how to make "jimmy jones" style needlenose bubble skirts from scrap

Looks awsome.

If I might make on sugestion. You might want to think about grinding and using a corrosion prohibitor on the back sides of the folds before you fold them over. After the fold is made you can't get back in there and get that rust. It might come back and bite you in the ass in the future.

 

good idea, but i dont think i'll need that,,,they had some kind of factory undercoating on 'em, so they should hold up ok,,,

 

sweetness

 

As someone that grew up in Inkster ( home of Jimmy Jones ) you rule. I always heard the stories of the local Junk Yard ( Bishops, still there today )missing roof sections, because of Jimmy. As a Kustom nut I am always thrilled to see the continued respect and desire for the skirts Jimmy made. It's always cool hearing the older guys talking about getting their skirts from Jimmy. They werent cheap back than , but they were the crowning touch. Did you ever realize how many skirt companies were located in the Detroit area in the 50' and 60's? plenty!!

 

Sweet ..........

 

I think just the opposite of this post, I think it makes it low and swoopy and cool.

I also disagree with this one, the lip would ruin the effect.
I think it is a wild car just as it is and you have combined just the right body pieces to flow with the eye.
I can't wait to see it done.
I bought a set of skirts from Jimmy Jones in 1956 for a brand new Chevy and loved them. He had a bed of hot coals and a body hammer as I remember, but maybe he had something he used that was secret. He had a wide garage behind his house in Inkster and was getting $115. a set in 1956 when the average guys was bringing home $65. a week.

 

i saw a set for sale here on the hamb for $800,,,which is a GREAT price in my opinion,,ive seen them go for like $1500 a set,,,i just figured since i really couldn't afford a real set, id take a stab at making my own,,the added benefit is that i could make them exactly he shape i wanted

i, too think it ADDS flow to the car....

 

jim i use to think you were crazy. but now i can see your nuts.

 

Those are awesome, now I feel bad for throwing away a couple of junk roofs.

 

Hey,

Wowee! $115.00 in '56 was a fat wedge! I'd bet you could get a complete lacquer job for that kinda money in '56. Maybe $1,500.00 wasn't that bad a deal five, six years back? They'd of made great 'wall hangers' over my fireplace, and really sent wife over the edge, HE! HE! HE!
On second thought, I'm gonna wait for Kustom7777 to start to produce 'um with the special Kustom7777 house label. That will help him offset the costs of welding wire, paint & leather for the interior, all things he can't find in his scrap pile!

Swanky Devils C.C.
" The Checkered Demon lives!"

 

lol,,,no such thing as a junk roof!!

 

damn ed,,,,musta left my fly unzippered again..

 

Perfection!

 

Sounds good then. That factory undercoat is hard to beat.

 

Thats pretty rad. Right on man!

 

Wait, you don't have scrap leather in your pile? I do. I'll have to pack it up and ship it out to you!!

 

damn nice job on the skirts! i was thinking about makeing a pair of these also when i saw that set in the ad. i can use mybros shoebox neednose for a template

 

that'll work, just be sure to leave extra metal to fold over,,gives it lots of strength

 

a few more refinements,,,,made the door opening larger, mocked up a rear bumperette, changed the side trim angle slightly,,,i feel like the car is really getting that all important flow now,,im probably gonna do a concave cove area below the side trim,,,wait till you see what i use to accomplish that (top secret for now,,lol)

 

Damn nice work, that car is gonna be unreal...KOOL!

 

Great idea...Just 8"-12" too short! Look at the known examples of JJ Bubbles....I couldn't get anyone to bite on a recent thread.....Not a lot of interest or memory going on here......BTW, This is the most interesting build I've ever witnessed....Keep at it.........Amazing! Centurion9

 

i made them a little shorter so i could use the wraparound bumperettes,,,

thanks a ton for that compliment,,,,i really appreciate that very much

 

thank you,,,i'm pretty tall though, maybe i'm more like a yardstick,,,

 

I feel like grabbing the keys to take Telstar for a spin 'round town now where I see the Ford like this.YES to the door tops and YES to the skirts."Style-Lines" is the keyword when it comes to flow.The less you have the better the flow.Keeping it simple even on such a radical car.Awesome work Jim.

 

hey, thanks FrenZ,,, it's gettin there, a few more things to work out,,,but im finally almost seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

 

When do you sleep man? Everyday this car changes into something new. It's great inspiration for all of us. Keep it up.

 

I depended on the car, but Yes, the skirts on my 56 Chevy literally went from the back edge of the door to the rear bumper. The exact skirt is seen on this shot of Dave Jenkins 57.

 

Wow, man!

 

I'm with you....the longer the better. Jenkins car and Baileys '50 Mercury are the consumate examples of the Jimmy Jones Bubbles......Centurion9

 

Well, if you're gonna do skirts then you'll need big pointy tailfins. ;^)