In my feeble mind I have been under the impression that there are more people building/owning/into Custom cars than ever before, that this latest resurgence of popularity is reaching new heights. But occasionally, I hear comments from others (who have been around customs longer than I) that seem to indicate otherwise. The way I see it, regarding customs, there are three main periods of popularity: 1) Starting in the late 40's / reaching a peak through the 50s and mostly dying out by the mid 60s. This is obviously the "golden age" but really seemed to be more regionally limited to Calif., parts of the east coast with a few cars ****tered elsewhere (Wichita, etc). 2) A re-birth in the 80's via KKOA Leadsled guys and a few others. Although I see this as the beginning of the re-birth and a very important part of what kept customs alive, I don't see it as being a major spike in popularity as you still did not see that many customs as part of the mainstream. 3) Present day. Not so many years ago, a person had to look long and hard to find anything regarding customs. Very few photos in any publications, few features, and not too many at shows etc. But lately it's obviously really taking off. Lots of coverage in mags - lots at shows - and most importantly A LOT under construction and newly finished. Then, if you add in the addition of the Swedes and other Euopean enthusiasts, Japan, down under, and generally - from what I see on the HAMB - people everywhere now have the bug. It just seems to me that there are more people now than ever before. So what's your take on this? Is it really bigger than ever, or am I dreaming?
There will always be guys building their own stuff. A metalworking friend of mine builds Customs for a living,has been for 20+ years. He says it's DEAD compared to a few years ago. Cars got more and more expensive, and people can't identify with them after they've been extensively modified. Talking to his industry friends,there are NO high dollar radical customs being built right now. All his business now is street rods and bikes. Those guys will spend the money.
As someone who has lived thru all the phases, I had a chopped 49 Ford in 56, I belive you are 100% correct. I do the car show circuit most weekends during the summer as a vendor and keep seeing something new every time, not just the same ones as in years past. The current popularity of trucks has added another dimension that was rarely seen before. Especially F100's and similar year Chevy. I dont consider gl*** bodied 30's stuff as customs either unless they have been extensively modified. As a tradi***ionalist Im not into new models but I have to say Ive seen some extremely well done customs such as the much maligned PT Cruiser. I suspect the Chrysler 300 will be getting lots of attention also. With Detroit fully into limited production speciality vehicles I can see the custom movement continuing as long as the factory stuff stays in the publics mind.
I was around for the first revival, in the 80's. It started out slowly, but soon grew very large. At the 83 Leadsled, there were 5-600 cars, if I remember right. By the late 80's there were over a thousand, probably peaking by around 90-92 with almost 2,000. Nowadays there are perhaps a few hundred. That is partially because there are so many alternate events, while before, it was the ONLY national custom event. Now, there are so many choices, KKOA, KOA, GG, etc. During the revival, it was said there were more chopped Mercs than there ever were in the 50's. BUT the guys who built, or wanted to build them in the 50's were still around, and could afford to do the cars they wanted in their youth. The p***ion was still there, as well as the funds. so there were very many customs around. Now, most of the 'original' builders are gone, too old to build, or disinterested. Of course there are still a ******** group still building (Winfield, Bailon, Hines, etc.). Many of the older guys still into it are buying, instead of building, as well. While there seems to be more interest, I am not sure there are more customs being built, or being shown. I think that the media (magazines) are certainly recognizing this genre of car more. But less of the younger generation have true p***ion for them. Even on this board, there are far more ROD builders, than custom builders. Perhaps this will change, and the custom movement grow, but that is in the future. Customs cost a LOT more to build than a bare bones hot rod. So the younger guys, with more ingenuity, than money, will still choose to build a cheaper rod, than a more complicated, expensive custom. I have more thoughts on this, maybe later!
I think Kustoms are making a comeback...there's guys that are tired of hard riding square bodied cars with no leg room...fifties and sixties cars are huge in the midwest...and even in Denver they are overpowering street rods... I started going to Moab, Utah's April Action eleven years ago (2005 being their thirteenth), back then the ratio of rods to fifties/sixties cars was 85% rods to 10% fifties/sixties...the ratio in the last few years has reversed...more fifties and sixties than ever before...even some 70's musclce cars show up... The definition of a "kustom" carries many descriptions: stock with billet wheels, stock with whtewalls/hubcaps, different paint/interior. full: modified grilles/bumpers/interior/engines or radical: chopped, molded, completely changed... And of course, the more that show up at rod runs, the more guys that think "I can build one better than that." Organizations like KKOA and KOA have pushed this for years, but when GoodGuy's and now the kings of '48 and earlier: NSRA, make room for them at their events...then "kustoms" are making a comeback! R-
A long while back before I found the HAMB I was searching for info on kustoms. Whether you searched for "Custom" "Kustom" Lead Sled" "Sled" no matter what, only 3 or 4 sites legitimate sites popped up. The Big Blue Merc site was one of them, and they had linked the HAMB. Nowadays you'll find a lot more. I think people's interpretation of traditional customs leans more toward rockasilly desire to fit in, rather than create amazing cars. Late 60s four doors with DP90 and red wheels and every moon accessory known to man. Koop window sticker. There aren't as many people out there whom truly understand the defining lines and grace of a custom, nor the roots. I guess you could say the same thing about the traditional hotrod movement, but you don't see as many period correct customs as you do hotrods. People like yourself Cleatus, whom can really nail the car you envision in your head, are a rarity. I think talented custom builders were always rare, and will continue to be so. I'd consider it an artform without a doubt. Regardless of the trends, hype and mumbo jumbo surrounding it all. Building a traditional custom isn't as easy as throwing together a "ratrod" AV8 in my opinion. Body work is no joke. What really blows my mind is the Custom movement over in Japan, and Europe. You guys have a very distinct style and a real attention to detail. I am consistently impressed with the custom knowledge coming from people like Sailor and RPW. I tip my hat to you guys.
For me it's been two-fold. As much as I've always liked customs I never had the funds to build one or the support. The town I live in, as I was growing up (born in '51), I never saw custom cars. My older brother told me about a few from when he was in high school but 9 years later I never saw such a thing. I got into "street rods" in the mid '70s, and at the local shows you rarely saw a custom. Maybe the trend isn't as big as back then but I think it's the exposure that makes it seem more popular. Look at how many pics have been posted on the '49 Chevy post. You couldn't get that in the '80's.
[ QUOTE ] He says it's DEAD compared to a few years ago. [/ QUOTE ] See now that's what I'm talking about - to me, it seems to be skyrocketing and to others it's heading downward. Could it be a regional thing - some areas are gaining while others are losing interest? As far as the cost thing goes - yeah its much more difficult to build a custom - I spent years just changing the shape of my car IN ADDITION to all the chasis/drivetrain mods I had to do to make it run. Whereas a rod guy is mainly just ch***is/drivetrain. But, with the acceptance/popularity of rat rods, we now see "rat" customs being popular and dudes CAN afford to build a custom because it does not necessarily need to be a high dollar build to pull off a great looking car. I think that this is really having an impact on more people choosing to build customs because they can build a car cheap and still have it be a crowd pleaser. Maybe for certain Pro Builders it is dying, because the acceptance of low dollar cars means more customs being homebuilt than before?
[ QUOTE ] But, with the acceptance/popularity of rat rods, we now see "rat" customs being popular and dudes CAN afford to build a custom because it does not necessarily need to be a high dollar build to pull off a great looking car. I think that this is really having an impact on more people choosing to build customs because they can build a car cheap and still have it be a crowd pleaser. Maybe for certain Pro Builders it is dying, because the acceptance of low dollar cars means more customs being homebuilt than before? [/ QUOTE ] That's probably closer to the truth. The guys spending the big money have priced themselves out of the game.Again. So now the pendulum swings the other way.
[ QUOTE ] There aren't as many people out there whom truly understand the defining lines and grace of a custom, nor the roots. [/ QUOTE ] I'm sure that is true, but even when a guy builds a rockasilly car to fit in, it still exposes him, his friends, and others who see his car to "customs" and out of those people - here and there - a few may become more than superficially interested in the genre and begin to research more about what a custom really is about and may later choose to build a more serious attemp. That is what seems to be happening anyhow. Initially there just weren't many younger generation guys who built a true custom (with the exception of the Choppers, etc.) Now there are a lot of them and it seems that an increasing percentage of those are building really great cars.
[ QUOTE ] Maybe the trend isn't as big as back then but I think it's the exposure that makes it seem more popular. Look at how many pics have been posted on the '49 Chevy post. You couldn't get that in the '80's. [/ QUOTE ] That's a good point - the internet provides ease with which we can gain access to info and hear/see about others building customs which makes it seem more popular than it may be, but that is a double edged sword in that the more people who are exposed, the more likely they are to catch the bug. I've read comments from many people on the HAMB saying stuff like "Wow, all these great photos make me want to tear into my own car" - they start to feel the itch & they see that maybe it is "do-able" for the overage home-builder.
Just my take on the whole situation. I started getting interested in customs back in 1991 and seeing car clubs like Sacred Karts and Lonely Kings in SoCal thru very young eyes, it left an impression on me. Going to a Social D. concert and seeing a sea of LK cars, Ness' Pontiac, Mike's Pontiac, Kutty's Merc, Wolf's truck, these things were awesome. It seems as I have gotten older thru the years that customs have gotten bigger until about 3 years ago. Around 3 years ago it seemed (in SoCal anyways) that all my buddies were selling their customs and buying hot rods. Now there are more rods around than ever! I remember going to Pomona swap meet and seeing lowriders, cl***ics and customs. Hardly any hot rods. Now, its the other way around. In buying different cars thru the years there is no doubt prices have gone up even in the past 4 years. 4 years ago my 54 buick sold for $6500 completly customized. Now it would sell for 10,000.00 easily. Have prices gone up? Yep. Customs dying out? I think so, but i also have to say that i think hot rods are going to die out and a new revival of kustoms will hit the streets. Not that rods will loose their price or value, just not be so frequently seen. Did any of that make sense?
[ QUOTE ] Around 3 years ago it seemed (in SoCal anyways) that all my buddies were selling their customs and buying hot rods. Now there are more rods around than ever! [/ QUOTE ] I've been thinking about that subject - Which is, that I think the recent m***ive popularity of Harleys/choppers which seemingly are able to hit the streets "bare bones" barely-legal, with insanely loud exhaust and a minimum of creature comfort, have given rise to the same sort of Hot Rod: Bare bones, crude & loud - as if the rod guys are thinking "hell, if the bike guys can get away with it (lack of police crack-down), maybe we can too!" It's like a golden opportunity in which the bare-bones rod can hit the streets, relatively un-molested by law inforcement. And therefore a certain number of guys are wanting to get in on it - even if it means selling their custom to take advantage of the "times"
[ QUOTE ] A long while back before I found the HAMB I was searching for info on kustoms. Whether you searched for "Custom" "Kustom" Lead Sled" "Sled" no matter what, only 3 or 4 sites legitimate sites popped up. The Big Blue Merc site was one of them, and they had linked the HAMB. Nowadays you'll find a lot more. I think people's interpretation of traditional customs leans more toward rockasilly desire to fit in, rather than create amazing cars. Late 60s four doors with DP90 and red wheels and every moon accessory known to man. Koop window sticker. There aren't as many people out there whom truly understand the defining lines and grace of a custom, nor the roots. I guess you could say the same thing about the traditional hotrod movement, but you don't see as many period correct customs as you do hotrods. People like yourself Cleatus, whom can really nail the car you envision in your head, are a rarity. I think talented custom builders were always rare, and will continue to be so. I'd consider it an artform without a doubt. Regardless of the trends, hype and mumbo jumbo surrounding it all. Building a traditional custom isn't as easy as throwing together a "ratrod" AV8 in my opinion. Body work is no joke. What really blows my mind is the Custom movement over in Japan, and Europe. You guys have a very distinct style and a real attention to detail. I am consistently impressed with the custom knowledge coming from people like Sailor and RPW. I tip my hat to you guys. [/ QUOTE ] See this is my problem, I can't envision what I want. I have so many ideas flowin thru my head I don't know what to decide on. I can't see the lines that everyone talks about. It's easier for me to see the final outcome and have the person say what they used and where for me to see what they envisioned. Maybe it's because I never got into heavy reading about customs I just appreciated the final outcome. later plmczy
Very, very interesting post! As a former mild custom owner and long time custom car fan, I think there is quite a resurgence of custom building going on. My following the HAMB and reading Roll & Pleats, CKD, and any other publication that features Kustom Kulture type car shows the last three years bears this out. It's just that custom cars are being built a little differently and it's now ok and cool to run a soon to be finished, primered car. Plus the acceptance of 4 doors and the aformentioned primer cars have allowed many guys to get in on the ground floor of the hobby if they apply ingenuity, talent and lots of hardwork. Also alot of guys are not embracing the "Golden Age" cars style as much as what Cole Foster and others of similar building styles are doing. Todays scene will be the "Golden Age" for this new generation of hotrod and custom guys and girls. I'm attempting to put together a custom myself again. The pressure of not having a candied, chromed and veloured to death ride and instead enjoy a clean, well built, simple, primered ride will be alot more fun. I can then do upgrades at my leisure and when funds become available. I think the skies the limit and this latest incarnation of the custom scene will last a long time Joel
In Dallas it seems there are more customs than rods but its been swinging again torwards rods. I've always loved customs and as I see it it dosnt have to be extensivly modified to be a custom some cars need more work than others. I see alot of cars that are better as mild customs but people with the need to just do something end up ruining a car that would have been better with just a shave and al***ude ajustments. I think in Dallas there are alot of customs still being turned out you saw Markx's work and Palmers always cranking em out not to mention many others. I dont think its slowing around here If the hamb is any indication I think its alive and well.
I started noticing a lot more customs in the past few years in CA. The surge may be regional but I'm excited to see more and more come out the woodworks. The big builders may not be working on any radical customs but before I left CA in July, I had a chance to stop by Oz' garage in Oroville. I can tell you that he is very very busy. I see a lot more subtle modifications on the new customs coming out, not to say that they are easy, but less in your face. Those are the customs I like more, where you have to look at for awhile and say, oh look what they did there!
[ QUOTE ] The pressure of not having a candied, chromed and veloured to death ride and instead enjoy a clean, well built, simple, primered ride will be alot more fun. I can then do upgrades at my leisure and when funds become available. [/ QUOTE ] I think this is the trend that makes customs more appealing than before, and in a way more like they were in the very begining - mostly home built, in-progress cars hitting the streets for a reasonable amount of money. It doesn't have to be perfect, as long as it makes sense and has a nice look to it. It takes the pressure off and makes it more enjoyable. For instance, I am constantly bumping into my car when moving the moto bike around in the garage, or dropping tools on it while I work. I even burned holes in the seat cover the other day when I was welding, but it doesn't bother me - it's just a work in-progress and it supposed to be fun, not a garage trophy. If I change my mind about something, I can change it, and I do. Someday it may be all DONE but at that stage, I think it will be less fun than it is now and I really don't strive to reach that point. Being done is not my goal.
I was thinking along the same lines as cleatus...at the rod and custom show...a large majority of the suede customs and rat rods (whatever) were customs....probably outnumber the rods 3 to 1. maybe even more...lots of chopped cars and a bunch of mild customs. I barely walked out of the barns yesterday...but thats what I saw so far.
Customs cost a LOT more to build than a bare bones hot rod. So the younger guys, with more ingenuity, than money, will still choose to build a cheaper rod, than a more complicated, expensive custom. That could be argued depending upon your reference point. A guy that has real body working experience would think a custom is no big deal. However that same guy may be absolutely clueless and scared ****less about building a rod. Two completely different animals. With even entry level rods in the $10K and up category I dont see how it can be cheaper than picking up a 50 Chevy for example and doing the body. There are still many cheap 50's & 60's cars available. Anything is custom fodder. Remember that historically many/most customs ran bone stock drivelines which minimizes that expense to simply getting it safely drivable. And yes, a die hard scrounger with lots of friends can get a rod on the road for under $10K but that usually isnt the norm.
[ QUOTE ] A guy that has real body working experience would think a custom is no big deal. However that same guy may be absolutely clueless and scared ****less about building a rod. [/ QUOTE ] That's ME! Have we met? I really appreciate opinions from you seasoned custom guys. Real customs---not 60s 4dr flatblack/red-wheeled stuff OR oddball cars with big wheels and shaved door handles---REAL customs are so few and far between that it makes traditional rods seem like the "new" Harley choppers(well, to me anyway)... I wish there was MORE talk about customs here Don't get me wrong. I like rods--raw, clean, fast hell yea....but something about a custom car....it's just...rolling ART. mid-tenn mike Poor Boys CC TN
i think "mild custom" is bigger than ever.it's a lot easier to buy a cool car from the 40's 50's or early 60's that is driveable and work on it as you go along.the cars i like don't need a lot of modification in the first place,plus i'm 6'2" so chopping the top is typically not in the works as far as i'm concerned-george
This is a great post. I have been a custom fan for years. I wish more people would plan out and attempt them. Went to a buddys shop this last week. He had this 36 Ford tudor in there. What do you think? Think this thing will look good when finished. Will have a Lasalle grille in it. 40 Chev headlights. Flush mounted skirts. Chopped in 1939 in Hollywood.(No ****) 40 Ford dash is in. Killer. I want it! Chev turnsignals will not be on the fenders. He was just playing around for mockup.
Good thread....I like the modest customs. The restorers shreik when they see my car but I dont think the KKOA guys would let me in the gate? So what is it? Depending on who I am talking to I refer to my car in a differnt way. If I am talking to a serious hot rod person I dont refer to it as a custom. If I am describing it to a non-hot-rodder I will use the term custom
[ QUOTE ] So what is it? [/ QUOTE ] KILLER! last night i was flippin through some old custom rodder mags (early 90s) an i was looking at all the kustom event pics and the majority of the cars were very ugly... and i thought about this post,im not sure as far as numbers go in regards to it being bigger,now than then,,, ,but i do think that kustoms today,have definetly nailed the look ,the cars coming out within the past 5 or 6 years are strongly influenced traditionally, were as, say the early 80's-late 90's the majority were trying to make modern cars out of vintage steel..of course you had the handful of OG guys keepin the tourch burning,.,..
I started out in Hot Rods and ended up getting a custom. I've always appreciated the thought and craftsmanship that goes into making a custom. I'm also a tall person and going from a channeled and chopped Model A to a '61 Buick was the best thing I ever did. I actually enjoy the trip to wherever I'm going! Two hour trips are pretty relaxing now and, I have room in the trunk for all my photo gear, lights and beauty products! Spike
Drd57 captures a lot of those on his site, he also has a link to an editorial page about customs. www.donshotrodpage.net
I hope customs are coming back, with todays avaliability of welders, fillers, and paint to the general public it is easier to accomplish than you think. I have a lot to learn. My generation (in my 30's) is missing a bit of the custom charm. I was not around when the cars were new or during the first couple rounds of customizing. Therefore I don't always recognize what has been changed. I do appreciate the work that goes into making a car with smooth and clean lines. When I look through little books or see something at a show with a description plackard I always run around looking at each individual modification, then step back and look at the whole. I think a lot of people building cars forget to take a couple steps back and view the whole project. [ QUOTE ] Someday it may be all DONE but at that stage, I think it will be less fun than it is now and I really don't strive to reach that point. Being done is not my goal. [/ QUOTE ] I appear to be living this quote, thanks Cleatus.
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