Custom Car Chronicle

The first chopped 49-50 Mercury?

September 2, 2021September 13, 2021 Rik Hoving 21 Comments Alcorn, Ayala, Barris, Bettancourt, first chopped merc, Gaylords, king shirts, Mercury, Quesnel, Sledge Customs, Wally Welch

FIRST CHOPPED 49-50 MERCURY Who was the first one to chop the top of the 1949-1951 Mercury, the

Featured Cars Featured Custom Cars The Tom Nielsen Collection

Hometown Custom

August 10, 2021August 11, 2021 Tom Nielsen 5 Comments Bob Bedell, Dale Runyon, Jack Conner’s Speed Shop, John Orberg, Kenneth VK, KI, Rod Mckenzie, Roger Bedell, The Accelerators, Tom Nielsen

HOMETOWN CUSTOM It is unusual now as well as back in the fifties for a custom car to

custom cars Early Custom Cars The Tom Nielsen Collection

Custom 1933-34 Fords

June 17, 2020August 11, 2021 Tom Nielsen 2 Comments 1933 Ford, 1934 Ford, 33 Ford, 34 Ford, Classic Custom Car, spotlight

FORDS MODEL-40 CUSTOMIZED Today almost all of the modified ’33 and ’34 Fords are done up as street rods or

Custom Car Accessories Custom History The Tom Nielsen Collection

Antennas on Customs – Beam Me Up Scotty!

June 30, 2018August 11, 2021 Tom Nielsen 3 Comments Custom Accessory, Custom Antenna, Frenched Antenna, Space Age Antenna, Tom Nielsen

ANTENNAS on CUSTOMS When building a custom car the radio antenna is a feature that sometimes received “special

custom cars Custom History The Tom Nielsen Collection

Victoria Custom Stories

May 30, 2017August 11, 2021 Tom Nielsen 6 Comments 51 Victoria, Ford Vicky, Ford Victoria, Jay Johnston, Rodders Journal ad, Tom Nielsen

VICTORIA CUSTOM STORIES The stories that go along with the old pictures of early custom cars are sometimes

The Tom Nielsen Collection

What’s in a Name?

January 21, 2017August 11, 2021 Tom Nielsen 6 Comments Custom Car name, Jamco, Rodders Journal, Tom Nielsen, Tom Nielsen Custom Car names

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The trend originated from Motor Boats and WWII airplanes found its way into the Custom Car

Custom History The Tom Nielsen Collection

Canted Quad Lights

March 15, 2016August 11, 2021 Tom Nielsen 7 Comments 58 Lincoln, 60's style custom, Barris, Bill Cushenbery, Canted Quad Lights, Gene Winfield, KI, Quad Lights, Tom Nielsen

CANTED QUAD LIGHTS Canted Quad Headlights on Customs, a trend started in 1957 highlighted in the early 1960’s. By

custom cars

Eldon Gibson’s 1940 Oldsmobile

December 30, 2020April 8, 2021 Rik Hoving 0 Comments David E. Zivot, David Zivot, Dean Batchelor, Early Custom, Early Custom Car, Eldon Gibson Oldsmobile

“The Boulevardier” By David E. Zivot This is a most intriguing and nicely turned out custom. I first noticed it

custom cars Harry Westergard

Westergard classic 36 Ford

July 2, 2020July 3, 2020 Rik Hoving 9 Comments '36 Ford, Hall Tops, Harry Westergard, Jack Odbert, Padded Top, Sacramento, spotlight

CLASSIC WESTERGARD FORD One of the finest Harry Westergard build early style custom cars is Jack Odbert’s 1936 Ford convertible.

Custom History Early Custom Cars Historical Custom Car Shows

1950 Sacramento Autorama

February 22, 2020February 22, 2020 Rik Hoving 3 Comments Butler Rugard, C.A. Hall Auto Tops, Capitol City Auto Club, Dick Bertolucci, Hall Tops, Harold "Baggy" Bagdasarian, Harry Westergard, Kenneth VK, Les Crane, Less Crane, Sacramento Autorama, spotlight, Thunderbolts

1950 SACRAMENTO AUTORAMA The Capitol City Auto Club, better known as the Thunderbolts organized a two day Auto Show in

Custom History Early Custom Cars

The Willis Horn Coupe

February 1, 2020February 7, 2020 Rik Hoving 5 Comments 1936 Ford, 36 Ford 5-window, Filled Quarter window, Horn's Used Car lot, Jamco, Jeff Boone, Los Angeles Auto Auction, Rodders Journal ad, Rounded Corners, spotlight, The Willis Horn Coupe, Willis Horn

The Willis Horn Coupe In 1941 Willis Horn from Marysville California purchased a Custom 1936 Ford Chopped Coupe from a

Barris Kustom Shop

Bob Lund 50 Mercury

October 17, 2019October 17, 2019 Rik Hoving 8 Comments 1950 Mercury, 50 Merc, Barris Kustoms, Bob Lund, Sam Barris, spotlight

BOB LUND 50 MERCURY The Bob Lund 1950 Mercury convertible easily fits on the list of some of the best restyled

Featured Custom Cars

Bob Aguilera 53 Mercury

August 28, 2019September 21, 2019 David/Michelle 3 Comments 1953 Mercury, Al Andratti, Bob Aguilera, David E. Zivot, Dick Richardson, San Bernardino, spotlight

Plain, simple, tastefully done. That would be the best description of my favorite 1953 Mercury restyle. The Bob Aguilera 1953

Historical Custom Car Shows

1957 Sears Parking Lot Show

August 27, 2019August 29, 2019 Rik Hoving 14 Comments Outdoor Custom Car Show, Parking lot show, Petersen Publishing, Sears Parking lot, spotlight

1957 Sears PARKING Lot SHOW The parking lot at Show Arena. Started in the early 1950s, gathering some of the

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