First set looks like the Hartford Autorama, not sure of the year but if I had to guess I'd say 1960 or 61
Pics of my Grandfather's 54 Mercury. The back of the pictures says they were printed week ending March 16, 1957. Taken at the '57 Autorama
More customs. The '57 Ford is 'The White Pearl'. I think the smaller pics are from the '58 Autorama. Someone with better eyesight might be able to see the signs better. The rest I'm still guessing to be 1961 or thereabouts.
The 32 in the top right belonged to a guy Ed Gilligan from our old neighbor hood .Married my friends sister.
Some cool shots of my Grandfather chopping a top and installing dual quads on a small block Chev. Then some pics of different shops he worked at. That's his '57 Fairlane 500 on the right in the last shot. On the left is a custom Ranchero they used to show.
Now for a little color. My Grandfather's 57 Ford. Pic says October 1957. Next is his 49 Ford convertible with '51 trim. Pic on the back says October of 53 (though I suspect it was taken a few months earlier). The yellow car and the 32 with wire wheels were taken in California when he was in the Marines. I always thought the blue 34 three window was bad ***.
That blue 1934 3w Is hotrodding to me. Pretty much perfect... 3w Channeled, Un chopped, Built Flathead, Reversed black mercs with no caps and wide whites...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=494814 Part 1 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=495807 part 2
I was there,I belive the car the eight Dodge head light and Caddyfins was built by Valleu Customs. I think it started as a 56 Ford. the 57 Ford white with gold scallops,. Once owned by Gean Pittned ofn Rockvill (singer) Towwn with out pitty, the lionnsleeps to night, Paul B of Rocky Hill I grew up in Rocky Hill Cl*** of 62, Car guy all my life
awesome pics, thx i didn't realize the Connecticut Yankee, now ray soffs chopped shoebox convert had such a small window during that stage.
The car with the 59 Caddy fins and 8 Dodge headlights was John Hychkos 53 Stude. His other car was a 56 Crown.
My grandfather actually did a lot of the lead work on that car when it belonged to the original owner. The car is still in the exact same condition. I got to see it once like 15 years ago.
Thanks for posting these great pictures. I'm curious about Ed Gilligan's 32 coupe because it looks a lot like the first hot rod I ever saw in my life, when I was a kid and my dad took me to an indoor car show in Philadelphia in the fifties. The one I remember was charcoal gray with a red plexigl*** roof insert and it made such an impression on me that I became hooked for life on hot rods. Just wondering if this could have been the same car.
GreenMonster, Thanks for the PM and for posting these awesome shots...especially of my old car, the White Pearl. I bought it several years ago in unrestored (and fabulous condition), and even drove it from Chicago to Indy and back for a Goodguys show a few years ago and it was just long enough ago that not many people really cared that it was a do***ented, ORIGINAL custom from the 50's. However, there were even a couple of older guys who remembered it from the numerous photos of it that were in the "Little Pages." I sold the old girl to Joe Bortz, a collector known more for his collection of special factory one-offs about five years ago and I know he will take great care of the old girl. Before Gene Pitney died, I had the chance to speak with him about the car and he told me that he actually took a bullet in the p***enger's side A pillar leaving a gig out East. Gene told me that after that, maybe he would take a little lower profile in his cars! Thanks, again! Ebert
Thanks Ebert! I had heard stories about someone shooting at Gene Pitney in that car, but I thought it was just local lore. Gene was friends with my Dad's neighbors when my dad was a kid. One night my Dad and my Uncle hid in the bushes next to the house and squirted Gene with water pistols. They both caught hell for that one
Padorey I grew up in Hartford southend went to Bulkeley. I have 2 older brothers,and a 2 older cousins.somthing was allways happening . Shoebox Fords with Buick and caddy ,Olds motors were the cats *** . Ithink you got me by 10 years
I actually had the opportunity to speak with Gene a few times...what a cl*** guy and very proud of his family. A real car guy, too! Thanks, again! E
yes we need more photos! who said it all started in california??!! seems to me CT and the general southern New England area was pretty well-oof in terms of hot rodding talent. very cool.
Just connected with this site looking for more info on the web for The White Pearl.My dad,John North was the original owner/builder of this 57 Ford.Dad recently p***ed away and I keep getting things from my Mom that Dad had saved.She just gave me a bundle of magazines that The Pearl was in.I had gotten some but there was some obscure ones also.In the bundle was the original invoice from Fitzgerald Ford in Rockville for one 1957 Ford Club Victoria in white with the 312 engine.Selling price?$3359.00.And yes Gene Pitney came to our house to finalize the sale of The Pearl!He was actually related to my Mom and always kept his ties to Rockville.Dad knew where The Pearl was and had talked several times with current owner Joe Bortz.I regret that we were not able to see it together again.We last saw it in the 80's while it was on the East Coast then it headed West.From the photos I have seen it still looks good with few changes.
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