History Custom Car builder SPOTLIGHT: PAUL BRAGG

Don't know that, but there was article about Paul Bragg in TRJ couple years ago.

 

It's been a long time since your last builder spotlight Rik, and i'm very happy you did one for Paul because he deserves it sooo much !!! Paul is one of my favorite builder , i discovered his work in the 90's in a french magazine, his 51 merc convert was so perfect i was like you, looking at the pics over and over to find how the hell it looked so gorgeous !!! probably one of the kustom that gave me the love to observe kustoms over and over to see the kool mods !

It's a pity we are living in a world that can admire some fuckers that maul cars and paint em flat black and can't give a master like paul the respect he deserves !

 

Thanks, Janne, I'll look for that. I just knew that if Paul hadn't been featured, he should be.

 

Wow, not much to say but.... WOW!

Is it just me or is the chevy tow truck chopped as well?
UGH! Dont worry, read all of the thread before posting next time!!

Doc.

 

I remember Pauls' maroon 51 ragtop from pg 1 at the 89 KKOA Leadsled in Iowa.Excellent metal man!

Thanks for posting Rik.

 

Thankx for taking the time to scan the photographs and putting this thread up guys! Chapeau Rik!

 

So excited when I saw the title of this thread! Always look forward to seeing Pauls cars. Thanks Rik.

 

My signature on H.A.M.B used to be "Never show a fool a
Half-finished Project." A person would definitely have to
be a fool if they didn't appreciate being able to see one of
Paul Bragg's half-finished projects. His workmanship is above
excellent and his styling is top-notch. I've been fortunate
enough to see Paul's cars up close.
Keep up the Great Work, Paul! There are a lot of us out
there that appreciate your skills.
TwoChops

 

Look for TRJ #9

 

I have Paul's '32 and Merc in a magazine feature from years ago. They both impressed me but I had no idea of the volumn of work that he has produced. I agree with the accessment the he is among the best to ply the custom trade.

Frank

 

Bass "Someday Paul will be remembered as one of the best...if not THE best...customizers of his generation."

yep, i totally agree,THE BEST!........

 

Brian,

Did you take any photos of it in Primer... and if so can you post them here... Would love to see the car in primer.

 

For the Hot Rod guys....

Paul also chopped the top on this 34 sedan... many years ago

 

And this... perhaps not so HAMB friendly... Mazda Pick-Up truck from 20 years ago... (another personal project)












And redone...





A bit more Hamb friendly is this 1947 Plymouth Coupe chop.
Paul did the chop, then it went back to the owner. But he never saw it finished. Last time he heard about the car it was sitting in a wrecking yard in the late 80's... So sad. The chop on this one is - just like all his other custom chops - dead on!!!












I really love the flow of this chop...

 

Very nice !! Thx Rik

 

The scan below is from the Swedish Wheels magazine... that I mentioned at the lead of this post.
I think it was a two spread article. I have to look for the magazine, since I only scanned this image a long time ago.



I want to thank Paul for not only sharing the photos with us. But most of all for taking all the photos of his fantastic body work in the first place. Paul also took a lot of video footage of his work. And when he did, he did not take photos. So a lot of the cars or steps in the building process are not taken on photo... Perhaps in time - when Paul gets all his project cars finished - he can start working on several DVD's with all his wonderful body working magic.

When I saw this car in person at the Sacramento Autorama Mercury Gathering I stared at if for a few hours over the weekend... And I took photos... but I did not take enough photos of it. For some reason the quality of the car got me distracted and I did not take all the detail photos I would normally take of a car like this... I saw the car arrive at the show.. and I should have taken many more photos of it outside in day light... but I did only take 5 or so...
Oh well... Perhaps somebody else took plenty of detail photos of Paul's custom cars... if so please post them here.






Side by side with Dale Hollenbeck's Mercury...



And one of the details I took of the car when it was still on the trailer.. outside.

 

Dave Meyers (Dr. Dave) from Conway Ar. Took these pictures at the gathering last
year. I really appreciate all of the detailed pictures of the Merc. Saw angles that
we would see in person but never in print. I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing the
pictures.














Happy Trails,

Mick

 

Another new fan. Hell, I suck at patch panels, cannot even think about modifying the whole damn car Excellent craftmanship, artistry at work

 

Thanks Rik for putting this all together. I've loved the cars of Paul's I have seen over the years in magazines and was thrilled to get to see one of them at the Autorama.

Thanks Mick for posting up those pics for me.....saves me from having to resize them. LOL. I was real enamored with the flow of the headlights and the hood lip especially. You see so many Mercs with the 54 rings just stuck on the front of the fender and it makes some real bad hickups along the fender line down the side and across the top. Paul's had it right on. I took those shots like that so I could check the flow of mine when I replace the Hagans that came on my 51 when I bought it. (you can also tell I do not have near as nice a camera as Rik....LOL).

 

Paul Bragg's work impressed me but I had no idea of how many great cars he has built. Thank you Rik for bragging up Paul Bragg!

 

Thanks Rik for taking the TIME to post all this! Man, even the little Courier is bitchin'. Can't wait to see the Econo buttoned up. I love the radiused corners and the fact that he doesn't exaggerate the feature, very nice.
It takes someone with a great eye to conceive a chop and then the skill to actually pull it off.
I'm guessing Paul's wallet says "Bad M-F'r". Then again, he probably doesn't like to Bragg...

 

Opening spread from the Rodders Journal of the Paul Bragg article...

Fantastic TRJ photos and wonderful words by Pat Ganahl...

 

So true. Many thanks to Paul for sharing his work through Rikster.

 

Thanks to Rikster for posting the pictures and the story. Thanks to Paul Bragg for building such beautiful cars.

 

wow!!!! i wish i could shape metal like that!

 

Hi Rik.
Great work!!! Paul and I really appreciate all your hard work. The site is fantastic and the responses are over the top it has made this lady cry, the members are great. Glad that you love his work and his creations. I am thrilled by the recognition from the people who Know!!!!
Pat (Mrs Tinguy)

 

Mrs tinguy the praise and appreciation is thoroughly deserved and yes, the people who really know are right here on the HAMB. You are right - that is the best form of appreciation - from the hardcore guys who live breathe and eat this stuff.

 

A great guy with fantastic craftsmanship . It was a must to have him and one of his Mercs be a part of my Merc gathering !

 

Rik, isn't the grill in this car two Mercury accessory bumper guards welded together?

I absolutely love it !

 

Thanks Rik,
It has been said of me. If he says "I'm at a loss for words." Check for a pulse!! Well, I am at a loss!! Wow! can't believe the site, the kind words and response. I didn't expect this. Stunned! Again, thanks Rik, and thanks all. Tinguy (Paul Bragg)

The more I know, the more I discover I don't know! Carry on!