great stuff, thanks to all who dug out the photos, makes me wish it was 1950 all over again and we could get it all right 2nd time around. Rik, thanks for your efforts, can't get enough..... barresse'
"Grant Macklin" wasn't an assumed name, he was a real person in his late teens back in the 1950s. The Ford was owned by Father Larry Ernst, and done with a working folding convertible top by the ClarKaiser shop from the Detroit area. Rather than publicize his hot rod activities, Father Ernst let Grant take the publicity for the Ford. I was a senior at DeVilbiss High in Toledo, Ohio, and remember talking to a girl in my class who dated Grant. She mentioned the folding top and asked if it was as rare as Grant claimed. I had to admit that he'd pulled off a real feat. I knew I couldn't tackle anything that complex at 17 years of age -- and gave up any thoughts of asking her out if she was dating a real wizard. Years later I found out that the car never was Grant's, and that he never touched a torch or a paint gun to it. The car is covered in more detail on Rikster's web site.
If you get a chance to look at Ron Brook's chev up close, check the headliner by the front windshield. It has the original nameplate of Carson or Hauser on it, can't remember which shop.
yes the names are the different owners. no it was not restored, it was crushed at a landfill and put under a bridge here in eugene oregon. a couple miles from my house and i'm a HUGE watson fan! my best friend is randy rhoades who built the clone of the grapevine
Rikster, you're the encyclopedia of the kustom world. I just noticed the "chopped" headliner sun visors.
I do find it very interesting that they shot the 58 T-Bird in the same location as they shot the Moonglow and the Grapevine. In front of the old Sears store in Long Beach, just at a different angle.
Oh yeah. Thank you Twochops. This history is way to cool! This thread has made my day. I love it. Also thanks to Rikster. Amazing pics and history as always.
This was an old custom rebuilt by Dave Kinnaman in Indiana back in 1980-81. '39 Ford with Zephyr rear fenders and appeared to be sectioned as well. He finished it shortly after this photo, painted a maroon color. Sold shortly thereafter to somebody in Washington I think. Still see pictures of it from shows and in magazines to this day. Several years ago a packard grill was installed and car was repainted candy apple red.
This pic. was taken at a show in Martinsville, Virginia in the early to mid 80s. It caught my eye because that style car wasn't real popular at that time...except maybe with me and a few other Kustom freaks.
The car above went to California from Indiana and got a full frontal by Gary Minor and was painted candy red again. Some guy in the Road Zombies had it. From what I remember Kinnamon found it in pretty bad shape. I always wonder if the car was one of those wacked out Indiana 39 Fords that Rik posted. One thing to substantiate my questionable suspicions is the 40 front sheet metal.
Never much info on this great OLds. I remember seeing it in magazines with different owner listed. Mr Nethercutt wen't on to own a large cosmetic company and had a huge car collection. I friend of mine at the time was in his company and took me to see his cars. He had a dust free invoirment and some sort of divice that allowed the cars to be moved on a cushion of air??? Or some sort of lifting device. Any one know of the fate of this Kustom???? BARRESSE'
Anyone have info on or pix of a sectioned shoebox with '49 Cadillac rear quarters, shortened greenhouse, pancaked hood, and '50 Nash grill. The car was supposedly built in California in the '50s and driven across the country, to Georgia in the late 50s or early 60's. It ended up in Douglas, Ga where it sat in various locations for many years. I tried, unsuccessfully, to buy the car many times, and the last time I saw it, someone had started working on it. I cannot find the pictures I took of that car, and believe me, I have searched, because I know someone on the H.A.M.B. knows the history behind it. It is THE ONE that got away, and the damned thing is still driving me nuts (nuttier?) after all these years. Any clues...?
OOMack, it was probably me. That thing has been a 40+ year obsession that still sorta haunts me. I think you can understand. I mean, here I am living in this nice, sleepy, college town in South Georgia where 4-wheel drive Ford and Chevy pickups are the main automotive topic. Then one night this automotive apparition comes rolling through the drive in, where we're sippin' suds and thinkin' about what time the cute waitress gets off work. I mean, this thing looked like it just hopped outa the pages of one of the 25c car mags I'd been hoarding since I was a kid. I was mesmerized! I hustled over and stopped the guy, and that's where I got the California story. Now you know that I'm a pretty good sized guy, but that car was so low, I could rest my elbow on the top at a normal angle...just above waist high. It was instant heat, lust or love...probably all three! This was the first full kustom I'd seen in the tin, and I really NEED to know the rest of the story. I'll continue to search for pix, but I don"t know...
here's my album of all my favorite custom cars and trucks: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=8200
Thanks to everyone who has contributed content to this fabulous thread. Thanks to TC for starting it. You know what they say about opinions. Every one has one and they all stink. Some of these cars are on the fringes and not everyone will like them but some of these things are just stunning and really just leap off the page/screen at you. The knowledge you guys have and share is priceless.
No,The Rick Brown car that Ive never seen before Riks post is a 49 judging by the lettering on the hood and the side trim. The Larry Lorenzo car that Rik identified is a heavily chopped 50, judging by the rear bumper guard and the dash. Also, an interesting side note is that the Rick Brown car only has the roof bows cut down so technically it is chopped but the A Pillars are not cut.
dean jeffries old girlfriend, carrol lewis' 56 chevy (i'm looking for more pics of this and dean's 46 merc)
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