Tom Hocker Barris 1940 Ford Restoration Progress
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I think you are right Tony. I just hope that the rest of us normal guys can keep up when the budget on a paint job is more than our entire builds. I think I gravitated to customs because they represented someoneās personal art. Built in a shed. Put together on a real and limited budget. The big budget, unlimited budget Pebble Beach perfection is not something most can aspire to. Iām not being critical of this build, donāt get me wrong, itās a piece of history being resurrected forever. But to drive it down the road and hang out with your mateāsā¦. maybe not. I helped my mate build a 53 Eldorado and he was a perfectionist. He built the perfect overrestored car. Drove it three times to coffee runs until the paint burned on the heat riser on the intake manifold from driving 50 miles. Then worried if he sat in the driverās seat anymore that the cushion might get creased. So he covered it up with 4 protective car coversā¦.. and then sold it cos he couldnāt handle the obligation of having attained perfectionā¦. knowing that day by day the components were ever so microscopically deterioratingā¦. dayā¦. byā¦. day. He sold it. Thatās an extreme example. And please donāt think I am criticising this build.
Hi Quentin,
In reply to your perspective, Iāve completed this restoration in a small metal shed behind my modest house. Nothing fancy, homemade paint booth, basic tools, and doing everything in a small space based off improvising using what is available. The same top notch quality can be achieved with my basic setup, as what is done in these big name professional shops. Iām a one-man operation, and handle everything myself, except interior. This car deserves nothing but the best, and thatās what Iām giving it. Of course it wonāt be driven regularly, until itās been displayed at shows in itās newly perfected condition, but afterwards, the owner does plan on driving it locally and enjoying it on the road. No disrespect to your comment, just wanted to clear some things up that you may have not been aware of. Cheers.
All the more credit to you then John. I was a bit overwhelmed (read jealous) by the level of detail most of us only dream of attaining in between getting kids to school or work and fixing leaking taps in the shower, in between scrounging the registration and insurance of our work car…. life sometimes gets in the way of building cool cars.
I got a shock recently when I read the build cost of a prominent custom that indeed inspired my Packard was $2 plus million. Iām hoping to spend $15k in total. Plus my time.
Youāre building a really cool car and an important piece of history. Credit to the owner as well for paying you and entrusting you to bring something important back to a fabulous level. Ā So my comments werenāt meant to be taken literally but more of an observation of my own failings. Haha. There are many.
Glad you personalised it for us. Keep doing what you do Mate.From John…
“Ryan Cleek snapped some crisp shots indoors of the Tom Hocker 1940 Ford. Final paint pics coming soon.”
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From John….
“A few more photos from when I finished clearing everything a few weeks ago, pre cut/buff. Pleased with the results considering this is my 3rd complete paint job to date. Itās time consuming and challenging to handle this stage of a build, especially solo. As nice as a āmetal finishedā body may look in pics, it will always need to be surfaced and sculpted before paint, and itās not easy. Spraying metallics and pearls is difficult as well, and this one proved to be challenging. The clear was a breeze compared to laying the base down evenly.
Iām consistently working to become better at every aspect of a full build, minus upholstery, which is the main job I have someone else do.
Always learning & aiming to improve, and very grateful for those who I look up to, that have offered their advice and guidance when I need it. Big part of progression is choosing the right people to be around and learn from.
Final results of polished paint coming soon.”
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From John…
“Great times with these two legends…Harold Johnson of the Long Beach Renegades and Steve Stanford. When I first met Harold, I showed him Steveās painting of The Clock Drive-In, which he had never seen before. He said how much he would enjoy a copy, so I made him one. To top it off, I had Steve cruise over so the two could meet and spend some time together. We kicked back, talked cars, joked around, and enjoyed some pizza & drinks. Great evening among some great friends.”
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From John…
“Finished product of the front bumper for the Hocker. So much work invested into this. ā49 Pontiac bumper sliced in middle, narrowed, ends cut and brought forward to match fender radius, then metal finished, coppered, and blocked to perfection. I handle all my own blocking/fitment, and then have my plating shop do the final coats of nickel & chrome.
The acrylic lenses are handmade, and feature a frosted background, just like the originals.
The backsides of the guards and license plate frame were capped, fit flush with bumper edge, and treated to a mirror finish.
The paper Kustoms Los Angeles plate completes the picture perfect look.
The inside of the bumper is also finished nicely in satin grey paint, to attain an ultra clean look, and compliment the chromed bumper brackets.”
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From John…
āIllumination resultsš”āØ
Pictured here is the brightness for the running lights, and turn signal/brake will brighter when activated. The front lenses feature a frosted background, whereas the rears are more prismatic.
Nice to see the finished results after all the time put forth in design and fabrication.ā
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I think I might give John a free bed and lodging and a free unrestored 53 Eldo if he starts work on all my unfinished projects. 7 am Monday.
From John….
āFew more shots of the completed bumpers, which show the detailed backsides as well.ā
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From John…
“How-To feature regarding the bumper guard lenses. Straight from the pages of Car Craft ā54, showing how the original Hocker lenses were made. Another piece of historical documentation to add to the collection of this timeless custom.”
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From John….
“Honored to have Junior Conway visit and view the ā40 in the freshly completed paint. He was thrilled with the results, and it means a lot coming from someone of his caliber. He loved the color and and was excited to see the newly restored version. He has a keen memory of the car and the work that was performed during his time at the Barris shop, and is the last living individual that worked on the car from the time period of ā55-ā58. He did the sanding and prep before George painted it.
Itās been a special opportunity to be involved with this iconic custom, and time spent with people like this is priceless.”
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From John…
“Detail work on the spotlights. Originally painted by Dean Jeffries, they were asymmetrical in design and location. The color was also much darker than the car itself. I used my enlarged photos from @petersenmuseum to achieve the best possible replication of proportions. Then tape, mask, scuff, and shoot some dark candy blue. Final touch will be the striping, which Iāll post tomorrow.”
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From John…
“Steve Stanford laying down the icing on the cake! I chose Steve to apply the finishing touches on the spotlights, and he absolutely nailed it. A great friend and incredibly gifted artist…I knew he would be the right person to handle it. I keep a tight circle of people who I trust & respect, and Steve is in the top list. I always strive to do as much as I can on my own, but in some circumstances, I reach out to others to assist me in areas where their game is much sharper than mine. Iām beyond happy with the results and it adds something special to this historic custom that has had many talented hands involved since the beginning. Big thanks to Steve for the stellar work and solid friendship throughout the years.”
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Latest update from John Canepa.
āFresh whitewalls courtesy of Coker Tire compliment the new paint and custom caps perfectly. Couldnāt be happier with how things are coming together.ā
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