Ryan submitted a new blog post: The "Bonus Roll" From Lee Pratt Continue reading the Original Blog Post
The thing about slides is it's easy to put them in backwards. NWOD OL Neat shots, and I remember the Merc convert and the 41 Ford. I also remember Lee's Buick. Maybe the other Merc was shot for a feature in Classic & Custom.
Funny you should mention that. As part of the process of getting these usable, I had to scan with the non-sticky side down. Of course, the sticky side was different on each strip... So half of these shots were backwards when I first uploaded them.
I guess I should have looked at those slide rolls a little closer, I thought they were images of the Mid America Nationals in addition to my old Buick. These images are from the first Leadsled Spectacular In Wichita, Ks. I don't recall the Mercury but the group shot is Larry Purcell (41 Ford), Mick Ellis, (40 Merc), Bob Johnson, (40 Merc), and yours truly with the Buick. Sorry for the condition, glad you were able to use them.
Thank you for sharing the kool pics. Wow what a time warp..... 1981 is when I entered Kustom Kemps of America's first Spectacular, what a life changer. That weekend introduced me to Kustoms and I fell in love with 49-51 Mercs, 39,40 Mercs and 41 Buicks & Fords. What a kool show and on the way home I lost interest in my '57 Nomad. I caught crazy about a Mercury blues. It took me a while but I finally got a chopped Merc. When Lee Pratt drove the Buick into the show it just dropped my jaw. I was going to Tri Chevy shows and wasn't use to seeing kustoms. The two tone purple with the flake top was a work of moving art. Thanks again for sharing the pics.
Those shots of Low & Lovely were indeed used for the feature in Classic & Custom Magazine. I believe they were shot in 1981. Definitely in Wichita! The brown square building in the background is the Kansas Coliseum where the first Spectacular was held.
Hot damned... And Lee, don't you dare apologize... Working on these slides has been the highlight of my 2019 thus far. It's been a ton of fun for all sorts of reasons.
Thanks for sharing your photos Lee and thanks Ryan for putting the work in so that we can see them. Great shots.
what a treat to see this vintage treasure, thanx for sharing Lee, and thanx boss for your efforts to let us see them
Yes, that is the first (1981) KKOA Spectacular held in Wichita. I drove my 40 Merc and was very privileged to be photographed in such great company. Made many good friends there. I have a bunch of photos from that run I hope to get scanned one of these days. Thanks Lee and Ryan! Mick
It's really nice to see the Traditional Customs amongst the landscape of major changes in styling that occurred over those years. Timeless...and Easy on the eyes...thanks @El Pratt & @Ryan and the others for their input and dotting i's & t's...
These are priceless. Can't wait to see the shots of the sedanette. Maybe they'll spur Lee on to recreate that car, too.
Great photos! I remember when Lee use to bring his 41 Buick to DesMoines for Leadsleds and later Goodguys. The 40 Merc with the Carson top belonged to Council Bluff, Iowa native Bob Johnson who passed a few years back. I miss Bob. Great guy.
Wow, those are some great shots, man! Dig the group shot of the four customs together! The shots of Ernie Roth's Mercury are pretty rare. Ernie's car was somewhat famous in it's day, but more so for the burgundy version. Shots of it in red aren't as common. Either version is way cool. I would have loved to have seen this car in person. Here are a few shots of Ernie's car in the second version courtesy of @KustomLincolnLady and Scott Pavey. Also, here's a link to the discussion we had about Ernie's car on the "What Ever Happened To..........?" thread. Ernie's car was W.E.H.T. #5. E https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/what-ever-happened-to.1016572/page-4
Nice trowback. And regarding Iowa and customs: I have about 50 to 100 slides i took at Lead Slead Spectacular in Davenport in 89. Any interrest?. They are mounted in frames so it must be shot of the shot on canvas. I ev. have to check how they turn out first...and where they are. Ive moved acouple of five times since
The late Bob Johnsons 40 Merc is alive and well in Wisconsin. It was one of the first custom I saw as a little kid. It is one of my top 5 customs of all time.
Lee`s Buick was at the Street Rod Nationals in Minnesota when I saw it first. More than likely, it inspired me to install hydraulics on my car when I was 16(see avatar). 33 years ago.
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