History The Early Custom Pick

man those cad fenders look good, may have to find a pair, never seen that car before

 

Breathtaking right here.

 

I read this whole thread 3 times! AMAZING how photos and stories mesh together piece by piece.

 

I think the 'slammers' got here from the mini truck world

 

Slammers? What do you mean ?

 

I would have to agree with you a 100%, very well said.

 

Here is another very nice early Custom Car done by the Barris Shop.

This first photo from the Bart Bartoli Collection in one of the Don Montgomery books was taken in 1948 in front of the Compton Avenue Barris Shop. Behind it another Barris creation 1947 Cadillac Convertible that was used on the Barris Business Card and Invoice paper can be seen. (but thats another story!)



This has been the only photo I have found of this car, until mr X38 pointed me to This Ford Barn posting, and we now have three more fantastic photos of this great car.

Here is the story on the car as told by Ralph Sacramento a former owner of the car in the late 1940's and early 1950's. The photos below are from his collection and where taken in 1952.



The car was owned by a fellow named Larsen who went to SGHS then he sold to a fellow Bob Ruble. Ralph traded a cherry well done '37 hump to Bob for it when his family grew.
I put in a built engine and columbia to finsh it out. Sold it to guys from east coast who drove it back there.
Be fun to know it it still exists and where, sure was a head turner and a ball to drive.
Took it to Orange county airport drags one time and ran it thru, engine put out so much torque it twisted the U joint apart. Car was sooo heavy.





And here is his original message from the Ford Barn Message Board.


Hoping someone will recognize this '41 convertible w/chopped Carson top. I sold it in SoCal in the '50's to people on east coast who drove it back. Been trying to find them and get some history if possible. t was ruby maroon then. Just fun thing.

There are a few more older photos in the Barris book with a near identical 1941 Ford, and we are currently looking into it and see if those are the same car as well.


So if anybody recognizes this car from somewhere on the east coast... please let us know. Perhaps the car has been transformed to a Street Rod!... but one thing that might not have changed is the rather heavy chop.

 

Thanks for the info rik! Always nice to see more early barris kustoms being identified

 

This has to be one of the best pictures on the hamb. I love this car and want to find out more about it.

 

Aren't there anyone from Bakersfield in the house here? They should know! Would love to know more about this one myself.

 

I approach it much as the builders in the '40's did; I want a stance and silhouette with taste and grace but also stands out from the pack.

I wonder if the original innovators wouldn't have moved onto other looks back in their day if thousands of others across the world were copying them back then as is happening now.

Of the old cars, the Jilek car stands out, sporty yet elegant. The Westergard '38 shows that a few very early guys did like them low (never a bad thing in my mind)! In Rik's post #61, the fourdoor and the chop/sectioned '36 certainly stand out from the pack. The Ron Kilmer current car looks exactly like someone in the '40's being different with style and subtlety. And last, the Hooker convert was so perfectly understated and the paint trim idea was decades ahead.

And I have to love the Subia '41 merc for a variety of reasons. First, it was very futuristic when it came out new because it was the first all new body that Ford produced since '39 and they kept that body through '48. So the guy who did the first '41 Merc was just miles ahead of the pack much the same as Sam Barris was when he cut the first '51 a decade later. The stock grille on the '41 Merc is so "custom" that it's impossible to improve upon.

I have always loved a perfect '36, but these days, perfect '36's have become as commonplace as perfect duece hiboys. That's not a bad thing, of course, and I do enjoy seeing all of the slight variations toward perfection in both. But being different is paramount in my mind if you want to make a statement.

 

These two '39-'40 Mercs are so similar, but have such a different end result.





They're both channeled, with the fenders raised and the running boards left off. I think the Summers car has the fenders raised a bit more, while the Hooker car has radiused wheel wells and no skirts for a sportier look. My current taste leans more toward the second one, but I think they were both masterpieces!

I've heard that the Glenn Hooker car was built by his uncles (Emory and Jenson) from a car that was in such poor condition that they channeled it and cut the bottom off to get rid of the rust!

 

I couldn't agree more, Tony.

I hope Dick Page is able to thrash toward finishing the Summers car in time for the show.

 

Tony,

I dont think the fenders of the Hooker Merc are raised at all. They where cut from the bottom, and then the wheel openings in the fenders was raised as well

 

Rik, it pains me to admit that I think you're right. Think of all the trouble people have made for themselves (Don & me included) when they could have had a great looking custom so simply -- channel it, cut the bottom off, and raise the wheel openings!

 

That set up is called .......... PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!! That is how these cars were built to sit.

 

Howard Gribble send me this can of a photo he found recently...

my guess is mid 1940's... just after WWII.
Unusual dark padded top.

 

Rik....It would be great if you (or anybody else) could identify these fellows.

 

Its the guys from the Barris shop clowning around if I recall correctly...

 

Yes....I can see that....I was wondering if they could be Identified by name....You know like it looks like george doing the hand stand, who else is in the picture...?

 

Wanna meet him ? I could arrange a date.

 

Anyone have any updates on finding some info about this beauty??? Come on Bakersfield custom guys any clues ? What a breathtaking car.

 

I would definately agree with you on this car musta been a stunner back in the day! If I could have found a salvageble set of those quarters they would be on my 47 now...

 

Here is a nice photo of a Barris built 1946-1947 Cadillac Convertible.
The car has been used on several early (Compton Ave) Barris Shop Business Cards, as well as letter heads and invoices/bill's. I have also seen this car in the background of a few photo taken of other cars. But until I saw this photo I had never seen a full shot of this great looking early custom. I would love to find out about this car, but I assume it was to early for the magazines or early books to appear in. I have not been able to find any info on this Custom Caddy so far, but hopefully some more info will show up in the future. So that we can identify the owner of the car, and hopefully find some more photos of this great looking Custom.
This photo is taken in front of the Barris Compton Ave. Barris Shop.

 

This picture is amazing Rik,did you just get it? I want a 8x10 of this one.

 

Speechless.......

 

Please get away off the lawn..fast.The guy in the background is aiming right at ya!!

 

This 1938 Ford with a 1940 Ford hood, aftermarket headlights (sealed beam), flipper hubcaps, 1946-48 Ford bumpers and running boards removed was photographed in LA in 1949 by Jim Kirstead. The car belonged to Harold Johnson.

The photo was donated by Hal Johnson.

 

I'd say that's period correct.