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Shoebox Fords- "Continental Kit"

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by fordstandard, Jul 12, 2010.

  1. zep058
    Joined: Jan 9, 2007
    Posts: 599

    zep058
    Member

    Damn those Continental folk what were they thinking!

    This is what I expect to see when continental kits are mentioned, either a picture of the car you are driving or musical notes and/or daddy-yo-poodle-rock-a-silly images painted on.

    Each to their own I guess.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,174

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    wow, that '56 looks like it might have started out on the right track. but, the mural belongs on a "look at me" rich guy's motor home. wrong skirts, etc-oh well
     
  3. atomickustom
    Joined: Aug 30, 2005
    Posts: 3,409

    atomickustom
    Member

    I've never owned a car with one on it, but my all-time favorite kustom (the Ernst Chevy) had one and I love it on that car. It is definitely an Ohio/Penn/WV/East Coast thing. I saw a LOT of cars with them at shows and swap meets growing up in Northeast Ohio, and have only seen one or two since I moved to the midwest.
     
  4. CantinerosVP
    Joined: Aug 5, 2008
    Posts: 15

    CantinerosVP
    Member

    all i have a lil info on them. its after market and was never an option with the purchace of the car. i believe the kits are made in Pennsylvania. thats all i know
     
  5. krackerjack88
    Joined: Apr 6, 2008
    Posts: 1,247

    krackerjack88
    Member
    from Fresno,Ca

    definately the only way they would look right is if the quarters were extended. Leaving the quarters stock would make me want to vomit at the car...
     
  6. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    As an admitted fan of continental kits, I think there is no absolute rule on them. There are however, some cars that just don't look good with them. The Shoebox Ford and 49-51 Merc are prime examples, but again, with the extended quarters it can look quite attractive.

    Though 55-57 Chevs generally look like crap, it's really only the 57s that always look terrible. The Barris convertible 55 looked stellar with the kit on it. I've seen several 56s that look great too. I think the car's rear bumper and tail light configuration, in addition to the car's overall proportion will dictate when the kit is appropriate.

    Mid-50s Fords and Oldsmobiles look superb with them.

    I'd also say that when a car has a disproportionately long hood to trunk ratio, the kit can be an effective tool in bringing the length into symmetry.
     
  7. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    Minus the lame mural, this is perfect. It just goes with the look as a whole. If you're not going for a smooth and subtle style, this is 100% appropriate. Here, the builder has Merc trim, lake pipes, dual antennas, Packard lights, flipper caps, bubble skirts... the kit just works with the style and everything coordinates. Definitely East coast.

    Continental Enterprises is the main supplier of quality kits that I know of. Seems every time I see one at a swap meet, there is something cobbled together about it. The new ones aren't cheap, but if you're going to do it, you better do it right.

    Which leads me to my #1 kustom faux pas: Van trim rings on passenger car continental kits. Absolutely awful. On par with mung, genocide, and stabbing babies with a pitchfork. Don't do it. The correct ring is narrow and has a constant radius. The van rings are wide, and flat across the middle. They are immediately recognizable, and let everyone know you're a cheap fuck that couldn't get the right shit. Atrocious.
     
  8. GREASER815
    Joined: Dec 2, 2008
    Posts: 973

    GREASER815
    Member

    I agree, without the quarters extended it just looks out of place. The barris car looks perfect, and I hate continental kits on these cars.
     
  9. phat rat
    Joined: Mar 18, 2001
    Posts: 4,920

    phat rat
    Member

     
  10. -early/mid-fifties coranado kit-
     

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  11. I think if there is a way for you to extend the fenders like in the first 4 pics it would look great or if you can recess the kit into the trunk in the last pic.
     

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  12. rustyford40
    Joined: Nov 20, 2007
    Posts: 2,168

    rustyford40
    Member
    from Mass Bay

    Late 50's 60's continental kits, cruiser skirts and duel antenna's were the thing
     
  13. Mike51Merc
    Joined: Dec 5, 2008
    Posts: 3,856

    Mike51Merc
    Member

    I have mixed feelings. I think they're cool on some cars, but I have no desire to own one. I have good friends that have them.
     

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  14. 40StudeDude
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 9,536

    40StudeDude
    Member

    My close friend, Ron, owns this '57 Ford retractable...it's a recent build...and always gets a crowd around it at any show...

    [​IMG]

    I like Connie kits on some cars (and it definitely was an east coast influence that extended into the Midwest where I grew up), not every car lends itself to one...especially '57 Chevy's...they just don't look correct...

    R-
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2012
  15. Greenfatrat
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 61

    Greenfatrat
    Member
    from Ohio

    Any more pics????
     
  16. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    Ahhhhhh!!!!! VAN TRIM RING!!!!!
     
  17. 40StudeDude
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 9,536

    40StudeDude
    Member


    Is it...??? I don't have a clue...still works tho, doesn't it...???

    R-
     
  18. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    Yeah, it's a van ring. See how wide it is and how flat it is across the center? It just looks like it was ganked off of an 85 Chevy van. If you look at the kits in the above pictures, the ring is much narrower, with a more constant radius. If you use the correct ring, you may not be able to carry a radial tire back there, might need to be a bias ply.

    Yes, the van ring works. It's shiny, physically covers the tire, etc., but it doesn't look right. That 57 is a real stunner, and is clearly not a low-buck car. Would spending an extra $200 on the correct ring really blow the budget on that build?

    Wearing stripes and plaid will physically cover your ass from the elements, but that doesn't mean you don't look ridiculous.
     
  19. Greenfatrat
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 61

    Greenfatrat
    Member
    from Ohio

    Heres a Continental kit !!!!!
     

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  20. 40StudeDude
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 9,536

    40StudeDude
    Member

    No, it's not a low-buck car...and if it were mine, an extra $200 wouldn't make a bit of difference...but as I said in my OP, the car belongs to a friend of mine so I can't speak for him.

    Hmmmmmm, I like stripes and plaid...oh well, I think I said somewhere in one of these posts that I never follow a crowd. :rolleyes:

    R-
     
  21. hombres ruin
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,305

    hombres ruin
    Member

    that shit is out of control! looks like a damn diving board
     
  22. ItsLUCKY
    Joined: Feb 4, 2005
    Posts: 112

    ItsLUCKY
    Member

    :):)I like any shoebox Ford
    :):)
     
  23. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    When thje spare tire cover sits straight up and down- Dosen`t look good. They look better when they are slightly tilted.
     
  24. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    The first one is for ROGER. The last one-add another set of taillights, it detracts from the conntinental kit.
     

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  25. old soul
    Joined: Jan 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,093

    old soul
    Member
    from oswego NY

    them are differnt thats for sure
     
  26. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    You thought you `ve seen it all.
     

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  27. codeblu
    Joined: May 11, 2006
    Posts: 606

    codeblu
    Member

    Thats got to be an "East Coast" car.
     
  28. Belongs to Dolly Parton??
     

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