Cool Carson Top Kustom Pics ....

Perfection...

 

The frame on Tom Black's 40 Merc can be seen in the back ground...





Inside with Carson Enblem on the right.

 

Sleds...

 

Well lavenderblue, as you can now see there are still a few doing nice Carson Top customs the right way. hudsoncustom, that '40 Merc is a great example, thanks for posting the pics and when you get time, let's see those "pics of the process..." you got, nice job on the top Rajo1. The restoration of the Carson Top and interior on Ralph Jilek's-Valley Custom '40 is simply stunning, the pictures are very interesting. I've been lucky enough to have been able to dig into a couple of original Carson Tops myself, they were amazing time capsules. Also seen Scott Guildner build a few Carson style padded tops, he definatly has the eye for making them look correct. Rikster, thanks for the pics and info, your passion for all things custom, never ceases to amaze me. Thanks again for all your work, it's much appreciated and that '51 Merc you just posted, perfection is right!

 

Kurt McCormic modified the top on his Harry Westergard Caddy custom to make it flow a bit better...

 

As usual Rickster has posted some very intresting stuff w/ good historical reference just like we all like to see, and i hope that this will be the case for a long time.....
At the moment im in my old apartment picking up sum stuff to bring in my new home, so i dont have much time to search for cool stuff, but will tomorrow in the 1st break i get at work.
These here are the Coppa Cruiser, a UK cutom made out of a Austin, ive seen it in peerson many years ago and you wont believe how small this car is! Never the less an impressive one and the top is just right.
Others are a swedish chevy,(?)at least i think its a chevy, and a couple of very famous ones.
Nick.

 

man i love that caddy

 

The top on this Buick (OSW, Sweden) is spot on. The portions are great! Of course the Valley Custom Ford is stunning, to say the least. Don't think it can be improved on. Don't care for most of the modern interpretations, shown in this thread.

Ken

 

Wow that Cad is amazing. How about starting an own thread for it, Rikster?
--mika

 

Thanks for taking the time to chime in, tinguy!

So right...

Love the Ralph Jilek '40, one of the best ones for sure.

 

Any one out there have any photos of Eric Parsons or Perkins from Washington state his 36 roadster was shot at Bonnieville in the late 70's or early 80's and made most of the magazines at that time his top had no back window but I remember it look damn good............

 

Great to see this thread headed in the RIGHT direction. Some killer examples of early and modern day tops. Thanks to Rikster for all the great shots and the link to the Tom Sewell redo on the Jilek car. How cool is it to see the original top broken down so meticulously?
A very big hats off to Tom for the documentation of the restoration as well as an awesome finished product! Also, welcome to Paul Bragg (tinguy) and thanks for chiming in. Aaron and I first remember seeing your olive Merc at an early Paso show (late eighties?) and just being blown away. Perfect top chop, stance, and color choice. You nailed the carson top on your other Merc of course. Keep 'em coming fellas!! D.

 

That caddy is gorgeous,i havent seen such beautiful work..and that 40 ford is emmaculate beyond description.A carson top is a stunning addition to a custom.

 

The car needs to be a factory convert or have all the makings of one for any carson top to be worth even evaluating.

 

What a true example of a Kustom !!!!! Just flat out gets it all the way around. Even the stance is right and in todays world of Kustoms that is VERY rare.

 

Im thinking about buying this. then having a carson top built from the tailgate forward and putting bumpers on it what do you think

 

Great thread , Thanks for the info guys . I finally dropped my 36 cabriolet at the upholstery shop this morning , I was choosing materials and the closest thing to white I saw in Haartz Stayfast was "bone" ? What are guys using ? My buddy said he'd check with the supplier also , but I thought I'd check here . Also , an oldtimer friend said way back when they would have the top material wrapped around the rear window frame so all you can see is the glass , I've looked at a lot of old pix /books/Rikster's site etc. and it seems like most of them you can see the chrome frame . He swears the "good" cars had the frame hidden , I'm not sure which way to go . I went with a really dark oxblood for the seats and panels , thinking about white piping to set it off . I always really liked it to set off the carpet like on the Matranga Merc. etc. what do you guys think about it on oxblood seats and door panels as well as the carpet ? I don't think I want full 2 tone int. but a little flash to set it off a bit though . I was thinking about oxblood piping on the white headliner to set it off , that's what my old original top has on it if you guys have seen my build thread . Dash is black , do guys think I should run really dark burgundy or black carpet ? Both with white trim . Sorry for the hijack and Thanks for any help/opinions .

 

What year is this cadillac ? F#%K I just cant stop drooling over this thing. For all you airbag "Frame Laying" people, take a look at this caddy and look at the stance. Now that is the way a Kustom should sit, not slammed on all four corners.

 

"For all you airbag "Frame Laying" people, take a look at this caddy and look at the stance. Now that is the way a Kustom should sit, not slammed on all four corners."

Amen. For traditional kustoms, I like the front end slightly lower than stock (2-3") and dropped in the back for the speed boat look. The "busted spring" look is new and only possible with air bags. To each his own I guess.

I guess its kind of like chops. If 3" looks good, 6" must be better right?

 

Has anyone at all been able to produce any pics Kurt Mc Cormicks car that are over 15 years old?

 

To answer you question what year it is, I think it is a 47..I might be wrong...I do agree on it being the perfect stance too...

I also cant stop looking at the Ralph Jilek Ford. There was a write up on it in the most recent Rodders Journal. Along with the 2 part of a two part series on Valley Custom. Just a stunning Custom.

 

i think its a 41

 

Your right....The 47 grille threw my off.....

 

jeff i gotta agree with you about the stance,its perfect for that body style.And this is from a guy who has bags....jeff well pointed out

 

how do know it isn't bagged? you can also certainly obtain that stance with bags.

 

it actually does have air bags in the rear, but not the same kind that drops cars to the ground. it has dearched stock springs in back.
it has like helper bags.

here is a quote from rod and custom

The original Cadillac frame was used but boxed for additional strength, with square tubing crossmembers constructed and new engine mounts welded in place. The original front suspension was completely refurbished along with the Cadillac front brakes. The stock rear springs were de-arched to get the right ride height, then Air Ride airbags were added to the rear suspension to compensate for additional loads when traveling and to aid when tire changing is necessary. A '58 Pontiac rearend with 3.23:1 gears and Quarter Master axles was bolted to the new springs and the rear drum brakes rebuilt.

i hate when cars lay on the frame looks stupid... too mini trucky

 

You guys all realize that the Caddy is a restoration of an original Westergard car not a new build?

 

Yes you can get that look with bags!!!! But how many people this day and age have there car sit like this if they have airbags???? Dont worry I'll wait. Not to many,9 out of ten cars "with bags lay frame and you know it. This is the stance that a period traditional Kustom should have . NUFF SAID !!!!!

 

Yes that Jilek car is just perfect!!!!! Great articles in the Rodders Journal!!!

 

mmm would be so darn nice to have a carsontop on my 1941 buick convert...