I came across this nice scan when I was browsing the internet. A photo taken in Pasadena in 1949. I love photos like this where the photographer is clearly not a car guy or girl. It shows that these Customs where used as daily drivers. The photo was taken because of the building in the background. Bullock's Pasadena designed by architects Wurdeman & Becket located at 401 S. Lake Ave. in Pasadena, California. The building is still standing today and is now in use as a Macy's department store. It is really to bad the scan was not bigger than it is... I have tried to enlarge the 1940 Ford custom the best I could, but the quality is just not there. Nice mild custom 1940 Ford convertible with a chopped windshield, padded white top and the running boards removed, other than that it looks pretty much stock... and very much like a lot of Customs looked in the 1940's.
Quality of the photo may be off a little but non the less it's still cool as hell.I like the old pictures no matter what the quality is and thanks for posting.
Another really great photo from the Wally Welch Collection. Unfortunately very much yellowed and faded color photo of Wally's 1941 Ford done by Gil Ayala.
Wally Welch was such a Heavy Hitter,I have said it before and I will always say it. Except for changing the color of his merc because his chick didnt like it. Besides that I think was one of the heaviest of the era. I think this Ford is perfect .
This is my favorite time in kustom history, a true period of talent and class. It was a time before , (oh yea, your car is low but mine is lower, watch this !) or hey look at this I made this change or more changes on my car then yours. That is when everything went down hill, class ,ellogonce, style and flow didnt matter any more, it was about one uping the other guy. I Love this period , and am trying to bring my car building to this level, sometimes less is more , and it is very hard to get that just right mix of everything and make the car work , without haveing to change everything, sometimes the factory guys got close to perfection. now days guy forget and go way overboard which ruins the car. A hayday of kustom perfection which time might bring back around for us to enjoy!!!
Just a hand full of changes and you got perfection. This car is pure beauty! finkd: To many people rely on those few bad magazines that promote the fucked up rat turd building. The early customizing is amazing stuff. Ive seen your work and it looks like you got it right on the builds you are doing.
Thank you, bickford, it means alot when people notice the hard work, which isn't why we build cars, it's because it is our passion and lifestyle. It is very hard to make the correct changes to enhanse the flow and style of the car, to make it look better, not just change for sake of change. and sometimes getting that just right look of less is more is very hard. but these ol timers nailed it most of the time......leasons we all should learn from them. simp,e beautifull styling and class.......
Over the years I have really started to love the very early Custom Cars. The cars built prior, during or just after WWII up to 1948 or so. I know these cars are not everybody's cup of thee. But I love them because they are so pure. And they are the base for everything else happening in the later part of the 1940's 1950's and still today. Here is another photo of an early Custom Car from the Tom Nielsen Collection. This custom '34 was owned and built by Dale Runyan. Chopped top, fender skirts, solid hood sides, Hollywood single bar ripple hubcaps, 1937 DeSoto bumpers and one single Appleton Spotlight. From en ebay offering... 1940 photo of this 1938 Ford Convertible. Not much has been done to it. but what has been done surely improved it. I have always loved 30's cars with their running boards removed. The stainless rock shield on the rear fenders look so good on this type of car. And the stainless trimmed frame cover looks so classic.
One of the best pictures in custom history right here and one of my favorite cars.I have to come look at this one at least once every couple days but lately I have been wondering how good this car would of looked with some fadeaway fenders on it? It looks pretty perfect right here so it would be hard to want to mess with perfection but I think the fadeaways would look great.
1939 Mercury convertible custom at an early drag race. Chopped windshield, single bar hubcaps fender skirts, and the running boards removed. But I'm not sure if those where removed to save weight for the races, or perhaps they owner was in the process of creating some filler panels to cover the frame rails under the body. Note the primer spot at the back of the hood/cowl. From the Wally Welch Photo Collection.
Another great shot here.....pretty sure it's at Santa Ana.I wonder what that primer spot was? Antenna? I doubt it,it seems to be pretty big.
Big antenna? I think it most likely body damage. Perhaps the hood flipped open one day while driving? Its the only photo of this car.. so I guess we never will know for sure.
I dont know Jeff. I never had the time to look at the back of the photos when I was taking photos of them on the floor at the GNRS.
Oh thats right,I forgot about how quick you had to act to get those great pictures.Oh well we will hopefully find out one day.
Another great snapshot from the Wally Welch Collection is this one showing two 1941 Ford customs. Wally's 1941 Ford is on the left.
I cant believe how good they reproduced for just being photographed ! Thanks Rik for taking the time to do them and sharing them on here with us!!
Another early Custom is this 1936 Ford Cabriolet with chopped windshield and padded top. Its comes from the Wally Welch photo album, but I have no info on it. I'm not sure if it is one of Wally's cars, or perhaps owned by one of his buddies.
Geez Rik...you running out of pics yet? Just curious if anyone's come across any sedans got the right look to them from this era without the padded tops?
Another great early photo of Wally Welch on the left and his 1941 Ford in its first version. Both Wally and his friend removed the Ford's center grille and replaced it with most likely an aftermarket filler piece. But Wally's friend ended up creating a small opening in it. Both cars have mildly chopped windshields and padded tops. so cool
From the Wally Welch Photo Album comes this very nice early 1938-39 Ford Convertible custom. Chopped windshield, padded top. Lowered, black wall tires with single bar ripple disk hubcaps and 1937 DeSoto bumpers. The license plate is inserted into the back, but it looks that it is not covered with a glass plate like so many others had in these early Custom Car years. Most likely the owner is a friend of Wally Welch, but the album did not had any info on him, or his cars. So I have no idea who built it or who owned it... great car anyway.
Great photo!! I would think its like pre-war. i cant tell if any of the cars in the back ground are post war, but dont look it to me. Also he is running black walls and that seemed to be a pre-was thing.
The Jalopy Journal
