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Customs Buster Dobb's 1953 Corvette

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Dec 27, 2010.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,632

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

  2. 92GTA
    Joined: Oct 19, 2010
    Posts: 99

    92GTA
    Member

    Very interesting! Thanks for posting!
     
  3. Always good to see that car, cant get enough!
     
  4. ZZ-IRON
    Joined: Feb 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,964

    ZZ-IRON
    Member
    from Minnesota

    that rear fin shot stirred my memory
     

  5. axle
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 3,982

    axle
    Member
    from Drag City

    Good looking car that i don't think have ever seen before
     
  6. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    I fell in love with it when it was first featured in the magazines. Customs were getting pretty gaudy (IMHO) at that time and this one is so subtle but so attractive to my eye.
     
  7. texdesoto
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 137

    texdesoto
    Member

    That's sweet!
     
  8. Jkustom
    Joined: Oct 8, 2002
    Posts: 1,686

    Jkustom
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Wow, that little thing is cool! The side profile shot is rad.. I'm not in love with the lights, but they just work!! Neat car :)
     
  9. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    There have been quite a few custom corvettes that I like in the past. This one is a nice representation of doing it right. THings like those lincoln headlights could have gotten out of hand very quickly but the builder did it right. For 1959 it's definitely way off the mark for where sports cars were heading but in terms of custom cars it's right in line. Love it!
     
  10. daddio211
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 6,012

    daddio211
    Member

    I've never cared for "customized Corvettes" but this one is really cool. Anyone know the story with the engine? It would have to be one of the earliest (but probably not the first) 53/54 Vettes to get a small block.

    Ryan mentioned it was restored in 2003, so I'd imagine that the engine is the same configuration as it was when built in '59. It'd be interesting to hear more history.
     
  11. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    back in the late 70's or early 80's there was an early Vette with similar modifications in an apartment complex parking lot near me. I never saw it on the street. I wish I had taken a picture... it was orange with a straight axle and "Gasser" stance. every time I see one like this I wonder if it is the same one redone.

    that one really looks like it.
     
  12. SinisterCustom
    Joined: Feb 18, 2004
    Posts: 8,277

    SinisterCustom
    Member

    That's one bitchin' car....
     
  13. LANCE-SPEED
    Joined: Aug 10, 2006
    Posts: 2,259

    LANCE-SPEED
    Member

    Not a big Vette fan but I would roll it!! DEFINATELY!
     
  14. customcory
    Joined: Apr 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,831

    customcory
    Member

    Wasn't it a N.C. car at one time. I thought the guy's brother had a purple and flamed 56 Chevy also, Watson style. I like this Vette.
     
  15. JimA
    Joined: Apr 1, 2001
    Posts: 4,796

    JimA
    BANNED

    I recently saw pictures on line of what they started with for the restoration- wasn't pretty. Wish I saved the link. That is a great car. Seems like back in the day it would have run something other than the stock hubcaps. I know it was featured in one of the little pages magazines- think it had a different paint scheme back then as well.
     
  16. sinticket
    Joined: May 6, 2006
    Posts: 580

    sinticket
    Member

    BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL VETTE!!!! I was raised up at NCRS events and this would make the NCRS guys cringe being a 53 (first year and extremely rare) ....but I LOVE IT!!!! Cant get enough of this car!
     
  17. It was covered in R&C after the resto. Also went through Barrett jackson a few years back.
     
  18. I saw a very similar car in a museum in Daytona in the early 90's. Could it have been the same one before the restoration?

    I thought the one I saw had a fresh/nice paint job on it. I may have an old picture somewhere. I know I took a ton because it was such a cool car. The one I saw may have had more white in it.
     
  19. OK, I found a single photo of it. It was at the Klassix car museum in Daytona Florida. The photo I have is exactly how it looks above with shiney new paint.

    Btw, I've just confirmed that I'm a little too obsesed with this hobby if I remember seeing this car 15 years ago. I was 18 years old and probably half drunk and smoked up at the time.
     
  20. fab32
    Joined: May 14, 2002
    Posts: 13,985

    fab32
    Member Emeritus

    One of the early modified vettes that didn't make a mess out of the car. Love that grille treatment.

    Frank
     
  21. raengines
    Joined: Nov 6, 2010
    Posts: 227

    raengines
    Member
    from pa.

    awsome, but i hope it handles better than the 54's i have driven
     
  22. Rolleiflex
    Joined: Oct 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,243

    Rolleiflex
    Member

    I've always liked the looks of this Corvette. It's pretty amazing that someone could take one of the first series corvettes and change it up without messing it up, but that is exactly what Dobbs did.
     
  23. Mnhotrodbuilder
    Joined: Jul 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,140

    Mnhotrodbuilder
    Member
    from Afton, MN

    Ive always been a sucker for 57 vettes but that thing is cool!
     
  24. Vettes are difficult to improve but this one nails it. It should piss off the purists.
     
  25. I have been a fan of corvettes for years I especially like custom vettes

    Buster Dobbs Vette is similar to that of Bob Moreira which was built by Bob NcNulty ( who later built this Kellison ----> Ferrari Fascination )
    This pic below is from Barris Kustoms of the 1950s I prefer it in the Cherry and silver (it is clean and simple) instead of how it was featured in Hot Rod with the scollops.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I wonder if Dobbs was inspired by Moreira's or was it the other way around.

    Moreira's in Aug. '59 Hot Rod
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  26. Shane T.
    Joined: Jun 21, 2005
    Posts: 908

    Shane T.
    Member

    IIRC Steve Mccain found the car resting in a creek bed in far worst shape than it appears in its finished(restored) form. I think I have some of the before pictures saved on one of my computers. Steve was based out of North Carolina at the time of restoration.
     
  27. That is one nice custom Corvette. Being a 53 I'm suprised it survived and didn't get restored back to original.

    I'm glad actually, there are enough early vettes with the original head markings on the generator bolts.:rolleyes:
     
  28. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,397

    catdad49
    Member

    Owned a '64 Coupe for over 20 yrs. and was always drawn to cars that were a little more than restored. In '84 drove down and back to Bowling Green,Ky. from way upstate N.Y. with the wife and two girls. Quite a trip and won long distance award. We traveled real light, had to UPS the extras we collected on the trip!! Memories of long ago, Cat
     

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