Phenomenal '53 Chevy At The LA Roadster Show

A dad and son team built the car.Jim and Jimmy Bruns.They build amazing cars.Jim built the Black Dahlia.They have a feature in the japanese mag. Hardcore Rod & Custom.It shows them in their chopped 59 Impala.It was at paso last year.He just sold it for 30k.,And bought a 42 caddy coupe.Only about 500 known to exsist.He built the 36 convert. that crashed on its way to the primer nationals last year.(anyone rember that?).He bought the car back for $2500. and is almost done with it.The guy who owns the green chevy were all talking about,His brother is suppose to buy it.Jim lives in chatsworth calif. and works outta the shop behind the house.Great guys.In about 3 weeks they will have my 50 ford.Cant wait.I rember going to the house and seeing that chevy..Its so clean.

 

got pics of that 56 rear?

 

Thanks a lot for the info SOCAL1 ! They're building great cars,also remember the story with Black Dahlia.By the way,this one here actually is called Black Dahlia II.Is Black Dahlia I the one which belongs to "El Jefe" (second pic) ?

 

its also clearly parked in a handicapped spot without a sticker or plate!!!!! haha really nice chevy.. frenz u driving your merc yet??

 

I'm a big fan of Jesus' car... saw it at Mooneyes.

 

Frenz..I believe that Jim built that one too.He built 3 of them.One was bought buy a guy in Austin Tx. from the Continetals.That blue suede caddy was sold to japan last year for 30k.Then sold in japan for 60k.I'm glad you posted some pics of jims work.I couldnt find any pics to post.

 

I think on H/T the fender shirts work. On a sedan or non H/T car, you can get a good look without the fender skirts. On this one here,it works with the flow, without them, it would (IMHO) distract the flow and take your eyes away from the the top. Which is the focal point for me. Also, how Frenz modified the skirts, adding the bottom curve/indent of the lower rear 1/4 really helps with the flow, awesome!

Also, the H/T has three openings/space, the top, front wheel and the rear wheel. the rear wheel opening would compete with the top (IMHO). With a B pillar, the the driver/passenger opening is small and with an open rear wheel it does not distract.

Ken

 

Not to cast doubt on anything but that looks an awful lot like Drews old 53....that Bill Hines Chopped and grafted the 51 Merc Quarters when Drews was working there onto..... the Bruns tie in sounds right so away we go with the stories..

 

I just emailed with Mark Drews, and he confirmed that it was indeed his old 53 Chevy. Mark and Bill Hines did most of the body work on this one. The 51 Mercury front bumper was modified on the ends and the rear bumper is made out of two 1951 Merc rear bumpers to make it 4 inches wider than stock. The headlights where extended 2 inches. The top was chopped in 1999.

 

Very nice. To me the most interesting part is the whole rearend-treatment with the Merc bumper & quarters plus Chevy bumperguards. Looks perfect and unique. Im not quite sure on that "extra-flare" on the bottom of the skirts. Any interior-pics?

 

And some more photo's of Mark Drews and Bill Hines working on the Chevy.

Custom Rodder july 2001 article

 

That explains the sweet chop, smooth lines, and rather "unslick" fender lip. I noticed the lack of flow in the side shot. Cool styling cue but a poor execution. Just my 2¢.

 

i could have sworen that i took pics of the interior but i can find them but it was pretty basic. black tuck n roll i think with stock gauges and a gennie shifter......a bill hines car huh?! wow

 

Best rear 1/4 treatment ever on a 53 or 4. There was a chopped 53 Chev 150 in R&C a while ago with 51 Merc 1/4 panels and rear bumper but the execution was no where near as good as the one pictured.I was in love with it too . It was from upstate N.Y. of course.

 

Ya. That is the kat that I saw at Bob's with the green chebbie! KNUX!

 

The car is incredible, no doubt, but if I may be the nitpicking dirtbag, I wish it still had driprails, I've never been a big fan of shaved driprails. I still love it though, the colors are awesome.

 

I don't get it, where are the turn signals/tail lights? Are those little bumper guard inserts actually lenses? They look like black rubber bumpers in the pictures. Can anyone explain?

Love the car, I personally like the skirts alot. I don't get why people bag on skirts, makes the whole car look lower, as far as I'm concerned.

 

I remember that older guy from the Monster garage and he is badass. I dig the hell out of the merc bumpers and would like to have seen the top in a heavy silver flake. The work all the way around is just clean. Most definately an inspiration

 

I agree.
oh, and I almost shot some of my dinner out my nose when I read your signature.

- Joe

 

rikster jim bruns and the whoole bruns kustom city team built it