I cant see what pic you posted Rik because im on my phone.Dont get me wrong guys ,im not a fan of the open hood.
Hey Rik...what date would that pic have been taken? Looks to be at least '55. I wouldn't mind seeing "period" dressed mills, but that junk they do now with panels covering everything but the air cleaner is atrocious!!
First one is 1953, second one most likely 1955. (Hirohata Merc is repainted there for the 1955 Movie)
I forgot about the Olds!! Thank you! EDIT: The "new" '54s would have come out in '53 also right? Look at the Olds in the parking lot by that little foreign number! So that would put us in about late '53, right? Yes this is like automotive CSI!! That means my build is going to be ON TASK!! I have a '53 331 Cadillac in the shed that will end up finding it's way into the '50! All I need is time...and money.
Ok, help me out here. I have searched this thread and others, what sets a custom apart from the late 40's early 50's to the mid 50's to late 50's customs. I thought my car was and early 50's style custom....despite the radials and drip rails. I know it's not 100% traditonal.
Agreed...and you don't always have to pop the hood to tell what's under the hood. Nothing beats the sound of a period custom firing up a period-correct mill. Conversely, nothing blows the deal more than a nice custom sounding like a late-model Mustang. Check out the article on the Dave Simard-restored '39 Ford in the latest Rodder's Journal. The opening paragraph describes the author at a young age HEARING this car coming up the street, bellowing out of the dark. The description makes the hair on your arms stand up. So here's a question...and it's already sort of been asked by John 79 above...what are the true "make or break" elements for this period of customs? I thought I had a pretty good handle on it (I'm building a '41 Buick custom based in the era), but there have been some points made on this thread that I hadn't considered before. DRIPRAILS - there's a detail that's often debated, but damn if you don't look through the cars of the time and they're all gone. Is removing them an absolute "must"? SPOTLIGHTS - It seems like most cars had them, but then again it's hard to argue that the Calori '36 (although this one broke a few rules), Jon Fisher's '36, Weesner's shoebox, etc. aren't right for the era. So are they a "must"? LICENSE PLATES - I might be off on this one, but didn't a lot of cars from this era sink them into the decklid? This is a mod, that I'm on the fence about, but it looks like a lot of the cars here DON'T incorporate that element. WHEEL COVERS - Obviously ribbed flippers and Sombreros are most common...what else (from the era) was used? Are there any make or break caps? I know there's no "rule book", but after 15 great pages of posts in this thread, it seems like there is a consensus on some of these things bubbling to the top (and there are certainly enough folks chiming in that have done more research than me). And in the interest of keeping the photos coming, here are a few more. Chad S on here is building a really beautiful '47 Ford. It's unfinished, and these pics are old, but you can see where he's going. He's even got a set of Appletons for the car that were given to him by Herb Ogden from his old '41 Buick. Disregard the rolling stock...I believe he's got Sombreros for when the car is done. I'm also including Josh Mills' '35 that was recently in Rod and Custom (boosted the photo from their website...hope that was ok...go to the "features" section of their site for more photos). This one may actually be a little bit EARLIER than the era we're talking about, but I think it fits. I was also looking for shots of Tony Miller's '36 Ford that was in Hop Up several years ago, but couldn't find any...if anyone's got shots, post 'em up.
As an daily reader of this forum for the last 2.5 years, seems like spotlights are a must, not sure on the drip rails but I'd guess that 80% of the cars that I personally like don't have them anymore. Flush-fit skirts seem to me to be a rarer mod of that era, not many cars had them I'm thinking? I've gone for what I might call an 80%'er... good 'nuff for me.
Well apart from the fact that they were older cars to begin with, the builders were about smoothing them out, making them sleeker (chopping, lowering) and generally making them look more upmarket than the usually pedestrian starting points, e.g. a Packard grille on a '36 ford. And, this was before points chasing at shows, as in, the more mods etc the more points. That was the beginning of the end and led to more garish outcomes. That's my very basic outline.
Well said fellas. I too was thinking the same things when I built my chevy. Seems my car has a look close to, but not the ingredients to pass. I have more instore, but I love it as it is too. Mild chop, custom skirts, wing windows, stock int, stock trim, 50 chev dual pinstriped wheels, 49 caps and rings, bumper mounted plate. Modern smallblock, auto, radials, a/c, power steering and brakes. Yes please. Forgive the intrusion.
honestly, anyone trying to do anything in any "period" is simply restricted by using the parts and pieces from that time and earlier. The whole idea of "custom" is pretty much what it sounds like, using your imagination and going for it. Making a check list of "must have" modifications is silly. No way would the early builders be in favor of that. Like any builder today, they would most likely tell you to not straight up copy them and try to come up with something new. Using what was available then is what makes a car "period", in my opinion nothing else.
Well, you are right AND you are wrong. The use the parts and pieces available at the time is very correct and an easy way to keep the car in a certain era. But to consider to do modifications that were a "fashion" in this specific era is of course not silly. Exactly like the monochromic hot rods and customs with graphic striping that was very popular in the 80's. Famous builds from all eras always influence other builders and are picked up by both the common backyard custom guy AND the local custom shop. Unique tricks combined with the common fashion has often been the way it's been through the years. Another thing: I also saw the post where you (glassguyOC) wrote that you can't really use a flathead, 331 Cadillac, Olds rocket, Chevy 6 etc. in a car in modern day traffic? I disagree along with all others that use them. If you are building the most practical car for your everyday use, maybe a period kustom or hot rod isn't the ultimate vehicle to start off with. Just like Jeff says, when you see a great looking car and they open the hood and reveals a boring 350, the whole car falls for me. More: YES - it costs some money to build a car like this. But to build a nice car isn't cheap and I know that more people than I willing to sacrifice what is needed to get what they want. If you absolutely want a Columbia rear axle instead of a regular banjo, then you know it's gonna cost ya... It may take some more time, but if you really want it, you can get it. Eventually. I was not there when it all happened and have to go from stories from the guys who were there, books, pics etc. to find out how it was. To build a car like this is like many already said, a historical restauration combined with your own imagination and taste. Not so easy to explain and sum up what can take many years to achieve knowledge about. So sometimes you end up in the old Harley-Davidson saying: To those who understand, no explanation is needed To those who don't understand, no explanation is possible Thanks for all contributions! Please keep them coming!
Why wouldnt you put a period engine in a period custom,if you are going to go great lengths to do the body mods etc then under the hood matters as well.I pride myself on detailing my flathead close to period as i can .It took alot of research and time and money,but when that hood is popped and people stare and ask questions then its all worth it.For me if you are going to be hardocre about the outside of the ride you go to get hardocre about the heart of it.I like popping the hood for people to see what i have tried to achieve.And for those that say a flathead is impractical for a custom ,i say horse shit.hammer up the freeway with me one day with that low rumble under the hood,you will get the picture soon enough.
Personal taste is why we have an amazing amount of variety in all aspects of our lives. I do admire those might go to the lengths of installing a Caddy mill like Jeff and I view a car like mine being heavily inspired by the early customs, BUT, I'm already off the mark since my car has a later frame and I have a newer style chop not a 4 in the front/7 in the back fastback chop like many of the famous cars that inspired me to redo my car for that early era look. I'm good where I'm at. (steps away from the mic)
To J.B.'s point, I remember a "Letter to the Editor" in one of my "little pages" addressing the running of a 331 Cad in a Non-Cad car (may have been a Hot Rod...I can't remember too well). They said that even in a traffic jam, the temp wouldn't rise very high and the "Editor" said that was common and suggested he not run a fan and that many guys ran them without one! Like all things, as long as you do it with quality in mind you will have no trouble and THAT is what a custom is...Quality!!
Glassguy, i respect your opinions but , unless i'm misinterpreting what you wrote, i have to ask. Why is it so wrong to build an accurate recreation of a traditional car? Be it early 50's, late 50's , early 60's, etc? Heck, if you get down to it, if someone didn't appreciate doing anything "period" - we wouldn't be here and the Hamb wouldn't even exist ! Kent, to answer your question, it is my humble opinion that people don't build accurate 48-52 (heck i'll even go 48'-54') Custom's or Rod's because its too boring for them. Serious. We live in a world where everyone is trying to build over the top wild cars, and many might find the era of this thread a bit blase' when in fact its what started the entire movement. Again, just my opinion, and the more i get in to this era the more i really love it. "Less is More" !
I'm guessing that early on, the drip rails were eliminated merely because the chop is easier to do without having to align the rails too. It goes with everything else that was kept smooth. My personal opinion is that a rail adds a nice detail, especially if they are custom.
'48-'52 kustom styling is boring?! WTF. People don't build this style because they don't know when to quit...building a car now to reflect that era involves a lot of restraint and knowing the correct pieces to use. A lot of people don't know any better. Spotlights aren't just spotlights. The tires have to be right, the stance, grill, the way the chop is laid out, etc. It's not as easy as it looks. Definitely NOT because it's "boring"...that's just stupid. Rob
oh no. that didnt come out at all the way I think I wanted it to. Well, sort of but not. J.B., When I was talking about motors, I was actually only talking about the Flathead and how fast people drive here in Southern California. But you know what, they can really get those flatheads to move pretty good. So that wasnt really accurate on my part. The "List" is what I think is silly, and again, I may have worded that wrong, these guys were really thinking outside of the box and all that is now is a number on a list to make a car "period".... where I think the thinking outside of the box is the real ingredient that needs to be first on the list, even though its something you cant see. I have never had the "....those who dont understand..." saying directed at me. Thats funny. Axle, its not wrong to build a recreation. Many great customs dont exist anymore (Matranga, Moonglow etc) and they should be recreated. I was talking more about the idea of simply checking off a list of modifications to fit into a certain era... doesnt really matter what era really. That just feels "formula" and a formula is what these early guys were trying to get away from, and ironically, its what many of them have become. I know that doesnt make any sense. Please, for gods sake... more cars. This is a great topic and great cars so far.
J.B. your whole post(#292) was dead nuts perfect and I could not have said it any better but your quote of the Harley Davidson saying just sent chills up my spine man!!!!! Holyshit that is heavy and I love it.So true and so to the point.That was the best saying I have heard in years!!!!!!!
I agree with the "less is more" comment, and the fact that the customs of this era are very subtle. As an example, my grandfathers '40 Ford convertible I posted earlier in this thread, and here in this post, is A) a period custom with nothing used on the build that wasn't avaliable in 1950, and B) a full blown custom that couldn't be any more different than a stock '40 yet a lot of people just pass it off as a stock 1940 Ford convertible, until the difference is pointed out to them...then the differences couldn't be more clear. It's about as far from a stock bodied '40 convertible as you can get. A perfect example of the era and why I like this era the best.
The Jalopy Journal
