Have i crossed the line between custom and lowrider, SINCE THIS PICTURE I HAVE ADDED A SUN VISOR SINCE THESE PICTURES
Quality shows. Customs come in a variety of flavors, the pre-war customs still blow my mind, and Westergard and Balion and the Barris Bothers, and the whole bunch of Southern and Northern customizers who plied their art and craft are still to be studied for those trying to understand the dark science of refining lines and creating shapes that still please the eye. On the other hand, Hot Rods, as opposed to Street Rods and Rat *** Rods, were traditionally built to satisfy a need for speed. Customs when they really shine, and pardon the pun, are rolling sculpture and therefore a form of art as opposed to a device built to perfrom a specific function that exhibits a different aesthetic, that is nonetheless pleasing to the eye and the other senses (in example a lakes roadster at speed at El Mirage on a near two hundred mile an hour run, or a slingshot rail launched with flaming baloneys). Customs have a different function. It was said back in the day, that if it wouldn't go you should chrome it, and that a custom was a girl catcher. So, yeah, there are probably cl*** distinctions in the mindset that it takes to take either path, if we rule out all the wannabes who think being one or the other is about the doing, rather that the living of a lifestyle. That said, you pays your money and takes your chances. Maybe there's just fewer of us with the determination left to suss out what it takes to craft metal and sling lead (or plastic mud) and turn a sow's ear into the silk purse of our imaginations.
No, but I don't think your car is a custom at all. Since you brought it up anyway (from 2007) Nor is it a lowrider (without hydraulics that is), even if it has a visor. What makes you think that? Adding a pair of lake pipes and some spots doesn't make your car a custom IMO.
I'm very happy to report that there are still people(this particular one my friend Jim) who can turn this; into this; No bondo only lead. Are Kustoms dying out? Not while I got breath in my body. Paul
I don't think that customs are dying out, I think that like life all things are cyclicle (sp?). Everything in our hobby seems to come and go, but I don't think well built, nicely done customs will always be around just not as much as hot rods. I am personally a fan of customs over hot rods. there is just something to be said about a killer custom that just stops you dead in your tracks.
Not around here..Geeman51 has the finest shoebox in the land, I'm putting together a 48 Caddy and Lux is rebuilding a 55..it just takes more time and money
Customised cars are everywhere! The reason someone may not notice is the movement isn't traditional biased. Low riders, mild custom late models and even current models or SUVs get the treatment. The other day I saw a 300C with shaved handles, de-chromed, pearl paint, chrome wheels and was even draggin' the tail a bit. The low tail may have been do to bodies or powder bricks in the trunk, though. In '57, a 300c with those atributes would have been recognized as a mild custom. I see plenty of low riders with well modified bodywork. None of them are my taste, but they are there. Just another thought. I'll go do something useful now.
The ´50 -early ´60 style i want to reference as a real Kustom, but theese days other meanings is in the word? Ol Scool trend is winning minds in Europe, even a lot is mocked up untraditional, or ways of traditional, with lots of "shortcuts" to get the stance /style to keep up the "in" mode .... its for sure easier to make up slide-in rear sidewindows, than to get them rolled up & down... or use primer instead of shiny paint if bodywork has failures. But, theese cars are also kustomstyle alligned to the backyardguys who also was there in the 50s, trying to do what they could, whatever income or lack of skill/tools. The backyard in Europe is not the "world center of kustoms", but some great examples is here, and more hopefully to come The work, time and designing skills together with the task of money building a great kustom, should easy overcome a rod, i belive. Seen the way rods sometimes are built ( not Rat´s), the time consumption making ch***ie roll, i wondering what some of theese guys understand of the car? It shouldn´t needed a couple of months to setup the front/rear axels when all parts is there, sparetime is more than enough, shiny and ready! Its seems like they need some parts from a well known company to get attracted, instead of use their own unique solutions. But rods has gotten high interest in the "cool & fast, rebellian " and attract more guys. A red 32´is in 30 feet a rer 32´if it got a chevy 350 or its a Ford 351... The shiny high-powered little car, shaking of testostron-engineroar seems to be alike the boys from little age wroooming around with their toycars. Its perhaps a "man thing" trying to be the wickest guy in the street? What/whenever over here really great C/Kustoms are an minority, but hopefully they are not dead, but even gonna raise with even more great cars than given us from the builders of the golden eras!
yeah i am at least. just turned 18 and have been building my 49 chevy truck for about 4 years, which ive frenched the lights and shaved the hood...waiting to chop it and bag it.
With the economy the way it is its just cheaper to build a rat or a street rod i still see alot of customs but the are long term projects that are years in the making
The economy,loss of jobs,homes and gas prices have changed the way we do things. This country is running scared. i think all hobbies are effected. With the public getting drummed into there heads GO GREEN ! buy a 100 mpg car and stop driving gas guzzlers it changes peoples mind set,a lot of potential car enthusiast also. I dig CUSTOM CARS and hot rods ! I will enjoy them as long as I live. If you think custom cars are DEAD go to Salina Kansas leadsled show the last weekend of July and you will see the it is alive and well. There are more kick *** customs there from mild to wild than you can shake a stick at. See ya there!
After having a Street Rod (Anglia) for 42 years it got totaled 2 years ago. I was ready although I didn't know it,for a change. I found my 50 Chevy Custom and I love it.I still love Street Rods but I have a new love for Customs. In this area there is a lot of interest and Customs are in the minority, but perhaps I'm paying more attention but there seems to be more being built. Shoeboxes and Chevys can be found but there aren't any Mercs and when they are they are pricey
Is it going to "lay frame bro"? Will it be "in da weeds, man"? Are you going to "put it on its rockers, dude"? Will it be "slammed"? If the answer to these questions is no, welcome aboard. If the answer is yes, then you might just be unintentionally contributing to the death of real traditional customs. Good luck in your build though, not trying to piss on your fireworks, just stating a point of view. Paul
seems as tho the latest customs are just bagged and stock, maybe with some scallopps or metalflake, Or they are chopped and the rest of the car is untouched. but once in a while a nice one comes along
I'm really tired of looking at chopped 49-51 Fords with otherwise stock bodies...Build a custom car, what are you afraid of??
Better not be, just about to finish my mild custom 60 T Bird, grew up in the 60's and always had a soft spot for customs. About 40 people in our car club and only three customs, two aren't done and the other one hasn't been out in 20 years.
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