History What Ever Happened to..........?

If you take a look at the album for this car on Rik's site, I believe the last 10 or so photos are of it's current state (or at least a few years ago) Different caps/wheels, more grill teeth, blue dots on the Cadillac tail lights, no striping, etc.




http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...s/49-51_ford_custom_cars/jim_wilkens_51_sect/

 

Hard to tell for sure but the dual aerials in the right front fender may be gone as well. They aren't visible here,

 

Hey Mark, next time toy talk to him ask if he got it from Bennie Manis in WV. That's the last time I saw it. About 7 years or so back. I'll go search my pictures and see if I can find my photos of it.

 

Here goes nothing .... old car guy = old camera guy = old phone guy = old technology guy.
Going to try to upload a digital pic of the print I have of the Jon Gullett Ford Coupe.

If I'm not back in ten minutes, send an ambulance

 

It has West Virginia plates on it in the photos I posted above from Rik's album.

 

Holy crap, it worked! I shot this at 2013 Back to the 50's in Minneapolis. Did not notice the MN plate at the time, and did not look at window card, just assumed it was Jon's. Still a great example of a mild custom with a timeless look.

 

Hey look, Bill is back...!!! How ya been...??? How's married life Bill...??? Get anything done on that Buick kustom yet...???

R-

 

What year was this shoebox by Jim Wilkins??? There is a Jim Wilkins here in Texas,built a Cad powered 51 Merc several years ago..same 51 Merc now owned by Paul Wayne Adams of Dallas
Jim lives in Greenville,Texas and is close to 80 years old if he is same man that lived in Cincy

 

54delray, thanks for posting the photo (or should I say taking the time to figure out how!).
Sure looks like it to me, sans door handles.....

 

Sancho, thanks to my great kids, I only needed a little duct tape to hold all the brain pieces in

Roger, thanks for the welcome back, since you are the one who originally introduced me to the HAMB. Check your email box for an answer to your questions. It's all great, man!!!

 

Thanks for the posts Sancho. I looked around Rikster's site and I came up with zero. Lots of great information!

54delray--your pic worked! Looks like Jon's car to me.

Moriarity, thanks for the update on "Lil' Miss Vicky". Nice to know she's still around and in good hands!

Wbrw32, "Lil' Miss Vicky" was a '51. I think this might be the same Jim Wilkins you mentioned. There is a picture of his chopped '51 Merc convertible in the KKOA Commemorative Book that was printed in 2003 on page 57. Don't know how old the picture is, but I'd venture a guess that this is the same guy. Once you get kustom fever, it never completely gets out of your system! E

 

I'm pretty sure he still lives in Indiana, so the Texas Jim Wilkins would be a different person.

 

Well, it looks there is more than one Jim Wilkins into customs, although they are many states apart.
The replies in this thread and the Kustom Blues thread prove that the CCR is THE best all kustom show in the U.S.A.. E

 

I sure want to. Gotta quit procrastinating and just go! E

 

I actually did something I swore I'd never do. Used my credit card to finance part of the trip to CCR. I have no regrets about it. Well worth it.

 

I know what you mean John. I have an emergency card that I might have to break out next year to go. Missing out is turning into an emergency (lol)! E

 

+1. A not to be missed show for me.

 

I like old cars but my true love are customs. This is why I never miss going to Salina or Indy for the Custom Car Revival.

 

If that ain't a baited hook!

 

Glad to see Lil Miss Vicky is back to a brighter red and wearing hubcaps again.
Jim is a long time friend of my family. Remember this car from back when I was little and was glad if I couldn't afford the Oriental that someone like him got it and it stayed local. Jim's other "famous" car is "The Handshaker" Willys gasser that he drag races around here the past 15 years or so.

 

Still lookin' sharp! Thanks for the update, Mark! E

 

And the aerials are still there!

 

Well, last night I was re-reading some of my old Classic & Custom magazines and guess what? Bob's Hudson was featured in the Feb. 1983 issue! Thought I would share it here for those that wanted to see...
Sorry for the poor scans, the photos in the magazine aren't great to begin with.

 

Thanks for the update Sancho. That is one issue of C&C that I don't have. Nice article to read through, too. The part about finding the NOS parts was kool. In my opinion, it tells of how the best days of working on old cars are unfortunately behind all of us.
That was such a killer Hudson! I'd roll it all day with pride! E