Art & Inspiration Tedious discussion of wheel well designs

YEAH RIGHT!!!

Actually we are starting to take it apart for a repaint and a new top and carpets. It hit 97K this fall and the top and carpet are worn out. We are going to fix the chips and some other things and maybe change a few minor details.

I will keep the HAMB posted.

Thanks

BB

 

A little better shot of the wheel-openings.​

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I really do know the difference, although in my experience most people speak of wheel wells when they actually mean wheel openings/arches/cutouts. I used several of those terms in the original post, hoping that it would be clear to everyone.

 

Pimpin Paint has suggested that I overlooked the '39 Sharknose Graham, which certainly broke new ground in the design of wheel openings:



Perhaps they inspired these several other HAMB-OT "speed line" wheel openings that came much later:







I recall that there was a custom 1950ish Chevy hardtop that used something similar on the front wells, but it doesn't seem to have been a popular idea a**** customizers. They do have a racy look, but are surely a metalworking challenge.

 

I never liked the Skylark wheel openings, the wheel well is not pretty. For the same reason, I'm not happy with the big ugly wheel well exposed in the front fenders of my '59 T'Bird. I'm thinking of tightening up, or closing up the opening and hiding the wheel well when I get back to work on the car.

 

I also never really liked the '54 Skylark openings...considered them a little "over-the-top". But they are different. Sometimes different isn't always good!... - Rick

 

What would this '47 Delahaye look without skirts?

 

First of... fantastic subject Tony. I have always had a fascination for wheel openings myself as well. They sure can make or break a custom, or Rod.
In recent years it seams that the re-contoured wheel openings are much more for Hot Rods/Street Rods than for Customs. A lot of high end Rods have use this technique to "modernize" the feel for the car. And also most of the Fibergl*** rods - 36 and newer models - ussually have modified openings.

I ***ume you are talking about the Dough Thompson 1950 Chevy...






One of my other past favorites has to the another Valley Custom job - they loved modifying the wheel openings on their customs - the Glen ****** 1939 Mercury with 1940 Merc front...

Where nearly all 1939-40 Mercs used skirts in those days. Valley Customs decided to open up the openings (minor raise at the front, but a huge amount on the back, 39-40 Merc rear fender openings are really small) to be able to lower the car and still be able to see most of the tires.






Another Valley Custom creation.. the Ina Mae Overman 1952 Lincoln...

Before



After




Valley Customs Studebaker




Another nice one...




Marcus Guenther 1949 Ford... recent built. I know there are a few more that have the wheel openings done really nice that where built in recent years. I will add them when I think of them.

 

Welcome aboard, Rik; as always your input is right on the ****on. Yes, it was the Thompson Chevy I was thinking of, and we agree that Valley were the masters of the radiused wheel openings.

The ****** Merc is one of my favorites too, and is all the better for its back story: The car had rot all around the bottom, so they channeled it and trimmed off the bad metal, then raised the fenders and radiused the wheel wells. One of the nicest fat fender customs of all time, made from essentially a throwaway body.

And the Ina Mae Lincoln is in the skilled hands of one of our HAMB and OFC friends, palosfv3, for restoration of its original beauty.

Thanks for your additions!

 

Tony, your aesthetic sensibilities are impressive, and your attention to details never cease to amaze me!

 

I thought it was very interesting. Surely got my money's worth.
Thanks

 

Great ***le for a post. Excellent story on the history of wheel well design.

I don't think we could discuss wheelwells without mentioning Darryl Starbird's early customs. I believe he pioneered the extreme rounded wheel well that wrapped down and around the widest point of the tire. Well beyond any normal production design. I do recall making alot of plastic model cars and copying his design.

For example this plastic model:



This is the only Starbird pic I could find, but I think he used that detail on many other cars. This doesn't show the effect as well as I would like. Maybe someone else remembers them?



from Rikster's archive, the rear wheel well shows the effect if you look closely.

 

It's funny. I think this is a great thread! But, when I started a thread about radiused wheel opening on customs, especially mine, all I kept hearing is they are for g***ers.

This is exactly what I was trying to get.



Thanks!




******Knuckles

 

I took this pic in front of Ed Roths shop in winter of '58/59 ,always thought this was a great use of '56 Chevy wheel wells ,,

 

A better pic of the fronts ,,lotta wek involved here ,,the '55 Ford side trim looks good on there too ,,keep in mind ,,this was 1958/59 ,,

 

Jimmy Vaughans Fleetline, an excellent example for this thread.

 

Great post. This is another one of those areas that can add a lot to the look of a car. As with anything else, the right choices need to be made, not just changing a car for the sake of change. Most of the examples shown really work well.

 

OK! i love it.where is my saw?