(With Billy's approval) Popped into Billy Belmonts today while running some errands, it was my lucky day because the famous Jade Idol was being moved from the heated garage where it's been kept since the 80's Most of the local hot rod and custom guys have known about the car for years but only a few actually got the full tour. The new owner is bringing the car to Gene for a full paint job and bringing it back to its original paint scheme. I snapped a few pics.. Enjoy. View attachment 3659766
Billy has been the owner / caretaker of this car for many years, he's kept it pristine. The engine detail and chrome is outstanding.
So true. What a Great Piece of History. I was fortunate to view The Jade Idol twice in my life at Belmont's. Swear each time I saw it was like time stood still. Billy has passed the duties on to the new caretaker. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
Billy ownes and operates Belmonts Rod&Custom which is a true old timey speed shop located in East Dedham, MA True speed shops are few and far between these days, he sells vintage speed parts ranging from points to transmission adapters...and pretty much everything in between. He's a sweet old man with the etiquette of a priest.
Talk about history preserved! That thing is as cool now as it was then. Thanks for sharing the occasion. Edit : Yeah Billy is defiantly legendary!
Looks like perfection is going to be applied to perfection...I had to look it up. Thanks for the cool story @Pete http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Jade_Idol
nice you got to stumble on that pete. pretty cool to see that on the street even for just a few moments. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I really dig the Jade Idol. One of the best looking customs ever built, in my eyes anyway. Thanks for posting.
The paint currently on the car is very nice but it's not the original paint job that was on the car when it left Genes shop the first time. I'm not exactly sure about the paint history but I think it's been painted a few times.
One fantastic 56 FOMOCO. Carbs/Intake must have come right off a Thunderbird E-Code since they are backwards. The birds were that way for hood clearance and normal way on the cars. It's power brake unit was the way they were versus the add on vacuum assist; way cool and not many. The same with saving the heater after the massive fender mods eliminating the air ducts using flexible hose. Battery swapped sides too. You would think even a custom being built that all the normal comforts of the era would be left off. Now custom engine compartments are covered with fancy panels... Great car...
Wow, haven't seen Billy since we moved to Ohio! Never thought he would let the Jade Idol go! We used to do some model car swapping with Billy, yes a very cool and generous guy! KK
What a beauty, that will be more beautiful - right place at the right time to get to see it before moved - hope that new owner has a lot of patience waiting for Gene to set enough time aside to give it the attention that it will take - some rides have been at Gene's for several years waiting for the magic paint job
Don't know if these are original config but anyway...pretty cool car Credit to photographers, Owners and Original Posters
Car is in EXCELLENT shape, but it always bothered me that in recent years it didn't wear an original Winfield paint job. The paint is NICE, yes, but not quite like it was. I am glad to hear that is being rectified
I was fortunate enough to see the Idol when it appeared at it's first show in Long Beach. I had never seen anything like the fade paint job. This 15 year old was extremely impressed.
That paint job was quite a bit after the original build (1961). Those blue/yellow CA plates came about in 1969. Rikster has some info and rare photos: https://www.customcarchronicle.com/custom-cars/jade-idol-1956-mercury-gene/ https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/gene_winfield/jade_idol/
Gotgas...those blue and yellow plates date to about 1975 to about 1977 because of the characters....in 1969 CA plates were still black and yellow...last year for them.