out of style in California when cars started tilting to the front instead of the rear. Skirts are necessary on taildraggers, mostly '36--'41. After that the front end down rake became popular and skirts went out of style. This transition happened between '55 and '57 on the west coast. The eastern styles are much different. Cars built east of the Colorado river ran skirts, including bubble skirts [ which were never seen in so. cal.] for many years after they had gone out of style on the west coast. Then as now there were regional differences in style and taste. Viva la differance!
The last OEM skirt I recall was the 76 Cadillac DeVille series. I wanna say the Lincoln Towncar series followed suit and dropped them the same year. As far as customs go, I believe that the intended style was the determining factor. Perhaps less vogue as horsepower became more important and builders emulating race cars. and to hell with what the girl wanted...the skirt stayed on
I'd say on the early 60's cars they stopped being a popular accessory. For another 10 years or so, some cars, usually big luxury cars, used skirts, but they weren't the accessory item that they were in the 50's and before. They were integrated into the rear quarter panel really well, and they were only made removable to make it easier to change a tire. My '64 Olds 98 has factory skirts but they're only there to give the car a long and low look, and to help change a tire, they weren't an optional dress up thing.
As soon as the cars came up to highway speed. Used to see lots of them in the ditch along side the new freeways just after every onramp.
93-96 Caddy Fleetwoods have mini skirts. About 2" tall that either come off or swing up to help get the rear wheel off.
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