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Features Early 50's 4 door customs...

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Hans, Nov 8, 2007.

  1. Hans
    Joined: Feb 28, 2006
    Posts: 363

    Hans
    Member

    Anybody have any pics?

    I am thinking about one would like, but I can't imagine the car in my head.

    Need some ideas...
    Thanks
     
  2. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    The early hot rod and custom magazines were filled with 4door customs especially in the reader's rods columns. Let's face it Fordors and four-doors other than Fords have gotten a bum rap over the years. Every one and their brother was building and enjoying them but the magazine writers and photographers just ignored them. We used to say Fordors were simply parts cars for Coupes, Roadsters and Tudors, but it was never really true.
     
  3. phat rat
    Joined: Mar 18, 2001
    Posts: 4,920

    phat rat
    Member

    It was certainly true where I grew up in the 50's and early 60's. 4 drs were an old mans car and if you were cool you wouldn't be caught dead driving an old mans car. I certainly don't remember the magazines being filled with readers 4 drs either
     
  4. Dago Red
    Joined: May 22, 2002
    Posts: 314

    Dago Red
    Member
    from Delaware

    There often were. Usually covered with whatever you could buy from JC Whitney and stick on with sheet-metal screws.
     
    texasred likes this.

  5. 49styleline
    Joined: Nov 1, 2012
    Posts: 507

    49styleline
    Member
    from oregon

  6. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    (Thanks to Rikster and to Kustomrama for the archived photos.)

    Dave Jenkins' "50 Fleetline
    [​IMG]

    Phil Macchiarella
    [​IMG]

    Bill Bush-Barris
    [​IMG]

    Barris, "The Grecian"
    [​IMG]


    Ray Vega, Valley Customs built '38
    [​IMG]


    Joe Brenner-Valley Customs
    [​IMG]


    O.H. Hooker-Valley Customs '41 Pontiac
    [​IMG]

    Last complete car to come from Valley Customs
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2015
  7. Holy crap.....that's hideous!
     
  8. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    LOL! It didn't stop there. Barris bought it back, and re-dubbed it "Modern Grecian". How about those perforated tailfins? I think at some point, it may have gotten lights on the top.(?)
    [​IMG]

    Interestingly, someone chose the modern Grecian as one of their "Top 3 Favorite Customs" in a thread currently running on the HAMB. To each his own.
     
  9. I remember a few 4-doors in some of the little pages mags I've picked up over the years too. One I remember best was a mild '56 Olds 4dr ht.
     
    rodncustomdreams likes this.
  10. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    I bet you mean this beauty, done by Winfield.

    [​IMG]

    Interesting to note that, as uncool as they are "supposed" to be, many of these four doors were not customer cars, but done for the customizers themselves (Cerny, Barris, Valley, etc.)

    Might as well include Watson's '58 Caddy.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2018
  11. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    Those are some really cool 4 doors...
     
  12. stevechaos13
    Joined: Sep 11, 2008
    Posts: 419

    stevechaos13
    Member

    What is it that makes the 4 door haters feel the need to jump into every four door thread and say the same thing?
    Yes, there were professionally done 4 door customs back in the day, no that doesn't mean covered in crap from the J.C. Whitney catalogs, and just because you don't remember it and never heard it before doesn't mean it didn't happen.
    See, I think the problem is that for those of us that actually like more door cars we view our rides differently. I build the cars I want. I don't care if I'll never get my money back out of them because I don't see them as investments. I see them as my cars. I own two four doors right now, my 66 Galaxie, and my 49 Plymouth. Both are customs in progress, and I happen to like the 4 door body style on both models better than the two door style. I didn't end up with them because I was in too much of a hurry to wait around and find a two door, I bought them because I wanted them.
    Rant over, on to some kustoms
    [​IMG]
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  13. stevechaos13
    Joined: Sep 11, 2008
    Posts: 419

    stevechaos13
    Member

    These two are by far my favorite sleds, and what drew me towards the 49 Plymouth that I now own. Mine is still a long way off, but is deeply inspired by these two
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  14. 49styleline
    Joined: Nov 1, 2012
    Posts: 507

    49styleline
    Member
    from oregon

    Is there a 4 door custom social group? If not someone should start one.
     
  15. 49styleline
    Joined: Nov 1, 2012
    Posts: 507

    49styleline
    Member
    from oregon

  16. Dreddybear
    Joined: Mar 31, 2007
    Posts: 6,084

    Dreddybear
    Member

    I didn't see anyone pick the Grecian in that thread. Did they?
     
  17. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member

    But, I do see a theme here. For the most part, the four door customs that "work" started as very upscale or exotic four doors. The Chevy fast back, could never be called a common four door, Watson's Brougham, Late '30s convertible sedans, mid fifties upscale hardtops.... All these cars would be "something" even if they weren't customs. Sorry, but I have to agree with the four door dislikers that a common four door sedan just doesn't work.
     
  18. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

  19. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    I have a customized 4dr 1950 Ford that we bought in 1967. No recent pictures but I will have to photograph it. It had Missouri license plates when we got it.
     
  20. 49styleline
    Joined: Nov 1, 2012
    Posts: 507

    49styleline
    Member
    from oregon

    id love to see it.
     
    sprink88 likes this.
  21. droplord49
    Joined: Jan 12, 2004
    Posts: 1,690

    droplord49
    Member
    from Bryan, Tx

    Here is my 51 Chevy, I started kustomizing a couple of years ago(been a stalled project, but hope to get back on it soon).
     

    Attached Files:

  22. Post Apocalyptic Kustoms
    Joined: Oct 21, 2012
    Posts: 479

    Post Apocalyptic Kustoms
    BANNED
    from Outside

    I love this thread! I don't have a 4dr anymore but I love 'em. They need to get more respect because they can make really kool Kustoms. Keep 'em coming guys!
     
  23. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    That's a great start, DL49. Maybe another look at Australian HAMB'er hughsey's similar kemp will help re-light your fire.

    [​IMG]
     
  24. 49styleline
    Joined: Nov 1, 2012
    Posts: 507

    49styleline
    Member
    from oregon

    Man that looks cool. Wish I had the balls to chop my 4 door
     
  25. Do it. Just don´t overdo it!

    [​IMG]
     
  26. There were a few in the upper mid west where I grew up but the first thing out of most peoples mouths was "too bad it's a four door".
     
  27. Dreddybear
    Joined: Mar 31, 2007
    Posts: 6,084

    Dreddybear
    Member

  28. I like the Grecian, I'd buy it:

    [​IMG]
     
  29. Cortney
    Joined: Aug 11, 2008
    Posts: 375

    Cortney
    Member

     
  30. InstantT
    Joined: Aug 15, 2012
    Posts: 716

    InstantT
    Member
    from SoCal

    I think there are a few four doors that make great cars. Us guys didn't use them as much probably because two door lines were and are more condusive to customs.
     

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