A couple of us were gathered around the latest early custom to call Texas home (Ed note: Mum's the word Stevo!) last night and began discussing the finer points of the genre. We all pretty much came to the conclusion that the early period of customs ... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Personally I think if you are going to talk about the stance of early customs this picture of Johnny Zaro and Al Anrdil's Mercs is about as good as it gets. Picture courtesy of Rikster.
Thanks for the article RYAN, it's bad enough I have the itch for a 40's Ford you go and do this to further my obsession and goal of getting one.. What is it about these cars that haunt me???
Some early customs were in fact 'slammed'. My favorite early custom - the Ohanesian Merc for example. Although it does sit nose high, Bertolucci had to convince Buddy to raise the car back up some because he was grinding the bottoms off the skirts. But I do agree - they generally look better setting up a bit higher than what has now become de rigor.
I love the early customs the best of all. Its where it all started, and even though I love the golden ages of customizing in the 50's and early 60's I just always come back to these early customs. Stance has a lot to do with it I think. There are many early customs that I love, so its impossible for me to pick just one. But here are a few of my favorites. Scan by James Barter
Excelent description.... my favorite is the one I hope to build....rather fitting to your description.... I've got all the parts.... someday...... someday I wish more people would build them with that stance that you talk about... There were a few really low ones a little later on... but that motorboat floating down the road sure takes the cake for me...
One of my favorites, especially I got to see it just after he hauled it home pretty much in pieces. It's probably 80% faithful to the original build.
That's an easy one...or two....or three for me. This one sits up a little higher then the rest but I think it looks better then most. The chop is awesome and rarely do you see them in bright white paint. But even more so then the McKinley coupe, my all time favorite is the Pierson '36 Ford. Ver similar but so much more menacing. If the Mckinley was the girl next door then the Pierson Coupe what the girl in the Alley. This one comes in a close third.
Weren't they called tail draggers? Slammed on the ground all the way around is a modern idea from what I remember. I don't like them "slammed" When I was a boy playing with cars it was "lowered, skirts and duals" in the sand box. That meant that the rear was lowered. The pencil tip pipes were often scrapped up from entering parking lots but the nose was not a problem. The modern interpretation of a 40s custom sitting on it's rocker panels looks stupid to my eye.
My pic would be the 34 Ford Roadster with the Duvall style windshield, whitewalls and SKIRTS. I`ve only seen a one black and white shot of it sitting along a street. Dosen`t show the side profile much. Only the Diehards probly know what I`m talking about. It`s definatly a custom. I just found another vpic-The American Custom Car -Pat Ganahal-page 10-solid hood, Full wheel covers, 40 Lincoln bumpers ect....
I pretty much have to agree here. These are perfect in my eye. However I cant pick just one from back then. I really like about 90% of them from back then. I like the one I think Bertolucci built, its the 37 chevy sitting on the dry lakes. That car is really growing on me. I also like Niel Emorys 37 Dodge he did. Thanks Ryan for the post on Customs.
I like to compare car stance to dogs- A stocker is like a happy dog wagging its tail- A lowered car is like a crouching dog, looking mean and purposeful ready to pounce- A car laying frame is like a sleeping dog. How bad ass is a sleeping dog? I like a car that always looks like it's ready to go- it's part of the appeal to me. Oh, and I'll take the Ralph Jilek '40 please.
37 Chevy by Harry Westergard for Leroy Semas... Very nice and sitting pretty low for its days. Niel Emorys 1937 Dodge
Myke already posted the dark painted version... and here it is in white... or light color... Classic... I love it, wish somebody would built a custom out of a 33, 34 Ford... any body style will do.
I lowered mine in the rear twice, because I really just wanted to see tire (no wheel) in the rear. I guess I was avoiding buying rear Flipper hubcaps?? Stock: First lowering: Second time (current):
Picking one is almost impossible! I love the Bill Farris '38, the Jim McKinley 36 Coupe, Neil Emory's 1937 Dodge, and the Giovannoni 36.... but I guess this sucker just tops my list! There is something with this one that I can't explain... but the car is sooo great!
1947 Chevy Convertible with fade-aways down the side. Oh yea, do you have custom's on your mind from you "notes on the road" pix?
Thanks guys for the pictures-- Gene Winfield saw Alex`s car and built one very simalar to it. The rear skirts9piece of metal)are welded to the rear fender, you have to unbolt the fender and remove it to change the tire.
PERFECTION!!!!! This car is so subtle and perfect I cant take it!!!!! Man I need to find a 37 dodge conv!!!!!!!!! Thank you Rik!!!! Niel Emorys 1937 Dodge [/QUOTE]