Art Lehner owned Art Chrome Body Shop - a thriving body shop in California. As a way to advertise his services, he decided to build a full custom roadster. He started with a '39 sedan and then began chopping, channeling, and sectioning just about eve... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
I think I saw that car somewhere within the last 10 years or so, but I can't place it. I have that magazine, but I'm pretty sure I saw it in person ...
Thanks for the link Rikster... Interesting that the restored car sits so much higher than it did originally. It also looks like it has a different seat and dash... as well as motor, obviously...
I just saw it recently in a different old magazine where they pictured the dressed flathead but caption said "soon to be replaced by a 348ci Chevy". I had seen the car listed as being from Redondo Beach when pictured at some early shows. Great that it was saved and restored.
I am digging that car!!!! wow!!! edit: just saw the rebuild pic and yea it would look better lowered, but I am still diggin it!
Too high or not it's still a very cool build...interesting story Ryan...thanks again for posting these periodically and filling more empty little gray cells with info...
The article says that they replaced the original dropped axle with a stock height one and the car now runs smaller tires. I wonder why on earth they did that. It looks much better lower. I think it takes away a lot of the look sitting higher, but to each his own I guess.
I love this car and great to see some more info on it. Are you planning on doing this to your sedan? I am sure you are not, just kiddin. Thanx for the cool topic. ~Sololobo~
Very interesting to say the least. I never heard of this build and its quite a different animal .Judging from the pictures the restorer did a great job as to quality. Thanks for posting all the additional information..
I read about this car a couple years back. Left a good impression on me. Probably in R&C. Damn nice ride.
if you also notice, they restored it with the wrong caps. the original ones are stock oldsmobiles. (which look way better then the waffle ones) also whats up with the barris tag? thats a slap in the face to the builder.
It was believed to have been a Barris built car and I guess Barris even claimed it. However, a well respected and loved magaziner remembered the car and Art and informed the owners. I'm not sure why the crest is on the car now... Or if it still is... The important part though is that the car is safe and known.
This is the first time I have seen a pic of the car with the top. It certainly adds an interesting touch to an already eye catching custom! Car
yes this is potentially the best example of how bad a car sitting too high can ruin it i mean it really looks awesome low and awful high ... oh well
Jerry Wessner did a great article on it for Street Rodder magaazine. http://www.streetrodderweb.com/milestones/0111sr_fadeaway_ford/index.html I got to know bud when he lived in Lakewood, and I would ask him about his car and his dad's shop whenever I saw him. One day he told me he was moving and he gave me a bunch of the trophies he won with the car. I am lucky to have them, and I brought them to the Street Rodder photo shoot. Here is a photo I took of Bud, the Fadeaway Ford, and the trophies I have. Bud's dad had a deuce 3 window that was a cover car and their shop did the work on the Johnny Taylor Ford. Bud latter had a '39 Chevy that he showed in the early sixties, and I have some trophies from that car too! Barris did nothing on the car other than photograph it.
Does anyone know of Bud is still around and if so, how to get a hold of him? I have his Dads old 3-window and it still has the same 348 that’s out of the fadeaway ford. Here’s a pic of the car now and when it was in 63. Any help is appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app