Projects A late introduction-Junior Conway coupe build

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I’m remembering about the color matching problems for both Jesse’s and Jr’s cars. Jesse’s was the easiest because everybody knew that it was 1947 Chrysler Andante green. An actual car manufacturer color.

Junior’s was a mystery because it was the Barris “house mix” Sam bronze. Junior kept calling it a “copperish maroon”. The process of trying to find actual photos of Junior’s car to see what it looked like, produced nothing but confusion. I’ve never seen so many different colors of the same car.

After Junior’s clone being started at least three or four times (Junior’s statement), I was having a hard time trying to get Junior to buy in to the idea that this attempt was actually going to happen. After time passed, and he started to realize how serious I was, he told me that wnen Dick Jackson recreated his ’57 T-bird, he wanted Junior’s help in finding the closest modern color that would match the original Sam bronze. They spent a fair amount of time going through all the manufactures color books, and choose a late model GM color. Junior said that Dick had the formula #, and to give him a call.

With that formula # I had a pint of color mixed at my paint store. I was shocked to see that this color had mica in it.This is the modern pearl with all the sparkles that we see on the new cars these days. This won’t do with what my goals are for this historical recreation.

I had been in the office for the last twenty five years, but I have one son that has followed me into this trade. I asked him if we can replace the mica in this formula with fine mettallic? He said “sure”.

That was exactly what was needed, and produced a beautiful copperish maroon with a smooth glow instead of all the drama that the mica has.

When I arrived at the 2011 GNRS and saw where the car had been placed, there was Jacksons recreation staged next to it. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE MICA IN HIS PAINT.

 

Just the other night , I was bored with the automotive related shows on tv, so I decided to watch a dvd. What caught my interest was Mad Fabricators #7 . Seeing your car was the icing on the cake. I love your car. Bill

 

Thanks Bill, your comments are appreciated.

 

my favorite !

 

Found this real early shot of it.

A rare photo of Junior Conway's 1950 Ford as it appeared when Junior's older brother, Herb Conway bought it in January of 1953. The front of the hood and the grille pan were already molded, and it had the grille bar installed. It featured a Gaylord headliner, and according to Junior it supposedly once had the upholstery that was in Buster Litton's 1949 Ford. The car had a 1949 Ford Seat, while it was a 1950 Ford, and Buster's Ford had a 1950 Ford seat, while it was a 1949 Ford. Photo courtesy of Junior Conway.

 

• Watch this video on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/256517524.

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I found some sun for a ride in Jr's clone. This song DID play on that radio in Jr's car.

 

Outstanding!

 

I’ll be back later, only on page 6.


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Made it to page 91 tonight. Very interesting. Built in California, ends up the Pennsylvania and is scrapped!!!Being recreated in Texas in 2011. This is incredible. Thanks jivin jer & son’s.


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It’s strange when people think all Merc’s were chopped. duh.


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Ok finished the thread. Some of the last pages seemed to be repetitive. Got to collect my thoughts....Later.


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Having given a lot of thought to the journey that you and your family took in the Recreation of Junior’s Coupe, I have a few observations and Questions. The 50’s seem light years away, I’m amazed at the builds that came out of the time period. Also I’m amazed at how few of them survived. The 60’s bought a different attitude to Kustoms. Those of us that loved them, still loved them and many other’s moved on to other interest and yes, Life Happened. I don’t believe many of the guy’s considered that there idea’s were historic, but, I do believe that George Barris did. He promoted Kustom’s (with a “K”) and was a man of vision, that vision and of others is still being appreciated today. Hence we have sites like the H.A.M.B. and Rik’s site @ CCChronicles to support this interest, but my question is are we losing the details of the history of it all? We’re not getting any younger. Your son’s involvement in bringing this car
Back, really so that it could be enjoyed by the Geezer’s. Did they see the value of it, or was it more about helping Dad live his dream? (Love of Father is powerful). Is there enough interest by the younger folks to support this hobby/interest for the next generation.


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I could have PM’d you @jivin jer with these guestions, but I also, hoped, that we would get some input from our fellow H.A.M.B.er’s. Is what we love dying? I think without the history, a lot will be lost. Are the builds of today going to be lost as those of the 50’s and 60’s? What do you think?


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My son's are going different directions than I did. Dan is involved in the management of a new 80K square foot "collision repair" facility (Classic Chevrolet). Tom is wanting to start his own business. They were not familier with (in any way) the components that we were working with. They liked how the engine sounded. I don't think that they have had the discipline or interest to read this whole thread. I think it all will have more value when I'm gone.
This is just the current state that my sons are in. I am willing to discuss this further ,if you would like. I think there is a chance that a differance could be made to the trajectory of our "hobby". UNDERSTANDING, is going to be a critical element in this discussion.

 

Thanks for the reply @jivin jer. What I see of our hobby is, we are such a small segment of The Car Culture (Customs). Radical to Mild I love em, Cars like Junior’s have always moved me, but when the guys started competing for points and added changes to increase the points total, well to be blunt, some became flat out ridiculous (ugly). Reading the history of Custom’s, I felt we were to take a great style and enhance it with some well thought out Modification. 49-51 Fords saved FoMoCo, and Jerry, you did a bunch of us a favor by sharing your dream with us. The value of what you’ve built is already established in this H.A.M.B community. GOD bless You and your family, you have succeeded in putting Smiles on a lot of faces and hopefully it will help create interest in this thing that we enjoy. Later—-Lou Hope to see you on the Kustom Hiway that cuts through KustomLand.


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Did someone ask, are we losing the details of all this custom history?

 

Watching video, makes a large tug on the heart. Great job you and boys have done.
Thanks for post

 

Yes I did.


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Please see post #1576 on your thread.


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Ok, I think I the answer has to be yes, of course. Look at history in general, the realization that this stuff needs to be gathered and saved, happens with every generation. I would have loved to have asked my parents/grandparents questions about things that are very important to me now, but wern't at the time.
I have always been interested in world/american history since I was a child. I do have to say that I hav'nt found anything that matches the powerful pull of this particular history that we find on the hamb. It was (of course) present, and available looooong before the hamb excisted, but as has been said endless times, there aint no place like this place.
I think the issue always is the quality of the data (details). Is it first hand, from people that were there at the time. After the people that were there are gone, the problems trying to capture actual facts multiply exponentualy. So, extraordinary care needs to be taken when wer'e handleing this "data".
This is made near impossible when you bring in the human need to be subjective with the info rather than objective. This particular issue was dealt with (in depth) regarding the correct color on the Jesse Lopez coupe build.

 

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me. I was bummed to read that the original Jr’s Coupe was scrapped. Not so much about the car, but the history. But since you and your family have gone to the lengths and detail to recreate it, you have also shared the History of the Man and the Car. I previously shared my concern that maybe this hobby was dying.... but now after reading what you and others are doing, and with the internet, and various sites like the H.A.M.B-Kustomrama-CCChronicles. Sites like these are preserving the history. Lots of good info and I appreciate it’s accuracy. So can we agree that the future is bright. Maybe the Rodder’s Journal will inherit the longevity of Hemmings. Just a thought. How’s the Lopez Cpe. comin, any plans for a build thread? Later-Lou


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https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/recreating-the-jesse-lopez-coupe.726708/

 

I’m sorry Jer, I’m over here on the Jr. Conway site conversing with you, and all the while you’ve already done the Jesse Lopez Coupe. HOLY COWJerry your moving too fast. LOL


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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! Yup, its me, its not a ghost. I'm still alive. 2018 was quite a ride, health issues,car issues, but we "press on". All the best to you and yours.

 

Merry Christmas !

 

Merry Christmas to you.

 

Good to see ya bud.

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Jiivn Jer, Ive been through this thread about 20 times in the past few months or longer, grateful for all the detail you put in it and explained the steps you went through to get it finished. It aswered alot of questions i had in my mind about the car and gvae me more ideas to use on my 51 coupe. just curious about how the coupe is now? Any updated pics??

 

Well it’s very interesting that you’ve asked. There is something stirring and it’s just around the corner hang on a bit