The Jalopy Journal

Rikster · 04-26-2007, 01:57 AM

I have always been facinated by this streamlined sports custom that featured the pages of the Motor Trend Customs Cars #101 book. Later I found out it was also on the cover of a 1949 Motor Trend.
The body on this Sports Customs is totally breathtaking, and ever since I found out more about it I kept wondering what would have become of it.

Last week Geoff Hacker told me about this car beeing found, and that its undergoing complete restoration at this moment.
The car was auctioned at a BJ auction and sold for a little over $17.000.

Some old and new photos of this great Sports Custom...

Motor Trend cover.. the mice loved this issue.

Popular Mechanics article

from the #101 book

And as found in 2002

29bowtie · 04-26-2007, 02:18 AM

What a well proportioned,flowing design.Look forward to seeing progress on that one.Thanks Rikster,the world best Kustom historian.

eric · 04-26-2007, 02:20 AM

WOW!! that thing is/WAS AWESOME!!!!!

it doesn't look like it "cruises" it looks like it "SLITHERS" hope it gets back to its glory really soon!!

50Fraud · 04-26-2007, 02:51 AM

I've always loved this thing too. I was unaware that it had been found and was being restored; that's great news.

I thought there was an interesting similarity between the shape of that car's body and that of the Schuco windup toy cars with the 4-speed gearshift.

I wonder what it was like to drive.

**metalshapes** · 04-26-2007, 03:01 AM

Wasn't there a shot of that car in one of the recent car movies?

F & F, 60min, something like that...

Cool car...

James D · 04-26-2007, 05:33 AM

Wow, a DIY Auto Union!

Rot 'n Kustom · 04-26-2007, 05:54 AM

Amazing find! The body looks to be in pretty good condition, too.

I like sports customs, and this one is way over the top. Besides the overall swoopy styling, the details are neatly executed. I especially like the way he designed the tube bumper to encircle the headlights.

X38 · 04-26-2007, 06:04 AM

Incredible. Reminds me of when we used to heat LP's in the oven til they were soft and then let them slump over a shape. Organic.

Rikster · 04-26-2007, 11:01 AM

Photo's taken at the shop where it is getting restored.
(thanks Geoff)

Photos from www.customautoloveland.com

Casey · 01-09-2008, 10:27 AM

that`s going to be beautiful again ! glad it survived.

Bad Bob · 01-09-2008, 07:20 PM

I'd like to see it about 2 1/2" lower. Just enough to hide the rear wheels. Reminds me of those Solar cars that compete,or the AutoUnion cars.

povertyflats · 01-09-2008, 07:38 PM

Dave Crouse's shop does beautiful work. A big collector from our town gets alot of work done there. He owns the 404 car as well. Maybe he even owns this thing. Wouldn't surprise me.

**GreggAz** · 01-09-2008, 07:46 PM

you may be right Alex, that looks like the car in the background in a movie, I think it was 60 sec. Ill have to look

wishnevsky · 01-09-2008, 09:39 PM

Off topic, but similar. In the Cary Grant movie "Topper" there is a wild custom something with a tail fin, side hood exhausts, and all the goodies.. Any ideas?

The movie was from 1937.

WQ59B · 01-09-2008, 11:08 PM

'Topper' car was a Bohman & Schwartz rebodied '37 Buick. Don't know any more, have 1 pic in my 'clip file' with that info- that's it. Fenders were lengthened and the whole rear deck sweeps up into a rounded P-40-esque fin.

Malcolm · 01-09-2008, 11:14 PM

Someone said earlier today (in Ryan's thread covering this car) that it was seen in the Gone in 60 Seconds movie....

Quote:

Originally Posted by 38zephyr

You can see it in the Nicolas Cage version of Gone in 60 seconds right outside Robert Duvall's shop in bare aluminum .

Malcolm

ratster · 01-09-2008, 11:15 PM

Dave kicks ass, man i havn't talked to him for a while, he's a cool dude.

wishnevsky · 01-09-2008, 11:29 PM

thanks.. didnt think it looked like a Duesy or Packard.

northern skink · 01-09-2008, 11:31 PM

The reattached eyeglasses/bumper remind me of the film character Mr. Limpet, played by Don Knotts.

Rikster · 01-09-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WQ59B

'Topper' car was a Bohman & Schwartz rebodied '37 Buick. Don't know any more, have 1 pic in my 'clip file' with that info- that's it. Fenders were lengthened and the whole rear deck sweeps up into a rounded P-40-esque fin.

Here are a few more photos of it. It changed a bit over the years (not sure if those where improvements! Personally I like the early version much better) But the good thing is it is still around. It was at one of the famous auctions a few years ago.

The trailer is amazing though

04-26-2007, 02:18 AM	#2
29bowtie Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maple Ridge,BC,CANADA Posts: 4,469	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner What a well proportioned,flowing design.Look forward to seeing progress on that one.Thanks Rikster,the world best Kustom historian. __________________ "Remember Professionals built the Titanic, An Amateur built the Ark."

04-26-2007, 02:20 AM	#3
eric Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,660	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner WOW!! that thing is/WAS AWESOME!!!!! it doesn't look like it "cruises" it looks like it "SLITHERS" hope it gets back to its glory really soon!!

04-26-2007, 02:51 AM	#4
50Fraud Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Pedro, CA Posts: 5,690	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner I've always loved this thing too. I was unaware that it had been found and was being restored; that's great news. I thought there was an interesting similarity between the shape of that car's body and that of the Schuco windup toy cars with the 4-speed gearshift. I wonder what it was like to drive.

04-26-2007, 03:01 AM	#5
metalshapes Tech Editor Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 10,623	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Wasn't there a shot of that car in one of the recent car movies? F & F, 60min, something like that... Cool car... __________________ I met a man who's name was time, he said "I must be going" But just how long ago that was, I have no way of knowing.

04-26-2007, 05:33 AM	#6
James D Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 3,772	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Wow, a DIY Auto Union!

04-26-2007, 01:57 AM	#1
Rikster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 5,560	Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner I have always been facinated by this streamlined sports custom that featured the pages of the Motor Trend Customs Cars #101 book. Later I found out it was also on the cover of a 1949 Motor Trend. The body on this Sports Customs is totally breathtaking, and ever since I found out more about it I kept wondering what would have become of it. Last week Geoff Hacker told me about this car beeing found, and that its undergoing complete restoration at this moment. The car was auctioned at a BJ auction and sold for a little over $17.000. Some old and new photos of this great Sports Custom... Motor Trend cover.. the mice loved this issue. Popular Mechanics article from the #101 book And as found in 2002 __________________ Rik Hoving Follow us on Facebook http://rikhovingkustoms.com Last edited by Rikster; 04-26-2007 at 03:14 AM.

04-26-2007, 05:54 AM	#7
Rot 'n Kustom Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bradenton, Florida Posts: 1,444	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Amazing find! The body looks to be in pretty good condition, too. I like sports customs, and this one is way over the top. Besides the overall swoopy styling, the details are neatly executed. I especially like the way he designed the tube bumper to encircle the headlights. __________________ Dave Made it to The Sunshine State!

04-26-2007, 06:04 AM	#8
X38 Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,253	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Incredible. Reminds me of when we used to heat LP's in the oven til they were soft and then let them slump over a shape. Organic.

04-26-2007, 11:01 AM	#9
Rikster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 5,560	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Photo's taken at the shop where it is getting restored. (thanks Geoff) Photos from www.customautoloveland.com __________________ Rik Hoving Follow us on Facebook http://rikhovingkustoms.com

01-09-2008, 10:27 AM	#10
Casey Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Austin & dripping springs Texas Posts: 3,294	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner that`s going to be beautiful again ! glad it survived. __________________ nope...he is hereby Knighted Crazy Casey...

01-09-2008, 07:20 PM	#11
Bad Bob Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: O.C. Baby Posts: 22,965	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner I'd like to see it about 2 1/2" lower. Just enough to hide the rear wheels. Reminds me of those Solar cars that compete,or the AutoUnion cars. __________________ "I ain't nobody,DORK!" HAMB Merc Club Townsends Customs & Hotrods

01-09-2008, 07:38 PM	#12
povertyflats Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: near Salina Kansas Posts: 8,118	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Dave Crouse's shop does beautiful work. A big collector from our town gets alot of work done there. He owns the 404 car as well. Maybe he even owns this thing. Wouldn't surprise me. __________________ I like old engines and stuff-- Facebook-- Paul Kruse www.gopovertyflats.blogspot.com

01-09-2008, 07:46 PM	#13
GreggAz Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 931	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner you may be right Alex, that looks like the car in the background in a movie, I think it was 60 sec. Ill have to look

01-09-2008, 09:39 PM	#14
wishnevsky FNG Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: winston salem nc Posts: 6	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Off topic, but similar. In the Cary Grant movie "Topper" there is a wild custom something with a tail fin, side hood exhausts, and all the goodies.. Any ideas? The movie was from 1937.

01-09-2008, 11:08 PM	#15
WQ59B Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: No. Brunswick, NJ Posts: 529	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner 'Topper' car was a Bohman & Schwartz rebodied '37 Buick. Don't know any more, have 1 pic in my 'clip file' with that info- that's it. Fenders were lengthened and the whole rear deck sweeps up into a rounded P-40-esque fin.

01-09-2008, 11:15 PM	#17
ratster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: louisville,tn and melbourne, fl usa Posts: 3,497	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner Dave kicks ass, man i havn't talked to him for a while, he's a cool dude. __________________ GREAZY HUBCAPZ CC EAST TN

01-09-2008, 11:29 PM	#18
wishnevsky FNG Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: winston salem nc Posts: 6	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner thanks.. didnt think it looked like a Duesy or Packard.

01-09-2008, 11:31 PM	#19
northern skink Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 666	Re: Norman E. Timbs Custom Buick Streamliner The reattached eyeglasses/bumper remind me of the film character Mr. Limpet, played by Don Knotts. __________________ Lift with your legs.

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