Any one remember this car from the mid to late 60's, pretty sure it was called "Crimson Critter " Any Info ? Thanks in advance .
Nevermind, the one I thought about is a different car. http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/1/33-34-ford-coupe-bo/ I have seen other photos of that one before, I just can't remember where.
This help?? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Popular-HOT...913?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e6893c29 Photo looks to be of a different car but they cover the Crimson Critter.
I remember seeing it in that issue of Popular Hot Rodding and probably still have the issue The car was one of those "radical" show rods that probably never ran and was hauled from show to show for a couple of years. I didn't really car for it then and it has no appeal for me now. It is a prime example of a showrod of that era that was built with an enlarged copy of the ISCA show judging sheet tacked to the shop wall to make sure that the builder/owner got in every change and modification to garner all possible show points no matter how they did or did not contribute to the total look of the car or blend in with the rest of it.
Thanks guys, you have been a big help as usual. Every one has different opinions of this car but don't forget it was the 60's, & I have seen worse. When I first saw it as impressionable 15 year old I thought it was the duck's nuts. Would be nice to see how it looks today whatever the outcome.
This car is in the process of a full restoration and will once again be in a class of it's own. This vehicle will have the most up to date street rod equipment.
I remember standing in front of this car at the Kansas City World of Wheels car show (that first picture is in KC's Memorial Auditorium) just staring at all the details. OK, not everyone's cup of tea, but still a significant '60s car.
"Moriarity, post: 11268646, member: 218"]^^^^ I'll second that, who in their right mind updates historic cars these days? Those who just don't get it
Holy smoke, that's....experimental The original owner should have channeled and sectioned it, that would have been great! A shame that it's being modernized though....everyone can buy a brand new 32 today and street rod it!
Gosh, All that meat, and no potatoes, taste must be all in the mouth... I had cars in the 60's, alot of us did, even if we had $$ and talent, It just didn't go that direction, awful hard to "unsee" Probably built from a stocker..
It's unique and I like it because it's a snapshot of what was considered the pinnacle of car customization at the time, even if the design ideas didn't hold up as "timeless". To see it recieve "up to date street rod equipment" is to take away the only thing that makes it cool.
I knew this Jess Leon who built The Critter. I was in High School with his nephew one Ralph Garcia. Jesse made some changes to this rod and it looked a lot better in 1970. He did channel it, changed that hood and grill to a more conventional grill. There was no white paint on it by then, the funky dual headlights were replaced with single chrome bucket headlights, and the car had chrome, straight pipe headers with 4 pipes on each side that went all the way to the back. He would place mirrors under the car so people could see all of the chrome underneath. The paint was a gorgeous Gold metal flake. Jesse was an amazing painter! He specialised in custom paint on Vettes and Motorcycles and would paint your helmet to match. He had twin sons and built them each custom '57 Chevy Nomad show cars that were magnificent! One was a deep purple/blue with lavender ghost flames and button tucked leather interior including the headliner all the way to the back, and the other was a kind of Yellow/Orange metal flake with flames as well and a rolled and tucked interior. I moved away in '73 and joined the navy in '74 and always wondered what became of him and his cars. The man was an incredible talent. He also had a bad ass 69 ZL1 Nova, that I saw race an out of towner in a Yenco Camaro in for pinks, and Jesse won. Man those were the days!
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