The polynesian custom

[fuel pump]

Does anyone have any good pictures of a sectioned 50 Olds hardtop called the polynesian. It was built by Neil Emory and Clay Jensen at Valley Customs in Burbank. I'm told by a very reliable source (thanks Mike!) that it had a killer 50s Buick color called Titian Red. Do any of you guys have a picture of the polynesian or any other car painted that color?

[McGrath]

Found one but the site said it was constructed by Jack Stewart of Valley Custom. They called the color "Orchid Flame"...

http://www.hotrodsonline.com/HallOfFame/Polynesian/

[McGrath]

http://www.buicks.net/years/55/55paint.html

Heres a Die cast 55 painted Titian Red. Doesn't look like the Flake is 1:18 scale though...

[Nads]

When we were leaving Daytona we stopped to eat at The Cracker Barrel. On the way out in the back parking lot was the Polynesian 11 clone. Boy how we drooled?
Who built the replica?
It's gorgeous.

[Dago Red]

[ QUOTE ]
Found one but the site said it was constructed by Jack Stewart of Valley Custom.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was constructed FOR Jack Stewart BY Valley Custom.

[Sailor]

Dago Reds correction is important.

[mytlo56]

I've got an old small book w/ a feature on it (can't remember which one). If you're really interested I'd let it go for $25. It's got all the original details on the car. PM me.

Sectioning seems to be an almost lost form of customizing these days. I can understand why, as it's a boat load of work...but the results are cool on slab sided cars like shoe boxes and such.

[RileyRacing]

There's an article about it in the "Best of Hot Rod-1949-1959" but no color pix.

Jay

[toledobill]

I saw the clone at the Cobo show, and loved it. A few years later, in the July 2002 issue of Custom Rodder, they mentioned how much they'd like to find out whatever happened to the original. They said Ganahl could only find out that it was bought by somebody who ran a body shop called "The Red Lacquer Room" in either Indiana or Ohio. Reading that issue, I hopped on Google and ran the body shop down to 109 Munroe Falls Avenue in (it said) Munroe Falls, Ohio. I let CR know, but got no response. Then a month or so later I was in the Cleveland area on a Sunday, and swung by Munroe Falls -- the only address even close to 109 is the city Police station. Luckily, an officer there knew the Red Lacquer Room really did exist, but it was one village over, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I drive over to 109 Munroe Falls Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls and take pictures of the Red Lacquer Room body shop. The building looks like it's a going business, although the remains of two Porsches and an Edsel by the garage doors look like they've been sitting there rusting for more than a few years. The sign on the door lists daily hours Monday through Friday, Saturday "by chance", and closed Sunday. Their phone at the time was (330) 929-8161. I send off another email with the pictures to CR offering to follow up further if they want. They never answered me, so I let it drop. Are there any HAMBers in the Cleveland area that know more about the fate of the original Polynesian?

[Bruce Lancaster]

The old "How To Build a Hot Rod" book put out by HRM has a really neat picture of the car with all the sheetmetal cut out for the sectioning with the pillars still intact--ready to drop! That picture makes me want to grab a Sawzall and head for the wife's toyota...

[safariknut]

Rich I just checked the Custom Rodder book pictured here and confirmed what I thought:the Polynesian was painted a special mix called Polynesian Purple and not Titian Red.
Titian Red was a popular color on mid-50's Buicks and was used extensively as a custom finish in the late 50's and early 60's.My cousin owned a Deuce roadster from 69 to 79(originally built by Norm Wallace in the early 50's and currently owned by Larry Hook;a striper in Rhode Island)that was painted that color;in fact we painted it 3 times in the 10 years he owned it.The first time was because he wanted to;the next because we had to!We brought it out of a car show in January(60 degrees inside;10 degrees outside)and home about 10 miles.The sudden temperature change was too much for the old(nitrocellulose)lacquer and the next day the car's finish looked like the surface of the moon!
The color itself is close to the metallic red seen on newer Chrysler cars(the strawberry shade).On Dick's car,the color varied because we tried using a different color primer the second time;instead of a dark grey we used a light grey and the coppery tint came out more.I would have liked to have seen it with a red primer underbase.
I think any good paint shop could still formulate it and if not I know a guy in Massachusetts who could.He's an old time rodder and worked and then owned a paint shop for years.He's retired now but could probably be talked into working some magic yet.
Ray

[RPW]

Very interesting about the Red Lacquer Room! Am I all wrong if I state that one of the Barris 48 Chev coupes have been spotted on the same place? Remember reading that some time ago.Anyone with info about it?


Anyway, a wellknown car in the legendary color Buick Titian Red was Sam Barris Buick. Since not many have their screens calibrated to show the colors right, and photos seldom shows colors right, I will suggest a visit to an paintshop that knows their stuff. But beware, its the early Buick Titian red, color code 74, that is the right color (the later Titian red is all wrong if you are lookin for the historic custom color). If you have the book Custom Cars and Lead Sleds, there is a some good color photos of Sam´s Buick. Otherwise there is a photo on the net at http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/attachment.php?s=41322c5f0508126a970fbf4d80c98037& postid=3547

[shoebox72]

Just FYI. the 1954 Custom Cars annual has a 47 page write-up on the entire buildup of the Polynesian. Its a must see if you're a fan of this car.

The color mentioned in the article "a lively maroon-toned metallic purple, which Niel called "Orchid Flame."

Billy

[RPW]

Toledobill: Sorry to say, but its getting more and more obvious... CR dont care for old customs anylonger.
Do a follow up and I will run it in Lead News!
I would love to know more. And the adress/phonenumber seems to be the correct (did a check at yellow pages).
Too bad Im soo far away...

[cabriolethiboy]

John Ballard of Anderson, Indiana built the clone. He sold it about 7 or 8 years ago after he got discouraged when the hood flew up while on the road. I think he sold it to Walker in Mo. Some of you older guys might remember John Ballards 40 or 41 candy green Willys that got best engineered at the second Street Rod Nationals. He still has the Willys, but it hasn't been on the road since the early 80's. Its had about 3 different engines, a couple paint jobs, a couple interiors, and a couple frames since then but has never hit the road. Probably never will. Too bad.

[50mercfan]

toledobill, thanks for the info on the red lacquer room. i've tried to find info on it, but came up dry.

[royall]

Hi
I live in the Phoenix Az area and was at a cruz nite last saturday and
there was a 50 olds hardtop called "Polynesian ll" yes it was that great Dago red great lookin car. If you send me a E mail I'll try and get you a picture of this car. the grill is just a opening with a bumper running through it frenched head lites and tail lites.
I think I seen this car in the 50 in a mag. this car has all the 50's look


bobby_royal@yahoo.com

[oldcarmike]

http://images9.fotki.com/v174/photos/2/223020/2672021/Hirohata04-vi.jpg?1127370387

http://images14.fotki.com/v225/photos/2/223020/2672021/Hirohata01-vi.jpg?1127370387

This is one of my all time favorite customs. The Valley Custom style really stikes a chord with me, very subtle and elegant. Nothing garish or over the top. (Looking in your direction George...)

[fiftyfiveford]

Lotsa pix here on Rikster's Fotki page http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/valley_customs-1/jack_stewarts_polyn-3/

[pimpin paint]

Toledobill: Sorry to say, but its getting more and more obvious... CR dont care for old customs anylonger.
Do a follow up and I will run it in Lead News!
I would love to know more. And the adress/phonenumber seems to be the correct (did a check at yellow pages).
Too bad Im soo far away...

Hey,

'noticed the referance to "Lead News".........
How's one go about gettin a copy?

tankx,

Swankey Devils C.C.

[akustom57]

There is a very good write up in the new issue of Kustoms Illustrated written by Rikster, the original was recently redone and is still in Ohio

[daveydeuce]

Does anyone have any good pictures of a sectioned 50 Olds hardtop called the polynesian. It was built by Neil Emory and Clay Jensen at Valley Customs in Burbank. I'm told by a very reliable source (thanks Mike!) that it had a killer 50s Buick color called Titian Red. Do any of you guys have a picture of the polynesian or any other car painted that color?

The "Polynisian" lives and is alive and well in Mesa and can be seen on most Sat nights at the Superstiton Springs Hot Rod gathering. Belongs to "Butch Beabeau" of Mesa who has owned/built many Hot Rods and Customs.
Seen it there again a couple weekends ago parked in all its splender. Still one of the best west coast customs.

[The Catholic]

The red lacquer room is still very much in business. I was told its still one of the top places for body work in Ohio. Just don't plan to see your car 3-4 years. The owner is Gene(can't recall any more) Myron Vernis who runs the Glenmore Gathering(the replica polynesian was there last year) he would be the one to contact if you'd like info on the lacquer room(I have a e-mail and phone # if you need it). He has the contacts and knows who owns the place and might be able to confirm about the car. -The Catholic

[4t64rd]

This is the one that was the Autorama, sorry about the quality, Can anybody get a decent picture in Cobo Hall?
http://www.traditionalhotrod.com/images/poly1.jpg
http://www.traditionalhotrod.com/images/poly2.jpg

[junkman356]

The Polynesian that was at the Glenmoor Gathering in September of 2005 was the one and only ORIGINAL Polynesian. It was restored for the event by its long-time owner, Gene Blackford of the Red Lacquer Room in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The original owner of the car, Jack Stewart, was also present at the event. It was an amazing sight to have two of the greatest classic original Customs of all time (the Polynesian and the Hirohata Merc) together in a circle of wonderful Cutoms. The pics from Cobo are of the same car.

[37hotrod]

There's a nice two page spread on the original Polynesian in the book "Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle". It is currently in the bargain section at your local Barnes & Noble. It has a picture of Frankenstudes nose on the cover, if that will help you spot it.

[original patina]

Actually viewed the Polynesian pre-restoration in either '96 or '97. It was bitchin' enough to see then. These pictures were taken a decade after that.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5121/polynesian3wp8.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5253/polynesian2du8.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7161/polynesian4gv5.jpg

[daveydeuce]

The "Polynisian II" still lives and is alive and well in Mesa and can be seen on most Sat nights at the Superstiton Springs Hot Rod gathering. Belongs to "Butch Bebeau" of Mesa who has owned/built many Hot Rods and Customs.
Seen it there again a couple weekends ago parked in all its splender. Still one of the best west coast customs.
The "Polyniesian II" is still here in Mesa with Butch, has 53 Olds hubcaps on it instead of the Lincolns like the orig did..

[gkgeiger]

I saw the car at Gene's shop a few months ago. It's the real deal.

[Preacher]

That is one cool looking ride

[leadsled01]

The red lacquer room is still very much in business. I was told its still one of the top places for body work in Ohio. Just don't plan to see your car 3-4 years. The owner is Gene(can't recall any more) Myron Vernis who runs the Glenmore Gathering(the replica polynesian was there last year) he would be the one to contact if you'd like info on the lacquer room(I have a e-mail and phone # if you need it). He has the contacts and knows who owns the place and might be able to confirm about the car. -The Catholic

Yep, Gene Blackford at the Red Lacquer Room in Cuyahoga Falls. Gene a good guy, just really busy and hard to track down.