Best car for 1st custom project

Hey guys. I'm new to the custom car scene so I don't know very much about what car's make for the best projects. I'd like something from the early 40's-mid 50's. I prefer 2 door sedans. Since I'm new I haven't fully grasped some of the terminology or knowledge of different models of cars available during this era. Here are links to some custos I like:
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/merc5102.htm
(1st 3 pics)
http://www.roadsters.com/custom/
http://www.johndagostinokustomkars.com/images/51%20Merc%20Midnight%20Sensation.jpg
Doesn't have to be a Merc. I've seen similar styled cars from Dodge, Ford, and Chevorlet.
So my question is... what's the best car to start with? Considering availability of parts, initial price of the car, etc. What's the most economical?

Thanks
Rob

 

49-51 Ford 2dr sedan...

Hands-down the best first custom project.

They're readily available, cheap, and easy to work on. You can buy lots of parts for them outa catalogues and thier styling really lends itself to customization.

It'll be like a blank canvas.

 

I would agree with the 49-51 Fords. Great for smoothing and trimming! But if you can get your hands on a Longroof...

...aah!

 

Late 40s, early 50s Chevys are good ones, too.

You could probably build one out of a catalog if you wanted.

 

You can't go wrong with a '61 -'64 Galaxie

 

49-51 Ford 2 doors are a good place to start learning. Affordable, fairly common, good parts availabilty (stock and aftermarket), and they take easily to minor customizing. These are good candidates. You can always do more as your skill grows, but a little goes a long way on them.

49-52 Chevies are also a good place to begin. Again the same factors as the Ford apply.

46-48 Plymouths are pretty easy to come across, but aftermarket support is not as large as Ford and Chevy. Costs are a bit lower due to the lack of popularity.

49-54 Mopars can be made to look good but will take more work and creativity on your part.

Whatever you decide on, buy the best car you can afford to start with. Get it as complete as possible except for things you're gonna change. For example, don't pay for a newly painted car if you're gonna change the color. Don't worry about all the exterior trim if you're gonna shave it anyway.

Also, and this is important - Buy something that runs and drives or can be made to EASILY!! If the car sits in the garage, you're more likely to lose interest. But if you can drive it while you work on it you'll be much happier. And you'll be much more llikely to bump into a HAMBer if they see your car.

 

If it were me I would see if I could buy someones already started project. Look for something that you like and fits you needs. Stay away from the "ratrod" stuff...That stuff is cobbled together and can be dangerous.

When searching look for someone that has built cars in the past and has pictures of the car for sale in different stages and previous builds. Most likely the builder knows whats going on.

I would look for a 49-51 ford "shoebox" that has had a disc brake conversion and maybe had a SBC ( I know shame on me) installed. the parts on a SBC are easy to find and cheap. For your first project stay away from exotic stuff. there are always deals out ther for un molested cars that have been built. Maybe it need interior or wiring or some minor stuff.

get it, drive it, learn on it.

Do not get some basket case POS and think you are going to build a Kustom out of it. you won't and you will get discouraged....You need to learn to crawl before you can walk...learn as much as you can from others around you and don't be afraid of making mistakes. If you can break it you can fix it.

 

Love my 62 Gal.

 

I think I'll put that on a sign in my garage. You learn by breaking and you learn by fixing. It's hard to remember that sometimes.

 

agreed


shoebox ford 41 - 51 or chevy 49 - 54.. are very good canidates.. plentiful and cheap... for your first project I would warn against buying someone elses project.. if they lost interest.. why wouldnt you??

 

I never have understood everyone wanting to put a SBC in every Ford there is. SBF parts are JUST as easy to come across, not to mention have TONS of aftermarket support from the late model Mustang community. Obviously, if he was to put a SBC in there he wouldn't have to worry about traditionality, and the later EFI 302s can be ragged on and dropped off a cliff without problems for the most part.

Everything else you said was good advice.

 

I agree that a ford should be in a ford and I love SBF, however I was stating the easiest thing to work on and work with. The more he can work on the Kustom end the better. Chevy motors are easy and most people (even die hard ford guys) know how to work on them. More parts are avaiable for the chevy than the ford and its cheaper.

Whatever you get make sure it is running and road worthy. Having a project sitting is a bummer and having you first project sitting is even worse.

I still say finding someone project that is a runner/driver is the way to go. there are all sorts of reasons why someone gives up on a project (just look around here and you will see great "unfished cars" for sale).

 

61-66 Thunderbirds too. the 61-63 are already customized.

Buy somthing that runs and drives and enjoy until you get ready for a more envolved project.

Even a Falcoon.

 

flatratrocket:
Dude, by some BARRIS books, aint no better starting place than
THE KING OF KUSTOMS-

49-51 fords are the POOR MAN'S MERC,
But if you like MERC's, dig on the same year LINCOLN's.
They're USUALLY cheaper.

52-54 ford/merc's lend themselves REALLY well to 50's style customizing.
All the body lines are simple and SMOOTH,
so you can do ALOT with them-

A KUSTOM is a
CUSTOM.

Start with a car you DON'T like,
then make it COOL.
Nothin' makes a better custom than THAT.

 

I'm going with a 60's car as well, although a Chevy. Yeah, I'm biased, but as someone in your predicament, 60's cars are:
-More affordable
-More likely to be in one piece
-More likely not to be someone else's project

 

Thanks for the information guys. I bought the Nov issue of custom rodder w/ a Ford that they put a new suspension on. Looks very cool. I agree about buying a runner. I want something that I can just drive & modify along the way. Right now I'm in the process of completly restoring my 1970 Volvo. This might be my 1st and last full restoration . What should I expect to spend for a nice runner with decent paint, and little rust. I'm in KY so a "rust free" car locally will cost more I know (been there done that).

Thanks for the help
Rob

 

pm Tock...he has a Merc that he is trying to sell and its a builder too...Seeing that they are your favorite!....I have a mild kustom 54 Chevy that i would be willing to sell but you need to act fast cause i'll be taking a torch to it in the next couple of weeks to get mid evil on that son of bitch!

Dirty

 

For a first project I would stick with a ford first and chevy second. you can get anything for the mainstream cars, that will make it easier. It also will be easier to find a customized early 50's ford when you are deciding how to customize it.


-Spence

 

I agree 100% with buying a car that already runs and drives for your first.

Don't overlook the late 50's cars too. Chevys will be the easist to get parts for, followed by Fords.

You can't go wrong with a 49-51 Ford. Same year chevys are a close second.

 

Get yourself a running late 50s truck...that's what I did. You will find that even getting one you think is in perty good shape that there will be all kinds of things you need to fix, and plenty-o body work to be done...some day.

 

what if you start with a car you already dig, and make it MORE to your likeing? MUHAUHAUHAAA

ok,, my pills are working again, carry on

seriously, 52-4 Fords do have nice lines and are almost more plentiful than the shoebox Fords and can be had most times as a running driver for less money. already have balljoint front IFS and SBF ford's fit right in there... couple places sell the engine mounts and trans xmembers as well as power steering kits that use the stock tierods, just weld in the rack and go.


i cannt say this enough tho,,, BUY A RUNNING, STOPPING, DRIVING CAR!!!

you'll thank everyone here when you do. trust me

 

I like the 49-51 Fords but not as a first car. In all too many parts of the country they are either way too rotted or overpriced.

Look at 52-6 Ford, Merc or Lincoln. They are often available at way low prices.
Another option not mentioned is any Buick up thru 53, they can easily come out looking better than a 49-51 Merc. The 54-57 models are custom bait also.

Other easy to work on candidates are 49-56 Olds.

Go to www.carnut.com and select links for the years/model of
interest.

BTW, my first custom was a 49 Ford 2dr but that was a solid $40 car in 1956!

 

I've been thinking about this for a day and a half, and I gotta say the best choice of cars for YOUR first custom should be the same as your most desired choice of cars for your LAST custom.
Reason:
If you don't love it, and are just going through the motions like on a High School beginning woodshop project, you'll never finish it.


With a little lattude though.
Like if your dream car is a '49 Chevy Fleetline don't overlook a same year Olds or Pontiac of the same body style, Customized they look the same..
SeewhatImsayin?


Oh yea, get something that runs and stops and don't make it not run and stop before you have a chance to "be cool" in it a while.
Get to know it.
Just change the oil a couple times, not the whole friggin motor right off the bat. Drive it over some RR tracks and up and down some local driveways to ind out first hand if it isn't already too low to drive...
SeewhatImsayin?

 

For a first custom, you might want to consider a 50's or early '60's pickup. They look good lowered, have a much smaller interior to deal with and can haul parts. I personally like the Ford Unibody pickups customized.

Just an opinion.
Dan

 

I'm going to suggest that a 1949-1954 Pontiac might be a better choice if you want to do the motor swap. They are a little easier to get an SBC or Pontiac into because they have another 4 1/2 inches ahead of the firewall. They use the same rockers and quarters as a Chevy, too. Quite often you can find a 6-cyl Pontiac pretty cheap. They come in all the same body styles as a Chevy, also.

A Pontiac comes with an open drive already in it, although the rear is a little weak. But the same options for a change that would work for a Chevy should also work on a Pontiac, they used the same basic rear through '56 anyways. The advantage is the springs are already made to take the torque of an open rear. So that's one less headache to deal with.

About the only downside is the hood is made to take the ribbed insert, the only way to fill it would be to cut up a Chevy hood for the front section and flat sheet for the rest. They can be a little harder to upgrade the front end, too, although they can be converted to disc brakes on the stock spindles or with later spindles and convert the A-arms to ball joints.

In any case it shouldn't be hard to find a buildable, running if not driving example of that, the Ford or the Chevy for under $1000. My Chevy was $200 with a running '56 235 in it, no glass, no brakes, and loads of ugly bodywork. I only have about $40 into the glass, though, half of it I bought at a junkyard and got a pair of Olds Rocket valve covers too for a total of $60. I promptly sold the valve covers for the same $60 on eBay. The other two pieces I got swapping a car I had for a parts car. So about all I have cost wise into it is gas money.


One disadvantage to the GM cars is if you need a new master cylinder you can expect to pay $300 or so, although I see older NOS ones on eBay for $60. I did a swap for one of those, too.

 

If I could find a car to do a cutom out of I would probably lean towards a 58-60 impala, 63-64 impala, early riviera, 61-64 galaxie, or a 62 olds. Then again if you wanted to be a really cool guy you would get a 56 chevy longroof or a long roof from the early 60's and give it a wild paint job, slammed, pinners (whitewalls), and a simple white tuck or diamond interior.

But you seem to lean towards early 50's late 40's coupes. These are cool in their own way as well. just please dont mix match styles. early 60's longroofs painted flat black with red wheels doesnt work. period.

 

fuck mercs, my first project was a 1950 pontiac, i agree for a first project u would wanna have something easy but at the same time how many shoeboxes and 50's chevy and mercs are out there, dont get me wrong i love all does cars(exept mercs) but i would go wit a 60 cars, ford or chevy maybe a truck late 60's and early 70's chucks are sick reliable cheap and easy to get part for them

 

i say 49-51 fords a better looking car, but a 49-54 chevy look good as well and the 235's are usually good motors and easier to work on than the ford flatty.

 

This one: $400, it has a title, a late model engine, come and get it.

 

Cast my vote for the '49-'50 Ford. That is my first project and it's going well. Easy to work on easy to find parts easy to customize.