History Barris-built '53 Olds Kustom located by Chip Foose

Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post:

Barris-built '53 Olds Kustom located by Chip Foose

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WOW very Kool . Thanks for sharing.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/barris-custom-could-be-yours.1318860/

 

While other's may not feel the same I love Chip Foose. Having said that as per @pprather 's link above; Chip did not "discover it".

 

It'll be interesting to see how much 'value' attaching Chip Foose's name to it brings...

 

It’s funny 25 years ago I could not stand Chip Foose, I think it was because his cars embodied everything I hated, billet, hi-tech, fairgrounds power parking snobbery.

However recently seeing his attitude toward original unrestored cars, and historic hot rods and customs has really made me see them in a new light, but I am still not a fan of his build style I haven’t mellowed that much!

 

In fairness to Chip, he never stated that he discovered the car, but rather that he stumbled upon it on the Hemmings.com website.

I'm guessin' the person/team that manages Chip's social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Foose.com, etc.) chose to use the phrase "CHIP DISCOVERS" in the title of the video's thumbnail as "click bait".

 

Saw this on youtube last night, cool car.

 

Those are hubcap locks, Chip ... and that looks more like maroon than candy red.

 

Great find by Chip, can't wait to see episode #2.

 

I was able to speak with the son before this car got picked up by Chip. At the time I was trying to strike a deal and hoping to be the first one to bring the car back to its glory, drive it and make many more memories. Chip beat me to the punch and seems the son was a bit blown away from the response, so with Chip being a television personality he decided to let Chip help him out. Good for him, bad for me haha!

I've been a fan of these early 50's Oldsmobile's for years, and specifically the '53 model. When I ran across this car I was filled with so much excitement! These cars are so reliable, I'm curious as to why it wasn't driven and used more? Was it more of a show car than a go car? I know some were built purely for show and really weren't much of anything when it came to actually driving the car. Hoping that's not the case with this one. The son wasn't extremely educated on the current state of the cars mechanical condition.

I have remained in contact with the son and even expressed my deep passion for traditional built custom automobiles. The son (Craig) has been wonderful to speak with and I've really enjoyed him sharing stories about his father and the Olds. The issue with all this is, now that someone else has pulled the car from its slumber and started going through everything, its sort of lost the mystique with me a bit. Especially with it being publicly displayed in the way it is now with Chip Foose, but I'm sure that's part of the deal is for Chip to build up interest in the car so I understand. Who knows, maybe I'll make a deal at the end of all this; one could be so lucky... But there's nothing like being the first guy to pull the car from the garage, clean it up, find the old receipts or match books under the seat etc... There's value in that experience, I would have absolutely loved that.

 

I don't know if you watch any of the YouTube videos from Coldwar Motors, but one of his friends is in the process of resurrecting an Oldsmobile he found in a junkyard that's very similar to the one in your avatar, I think it's even the same color combination.

 

Not familiar, I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

Exactly.

 

Makes me shudder at the thought of comparing chips vusse to barris. Not even close

 

From what I remember of the photos on Kustomrama the car doesn't need a lot more than a couple of days with a top rate detail man and and having the mechanicals checked out and brakes brought up to safe working condition.
It never showed up in Roslyn at the Run to Roslyn in the first 20 years of the event that I know of and that is where you would see the unchanged early Pacific Northwest customs back when Paul Harper and his buddies were running the event.
As far as it being driven over the years after it's time as a show car in the Shows up and down the west coast how ever far they took it a lot of customs got left in the garage after their time was up as a show car without being "updated". You had to make X number of changes to show in Competition with a custom or hot rod and quite obviously that didn't fly with them.

 

The car is in amazing shape for being stored for so long. The benefits of a nice dry garage have paid off.

 

Part 2:

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If the cats hadn’t peed on the lake pipes and wheel covers. Nasty cats

 

I love this quote of Chip's:
"I just want to clean it up because the car deserves it."

None of that dusty patina BS!

 

To be fair this car makes my personal list of acceptable patina. Rusty regular traffic turned hot rods bore the crap out of me. But a vintage drag car or custom that the original paint scheme is easily identifiable? Cool in my book. No dirt though.

 

@The Chevy Pope, that's what I was saying. He's going to bring it back to the best it can be, without changing it.

Just because it's had dust/dirt on it for 50 years doesn't mean it needs to stay that way.

I for one can't wait to see it all cleaned up and buffed out. It should be magnificent.

 

Oh I was definitely agreeing with you. "Barn find" dust is for the finder to clean of.

And yeah I'm anxiously awaiting updates. Been a bit since a rod stroked my crank like this one does lol

 

Not to beat it to death: I met Chip at Squeeg's, walked up and said Hi . he replied, & As we visited , I said, I like some of yer stuff, he Said: " Yeah, I do too"
I was really impressed with his personality, Very low keyed, almost bashful.
Nicest guy you would ever meet, He told me and my wife, He was really excited, he and his wife were expecting a baby real soon.
Visited for quite a while. You know, You sorta get a "feelin' for people."

 

Just wait till he puts some 20/22 wheels on it.

 

Part 3:

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Part 4:

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I saw this the other day, I am waiting for the shit storm when people find out Foose likes Patina.

I don’t think he will as I said before 25 years ago I couldn’t stand the man but seeing him the “The day the park tilted” the Shifters documentary, his car collection, and now this series of videos I believe he respects history now if Coddington was still alive and had gotten his hands on this car it would have been butchered before it got out of the owner’s garage!