Features Kustoms blues? I need to see some kustoms....

Great to see it will be well cared for.

 

After having cared for the Astorian for 50+ years, Mr. Rice has certainly p***ed it on to the right person.
Congratulations.

 

That is awesome Mark!!! I have always loved that car! Hope to get to see in person one of these days. Indy?

 

Is that Lanny Ericksons '56 chevy or a clone? Looks like it had a Merc rear window....so maybe it's his?

 

I always liked the innovative use of the Olds 98 taillights on that '55. of course, the green paint never hurt the look of the car either...nice score Mark...!!!

R-

 

Very kool! I fell in love with that '55 when I saw the pictures in Custom Rodder. I can not wait to see it in person...

 

Saw this old Kustom in Rancho Mirage yesterday while I was working.

 

This one drove along with us on the North Texas Hot Rod Hundred Saturday and was just right!

 

My all time favorite wagon. I miss seeing it around.

 

Hey Mick, nice post. Forgot about that one. Awesome car. Wonder where it is these days? E

 

I don't know for sure but I saw pictures of it years ago I thought on the west coast.
The wagon is way too kool not to be driven.

 

George McDowell posted this picture on FB. (1963 Drags in Wichita)

 

I think that might be Darryl Starbird's El Camino. I really dig this version on the rake and chrome reversed before the fender flares and wider tires.

 

Straight from Dave himself:
I opened my own shop in 1960 and built a '59 El Camino for Sharon & Phil Kerner from Wellington, Kansas. I had done the door handles and hood ornaments while at Star Kustom. At my new shop, I put in the hood scoops, filled the tailgate, put in '54 Merc Taillights, frenched the headlights, built the grill and rolled the front pans. I did all the body work on Phil's car at my shop when the car was brand new. Phil was a super car guy and loved car shows and racing. His El Camino had a 409 in it for awhile. It was a show truck and it was fast. Phil worked at a body shop where they painted the car. He p***ed away shortly after I left Wichita to go to Detroit. Several years later this car was sold to Larry Smith and I painted the car black for him. Gary Smith l ater bought the car then sold it to Carson McKeen, who sold it to Darryl Starbird. Carl Green changed some things on the car for Darryl. He changed the grill bars and took the scoops off the hood after Darryl bought the car. They painted the car candy red.

http://www.carnut.com/photo/garage/stuckey/stucp1.html

 

Thanks Sancho, that is a kool link.... George has a lot of kool stuff on his web site.

 

Here's a Merc convertible that was in Bowling Green, KY, this past September... it was offered for sale...think the price was $160K...you decide...!!!
R-

 

That was built by Gary (Chop it) Fioto if I remember right.

 

Thanks for that Sancho, I learned something new. I was going just from my own recognition of the tail lights and the tube grille in the truck on display at Darryl's, thus my wrong ***umption he had done it. Thanks for setting me straight!!

 

While I think that Merc has a lot of neat things going on, I'm gonna have to vote no at $160k. For me, I think the rear fenders are extended too far out...pull them in a good bit, and that rear end might work better to me. But, I put a 70's tilt/tele column in my '64 Pontiac in the 80's and it's still there, so I am no arbiter of taste. LOL

 

Found this outside of Savannah Georgia last Week. Anybody know anything about it?

 

Yeah, the inside of the back-end on that Merc resembles a couch.

 

Somebody save (and restore) that Rambler. STAT!!!

 

Say what you want about Boyd Coddington, but he understood the link between customizers and the coach builders both in Europe and the US.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...spired-french-connection-roadster/?refer=news

 

Got these Kool pics to share from OOMACK.

 

^ Awesome pics! I hope there are more. Is that red Chevy the one that had the hubcaps that didn't spin with the wheels? I seem to remember that from one of the mags.

 

That bird is exciting.

 

I especially like the "Mean Merc" you posted Mickey. Looks like something I would own.

 

What a great diversity of customs.