Customs Period correctness on a late 50's custom, do's and don'ts

They usually had a washer welded in the bottom of the tube to mount the antenna to, then a small drain hole was drilled in the bottom to allow water out.

 

Yes ,drain hole was in every one I ever saw. Two things not noted much; We kept as standard stuff,a big beach towel{sometimes 2} and a rain coat. The rain coat was really to sit on if butt was wet and the towel beside dry off,was very handy for on the beach for sub races.

 

That seat, though cool, is a little newer than the time frame that's being aimed for.
-Dave

 

You're right, Dave. Too new.
Scratch that.

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Okay then... a custom-built wrap around back seat. Better than a T-Bird.
[emoji4]

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With the cover in place no one would know what's there for a back seat. You could remove the cover when the 1964 feeling comes over you.
-Dave

 

They are hiding in the plywood forest eating the leaves off the marshmallow bushes.

 

Nice



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Root, my car was originally set up that way, they used the 2-3 side. The only problem with doing that is you have no detent to keep it in gear other than the comb in the transmission, and it's real easy to knock it out of gear, or into reverse from drive. We were parked at a cruise in one night, my then 3 year old grandson was standing in the seat "driving", and he decided he needed to change gear.....pulled it out of park easily and I had to reach in and slam it back into park to keep it from rolling off. Another time I was going down the road, my phone rang, I reached up to get it out of my right shirt pocket, bumped the lever into reverse.......nothing hurt, killed the car instantly. Scared the crap outta me though. I have a regular GM automatic column now. I don't see why you couldn't build a detent gate and put it on the lower end somehow though if you want that style of column. I've seen pics on here of one done that way....

You either have to drill a drain hole or put in a nipple and put a rubber hose on it to drain it under the car.
I like the looks of them on the rear quarters better than by the windows like those.

 

LOL my dad used to tell me that it really was not my job to help someone remove their head from the place that the sun don't shine (not in so many words). Of course that was usually right after someone took a swipe at me and my dad and me had to leave the bar for reasons not quite appropriate for a family friendly forum.

Its funny, I am a hot rodder more than a custom guy and while there were things done to customs in certain eras of the genre that I don't care for, I really appreciate a well executed custom. I am the same with most customs (yes some are abortions and should not exist but not many) as I am with hot rods. I appreciate what I appreciate and do my best to overlook what I don't.

Gawd I hope not. I certainly did but gawd I hope not. I remember spending hours sanding (even under the desk in school) to make a set for someone's custom when I was a kid.

 

Sanding custom knobs at school... under your desk... during class.
Beaner, that's fkn awesome.

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When I moved to California in 1956 I went to the same high school that Sam and George Barris went to. I was amazed at the size of the auto shop, we didn't have any auto shop classes in Connecticut where I moved from. A lot of the auto shop guys were making their own multi- layered / colored dash knobs. I thought they were only available through ads in magazines. That auto shop class opened me up to a new world, and at almost 80 years old, I thank goodness for that.

 

Tube grilles lake pipes pin striping and frenched headlights tail lights and antennas and metal flake of candy paint. A car name or a club plaque doesn't hurt ether.

 

Just a little bit too early (he's going for the late '50's) for the use of metalflake, but those are all good ideas.

 

Cool Muntz what engine?

 

Customs are smooth. Antennas are under the car mounted on a bracket under the passenger door. My stock radio gets AM/FM and Blue Tooth after a great rebuild. Only a light gives it away when on. I get all my oldies on SiriusXM and Rush Limbaugh when I want.

 

Being from Oklahoma, you have to have a 6 foot tall antenna mounted on your rear bumper.

 

What about painted inner fender wells under the hood? Body color? Black? Engine color? It will be a hood down car, but just in case Mark Moriarity ever spot checks me.....

 

I've got one of these on my shop wall In the 50s it was hubcaps a guy I went to school with dad was mad when he found his 59 Dodge hub caps on his sons Chevy https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-VINTAGE-...430125?hash=item2cf70daeed:g:FWQAAOSw8~Jdi9rL

 

Great thread. Lots of good input.

 

From what I have seen there was no real consistent style. Seemed to be pretty equal combinations of matching what the factory did with the new body colour in the same places as factory supplied and then leave the rest as came from the factory, doing everything body colour or all white. White seemed to be used mostly in engine compartments that were done up like a show car. Personally if not really done up I think the factory look is best.

 

Engine compartments were usually painted black if you didn’t pull the engine. If the engine was out, it was easier to paint, so the engine bay could be painted body color. White was used if you really wanted to highlight the engine, so it was mostly hotrods that went with white.

 

I'm just asking, because I plan on doing a motor swap and freshening up the engine bay at the same time.

 

What about dashes? I have a dash that has a natural break for a two tone. I just don't know that changing the colors makes it custom. Make sense? I would think removing the dash trim and smoothing it would have more of a custom flair, and make it monochromatic.

Pic for reference. This is my dash.

 

No on the monochromatic dash.
Yes on the 2 tone for it.

 

Instead of the wrap around of the jet birds, the 58-60 T bird rear seat is pretty nice set up as well with arm rests. Only work is how to connect the t-bird metal top piece to the package tray. On Taboo we had a rod shop make a metal package tray that matched the t bird unit and then we covered the whole thing.

 

Chrome plate anything that is easily removable, lol. Glove box lids, speaker grille, instrument cluster, etc. Also the layered plastic tear drop knobs on switches was pretty common.

 

Man. That stock red dash is in great shape. I wouldn't change it. Of course, my tastes are very West Coast, so I don't like skirts, continental kits, sun visors, extra antennas, gimcracks, gizmos and gee gaws. Your regional style is probably a bit different. If I were doing the car, I'd drop it, nose and deck it, Lancer wheel covers and twice pipes with glaspaks and pea shooters. Add a tube grill and some simple pin striping. Tuck and roll package tray. Olds lenses in the tail lights. LA Style, late fifties. We used them as daily drivers.

 

Too late.