Bill Heins kustom 56 Ford PICS, who was he?

[briggs&strattonChev]

Hey, I was at the Barrett-Jackson car auction in 2000, and I saw a REALLY SWEET 56 ford Kustom. It ive been trying to find info on it, and on the B-J site it says it was built by Bill Heins. The front end was completely remade with lead if I remember right. Said it was shown at the worlds fair (idk what year). Ill try to find a pic of it.

[briggs&strattonChev]

the car was red with a black roof, but it only had the rear half (Enough to cover the backseat). Had highly modified body, with semi molded lake pipes. The interior was very interesting. It was black leather I believe, but it was in a wraparound style. The drivers side bucket was normal, the passenger side bucket was turned to the right, the rear passenger seat was BACKWARDS and the driver side rear was normal if I remember right. Between these seats was a full curved console going into the back. Still looking for pics..................

[briggs&strattonChev]

heres a pic of the front (hopefully)

[briggs&strattonChev]

I think I have pics of the side and back somewhere, ill keep lookin

[briggs&strattonChev]

ah HA, heres a side pic

[Rocky]

OH, MY GOD! That is "interesting".... ehhhhhhhh, I hate it. And I love 56 fords. Not only is the design atrocious, the execution is horrid. I see lumps and bumps down the side. Nope, don't like it at all, not even a little bit.
sorry...

[Greezy]

I used to have nightmares as a kid of a monster chasing me, It looked just like that thing. Thanks Briggs...years of therapy down the drain...I want my mommy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[briggs&strattonChev]

lol then FUCK YOU Rock, just kidding. I think that the rippled side is just cause of reflections and the cardboard camera that I was using. If I remember right, it was very straight.

[Rocky]

Sorry, Briggs...just never was a fan of 5o's-60's wild customs. That car is prolly no worse than some of the others that give me cold shivers.... Now, gimme a nice, smooth Westergard custom 36, 3 window and I'll love it..

[Tiny]

Bill Hines not Bud

[briggs&strattonChev]

oh, is it Bill? it was shown as Bud, maybe its a nickname? Maybe searching with the right NAME would help me find info lol, thanks

Briggs

[choprods]

That was about where I got off the " custom " Hay wagon...they were so BIZARRE-that I just couldnt think they were "improved".[Sorry....] http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[fordnutz]

Customizing for the sake of customizing, not to make it look better. It looked better stock and I hate stock.

[50mercfan]

bill hines is originally from detriot where he worked for a number of different shops, including the alexander brothers. he moved to kustom central (california) in the 50's. he was famous for a couple of cars known as the lil' bat and the bat. the lil' bat is the car that got him his job at kustom city(barris'). he still wotks on kustoms today.

[Wowcars]

The front of the thing looks like that guy in the wind tunnel. Bill was a hell of a talented man, but some of his designs leave something to be desired.

[briggs&strattonChev]

anyone seen this car before/know when it was made/know its name?

lookin for any info at all

[atch]

while you guys are talking about bill hines, does anyone know if he ever lit those cigars, or did he just chew on them?

[hatch]

I like Bills nephews work..Teddy Z.

[Crease]

He still does alot of tech articles for either Rod N Custom or Street Rodder, cant remember which.

[Tiny]

That looks like the car that was at Paso last year. I have never heard of him refered to as Bud but who knows. If it is the same car yes it really is that f-ing bizzare looking. I think its proof that they had LSD in the 50's

[mikes51]

That car was featured in a World's Fair Exhibit of futuristic cars. Early 60's fair I believe. The car has been redone recently in pearl white paint.

[briggs&strattonChev]

mikes51-where did you find that info? Do you know where I could see more pics of it or get more info?

[mikes51]

[ QUOTE ]
mikes51-where did you find that info? Do you know where I could see more pics of it or get more info?

[/ QUOTE ]

I saw the car twice in paso. First, a couple of years ago in red as in your pic. Alongside the car were the photographs, posters, etc. that showed it in the World's fair exhibit.

I think it was just this year that we saw the car again in Paso. This time it was one of Bill's relatives that showed us again the World's Fair documentation.

Yea, I do remember the wild wrap around interior with the backwards seat. It was cool if you could picture it through 1960's era eyes. For better or worse, we have such good taste in our cars nowadays, it now looked over the top.

When the car was redone in white, the interior looked toned down to me.

[PasoJohn]

This car was built by Bill Hines and yes it was repainted a Pearl White. I saw it at Paso this year.

[Kustm52]

I'm sorry, but that's just f**cking wrong. Looks like something in the old east coast "little books"....those guys were smoking some serious shit.

Yep, Mr Hines does light the cigars...watched him chopping a top at a KKOA show one year...he's hell with a torch. He'd lead a while, then wave the torch in front of his face and relight the cigar...that car pictured is one ugly sob but he is one talent craftsman.

Brian

[50mercfan]

the moonglow was crushed at a junk yard and that thing is still around. what the hell?

[skipstitch]

Hmmm...proof positive that not all things "Kustom" are good. Just because you can weld and float lead, it does not mean you have taste. Personal opinion....the Bat was not good either... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Sorry, but talent does not equel taste..... Even Barris made some bad calls...Stitch

[Dat Dirty Rat]

[ QUOTE ]
the moonglow was crushed at a junk yard and that thing is still around. what the hell?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats funny,,but true!..My question is..If there was a 'pearl white one' at Paso this year & Briggs just showed us this one,,Does it mean there is 2 of these damn things??
Wich one is the original if they are not the same car or cloned,,,& why??

Bill Hines to me is a 'Legend'...Somebody i'd like to personally meet someday before time passes by!

[50mercfan]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm...proof positive that not all things "Kustom" are good. Just because you can weld and float lead, it does not mean you have taste. Personal opinion....the Bat was not good either... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Sorry, but talent does not equel taste..... Even Barris made some bad calls...Stitch

[/ QUOTE ]modern grecian http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[briggs&strattonChev]

Dat Dirty Rat, the red one I posted and the white one are the same car. I took the pics of the red one in 2000 and it musta been painted white after I saw it...........

[purple]

http://www.awaremag.com/graphics/wallace.jpg

[mr57]

That thing looks like a cross between Jaws and one of those bush women with the frisbee through their bottom lips:)

[briggs&strattonChev]

purple, it wont let me see the pic you posted

[kyle paul]

damn all u guy that hate that car look at the roots he been customizing for atleast 50 years and he is one of the greats up there with watson and barris ive seen his work in person and meet him for a guy thats like 80 or 90 his work is still better than most and yall should try to find some pics of his bat car and put those up itll do him some justice

[DrJ]

Here's Bill's Bat with friends fron Left Joe Bailon, Bill, Gene Winfield, John D'Agostino.
Note that Bill looks at the world and his cars from a different angle than a lot of us do.

picture stolen from here http://www.geocities.com/lowand77/legend.html

[Rocky]

Bat and lil' bat don't do a thang for me either...they just don't "flow". All the lines are in conflict with each other, IMHO. I always thought a good custom design should look like it could slip through the air withour disturbing it...

[50mercfan]

speedy, i don't think anyone is questioning the mans ability. it's just the design on the 56 is a little out there. the man has skills no doubt.

[John B]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's Bill's Bat with friends fron Left Joe Bailon, Bill, Gene Winfield, John D'Agostino.
Note that Bill looks at the world and his cars from a different angle than a lot of us do.

picture stolen from here http://www.geocities.com/lowand77/legend.html

[/ QUOTE ]



Thats my web page! Nice to know it actually came of some use. (Picture was taken by my friend Deb Butler at the KOA Double Date in 1999)

As for Bill's cars. Yeah, they are out there, but if I knew a fraction of what he's forgot. I'd have my own shop and be turning away customers. Maybe. If you ever get the chance to talk to Bill or watch him work. DO IT!!! He's over 80 and still a craftsman and an artist.

I think that car was done for a very early anti-drug campaign. This is your brain (Show a mildly customized car) and this is your brain on drugs ( Show the above custom)

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]

Thats my web page! Nice to know it actually came of some use. (Picture was taken by my friend Deb Butler at the KOA Double Date in 1999)

As for Bill's cars. Yeah, they are out there, but if I knew a fraction of what he's forgot. I'd have my own shop and be turning away customers. Maybe. If you ever get the chance to talk to Bill or watch him work. DO IT!!! He's over 80 and still a craftsman and an artist.



[/ QUOTE ]

John B,
I came across that one page thru a search.
I backtracked to your home page by shortening the URL but you don't seem to have any links working to get to any pages or even this page from your home page..Did you know that?

[=mike=]

That car scares me , and hurts my feelings deep down inside of me .

[Donzie]

I'll bet of all the cars he remembers building this is one he wishes he could forget. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Kilroy]

Check out the book "The American Custom Car" I think it's called. It's big and hard covered.

Towards the back of the book there's a picture of a "Matranga Merc Clone" that Bill built. It is in my opinion better than the original (At least from pictures, very few of us have seen the original in person http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

I might even go as far as saying it's one of the 10 top customs ever. It's absolutely beautiful...

His vision for extreme customs is different but his skills are second to none and his ability to execute on a plan is incredible.

[mikes51]

40 Phil,
Is this the one? "Stardust"? I agree, one of the top ten. http://www.johndagostinokustomkars.com/images/40%20Merc%20Stardust.jpg

[mytlo56]

Holy crap! Is that what happens when a large mouth bass mates w/ a 56 Ford? Geezus Creest! That's uglier than all hell.

[Sailor]

Stardust is absolutely stunning, but the model can retire.

[36couper]

She can retire to my 'home' anytime she wishes!

[John B]

[/ QUOTE ]

John B,
I came across that one page thru a search.
I backtracked to your home page by shortening the URL but you don't seem to have any links working to get to any pages or even this page from your home page..Did you know that?

[/ QUOTE ]


The Back button at the bottom of the page works. It takes you back to www.geocities.com/lowand77/Johnskustomtribute.html (http://www.geocities.com/lowand77/Johnskustomtribute.html) though.

If you shorten the url by taking away the legends part it takes you to a page I've really never done anything with.


Back to Bill Hines- I've got some video from the 1996 KKOA show in Ohio. Thats the one where he chopped a 30 something coupe over the weekend. It was great to watch him work and I was blown away by how relaxed he seems to always be.

[briggs&strattonChev]

hey, thanks for the repaint pic pasojohn, I REALLY appreciate it!

[HotRodDrummer]

Bill Hines is awesome!!

[choprods]

I agree- BilL Hines is a legend.....What I said was about customs of that era where they may or may not have crossed the line of Identification/Improvement.[I built one custom in the same vein] it was over TOO...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[50mercfan]

hey choprods lets see some pics of it.

[briggs&strattonChev]

At the Barrett-Jackson auction I was at the car didnt sell, and the high bid was a measly $8500. Even for those (most I guess haha) that hate it, that car represents a lot of work. I still think its sweet..................Briggs

[choprods]

50 Mercfan- I will look and see- I have a video but few pics[as I saw it in my sleep] most of the 5 years I worked on it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Centurion9]

The car was Pearl White when I saw it in 1961 or so......See other thread....C9

[rickyracer1962]

the car was red, then about 4 years ago a friend picked it up at an auction, my dad did all the bodywork, then it was reprayed pearl white. i think when it first showed at the worlds fair it was pearl white thats why jerry had it done pearl white. interesting, but ugly as hell. most of the wierd shapes were created using parts off cars of that era, bullets, fins, etc. the car also had a y-block in it with 3 dueces.

[theHIGHLANDER]

Does that car have a phony TV in it? As I go back through the years I remember a scary lookin 56 Ford Down the block from our house in Dearborn Hgts. The kid (and his dad) was named Joey Pastornack (sp?). He brought the pics in for show and tell in elementary school. They were real proud of it being a winner at Autorama that year. That had to be in 63-64, maybe? What are the odds of 2 (admittedly questionable) kustoms looking so similar? Anyone from Motown remember that car and that guy? I also remember his neighbor having a way kool 54 chev hard top. It was the 1st time I'd seen wet sanding being done.

[PeteMattersen]

That thing is nasty!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry bill

[hotrod1940]

I grew up in the Detroit area and spent many a day hanging around Bill Hines shop. I saw the original Bat being built in his shop on Dix highway. Most of the cars he did back then were black and flawless. He built the Dick Reims/Jerry Yatch 40 Merc that won the full custom at the Autorama for many years in a row. Built a wild 55 Merc for Mickey Chiado that was black and flawless. He painted my Jimmy Jones skirts for my 1956 Chevy hardtop. He moved in 1959 to California and worked for Barris for a while. I was proud to know him and glad he let me hang around his shop.
I could reel off a list of cars that he built in Michigan and then hundreds more when he arrived in California. Great guy and he does smoke the cigars and lights one after the other with the torch as has been said above.

[Dan Hay]

Yeah, it's ugly, but give the Bill Hines a break. Even Bill Cosby had one or two un-funny jokes.

[PurplePearl50]

its Bills style... just like Barris had a style and Balion ect ect... hes a great kustomizer im pround to have met him and have had him chop my car...

[dalesnyder]

Before I found the HAMB and started appreciating cars from this era I saw an episode from jesse james garage that had Bill Hines and Gene Winfield customizing a Merc, Man that was getting hit with a pipe as I had not known of these guys before. Talk about an introduction.

[PeteMattersen]

that was a 54 chevy, i was not much of a fan of the show but that episode was amazing.

[wbrw32]

Remember guys,someone was paying him to build that car.Maybe it was their design....I've never seen one of his that looked that Fugly.....

[hotrod1940]

Remember guys,someone was paying him to build that car.Maybe it was their design....I've never seen one of his that looked that Fugly.....

Exactly. Even today, as well as back then, the builder does what the owner asks. The cool cars that Sam Barris built were his own cars. It is a rare instance when an owner will drive up to a shop and say, build whatever you want and I will pay for it. Doesn't happen, then or now.
Also remember that the times were different then. When Bill Hines built the first Bat in the fifties, fins hadn't really arrived on the new cars yet. He was breaking ground with round rod and sheet metal. I remember being in his shop when the fins on the Bat were being formed, then the next thing I knew it was finished and painted flawless black (before the scallops) and sitting on the Autorama floor. This was Detroit and many show goers were factory designers. The next thing you know, all cars had fins.

[NONAME]

they say

"if you remember the 60's, you weren't there"

I was there and don't remember any cars like that on the west coast. here another beauty for your collection, a wasted 58 impala

[lucky]

perfect waste of a desoto grill...

[NINE INCH]

Stick that lip in Bubba! You might get er' stuck on a tripwire. Damn that thing is ugly. But, Bill Hines is a master with Lead, and a "second to none" fabricator from way back. :eek: B