I don't know the first thing about the origins of this car or even wher I picked up the photo, but it gets me so hot and has provided ultimate inspiration for my build and a lust to get it done. Anybody know more about her? Neat post.
Steve Anglin's coupe. just cos its mean and clean. its also one of the only customs ive seen that gets away with hood louvers. Hey ryan the colours on that car remind me of the 58 (i think )chev in the film 'Mon Oncle' its a three tone deal, and the car is supposedly new in the film, dont know if it was a stock colourway or not.. If you arent already a fan of this italian modernist classic film...you MUST see it. my favorite film.The styling in it is so cool I swoon.
I felt the same way and it would have been my choice as well especially after seeing it in person last weekend but Ryan does have a gun.
Hey guys ! You are stepping on sacred ground here and I always thought customs and hotrods is a kind of religion . If you f-k up you go to H-LL , thats all there is to it and with that in mind there is no higher level of custom built than the Hirohata Merc . Also I thought the Mataranga Merc were wrapped around the famous light pole in -52 after the sale of Nick going to the Korea war , only being on the road for little over a year adds up to being finished 1950 and if so getting into this category but I can be wrong . Also lets not forget the Joe Pisano / Herb Ogden carsontopped 1941 Buick Roadmaster as one of the raw powers in custom universe , so heavy that its unreal this planet can carry this unit ! However if we get real down and dirty Sams -50 Buick seems to be on another level and I always thougt needed parental guidens to look at , cause that car got shapes and designs only appriciated by grown men so I have to line up my vote on Sams -50 Beauty . I know this is the wrong thread but if I got to limit my era I pick the golden custom car era of 1947 starting with George Barris -41 Buick and ending with the Bob Hirohata Merc in 1952 . You know radial tires were invented in 1953 so everything built after that is kind of modern . TinWolf
Did Ryan say what is MY favorite 50-58 custom? Then I would say Bill Johnson's chopped 57 Buick TwoChops
Choosing the CAR is easy for me -- it's gotta be Ron Dunn's shoebox that was sectioned at Valley Custom. Now my problem is choosing between the FIRST version and the SECOND. I'm thinking the first version wins. http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...om_cars/valley_customs-1/ron_dunn_1950_secti/
Favorite years would have to be 49-51. The Ron Donn car has been a favorite of mine since I saw it in one of Dad's little books back when I was a kid. The Sam Barris merc and the Hawaiian have always been what my mind saw when custom was mentioned.
I'm not a custom guy - at all... But I will own a coupe version of the Good Reverend's Kopperhead someday - sitting on a hot rod rake of course. Which reminds me... I need to go check on the '49 coupe I found in a yard last winter. JH
Trying to cut it down to one is tough. I would say the Aztec is my favorite. I narrowed it down to two, the Hirohata and the Aztec. Years ago I saw the Aztec at the KKOA Spectacular in Lancaster Ohio. I'm still having dreams about her...... Borrowed a picture from Kustoms Illustrated. Happy Trails, Mick
What!? Nobody mentioned the Polynesian sectioned Olds yet? Watson's '58 Eldo Brogham (sp?) Gil Ayala's T-Bird with the extruded metal fins? Or the old shop truck.
For me it has to be the 1st version of the '51 Earnst chevy. According to Pat Ganahl's book, The american custom car, it is the purple one that was built first, then the tri colored version was next. If we are talking about earlier built customs it would be the Merc of Sam Barris. After seeing this car in person this past weekend in Paso I am having a hard time finding words to describe how good this car looks.
Ben Mario's Buick or one of the similar Buicks... Made a post about it... Like-ta-hearit-Hereit-go: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=172307
I have to agree with Rikster's choice. And if the factory Concept Cars are included, the Futura. I keep looking at that Car and I'm amazed how something that over the top can still be that harmonious....
I've got to agree (today anyway) with Ryan but prefer the original version as shown here with the clone. Don Thompsons chevy with cad quarters is built the 80's i think, is what I 'd actually build though. Gotzy
I built rods mostly in the late 50's & start of the 60's,but my dayly driver was my full custom "Henry J"j-2 Ols, You can find it in 1963 jan Rod & Custom. 57 T-Brid Top/Stud rear window=front windshield/Desoto Dash/58 Ford grill etc.
I'd never seen the Don Thompson Chevy before. That's a pretty car. Proves a lot of what has been said about Flow.
The Buster Litton Ford (color pix in the new TRJ) is my first pick. Ryan, the 2-tone purple was the first version of the Ernst Chevy; I've always preferred the early color scheme. Keith's "fall colors" clone fixed a few detail glitches in the original, though; note the fit of the grille and the placement of the Continental spare.