Classy Kustoms... yes there are a lot of them, and especially the famous once built back in the days are extremely beautiful. And I absolutely love those customs either built back then or recenlty according to the 40's and 50's style. And besides that I love those cars I think the original "Classy Kustoms" have always inspired the modern built customs. So these original build customs or the customs build on the 40's-50's theme sure are classy in my eyes... but some cars I have always had a soft spot for are the well designed from top to bottom custom cars built using modern techniques, and idears but with a looks that was inspired by these original classy customs. Cars as designed and built by Harry Bentley Bradley, Sam Foose, Donn Lowe, Dave Crook and Paul Kelly. A few samples Dave Crook built, Harry Bradley Designed 1947 Ford Convertible TRJ photo Paul Kelly photo Sam Foose built, Harry Bradley designed 1949 Ford Sedan Paul Kelly photos Donn Lowe built, Harry Bradley designed 1940 Mercury Convertible TRJ photo And Paul Kelly built and designed 1948 Hudson former four door Sedan LDI photos
This screams classy. I also agree with a comment earlier about nearly all 35-36 Fords qualifying BUT and this is only a personal opinion the yellow cabriolet to me just doesn't hack it for some reason. I think it is the headlight placement but the front just doesn't flow. Look at the Donn Lowe 36 or the Callori car or Fishers example to name a few and those cars have a beautiful flow from the front to the back whereas the yellow car just doesn't have that continuety of line. When I look at the front of that car it somehow visually stalls. Re Links offering...... in the photos I've seen that car screams change for changes shape. The workmanship and finish may be superb but the chop etc went to far to get the classy look.
glad to see someone beat me to posting the Ogden `41 buick...my fav custom of all...although, I almost prefer it without the skirts...almost
Yea, I forgot it as well. Kinda silly I did, as I have talked to Herb Ogden several times, and met him in person a few months ago, and he has given me a lot of input and guidence in regards to building my car. What a beautiful custom. I agree, it is definately THE classiest of all classy customs. The original build was never black (Midnight blue, and then later candy apple red), but Barry Mazza's decision to paint it black took the classiness to a whole nother level.
The Ogden Mazza Buick and Westergard Caddy... sitting next to each other. CLASSY!!! Photo by Kurt McCormic Photo by TinWolf Photo from the Barry Mazza collection Herb Ogden on the left, Barry Mazza on the right Photos by KustomBuick
The Ogden Buick, in its current form, is IT as far as I'm concerned. And someone needs to keep Harry Bradley away from old cars! All those cars are "neat," but none of them look better than they did stock. And the front skirts on that Ford are downright hideous. (Let the arguing begin!) I'm not sure I care for the label "classy kustoms," but these cars are all very much in the style I have in mind for my next build that I'm about to start.
this was the first merc of that body style to ever be chopped. sam cut it soon after he picked it up from the dealer brand new.
I have an uncle who drove a pink Lincoln Mark IV in the early 1980s, and a mildly customized Corvette with "Lovette" painted on the taillight panel, and he always called them both "Classy." Ugh. Can we agree to use the term "classic" or "clean" instead?? Please?
Well, the early custom years (40's-early 50's) inentions were to take a plain car, and make it look longer, sleeker, and more classy, later on, things went in a different direction. I think that "classy" certantly is a great word to describe certain customs.
Man these car's are just perfect! What a great thread! I think, for me anyway, the thing that make's a custom classy is the fact that nothing was done for shock factor. Clean simple line's that are not overdone. Perfect SHINY paint and chrome in the right places, but not too much. As has been said many time's, defining the line's the factory made in order to bring out the true beauty of the car.. When i built my 53 i didn't have classy in mind, but RF's 53 chevy above was a major inspiration for me...to me it's about a nice as one get's. Thanks for all the pics! Tony
I borrowed these from the "Lee Pratt" post, but if you're talking about classy customs you HAVE to include his.
You can tell the classy customs. They are the ones that it just wouldn't be right if you drove them wearing greasy jeans and an old t-shirt.
This is by far one of my favorite Kustom Chevy's. I had the issue of Rodders Journal with this car in but can't seem to find it..Does anyone here have any more info on it or more pictures?~Mojodaddy
Edgy... that's a polite way of putting it. Some great stuff in there. Good to see an Aussie car in the mix (copper Hudson).
Here's another couple that I would consider 'classy'. What makes them extra special is that they are genuine drivers. Michael Morris's home-built Chevy... And Craig Fountain's Buick... And proof that they both get driven, A LOT! This was part of a 1200 mile round-trip we made a few years back. Thanks to Drewfus for the awesome driving pics.
I'm not trying to compare Matt's Merc to the Mantranga Merc. Only illustrating the point that both cars have a heavily chopped roofline that was considered extreme for it's time (you ever compared a stock 49 Merc roof?). Bear in mind that many of the cars that you are labeling as "classic customs" were NEW cars when they were being cut up and looked VERY futuristic, fresh and modern. That was the whole point back then. As for the laid out, on the ground "mini-trucker" look, most all of the cars pictured here are laying on the ground and many obviously have airbags. Matt's car is what I would classify as a "Modern Classic". It is built with all the same sensibilities that all of the earlier examples, there is not one piece of billet on that car and uses nothing but all the correct parts. It is defiantly a radical custom, but I feel that the shiny black paint, lack of silly panel graphics, angel hair, spartan use of chrome and a simple black roll and pleat interior all show class and good taste.
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