Features Kustoms blues? I need to see some kustoms....

OG lil E, I had a similar experience with Donn. I was just a young guy learning about customs, working for John Pazsik, and a guy named Manny Bastiao came to John's shop. He knew him from back in the day, but had moved to Colorado, then came back to Jersey. In Colorado, he owned a junkyard, and did frame swaps, right near Donn's shop. He did a frame swap on Tommy DeRosa's Chevy for Donn, and Donn did a bunch of custom work on Manny's 56 Merc. When Manny came back tt Jersey, he looked up John to have it finished and painted. I helped with this, and even designed and executed the ghost scallops on it.
We drove out to the Springfield OH, Leadsled that year, Manny with the Merc, and me with my primered, chopped 55 Olds I had been working on. I got to meet Donn there, as he and Manny reunited, as well as Dave Crook, who was there to pick the Harry Bradley Award, Donn was very gracious in complimenting my work (so crude compared to his!) and my choice of customizing on my Olds. Both he and Dave were very encouraging in discussing bodywork and customs, and my future in working on them. I always appreciated the time they spent to talk with me and keep my spirits up, and give me credit for the work I did, especially compared to the wonderful customs that were at the show.
Whenever I saw Donn at a Spectacular, or the Oakland Roadster show, or Detroit, he always took the time to talk with me for a while. A wonderful man, and a great artist and metal shaper!
He also helped us with the grill and tail lights, doing the metal finishing and plating, on the Kopper Kart!

 

Great shots of the family transportation. No wonder he's a car guy. Looking forward to see him up here in my neighborhood.

 

That's great chopolds! Nice to know that Donn is not only a true custom guy, but also "ordinary" enough to talk to up-and-comers or anyone else who loves customs or shows some interst in them. Too many times I can recall trying to talk to famous builders or car owners and they act like they could care less. Their arrogance can be a real turn off.

I've always dug your Olds, and we've talked before about how I saw it on a video at a Leadsled in the 80s. They were having the reverse skills competition with cones and you were killing everyone. You told me that you thought it was because you had the advantage of having the three piece '57 Buick back window in your car. Great stuff! Those early Leadsled Spectaculars must have been great. Wish I could have made it to one before my first in 2000. E

 

Here's a photo of the three together (from Rik Hoving's archives).

 

Saw this photo on Kustomrama,, damn this thing is low

 

Also im looking for a pic i believe was posted on this tread earlier of what i think was a 53/54 chevy with an oldsmobile waterfall style grille, it looked like it was a build in progress,, anyone have pics or info?

 

Aha! I knew I'd seen that photo somewhere! Now if only I had actually been there...

 

I had the distinct pleasure of designing & printing Donn's business cards for him shortly after he moved to Oregon...and as far as I know, he is still in Oregon and still building kustoms...

R-

 

Kenny Dean's , Fredricksburg Virginia . KUSTOM PERFECTION

 

MannyK, is it this one? (Dan Greenburg photo from post #126) It's a '49-'52.

 

That's pretty neat, Roger. I wish he would've stayed here in Colorado. We don't have enough custom guys here these days..........E

 

That's the one, thanks. The grille has an unbelievable flow to it. Perfection

 

Took these a few years ago, apparently before I learned how to take good photos.

 

I like the white shoebox. Does anyone else have anymore pics?
Matt

 

Bummed to say I went through that folder of photos again and that was the only one I had. It was a nice car.

Took that at the yearly car show the Ford dealer in Annapolis does, I think either '12 or '13.

 

Here is one

 

Thanks guys. You never disappoint.
matt

 

Can we bring this back to the top??? Dos anyone know what custom this is,, I saw it on a video about Barris. Sorry for the terrible quality

 

MannyK,
http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=XM105

 

MannyK, As you can see by the link above, that was one of Bob Metz' customs.
If you are not familiar with Metz, he is the one responsible for putting the fins on the Rod & Custom Dream Truck, as well as the fins (and much other work) on the Golden Sahara. (Two of the most iconic customs of all time.)

 

I haven't added any in a while. Here are a few from Sleds Midwest (Sleds in September at the time), Branson, MO in 2009.

Mr Straykat hisself:


Myrna Bozarth's fantastic '57 Olds:






Real nice '51 Merc that I have since seen up for sale on ebay and a few other places over the last couple of years.

Herb Ogden '41 Buick from Kurt's collection.






Bill Daniel's shoebox ranchero:

 

My pic from 2014 Rodders Journal show.

 

Ooooh, more shots of that Nash, please!!!

 

Any more of this 41?

 

Here's all the ones I have from that show:

 

I'm in love.

 

Isn't that a Barris car???