Does anyone have any more info/pix of this car other than the Barris book has? I used to work with his son and have though about doing a clone. I think after all these years I just might do that. Im trying to get some more info/pix from his son, but no luck yet. Is the car still around, or was it used as road filler =) ? Pix stolen from Rik Hoving/ Barris Book
Always liked that car. I particularly think that the Chrysler (?) taillights complement the squared-off fenders and deck, which look more '51-'52 than 1949. Go for it! It'd be nice to see it in the flesh -- errr, tin.
Let me look through some magazines when I get home. Hopefully my internet's working and I can post some pics/info.
You *******!! That is the front and back treatment I planned on using on my 51 Belair. Oh well, it will be a few years before mine touches the road anyway and I guess Texas is big enough for two ***y chevies.
It's funny cause that was what I was thinking the direction Adam's chevy should go. Is it me or his (Carl Abajian) car a kinda clone of Marcia Campbell? Either way they're both nice and cl***y! Bill Taylor's is nice too with the panoramic style top (Gaylord?) Sorry for the ****y pic...
Well,since Rik enjoys some sun in Spain in the moment I am happy to post this for him... http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/barris-1/carl_abajian_49/ If you ever look for pics of Customs,this is the place to find them.And yes,he's the man.
It would be hard to go wrong patterning your ride after that car. I really like the weightyness of that big back bumper. Kinda balances out the heavyness of that m***ive rear section of the carson top and makes them both work. And I really like how nicely the bumper overriders mirror that shape of the top/back of the fenders. I'd really like to see that all in real life - do it!
Yeah that would be a nice car to copy, go for it! Struck me when I looked at Riksters pics that it had the stock rear fenders in a first version, the second 51-52 style looks a lot better though. Balances the rear more & keeps the trunk from lookin so pronounced, I think Fleetlines are the the only ones that looks better with the 49-50 fenders.
Wow, thanks for all the posts on this one. Epinut, I never noticed that one before. It turns out that Carl's son never acquired the car from his dad, but rather Carl's brother got car as well as every picture, part...everything. The brother kept it in his garage until the early 90's, never doing anything to it. He ended up selling the car for nothing and throwing away everything else, end of story. This idea is somewhat special to me to try and build, but then again after I see Dan Landon's car, Im torn.....thanks for all the tips/advice guys
Epinut, thank you for pointing that one out for us. Hmmm I always thougth that side view shot was the Abajian Chevy, and when I read a photo text from I believe Greg Sharp explaning this was the Abajian Chevy I thought I knew for sure, and placed it inside my Abajian folder. But this post has me re-thinking it and I did compaire some photo's and now I have second thoughts about it the side shot with the "stock" 49 Chevy rear fenders beeing hte Abajian Chevy. Look at the position of the mounting hardware of the Appleton spots and the stock rear fender version(second photo) has side view mirros while the Abajian Chevy(first photo) does not. And then the stock front bumper on the side photo compaired to the '49 Buick unit on the Abajian Chevy. I then remembered an picture in an old '53 or 54 R&C of a unidentified Barris Chevy at an outdoor show. Bingo!!! that is the same car as the side shot with the stock rear fenders. The Caddy grille on the Abajian Chevy (fourth photo) has its horizontal bar sticking out below the headlights but its not w****** around it. But the Chevy with the single bar grille (third photo) has does wrap around the front fenders. And the side shots shows a grille bar wa****** around. So My guess is this is the same car. But Then the question who's custom was it... could it be an early version of the Abajian Chevy???? Hard to say I know they Caddy grilled version appeared in the 1951 issue of the Don Post Blue book of Custom restyling. But I have no idear when the photo's of the single bar grilled Chevy where taken.... Anybody else knows more???
Wow good eyes Epinut. Hey Rik. I'm intrigued about this mystery 49 custom. Well I went looking on your site for clues and came up with this. Could it be a later version of Richard Ruiz custom vert? These pics are from your site. The frontend treat look very similar, minus the teeth and different bumperettes, the rereand looks to be same too.
Rikster, snooped around on your site again & found this in the "Blue book of custom restyling section". Don't you think that this can be the first version (unchopped)of the "single bar" Chevy? And I do think you're right about the -49 Pontiac bar, here it seems to be dressed up a bit though... Edit, Oop's sorry 53 chevy did'nt notice your pics. At least we have the same idea...
So you think this is an earlier version too. The similarities are there. Plus as stories were told, some were done in stages, as money permitted. In my mind I think it is. Thanks again Rik for yor wonderful website! Ken
WOW it sure could be a later version of the Richard Ruiz Chevy... I had not thought of that one. But yet the grille bar is there already and the rest of the lines as well... minus the beautifull padded top and chop. In the "50 years of Rod & Custom" book the side shot photo of the 49 Chevy gets this photo credit " Marcia Campbell was not only the owner of this Chevy but took this photograph as well, although by this time (june 53 issue) it was owned by Bill Chuck. The Barris Kustom Shop gets credit for the tasteful restyling that includes frenched headlights and taillights and de-chroming. The chopped top is a one piece lift-off." However I dont think this is the Cambell nor Abajian Chevy... Richard Ruiz second version look much more realistic....
Hi Rik only just spotted this post, the Abajian Chevy was one of the big influences when I built Koppa. Plain styling no changes just for the sake of it. superb and the wonderfull roofline...
I think that these are 2 different cars.Look at the backgrounds of the pictures.Same spot.Same 2dr sedan in background,parked in the EXACT SAME SPOT.The chopped car is about one car length farther ahead than the non chopped car.The trees and bushes are all the same size in both pics.I think that these pictures were taken on the same day at the same time. I may be wrong but thats what it looks like to me.
Mazdaslam, You are absolutely right those two are absolutely different cars. The one on the left is Carl Abjian's 49 Chevy and the one on the right is Richard Riuz '49 Chevy convertible. The question here was if the side view photo's of the tow cars in the posts a bit further up where the same? The difference was mainly in teh spotlight location, the front bumpre and rear fenders. You are right those pictures are taken the same day. In one of the Barris books and also the Dan Post book there is a picture of the Abajian and Ruiz Chevy's and also Nick Matranga lined up in this street... so yes smae day photo. Then the question was if these two cars where the same.... and I think they are. The Dan Post "Blue book of custom restyling" was mentioned in this post and here is a picture of the cover of this book. The illustration of the custom on teh cover has some ellements of several Barris built '49 Chevy;s including the grille of the early Richard Ruiz '49 Chevy and the taillights of the Bill Tailor Chevy... and a winsshield that could be a DuValle type chrome plated windshield.... WOW that would be nice.
Rikster, you're library must be as big as Bruce Lancasters Ford library. Seems like both of you have done an excellent job of collecting. I appreciate all your efforts for us custom fans
Mazdaslam, Here is the photo I mentioned and which proofs you where absolutely right. Those two cars where photographed at the same day same location... wow what a line up.
Great photo!!! Boy, Nick Matranga looks like Fonzie from Happy Days . He must have been a real bad***!!
Sorry Kustom55, you're info is a little off. I hope you guys don't mind if I **** in. My dad's '49 Chevy was never seen by any of us kids. Not sure why he got rid of it, but it must have happened when we were little or right around when he got married (1956). Seems odd he didn't keep this car since he eventually had around 10 cars from the 20-40's (all stock). All I've got are the original pics (there must be multiple copies) that you see on this site along with the Kustom plate. The car that I do have which Kustom55 talked about is a '41 Ford Super Deluxe 4-Door Sedan that was my dad's. I still have it and it is still mostly stock. I kept it stock since I've had it (mid 80's), but have changed my mind and wouldn't mind Kustomizing it one day. If I find any other pictures of the '49 I'll be sure to post them for all. Thanks.
I'll take a look. Like I said most of what I see online and in the Barris book is exactly what I've got. I know the car was on the cover of Motor Trend (December 1950) and I ***ume it was a featured car on the inside as well. My brother and I have always wondered where some of the pictures were taken. Especially the shots in front of what looks like a school. Must be somewhere in East L.A. or Montebello. Had an appointment to meet with George Barris at his shop once to find out more about the car, but he was a no-show.
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