Hi guys ! Latest ( i think ) from Lee pratt is that kool bronze shoebox we're all admiring ! I can remember of that nice 58 impala ... searching on the net, i found that very nice 56 chevy trimed shoebox that is supposed to be his creation.. on the Hamb i found that pretty mild kustom 52 chevy and someone did mention a Nomad ... Man...i need to know more about that guy and his kool creations...
Lee's been around a LONG time! He also built a pretty cool Buick that later, Terry Cook bought, and drove the wheels off for years. Also did a chopped 70 something Lesabre. Both of these cars were his favorite color, purple, usually with lavender accents,, or 2 toned. One year he had a killer 64 El Camino in Purple and Gold. He was a regular contributor to Classis and Custom magazine in the 80's. He did features on Midwest cars (originally from Iowa?), and also shared his customizing knowledge with a bunch of how-to's. Great guy, and very talented man!
Photo's by KustomLincolnLady The back of that Chevy And I think this one was built form a Harry Bradley Design
The tangerine and vanilla shoebox with the 56 chevy trim was built by Richard House From Fort Worth Texas.
Here's a couple of pictures of the LeSabre in 2004 when a friend of mine owned it.He still has it I believe.
One of my heroes, and when I met him at the LSRU last year I become a bigger fan, he was as humble and nice of a gent as I've ever metr. His purple Buick is still one of my favorites of all time.
Lee is a great guy! I had the pleasure of following him in his shoebox last year to the Lonestar Round-Up.. Couldn't have planned a better trip <img src=http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee254/designisgraphic/lee12x24.jpg> -Juan
I've always loved Lee's cars, especially his latest coupe (49 or 50?), the '58 Impala and the '40 Coupe. What's great is that he drives 'em! In 2000 or 2001 I remember seeing his '40 coupe at Americruise in Lincoln, NE and chatted with him real shortly. I stood around that car for what seemed like an eternity just taking it all in... and drooling. I've seen the '58 at the KKOA event in Salina a couple times and can never get enough of it. Last year he had the 49/50 coupe in Austin at the Roundup. As far as I know, he drives his cars to these events from California. That means a ton, in my book, besides his inherent great taste! Malcolm
Lee lived in Council Bluffs, Iowa...I don't know if he was born and raised there...but he spent quite a few years around there. Just another Iowa boy... R-
his sculpture is pretty great too - more of his work here: http://www.sculpture.org/portfolio/sculptorPage.php?sculptor_id=1001004
I think the TRJ article said he was born in Iowa, moved to Cal, moved back to Iowa, and is now in Cal again. I remember seeing his cars in central Iowa in the 70's and 80's, maybe into the 90's. Definitely the radical Buick, the sloped Buick, and the '51 Chevy. I'm pretty sure he lived in Des Moines, and hung around with Dan Hay (who's son is also a HAMBer now). Those were the years he wrote for Classic & Custom Magazine.
Coop is his neighbour at the Brewery. Lee is a great guy and has an incredible eye for customs. He has been doing it for years now.KNUX!
I agree, beautiful car ! Both front and rear really does it for me, well its really perfect from any angle. The '49 business coupe was covered in TRJ # 37 together with another favourite of mine ... Jimmie Vaughan's '54 Victoria. / primerkid
QUICK(!), someone get these two and Morton's new Merc together for a shoot. Friggin' cars are probably the nicest, understated period style customs ever. The fall colored shoebox is UNREAL..... These cars pay big homage to an era, but were conceived and assembled far beyond yesterday's capabilities. Juan, is it possible to get a larger version of that profile shot? Great, great photo!
We dropped in on Lee on Wednsday of the GNRS week and the 40 was up on jack stands, he is doing a rebuild of the Nugget. Thanks for the tour Coop!!!!!!!! BB
Yep, this is little Dan Hay.. Lee lived in Des Moines in the 80's. We moved to Phoenix and he moved to Cal and we would always see him at Pomona or the LA Roadster Show. I vaguely remember the 41 Buick as a kid. I remember dad liking the color of that car which could be the reason my 38 is now purple..
i have always been an admirer of lees work, his shoebox and jimmy vaughns cars are outstanding in every way
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