I kinda like it.It should be saved.I think all of these old Kustoms should be saved and restored no matter how fugly they look.They are all one of a kind !!
It's the 1955 counterpart to the "32 ford roadster" in that other post. The hood for a deck makes it look goofy, an attempt at a boat-tail that doesn't quite cut it. But a lot of mid-50's era full on customs look like this, the stuff people made in their back yards by cutting down other cars. I think though that it would be a decent looking car if it had a smoother line to the deck - want to make some people mad, buy it and cut it up...
I agree. Its a very typical for the times attempt to make a "sportscar". Lots of these in the little pages.
Finally found the letters that the "present" owner wrote to Ralph, reason for the quotation marks is that they date to 1991, he was wanting to sell it back then fro 6,500. Got a phone # from information but never get an answer, would like to find out if he still has it. He is in Overland Mo. which I believe is a suburb of St. Louis. The current phone # is the same as the one on the 1991 letters. I'm gonna keep trying to get ahold of him. Bob
The car is based on a 38 Chev, yes I wrote right: A 1938 Chevrolet! Front from a 55 Chev, roof from a Kaiser, Frazer body parts as well as parts from a number of other cars. Not really a custom, but an interesting car. Been off the road since 1962. Just brought by Sigge Turski, a Customs of Sweden member, and maybe he will bring it back to life again. These two photos of it are from Sigge´s own board.
An even more interesting car was the 56 Crown Victoria that was hidden in a bacyard behind a machine shop jsut south of Stockholm, just a some years ago. It used to be in real nice contion just a few years earlier but someone left parked in the street without any care. After a few months it was quite battered, and many parts had been stolen as well. But it was not for sale!
Built in the late 70´s in early 60´s style it looked quite good. It was a sad feeling to see a neat custom that had been ruined due to poor care.
[ QUOTE ] Where did you find that pic of the Chevy?? I love the look of that thing...Could you please forward it to me?? Thanks Dirty [/ QUOTE ] I didn't post it but I think it's out of "Barris Kustoms of the 1950's", a book by George Barris and David Fetherston.There are some more pics in "Barris Kustom Techniques of the 50's" and the owner was Harry Hoskins.
THE PICTURES WERE TAKIN IN INDY BY GEORGE BARRIS. THIS WAS MY DADS 54 OLDS THAT HE DESIGNED FOR RALPH FERKS. AND MY DAD BOUGHT IT FROM RALPH.
So here are the pics ! It really hurts to see the car rotting away there... This Merc definitely does not come from the West Coast...now tell us the story please !
This car was done in Queens in he late 50s and purchaced years ago by the custom body man Falco.It sits.......Frenz,post the other,please!!!!
Thanks Tom.This fucker showed up in Gettysburg in 90 on Saturday. Some dudes from Va. were looking to sell it for 2500 and no one cared or even looked at it but me. The thing was either channeled or someone built up the floor boards. It had what looked to be a trashed 30 year old candy job on it.
Man,2500 bucks...that was almost next to nothing even in those days,or ? The chop goes very well with the '53 Buick trim !
I own it and its waiting it's turn for a full restoration. It's in Bakersfield sitting right next to Tommy Herrera's Ranchero. Tommy Has moved back to Cali Craig
Neat old stuff. I think this is the car that rod builder is building, but I am not sure. Also the car that is in back of the Future was called the Belmont by Barris and was in a Jerry Lewis film and that is Jerry Lewis in the pictures.
What car was in Back to the Future? I've seen those movies like a million times and I never noticed any old customs in it. Please, someone fill me in, pics if possible.
Sorry for the confusion, I hit the wrong key and spelled Future instead of Futura. I was refering to the picture of the Futura that was posted earlier in the thread, that Barris turned into the Batmobile. In the back of that photo was the another car, and that was the one I was refering to.
Time takes its toll When My Dad Purchased the Startling Starfire From Ralph Ferks it was a great looking Show car infact i was incharge of keeping the olds clean and ready for shows or if we wanted to go for a weekend Cruise. and when we had to move out to New Jersey We had to sell her and all i can say is we watched it go down the Road and there was not a dry Eye for that evening. and seeing it now is great but wow!! the 54 old was an awsome kustom in its day thanks for sharing the pictures. Bob Dzemske Jr Vice President HCRCA of Northen Arizona
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