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Joe Bailon Custom Shop

Bailon Ranchero Restored

 

BAILON RANCHERO RESTORED

 

NEWS FLASH… The Davi Horace Joe Bailon 1949 Ford Ranchero from the 1950’s has been restored and debuts at the 2016 Santa Maria Show.



The Joe Bailon built 1949 Ford Ranchero for Horace Davi from the early/mid 1950’s restoration has been completed. The car debuts at the 2016 Santa Maria West Coast Nationals Cruising Nationals show. The last photos I had seen of the car were from the 2015 Grand National Roadster show when the car was in primer at the event. I had heard the restoration was completed, but had not seen any photos of it, until today Friday May 27, 2016. The car had arrived at the Santa Maria show host hotel parking lot, and Larry Davidson took a snapshot of it which he shared on his Facebook. It is really great to see the car back on the road again. First time I read about the car and that it had survived was in 1992. Then in 2009 I saw it in person at the Sacramento Autorama where it was displayed and offered for sale.

CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2016This is how the car sits in 2016 at the Santa Maria host hotel parking lot.
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Joe Bailon created the car for Horace Davi from a wrecked 2 door sedan.  The body was sectiond 4 or 5 inches (Several period magazine list different measurements for this) inches and the windshield chopped 3 inches. The top of the windshield was replaced by a section Joe cut from a wrecked convertible. Wheel opening were opened up and reshaped with a new round shape following the white wall tires. The rear of the body was converted to a pick up bed including a hand made tailgate. This needed a lot of work to get the body stiff enough. The front fenders were re contoured and now flow nicely in the front splash pan which is also the bottom of the much smaller grille opening. There is no real grille in the car, just a modified 1951 Ford grille surround at the top and the custom bumper at the bottom of the grille opening.  A new removable top was cut and reshaped from a wrecked Ford coupe. Pontiac taillights were added to the rear fenders and the rear bumper was replaced by an modified Oldsmobile unit.

The car looks really nice, from what I see it is almost complete, only missing the stainless around the windshield. I do notice that during the restoration something was changed on the front fender lower corners. Joe Bailon had rounded off the front edge of the front bumpers to make them flow nicely into the bumper. It looks like the restored car had the front fenders replaced and the lower edge was not modified as Joe had done in in 1954-55. The car is now owned by Bob Dron.

CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-01The Ford “Ranchero” at Joe Bailons shop in 1955.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-mag-01Car Speed and Style magazine article on the Ford.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-mag-coverBeautiful color photo of the Ford at Joe’s shop in 1955 was used on the cover of the Car Speed and Style magazine. (thank you Ron Brooks for the scan)
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2009-02The car was in rough shape when it was displayed at the 2009 Sacramento Autorama.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2009-01The then owner offered the car for sale at the show.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2009-03The modified bumper at the front and the sectioned front fenders with frenched headlights where in bad shape and needed a lot of work, just like basically everything else on the car.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2015-02In 2015 the car was displayed at the Grand National Roadster show and all the major work had been done and the car was in primer with guide coat ready for paint.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2015-01Notice that the top is still in bare metal so that we can see how much work it had done to get the right shape to fit the Ranchero style body.
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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2016-02


CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2016-03


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CCC-bailon-horace-davi-49-ford-resto-2016-05 Santa Maria 2016.
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(this article is sponsored by)

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Rik Hoving

Rik is the CCC editor in chief. As a custom car historian he is researching custom car history for many years. In 2004 he started the Custom Car Photo Archive that has become a place of joy for many custom car enthousiasts. Here at CCC Rik will bring you inspiring articles on the history of custom cars and builders. Like a true photo detective he will show us what's going on in all those amazing photos. He will write stories about everything you want to know in the realm of customizing. In daily life Rik is a Graphic Designer. He is married to the CCC webmaster and the father of a 10 year old son (they are both very happy with his excellent cooking skills)

6 thoughts on “Bailon Ranchero Restored

  • Looks fantastic! I met the owner at GNRS this past January when he was looking for the hard-to-find ’53 Pontiac tail lights. My buddy Jason Bickford donated a pair for the restoration. Very cool to see this one brought back to life!

    Looks like a tone of metalwork was necessary on this restoration.

  • I liked this car when it was current, and I’m glad to see it back. I agree with your comments about the front fenders and the essential windshield stainless trim.

  • RIK FIRST THANKS SHOWING MY RESTORED JOE BAILON SHAMPOO TRUCK. SINCE I HAVE OLD BLACK & WHITE PHOTO’S OF THE CAR BEENING BUILT,I KNOW THE CAR WAS A CONVERTIBLE,THE TOP WAS FROM A 4 DOOR SEDAN,THE CAR WAS BUILT IN1952-53. IT WAS FIRST SHOWED IN 1954 AT OAKLAND. IT’S FIRST MAGAZINE WAS ROD & CUSTOM MAY 1955 AND AGAIN IN CAR SPEED & STYLE ON THE COVER OCT 1958. YES I AM STILL FINISHING THE CAR. NEW GLASS AND TRIM IS BEENING PUT IN RIGHT NOW. I PLAN ON CORRECTING THE FRONT FENDERS. IT’S BEEN ONE HELL OF OF JOB,AND WE ARE GOING TO FINISH IT RIGHT. THANKS AGAIN BOB

  • The car is now for sale.I want to build the So-Cal plating car/truck the correct way, not like some that I have seen.So I am thinning the herd so I can do that.How do I place an add in your Custom Car Chronicle. Bob 510-816-5004 Thanks for keeping the memories alive Rik

  • Hi Bob
    I bought a 53 pre-ranchero, 5 years ago on Maui. Original build in 1954 there and put in a barn in 87. I have it in Cal now to start the restoration. I can’t post pics here but if you’re interested in having a look call me at eight o eight 3572675. I would be curious of your input. Thanks Brian

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