Customs History of the Custom display ~ GNRS ~ OFFICIAL thread info & photo's

I cant believe we all get to see the Pierson coupe for the show,it will be surrounded by some of it's old friends in that building from the early years. Jimmy is the perfect guy for the job as he is one hell of a true craftsman and so is his crew and they really do care about the work that rolls out of the shop,so this thing will look killer.Im headin to C.C.H.R. now to handle some business.

 

Alot has been posted about the atrocities done to the Pierson '36 at the hands of "streetrodders". I just want to shed a little history that Bill King, the owner who streetrodded it was a member of the Glendale Coupe and Roadster Club in the '40s and '50's and that Frank Nay, the most recent owner worked at the So-Cal Speedshop in the early '50's. My point is that these guys are not "streetrodders". They are the original hot rod pioneers that we cherish today, and they did "give a shit". My thanks go out to Frank Nay for entrusting me not only with the Pierson legacy but also the memory of his friend Bill King. Huge thanks also go out to Axle and Rikster for the opportunity to participate in the "Greatest spectacle on earth" and to Jimmy White for all of his help, he's the best.
THE PIERSON '36 IS BACK !

 

That's awesome!!!! I always wanted to see Bob Pierson's '36 Coupe restored to it's formal glory (I do hope it has the spare tire on the rear). But I never understood why it get's placed in the Custom category. It was after all a record holder in Rusetta and extensively raced. Yes it was chopped and that's about it, really. Same goes for the Calorie coupe, he too was a racer and pretty much did the same thing, to haul his roadster, as did the Pierson brothers their '34 coupe. I say this even though I love 40's and early 50's Customs. There's a good article about the Coupes cc in a one of those magazines about 5-7 years ago(I have it and can't remember the name) Can't wait!!!!!!

Ken

 

I am so excited for this show! I dont know how they are gonna get all these in there! I am gonna be running around like a kid on an overdose of sugar in a candystore!!!

 

This was Bob Pierson's coupe prior to the WWII and was sold by his parents when he returned, he really loved that coupe and bought another to replace it.

Ken










This how it used to look before it was painted white. 1947 photo

 

Really awesome to hear the Pierson '36 is making a come back, it is most definitely a Custom that raced the dry lakes just like Calori & Ayala customs.

 

You completely misunderstood what I was saying. Because this car has such great history, I was commenting that I hoped it DIDNT get farther down the street rod path IF someone bought it that DIDNT give a shit about the history. I wasn't trying to ruffle feathers. I'm just glad to see it is being returned to its iconic status. Thats all. No disrespect intended.

 

Damn You Axle:

I hadn't planned to go this year at all, had a great time doing my every other year plan and now you go and screw it up with the greatest gathering of customs ever in one place.

I have my hotel and tickets and will see you on Thursday for set up.

You owe me one bud !!!

BB

 

Stutz, no offense taken. I did kinda misunderstand your point. I shoulda quoted one of the other posts from a few weeks ago. I wasn't offended either way, just trying to make people understand the view of the past owners.

 

Holy crap, that is awesome about the Pierson Bros '36!!!!!

 

Hi Ken, i keep missing you in the neighborhood . Every time you drive by i wait for clear traffic, "flip a U-E", and can't catch up. We'll hook up some day soon. Ok, on to your comment/opinion . With all due respect i've got to disagree with ya. My 36 slammed with big and little's and a 1-2 inch rake is pure Hot Rod . The Calori 36, the Pierson 36, and John Fishers 36 are all pure Customs. Spot lights,lowered, and fender skirts make that opinion to me , and yes, even though the Pierson Bros. three window was a Tow/race car it is still all custom to me. My 2 cents.

 

Ha ha ha

 

Once again folks, although this has been my focus day and night i could NOT of done this without the help of Jeff Neppl (Jeffsled) and Rik Hoving (Rickster). Just wanted to publicly thank the both of you once again.
Axle

 

Do you remember back in the day when the other car websites referred to the HAMB as the "Dark Side"??

 

Don't know why this is so funny to me, but I'm still cracking up.

 

I love the Pierson Coupe thats awesome!!! can't wait to see it.. I'm glad Jimmy gets to
"De-Gay It" [TM]

 

Congratulations on the purchase.

 

There goes the neighborhood Hope you're bringing the Mrs.!

 

All a mater of perception I guess, any way pure (read unadulterated) is good and evil is still evil.
BTW, the force is strong with you Denise!

 

Hi Axle, just wanted to let you know that we'll be coming all the way from France to cover the event for KUSTOM magazine (www.kustommag.com). I'll be with Eric, our main photographer. See you there !
Charlie Lecach
Editor / Kustom Mag

 

Charlie, it will be great to finally meet you in person!
Luke

 

We – well mainly Axle in this case – are working on a couple of other fantastic – and historical important – custom cars for the show. One of them we wanted since the beginning, but seemed not available until recently. Hopefully tomorrow we will know for sure if that car, and possibly the other as well will be at the Customs Them & Now A Historical Gathering at the GNRS in January 2011

 

Yep we are over for a week, can't wait

 

As of Now 4 members of The MoonShiners C.C. Wyoming will be going. Poor country boys lost in the city. Can't F'in wait!

 

Tomorrow is today rik..... let's hear the news

 

Yes, go ahead with another surprise Rik ;-)

 

Waiting...

 

People want to know!

 

Well, we had planned for another one to announce today... but there are a few small things to make sure before we can announce that Car.

One we can announce today is the Barris Build Ralph Testa 1950 Mercury built by Barris. This one is one of my favorite Merc Customs. It is really subtile, and very well balanced.







And the Padded Top is just absolutely perfectly shaped.







For Sale





In the early 1950's Hop Up magazine offered a couple of Customs and Hot Rod photo card you could Buy. The Ralph Testa was one of them.






Later the car migrated to the a different part of the US.... and was repainted maroon.








This is how Bill Worden from Washington found the car



Bill Worden and a team of fantastic craftsman restored the car in the 1990's and today its as perfect as it was when it was built by Barris in the early 1950's.

 

awesome addition, that Mercury has great taillight treatment.