Customs Old Skoool Kustom Guys in Milwaukee Area

Anybody have any info. on a Joe Roth. Supposedly was responsible in building a '59 Chev full kustom. Car is now in California and owner is looking for any info. Any help is greatly appreciated ...

 

Do you have any idea of the build date?

 

From what I was told it was an early sixties build. I was told it had canted quad headlites and somehow the V'd fin at the rear was duplicated ??? I do remember a Chev. from that area called "Exotica" but supposedly this is not that car ...

 

Car was customized by Cudahy (Wisconsin) Auto Body for Joe Roth. Joe got rid of the car mid to late 1960's, moved to Florida. Joe p***ed away a while back. Pictures from 1961 attached. Car is still in Milwaukee, but should be leaving for California tomorrow on the car carrier. Do you know what plans the new owner has for the car?
Curt R

 

Hi guys. Im the new owner of the Roth Impala. I plan to put chrome reverse wheels and wide whites and slicks back on. Find some more Rambler Radio knobs for the grill, change the steering wheel back to an Impala Steering Wheels. Show it at the Grand National Roadster Show 2016. And of course drive it!

 

Excellent!!!-MIKE

 

Very cool!!!!

 

It's got me interested...like to see some more pictures of the Impala.
Is that the Patrick Cudahy meat plant in the background of that pic? (mmm bacon)

 

Congrats ! Enjoy ! We had a 59 chev, purple, full kustom, convert ? north side of Milwaukee Wi. 1965. Owners name was Randy, his dad owned a body shop, can not remember last name, the pic of purple car posted, tripped memory bank, such as it is, now. LOL

 

glad to hear that you will finalize some important details on the car and get the car out for people to see. The car has been in hibernation far too long. Sounds like Al has provided you with much history and background on the car. Did you get all the old photos of the 59 from Al? My only connection to the 59 is I helped Joe take the car to various car shows in the Wisconsin and Illinois area, back in the day.
Curt R

 

Curt, He told me he is sending all the photos with the car. I was wondering if the car ever got any magazine coverage back then? I haven't found anything in my collection yet. It will be in Kustoms Illustrated magazine early next year.

 

Any pics of the current condition?

 

I don't recall any feature coverage of the car. Not that I recall but, possibly, a photo or two in Car Craft, Rod&Custom or ? in articles about general show coverage. The car was shown in Milwaukee, Pecatonica, Ill., and maybe Chicago. There were a few other small, one day, outdoor shows that, I can't recall the names. Near as I can recall, the 59 was not shown more than a half a dozen times, had a very short life in it's prime condition. After Joe got rid of the 59, it fell on hard times and neglect. Al's ownership was a life saver for the 59. Hope the spotlights disappear when, you get the car, the spotlights look way wrong.
Curt R

 

Thanks!

 

Heres more recent shots. The car arrives here in the SF East Bay Area on Thursday night.

 

Im currently having replicas of the WI Apr 1961 License Plates made.

 

yup, Patrick Cudahy. Also was the slaughter house, sometimes the air was a bit foul.
Curt R

 

Very cool survivor. Man, that interior is wild...reminds me of candy cane.

 

just saw these posted on vintage pic thread

 

that's way cool.

At one of the Milwaukee, Wi. shows, probably 1962, the car won a 5 foot silver, 3 tier trophy for "Most Popular Car". When Joe Roth moved to Florida, he gave the trophy to Ed Cork, the owner of Cudahy Auto Body. Ed displayed the trophy in the body shop office for many years. I think Al tried to track it down but, no luck.

Marcus, if I'm putting out too much info, let me know. Your car now, I can only ask that, you update us on your involvement with the 59 and any history that, you want to share. Thanks and it looks like the 59 found the right owner.
Curt R

 

Man Im appreciating all this information!! Thank You. Working on it right now. the car arrived last night running horribly with old bad gas in the tank. The Edelbrock Carb that looks new is completely shot.. I need to go through all the brakes and fuel system.

 

Here's some pics from last night when I got the car. It barely fits in my garage

 

Very nice. Sounds like your shipping went well? That was a fast trip to you.

 

yeah not too bad at all. It needs a bath but thats about it

 

You might be able to get some more information on the car from Bob Dzemske Sr. His son is on the HAMB (kustomrodder). Bob was promoting shows in Milwaukee about that time, and is a walking digest of info. Both SR. and Jr. are in Prescott Valley, Az, living the dream. Good luck with your project, and please keep us current on the progress.

 

Way ahead of you, lol. Bob sent me an original photo from the 62 Milwaukee indoor Rod show and a Newspaper clipping of Trophy Winners from the event showing Joe Roth taking second place in "Mild Custom" Kinda hard to believe it was cl***ified as "Mild".

 

That interior is crazy

 

LOL! Looks like you have it covered. You know, back in the day, there was conservative custom, mild, full, and radical, so, It very well could have been a mild custom. Chopped tops and sectioning was the big kahuna. Again, good luck.

 

Cool car, I've seen it up for sale in the past few years, always tempting, glad it's in good hands and it's history is being preserved, looks like it has survived pretty well intact.

 

The history and its current state keeps getting better (less minor mechanical problems). Keep me or us informed on the Impala's progress. Too cool.