I attended the first Lead East meet in New Jersey in 1984 (was it '84?). It was a real eye-opener to see so many customs in one place. We all were astounded that so many old customs still existed and that so many new customs were still being built. Most of us were doing the late-fifties look then. But one car really captured the late-forties, early fifties style: Harry Schaeffer's 1948 Oldsmobile. Built by Mark Conforth, this one stopped me in my tracks. I remember being in the parking lot of the host hotel one night and I just kept walking around the car. I could not take my eyes off it; it was that gorgeous. This pic is from a layout in the old "Classic & Custom" magazine, September 1984, the last issue. Pic and story were by Barry Mazza. I haven't seen this car since. Anyone know of its whereabouts?
Rot'n....I believe "Harry the Hat's" car went overseas when he sold it. You were at the first Lead East (1983)? The one in Flemington? or the second (84) at the college? I have been to all of them, including the first. My 55 Olds was not chopped, but in red oxide primer. Parked with the NJ Renegades, by the fence at the road. What were you driving?
An even greater rarity. I think the '48-'49 Olds 98 fastbacks are possibly the most beautiful of all '40s American cars, even better than the Cads and Buicks that shared the body because they are so clean and simple. ...but there sure aren't very many of them around! Every time I see one, I think I ought to find one and shine it up. So many cars, so little time.
Hi guy's My name is Laurie Peterson from Vancouver BC. Some of the pic's you have seen here were taken at Seattle, Vegas and Mission Raceway. That's my swade blue 50 Ford that some of you have been talking about. The difference in my car and some other is it's a sedan roof line and not the coupe. The roof was chopped by me, 3.3/4", rear window moved up 3" and layed down to retain the smooth transition from roofline to trunk. It was nice to have the comparison of Keith Weesner's car to mine, I had the pleasure of meeting Keith @ Viva Las Vegas. He has a incredable car as well as his "A" on duece rails that we were just watching on "Mad Fabricators". If you have any questions regarding my car post them here and I'll try and answer them. Laurie.
Hey, Laurie I knew it was a sedan, and agree that they look much better than coupes when chopped. You did a sensational job with the rear of the roof, its contour and transition to the trunk, and with the rain gutters. It's one of the best chops I've ever seen on a shoebox.
Tom, i don't mind at all. I really appreciate the kind words. And yeah, i know the story.. Umm, shall i say, skirts!! Haha I saved that one on my pc as well, along with the one without the skirts that you lowered.. I like them both. Thanks man. Tony
yup,,,it's an old service station originally built back in the 1930s...it is now my detail shop. it was in a movie called "IQ"...with tim robbins, walter matthau, tony shaloub and melanie griffith....there are a lot of scenes in the movie that were filmed in the garage,,in the movie, it is a custom shop/repair shop..they actually cut the top off of einstiens car in the movie....over the door is a prop from the movie that they left after they were done filming,,its an old neon clock that says "customizing our specilaty"...they also left a big neon mobil horse sign....it's a cool place,,,i love it........
the green car -- what kinda taillights are those? looks like a 49 linc from the back but i'm not entirely sure.
Totally agree with you. Those two other photo's where taken by Rop Ratcliffe. And here is another one a bit older when it was driving around with no skirts... I like it better with them. This is such a period perfect custom. And TheFrenZ is right, all it needs is a vintage tag. Another 41 Merc, perhaps not as slick at the previous one, but stil nice. From the late 40's early 50's Hal Peterson's 41 Convertible. Hal and George Cerny worked on this one together.
Looks like the 51 Lincoln tail lights that we had. Robs not here right now, Im not sure how many yrs looked like that.
I was at the Flemington and Patterson shows and a few after that - even the one-time show at Valley Forge, PA (my back-yard, practically). I have not been to Lead East in many years though - other obligations that weekend. Here is me and my '58 Belair at Flemington - I had just bought it a month before. The skirts were purchased two minutes before the photo - in fact the man who sold me the skirts took the pic with my camera. I am pretty sure we met at Flemington - talking in the hotel parking lot at night. I know we did meet at Patterson in the school cafeteria. The other car you may recognize at Patterson. One of many I have of your car over the years. The last pic is at SledScene East a few years later - 00Mack sent me this photo. That was the finished product.
Hey!!!! I think i know this car!!!! Here it is in a french mag from '95 with swiss plates. The french guy just bought it as is, in a barn less than two miles from where he lives!!!! First time i saw it, it was at the French rod nat's in '95.This is the pics i have taken. It was so cool to cruise in this car in '95,...in France!!!! Here it is in '97 in the same french mag, with his owner who is also restoring a '57 chevy. and here it is in an UK mag last year at the NASC national This car is so cool but it deserve a better treatment or his owner is stupid !!!! I think nothing has been done since he own it!!!!!(and those f..king blackwall radials!!!).
jim, i'm bored at work today, so i took it upon myself to photoshop some fadeaways onto your caddy. fwiw, i don't think i'd go with the full fadeaways. ed
Kristoph, Thanks for posting. It is almost certainly the same car. Good to see it still on the road and giving pleasure to the new owner. Better to be touring on blackwall radials than collecting dust in the barn!
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