Features The Ugliest Kustoms of the 50s

Someone posted this recently on another thread. Personally I would love to tailgate a few yuppies in it. Hopefully it has a fog horn.

 

^ That looks like a 'Frisco 60's 'Yellow Submarine' hippy parody- doubt it's 50's.

Yes Falcongeorge, my memory only lets me know the DiDia car costs heaps ( the car had a name...?)- I think it made the scene in '61? Rik?

Hot-rod dude here on the HAMB is a swap meet junkie & found a 1/24 period- built scale model of a customised '36 Ford once. I'm only going off memory here, but it had something like a '58 Chevy headlight pod & a '60 Merc grille. The rest of it I think was pretty mild. Hopefully he sees this & posts a pic.

I just threw this drawing together & it's not the same- but maybe you get some idea of what young minds were coming up with back in 50's- early 60's..

 

Here is a few

 

X2... everyone involved should have gotten life without parole!!!

 

and what is this?

 

Just to illustrate how "Ugly" is in the eye of the beholder.....Consider the Lincoln Futura vs. the Batmobile. I saw the Futura introduced as a young guy. Many of the HAMBERS know the Batmobile much better, and I'm willing to bet the Ba (I can't even type it....was far more influential than the Futura. There is no comparison, but the popular culture decided for many of you what was cool...and not. There are those who want the thread closed....maybe because we don't want to humiliate "current builders" of ugly....I get that. Too underscore personal opinion, and its value....I'm happy to admit that I am a far bigger fan of the Barris version of Jack Chrismans Coupe than the original....Why? Because it appeals to "my" eye, and I think for myself. That's what the car hobby is about, not peer pressure or a blind allegiance to the past, or to "Tradition". True Custom guys have always been willing to stretch the envelope and never content to "mimic" other cars...A lesson that many here could benefit from. My Favorite Custom Builder today? Without a doubt, the collaboration of OZ and D'Agostino......Hand in glove, Masters of Contemporary Custom cars. Taking nothing at all away from anyone else, especially who guys slamming it out in your garages in the MidWest....These guys execute the concept as well as its ever been done...IMO. Why he opted to slice the fins off the "Royal Empress" and the "Imperial Royale", and install the top of the "Royal Emperor" ***-backwards, I'll never know, but it's his dime......Just goes to show that we all have our weaknesses.....I'm thankful I live in a time and place where I get to express my opinions and have enjoyed the hobby for over 50 years. You go Oz........and all those who have brought us much pleasure in the past............Centurion9

 

That is the Reactor, and it is another car that does not belong on a Ugly Car Thread.

 

I kinda like this thing but I can't help but see it in another light...

 

I think this is a later build, but I think it's a custom bad ***. maybe with a few sat rings out the peak in the front would set it off. Is the only thing acceptable to be custom now a 50s chopped/slammed merc lead sled or a 36-48 slam job?

 

Might need some dental work for sure.

 

The Golden Sahara, the DiDia, the ChopIt Beatnik, and the Reactor: all not ugly.

 

I like subtlety as much as the next guy,but I'm always impressed with the degree of difficulty involved with these builds.I just wouldn't own one.

 

Definately does not belong here. The Reactor was a pretty clean design. maybe a little dated now, but sure as hell not on this list.

 

I agree! I was just looking for Reaction

 

No sweat, it's all good!

 

NOT UGLY. that is not debatable.

 

WHAT! I hope your joking. This is one of the most beautiful works of art ever created in the history of man kind.

 

Uh this is Harleys personal ride ! ugly NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Where are the headlights?

 

This was called the Stiletto and was built for Bob Larivee of Promotions, inc. his original corporation. Part of his show circuit and he had a stable of cars over the years that traveled the circuit. It was designed by Model Products Corp. employee Gene Baker and executed by Ron Gerstner. It was middle sixties era.

 

Check out the U.S. Armed Forces Germany plates and the sort-of-LeSabre rear end - gotta be yet another Spohn "creation"!

Speaking of which, I don't see anything too bad about the LeSabre. It's just that when Hermann Spohn started putting its same rear end treatment on EVERY car he customized, from boxy Chrysler sedans to buses (!) you begin to wonder if the LeSabre was a good idea in the first place...

Oh, and Blowby - the headlights were under the oval grille (it rotated to reveal them).

 

The front oval rotates to expose the headlights side by side in that little oval.

 

Agreed. Wasnt saying it was one.

 

looks like the model used for something in cars inc.

 

Bwah ha ha ha ha ha... the wife and I just got a good laugh out of this!

 

I stand by my earlier ***ertion, what a collection of bizarre ugly ****.

 

I was just sitting in this car a few days ago. Very cool little car. Hell.. It could be the first custom ever built running air bags. (Yes, I know it is not truly a custom) gotta love it for what it is.

 

Thanks, I thought I was all alone in my dislike for the bats.

 

I think this is an interesting thread!

 

It has Citroen Hydropnuematic suspension.