Does anyone know any history of this car?
- This topic has 13 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 4 months ago by
KingKustoms.
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February 7, 2022 at 05:42 #72875
James Cicciarelli
ParticipantA friend just purchased this old custom, he would like to know the it’s history.
February 7, 2022 at 06:09 #72876Rik Hoving
KeymasterHello James, Nice find of your friend.
In the early/mid 1950’s there were many cars modified like this one, Sedan bodies shortened to made into a two seater Sports Custom… A lot of them were started, but never finished, the one of your friend looks to be wel made, and it looks like it had been actually finished and enjoyed on the road. Most samples I have seen were less customised as this one, that looks to have been customer quite a bit besides being shortened. with its modified wheel openings, new grille and headlights.
I do not recall ever seeing this one before though.
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
February 7, 2022 at 09:32 #72878Tinwolf
ParticipantI never seen it but it looks like alot of bodywork went into making it , is it sectioned . Is the top lift off or stationary ? Its most likely made of a 1951 Ford Victoria since thats the only -49-51 Ford with that rear window and bumpers and taillights are also 1951 Ford . Wheelwells looks like they took influence of late fifties early sixties even . The wheelwells remind me of something but I cant find it , I seached the Chrysler corp -55-60 lineup but could not find it , maybe someone knows where inspiration for these wheelwells comes from to futher figure when it was built ? Thanks for posting , very intersting to see old kustoms and sports customs are dragged out of long time storage !
Wolf
February 7, 2022 at 09:41 #72879Rik Hoving
KeymasterMy guess is the wheel openings are inprired from the 1955-56 Oldsmobiles
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
February 7, 2022 at 10:48 #72880Tinwolf
ParticipantYes the wheelwells are surely influenced by -55-56 Olds so my guess is this sportscustom is probably build around mid fifties , it was not many years before it got completely outdated which would also explain the many unfinished sport customs possibly started as backyard projects , in this case with the large amount of work in a shortening of the frame / body , sectioning of the body and mating the top toghether it seem more likely being a professional bodyshop involved . what part of US was this sportscustom found ?
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
Tinwolf.
February 16, 2022 at 00:11 #72925David Conrad
ParticipantI sure hope someone restores it .
February 16, 2022 at 00:13 #72926David Conrad
ParticipantWhere has it been hiding. What part of the country is it in?
March 9, 2022 at 14:11 #73059Tinwolf
ParticipantApril 27, 2022 at 18:34 #73304James Cicciarelli
ParticipantThis is the history of “Shorty” my friend has found so far.
April 27, 2022 at 18:59 #73305James Cicciarelli
ParticipantApril 27, 2022 at 19:01 #73307James Cicciarelli
ParticipantApril 28, 2022 at 08:49 #73308Rik Hoving
KeymasterThank you, very cool.
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
April 29, 2022 at 01:19 #73314WG
ParticipantCool car , nice to read about its history !
Regarding the last couple of sentences ;
Definitely leave the exterior as is ,it looks cool as shown with the fresh tyres & caps , fix the floor etc properly & install nicely detailed flathead !
It’s only original once , a custom which has deteriorated badly like the Bob Fairman / Jimmy Summers ’36 Ford did , I’d lean more towards restoration ( which the current owner did nicely )
Also , there’s a lot of work to completely restore it , whereas a lot of enjoyment can be had with the car as it looks now & you’re keeping more of the actual work that was done back in the day !
I’ve a 1957/58 Alken VW ,which was converted to electric by the Nic L Silver battery company in 1959. It still has its very cool original signwritten paint , but has a detailed chassis /floorpan & vintage speed look 1914cc VW dual carb motor ( electric power was long gone ), along with new Firestone WW on fresh painted rims. Bucket seats (like boat seats) still have original paint ,but white & black piping upholstery is new.
May 19, 2022 at 21:12 #73386KingKustoms
ParticipantShorty is really neat! Any more up close pictures? How about the picture of it from the guy’s wallet, which I assume is of the car in the ’50s?
Very cool!
Robert A. Radcliffe III
King Kustoms -
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