Kustoms of 1982

That Safari looks MEAN as hell!

 

Deyomatic: That Safari is a real cool and mean ride, for sure. The owner drove the hell out of it too.

Here's one last pic for today. I really like dual canted headlight frontends on cars. Not sure about this one though. It's a nice Merc never the less.

Thanks for tuning in!

Joel

 

Great pics! They remind me of Classic & Custom magazine, HOT ROD (when they used to actually still cover kustoms), as well as early Low Rider and others.

I think those were the glory days of the KKOA. The events drew tons of kars and the quality was top notch. This is one of the best posts I've seen here in awhile. Thanks for the pics PPOC--I really enjoyed them!

 

I need to get a scanner...I have tons of pics from stuff in the 80's (KKOA stuff and local runs) that are interesting to look at now. Everytime I look at those old photos I also kind of crack up because things were not as segmented in the hobby back then...local rod runs had the 48 cut off but they would kinda turn a blind eye and let customs in all the time. It sure ain't like that now.

Hell, one year at the Street Rod Nats ( I don't remember what city ) the Hirohata clone was on display and in the swap meet they had one of the baddest mercs I have ever seen for sale ( a candy red car )...they almost won't let you bring stuff like that in for displays or the swap anymore.

The other thing I noticed from my various Nor Tex pics is most shows seemed to happen around water...I have all these pics from the river area in Waco (or the Wax a hachet show...can't remember) and pics from shows from around lake Lewisville...Sherman is the only one around water now...just a odd observation.

Also, I still crack up that they had Goodguys at Fair Park one year...horrid part of town for a show like that, people from out of town could not believe it (the hotel issues etc.) It was kind of cool though to see all the rods around the pond/fountains beteen the buildings the new car shows are in during the state fair.

I have lots of hanging dice and goodguys at southfork pics also...I gotta go digging around and find this stuff...last time I looked at any of it was four years ago when we moved and I have no idea where I put most of it.

 

That Orange Merc was also in HOT ROD. I dug that car when i was a kid.

Nads, I also agree that Lee Pratts Purple Buick was killer. Have the issue of STREET RODDER that it was in.

 

This is a great post. Here are a couple of those Classic and Custom mag covers.

 

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This has been a great response. I figured there were more guys here that could appreciate this look back.

Man, I hold Classic & Custom close to my heart. I really enjoyed that mag. Too bad the Publisher passed too early. I think it would still be around today. I'm surprised nobody ever picked up it's banner and continued with it.

I have more pics to post in the near future. In the early '80's there was this show in Kenosha, Wi. put on by the Mid Century Mercury Club. It was always on Memorial Day weekend on Sunday. It was a great show. It was the only place where you could see about a dozen Chopped Merc's in one place, other than a KKOA event in those days.

I don't know if the show is still held. I joined the railroad in '84 and never had Memorial Day off since. Any Wisconsin HAMBr's know if this show is still going on? I never see any promotion on it.

I talk on you guys later,

Joel

 

Joel- Killer post!..I remember seeing alot of these cars in person as a kid...Thats what really got me going on 'Kustoms'...I only wish i took pics of them back then!

Sorry i haven't called lately,,alot of stuff been going on...but i will soon!

O-yeah, i'm still interested in case you forgot so hit me off w/a pm..

Could you please forward some more pics of that 62 Impala..I just got one myself and was looking for some ideas..Thats look i wanted..

Dirty

 

the red chopped 51 merc with the upside down 50 window was chopped by Darryl Starbird and was featured in several tech articles in the little books and eventually was for sale in one of the 70's rod magazines in a small ad from Barris collector Kurt McCormick before making its way eventually to New york,The yellow and brown merc was originally chopped by***** Dean and unfortunately is now candy red with an interior full of all the wood grain***** you could find in Street Rodder