Art & Inspiration A Study in opinions. Favorite historic customs

There are ICONS in every aspect of mankind's achievable life. We look up to those with admiration, go out of our way at times to see them. respect them.
We in this hobby have ours to be sure. While they are without doubt, personality's aplenty, I'm not speaking to them, not at all. I' speaking to the jewelry created by those personalities through time with their talent or with their Wallet (Hirohata Merc example ) my mind swims with four at the top, while more do their best to surface.
I've been around these parts a while and never seen this discussed, before so what say you.
My Choicees
Ala Kart, (Barris)

LIL Coffin.(Dave Stucky)


El Madaor ( Bill Cushberry}


Hirohata Merc.



Maybe this should be moved, maybe not mods, its okay with me.

 

Moonglow

 

Hirohata Merc




Hub Harness’s Cinnamon ‘60 Buick




@Sonny Day Out ’s ‘49 Dodge




Ray Bozarth’s Merle Berg built ‘51 Buick



The Hirohata is obviously beyond reach (so I’m building a semi clone), but I’d sure jump at the chance to park the others in my garage

 

I saw El Matador in NYC at the Rod & Custom Show in the early 1960's and that image is fairly clear in my mind. Did an internet search and the photos may be more detailed, and features are a lot clearer, the car in my memory is a lot nicer.

 

hmm, this is a tough one. First one that always pops into my mind is the R&C Dream Truck. Then Moonglow, X-51, Jade Idol and Ala Kart. Those are the really well known cars that pop in my mind as what I like.

 

This thread is pointless without pictures.

 

Thanks Mark, some of us aren't so fluent in the names of these vehicles so pictures are a great educational aid!!!

 

Not necessarily a specific car but a style
Westerguard style
Barris built with a strong Westerguard influence

 

When it comes to favorite custom car, my vote is for John D'Agostino's Midnight Sensation 1951 Mercury built about 40 years ago.

 

Kustoms are cool. I dig em. Some of the “get points for a modification” show cars are too busy. But I’d drive em.
The mercs including the Barris built ones are killer but I’m not a fan of redoing the merc side style line like the Hirihatta has. But I’d still cruise it.
Something like this is hard to beat styling cues from the great builders but not built to win on the 50/60s car show circuit.

but I do dig the canted quad exaggerated kustom what was it to begin with creations

 

I'm with Anthony on this one. More beautiful works of custom automotive art over the years than you can shake a stick at. But if you wanna get historic about it and go to our roots when an early custom looked like a half used teardrop-shaped bar of soap and a "custom paint job" didn't mean wild designs and colors, but rather, a single color paint job wet sanded and buffed to a ridiculous degree over absolutely perfect metal finished body work, then I think of Dick Bertolucci and Harry Westergard.

 

There was a saying about the styling of early customs.

"Let the lines of the body speak for themselves."

 

This Cad is timeless when you cross Kustom/Klassic/Killer Smoothness !!! I keep telling people that sometimes when you look at what seems to be crap, you can actually see the treasure beneath. That's why when I saw this Cad for the first time, I immediately thought of my friend Kurt... I had no idea who built this wonderful jewel, I only knew it was stunning. It was as much an updated classic as it was a custom..... I immediately called Kurt, and the rest is history..... Ironically, the "Mark Mist", which was part of that deal, was just purchased by Tim McMann for his wonderful collection....

 

Finally an interesting thread! I have nothing more to add till later. This is going to be related to the HAMB members age. At 77 years old I never thought I would see the Uncertain "T" again!

 

You're right. Fixed it

 

Larry Watson stuff is killer

 

Being sort of a selective (custom) guy, I think of Watson and his portfolio.
I like me a mild custom!

 

a couple of my dads contributions…
the convertible was in a show at pan pacific. i don’t know if the wagon was in a show. both cars were my folks family car when i was a lil’ kid.

 

should've had your mom posed w/ the wagon!--cool family to grow up in !!

 

As a teenager my dad grew up in the same towns (Sacramento / Roseville) as Sam & George Barris and Harry Westergard. Their customs made an impression on him and after moving to Iowa he started building his own California style custom in 1957 like what he saw Sam and George and Harry build back in California. I may be a bit biased but my dad's car is my favorite custom.

 

I am biased because I am building a 55 Ford, but Sy Gregorich’s 55 Vic was my pick. Built by the Alexander Bros.

 

Oops. Sorry. I know better, but for some reason, I sometimes completely overlook the big wheels.

 

stunning!

 

Other than the wheels. Okay, and the tail lights. What's modern about it? I know it's got fuel injection. But I don't know Mark, the overall envelope looks pretty timeless to me. In fact Cadzilla was heralded in spite of using some modern technology, for paying homage to the classic custom.
But I guess I agree that it doesn't quite fit here.

 

this was at the San Mateo Autorama in the 70's, but it was built long before that. it was recently up for sale