I have a '52 chebby. It runs a "moderately healthy" 216. The roof & visor have already been painted in '96 Porche blue (enamel 1-stage.) I hope to lower ***-end 2' to 3" inches..What do think? To make the tail dragger appearance I'll be putting skirts on as well. To make to body lines flow, I plan to paint door handels body color. (For two reasons. I'm a poor starving artist...Can't afford shavin 'em. Plus shavin would not be traditional. Which is what I want.) I plan, also very traditional, to have my skiinnnys cut into wide whites. What do you think for wheel treatment. I'm think chrome lugnut, possile trim ring? Or spider car, or just stock hub cap? Non-exterior mods include, matching blue headliner(metalflake) & duals. Basically I want this car to look like a mild custom from the mid 50's...Something a high school kid could afford to build. Thanx Guys......NICK
Love this CAR!!! One source of my inspiration! If I had the $$money$$ this is what I'd like to do.....(Is this a hamber?)
Actually, shaving the door handles would be traditional. Check out my web site for ideas. I have a bunch of '49-'52 Chevys on it. Keep us posted on your progress. Have any current photos?
Don't know what books you've been reading CarArt...but back when I was growing up and in hi school in the Midwest, 1959-1961...removing the door handles was the first thing every hi school kid that had a decent kustom-type car did!!! As well as the hood and trunk emblems. Then of course, spotting it in with primer... and shaving the door handles doesn't require a lot of money output...you can do it yourself if you've got a little mechanical ability. Spiders didn't come around until the late 1960's...before, it was wide whites and flipper hubcaps (Olds Fiestas') and fender skirts were mandatory!!! R-
Here is a picture of my 1950 custom it had at this tim a 216 with dual carbs fenton headers and finned alum. cover and was lowered 4 inches in the rear and i have 60's aftermarket hubcaps. now the car has a 265 v8 and 2 four barrels with cal custom finned valve covers and a 52 caddy air cleaner. VERY FUN CARS. Love your ideas. It is not for sale anymore.
SHAVE the handles!!!!! i didn't have keys for my doors, and it was cheaper than getting the keys for it, then turn around and sell the keyed handles = money for the next upgrade! You really need a split manifold (hahahaha) might know where you can get one.... Drop the whole thing, nightprowlers has the cheap kit for the rear, or (budget minded) get 2 pieces of 2x3 and make your own spacers, and hit napa up for the u-bolts, use the $ from selling the door handles to buy ubolts. cut the front springs=free. French the headlights, cost nothing more than bondo.... Simple olds hubcaps, never paid more than 5 bucks at Jefferson swap, or chrome lugs again super cheap at Jefferson, or simple trim rings and babymoons another cheap route
Ok, you asked for opinions right? The things you suggest will not make the car a kustom, -only an unstock stocker. Unstock stockers are cool if they are in Havanna, Cuba, but seldom elsewhere. Shaving doorhandles is about as old as kustomizing. Doing this plus nosing/decking and lowering will make your car a mild kustom. Im no fan of the taildragger stance, but thats a matter of taste I guess. The coolest late fifties semikustoms (at least in my book) where the ones Larry Watson touched. The G****vine is btw your type of Chevy: On a budget it could be like this: lowered (even or on a slight rake), chrome reverses (no skirts), unchopped (no visor..), shaved handles, nosed, decked. Stage two: frenched headlights and taillights in the bumperguards. Stage three: interior Stage four: some trick paintjob.
I have a 54 Bel-Air and I have installed a V8 , new rear end , 5 inch drop in the back with new leafs, I have started on the shaved handles and frenched headlights. Need to cut the front springs. I really like the tail dragger stance. I need to get the grill and bumpers rechromed and it should be ready to cruise soon. A lot of this mild custom stuff is pretty cool and its not too hard to do on a budget.
Well...about the door handels, I thought paintin them may be cheaper, but now I'm thinkin different?? Thanx for the info...
well That's the thing they are not chrome, they're painted black. Also I have a louvered hood that has been offered to me, I'm thinkin I might take up that offer...
Oh yeah....I have a kustom mural I painted on the deck lid as well. I really dug Sailor's honesty about mild kustoms. "I do what I can, with what little money I have."...I believe THIS is the first stage of a mild kustom and the motto of hottrodding. I want a CLEAN looking tail-dragger & mild kustom. If Most Hambers cl***ify my 52 to be a "unstock" stocker- So What? I know that this chebby looks killer to me & I enjoy cruisin in it - with hotrodding..THAT'S ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS.....right?
Nick, you can build your Chev any way you want. I think the most important thing that folks are trying to get across to you is that it is important to look at a lot of pictures and decide just what theme you want in a car. Some guys mix and match things that don't go together.(These are the cars that I walk by and mumble under my breath "That looks like hell") I'm sure we all do this to some extent. Pick a modifcation and do it right. You'll be happier in the end and will gain the respect of your peers. Ask older guys that know what the hell they are doing what looks right. Making a modification just because you can doesn't make it look cool. It should be aesthetically pleasing. If something is above your talent level than ask alot of questions. Most guys will help you if you jump right in and get your hands dirty. I've seen it happen right here with board members. Good luck and I hope it all turns out great. Sure willpower will overcome deep pockets if ya want it bad enough. That all. Carry on.
The Jalopy Journal
