Customs The Golden Nugget

[theHIGHLANDER]

I love the car, louvers and all. Everything works. It's not whether Vaughn's is better than this example, more like they both hit the mark. Chocolate, Vanilla.

[BigO]

I would love to redo my Vic closer to that.?.

[safariknut]

Beautiful cars both! The second car was featured on the cover of either Rod& Custom or Car Craft in 56 or 57 and is the most beautiful shade of purple I've ever seen.And for what it's worth I like the louvers on the hood.

[SinisterCustom]

Originally Posted by Ryan

You guys are probably tired of hearing about how much I prefer simple customs over extravagant works

Yes.............and no........

Nice car, but the louvers remind me of similar cars at local cruise-in's, usually with some name blazed on the decklid, like "Teen Angel" or some crap...haha!

[RPW]

I had that issue of Rodding and Restyling as a source for inspiration when I collected parts for the Ford -54 that I had between 1989-2006. I guess many of the "real oldtimers" here remembers it as I made a lot of "in the works" posts about it in the very early days of Hamb...
The idea using Packard side trim and the Mercury side spears for the -54 came from the "Golden Nugget"... Ron Hensley here at Hamb helped me to find Packard trim (he did also like the idea and had the same idea for his 53 Ford). Almost all parts were found with help from HAMB. The grille I had in mind were closer to the one on Jimmie Vaughn's car. Rik Hoving did help me to vizualize the ideas and gave good input with some of his own ideas. The intended color scheme for the 54 was a green metallic to the lower part of the body, a color very close to the one that later was used for the "Rad Rides by Troy" built Ridler award winning -36 cpe. For the top I had a ligther hue, with a bit more gold in, of the same color in mind. For wheel covers I was going to use -53 Cad. I was even going to get a ht roof skin to get a better line for the rear of the roof...
Due to a sudden drop of interest in my project, and almost everything else, I sold it just as the sectioning body work had started (my interest did return slowly after a few months, I worked way to much those days, got "burned out"..). The new owner/builder that finished it, my friend Tore Persson, did a good job. He did of course not stick 100% to my plan, it was his car now, but at least some of the ideas was kept. One of them being the use of Packard and Merc trim that I supplied with the car. The grille idea of the finished car, the choice of color and wheels are of Tore's own design and ideas. I agree with my full heart of what Rik says that louvers will not be an improvement for a custom like that. I say that since I heard ideas from its new owner (after Tore sold it) of putting a louvered hood on the old -54...

[Retroline]

Yeah, the louvers stood out for me. Otherwise a nice example.RPW, its a shame you didn't get to finish yours, it still looks clean for now.

[von Dyck]

The one piece rear window is much cleaner looking than the three piece. Also, connie-kits don't belong on any car - way too tacky. Appletons from my perspective always look like "add-ons" from Almquist or J.C.Whitney. Why are they even there? The '52 to '54 Fords/Meteors are handsome automobiles to begin with - remove some of the make-up (not add more) to make them look even better. Sit them level (with or without skirts). Tail dragging them disrupts the natural visual flow of their horizontal lines. Coupes and Tudors could use a 2" roof chop for nicer proportions. Just my 1.88 cents worth. And have a Happy New Year.

[racerjohnson]

Originally Posted by Ryan

You guys are probably tired of hearing about how much I prefer simple customs over extravagant works,

This guy doesn't. Understating is understated.

[Screenz]

Sweet! I love these cars!

[kkoacolonel]

In the words of Harry Bradley"Simple is better".You are able to see how everything flows.Does anyone know about the "Golden Nugget".Where in NJ was the car from?

[daddy_o's_diner]

The Golden Nugget is one SWEET ride.

I love the fact that the mild customs that stand the test of time are often the the most understated. Why is so hard to keep it simple???

I have just recently developed a love for mild customs and am in the process of building a '54 Victoria. To say that I have been inspired by the Vaughan car is an understatement. I could stare at it for hours! Anyone have any more pics of Jimmies car, underhood, interior, etc...

I can only hope that mine comes off half as nice. Aiming to have it ready for Billetproof Detroit. I better get busy!

[belair]

Saw Jimmie Vaugn's car in Kerrville last summer. What a perfect example of restraint. Shows that less is more. Mild beats wild for a custom!

[Rich Venza]

Walt and his partner Buddy rented the basement of the Packard/Studebaker dealership on Valley Street in South Orange. Pretty small by todays standards, 4 cars max, no paint booth, etc. He fixed and repainted my '59 Chevy when I wrecked it, and added the Ramcharger paint to my '64 Dodge.
Both he and I lived in Maplewood.

[SapienKustom]

Those look really good. I'm trying to go with nice simple touches on my 55 Dodge also.

[Strange Agent]

I like it. Makes me want to go buy one!

[76ironhead]

Sometimes less is better that car is a good exampel of that.

[holeshot]

RYAN...actually i agree 100%. these types of mild customs still look like cars, and who could argue with that. O.K. maby mr. barris, but us poor folks can afford the milder ones. and i believe the SUN LINER was introduced in 54...POP.

[Jack Thomas]

Those 52-54 Fords and Mercs where very common when I was in high school during 1960-64. Thy were affordable, plentiful used cars then and unlike Chevys of the era had V-8's. Since we didn't have much money, most were mild cutoms.

[stude_trucks]

Personally, not feeling that one. I like even less than that. Start with losing the spot light and cont. kit for sure as well as the louvers and rear 1/4 panel junk might clean it up a bit.

Never understood the whole spot light thing. Why was that so popular? People out poaching a lot of deer or something? I can't imagine much need for a spot light on a custom car. But, I guess that is why I am more into hot rods than customs.

[Custom_Crestline]

The spotlights were thanks to the lack of streetlights.

Anyway, '52-54 fords are some of my favorite cars. I dunno, there is just something about them. The Pete Angress Ford is amazing. It not only shows the styling trend shifts, but it also always looked great.