My first attempt at a 40's custom- "round 1"

Thank you Rik, any comment from you is never taken lightly. I really appreciate it

 

I like stock 41 lights. Very deco. I dunno yet. If I do tailights, that would probably be the only mod aside from a chop and the hood. I don't want to strip stainless or french headlights or anything. I want it to be a flashy car...nothing gaudy but something someone would have wanted to shine a bit.

I always like the look of a car that a guy would have had who had the right ideas, but didn't have the money to go overboard. It's a good plan because I never have any money!!

 

Stock 41 Super Deluxe bumpers. They were beautiful and wound up on lots of other years too.

 

Thats cool Terry!!! I will be at Monroe only Friday, I gotta work Saturday

 

Thanks man, means a lot!!!

 

Funny, when I was a kid, my Uncle had a coupe. I thought it was the ugliest I had ever seen. Now, it's one of my favorite cars and yours being a convertible is icing on the cake. Looks real good.

 

Very clean. I've always liked mild customs that looked like they could/should have come from the factory. Subtle chops, smoothed bumpers, a few well chosen accessories serves to keep the bystanders guessing.

 

thats a very bitchin car you have there...looks like a lot of fun!! here is a pic of my uncles 41 merc vert, he bought it from a bodyshop in Long Beach before he was 16. the shop had put the caddy grille and did a mild chop and a carson top on it. not sure if it was built before or after WWII, the pic of him standing next to it was when he got it so that would of been in about 54. he said customs were on the down turn and he only paid around $400 bucks for it...

 

looks great!.... simple and classy... I think it looks plenty low how it sits... front tire seems to match the fender opening pretty well...

 

It's going to look Bitchin' with a mild chop, and Carson style top. But you ought to still consider removing the chrome trim. Start with the left rear fender, and sell it to me.

 

never been much on customs.wild or mild just never interested me but i really like where your going with this ride!! and it being a drop top makes it even better.id be as proud as hell for that ride to be in my drive!(when i wasnt rollin it down the hiway).

 

What a beautiful car, Chris. Love the direction you are going with it! Not much else needed! I must say, I'm a bit green with envy, but very happy for you just the same. Awesome car, man!

 

Looks great!

I wouldn't lower it anymore. It's period perfect.

 

Looking great, Chris.
A chopped top and maybe 1" lower all around. Then you're there.

 

Just the few changes you made really made the car look different (in a good way). I think the car now looks like how many typical mild customs looked in that period. I look forward to seeing the additional changes happen.

 

Perfect!!!
It's looking awesome!!

 

When it needs a top...thats probably when round 2 will start

 

Looks really nice Chris.

 

Chris,

Great job! Looks perfect.

Can't wait to see what you do next.

 

Great looking car! I love early customs but in all honesty it looks a bit more like a stocker than an early custom. I say another inch lower would be perfect and the subtle chop would knock it outta the park.

Either way it's a great car and I'd love to call it mine...

 

I'll add my voice to the chorus of love!

 

Wonderful car.

Is that dash trim the low-end stamped steel painted trim with clock hole cut out or did some shop teacher make it up from wood to replace the original plastic trim?

Dennis Carpenter may still make the plastic stock trim or Vintique may still make the chrome-plated diecast aftermarket accessory trim.

A little work on the stamped steel piece could make the clock hole with the rounded curled edges it needs to be perfect like the rest of the car.

 

I've never been a fan of the 41's, but your ragtop changes my mind ... congrats!

 

yep!

 

Looks stock to me in the pic at least.

 

I love it! This is already a bitchen car. It is screamin for some appleton fog lights up front.

 

Very nice!

 

Yep, the plastic was on super deluxe models, metal was on plain Deluxe's

 

Man that's cooooooool

 

At the risk of repeating what has already been said, car looks great.
Your plan and philosophy of how the car should evolve is spot on.
I tried to follow similar philosophy with my 35 cabriolet, a fixed up stocker with a few custom touches made by someone with Lincoln taste on a Ford budget!
Lots of people said it should be lower, needs chopped etc, restraint, sticking to the plan and helped by a limited ability have kept me on track.
Look foward to seeing how your car evolves.
Thanks for posting.