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History A blast from my past...a one of a kind "Land Shark"

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by corndog, Nov 7, 2018.

  1. corndog
    Joined: Nov 27, 2007
    Posts: 4,700

    corndog
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Indiana

    Today I decided to change up my avatar photo(I do that often)so was going thru old car pictures I have on my computer called "past projects" and came across this picture of a unique custom I bought about 30 years ago.
    Here is the story as I remember it. I was teaching auto mechanics and the guidance counselor at the school asked me if I would be interested in a one of a kind car that was for sale by a widow friend of his. So I go check out the car and this is the one I found.
    The car had been built by a life-long auto body instructor at an area career center in Elkhart, IN. He had hand-built the car over a 10-15 year period and it was entirely welded and leaded. His widow told me he called it the "Land Shark". It was on a 39 Willys chassis, had a Studebaker V-8 with over drive. I think the front fenders and hood were late 30's Buick, the rear fenders were '48 Lincoln. It was a boat-tail roadster and the boat-tail was a 40 Ford hood turned around. I don't remember what the headlights, grill and cowl/doors were from.
    When I got it it had been sitting for a few years but a new battery, fresh gas, and brakes bled got it drive-able again. It must have had a title but I don't remember how it was listed. The picture shown here is when I took it to Auburn to sell it, my very first time ever to go to the weekend car sale at Auburn, Indiana. I ended up selling it to a guy who had been a career center student with the instructor who built the car. He took it back to Elkhart, IN and put it in the show room of his repair shop and it is still sitting there today as far as I know.
    Regrettably, this is the only picture I have of the car. That is me and my son in the background. Thought my Hamb friends would like seeing the picture in my avatar and hearing the story! C-dog Land Shark.jpg
     
    Lepus, alanp561, Okie Pete and 25 others like this.
  2. 26Troadster
    Joined: Nov 20, 2010
    Posts: 787

    26Troadster
    Member

    when you said land shark i thought you was talking about the 60 caddy custom.
     
  3. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,816

    BJR
    Member

    Now that is one UGLY car.:D
     
  4. straykatkustoms
    Joined: Oct 30, 2001
    Posts: 22,308

    straykatkustoms
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Very Kool, I'd like to see more pics and info about the car.
     
    loudbang, Stogy and stanlow69 like this.

  5. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    now this is one of those "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" rides - unique creation
     
    kiwijeff and loudbang like this.
  6. rusty rocket
    Joined: Oct 30, 2011
    Posts: 5,053

    rusty rocket
    Member

    Wow, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Very creative for sure.
    Edit. jalopy joker and I are on the same page his post was about 20 seconds before mine.:p
     
    kiwijeff, loudbang and chryslerfan55 like this.
  7. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,274

    williebill
    Member

    I'd proudly drive the wheels off of that car.
     
  8. Cool story, I'd totally would rock that car in LA.
    More unique than a lot Hotrod belly buttons you see.
     
  9. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    Somebody go to Elkhart and take some pic`s of it. I wonder what it would look like without skirts.
     
    kiwijeff, czuch and chryslerfan55 like this.
  10. sliceddeuce
    Joined: Aug 15, 2017
    Posts: 2,981

    sliceddeuce
    Member

    Ditch the white walls and toss on some Ford wire wheels...That would be a fun car to beat around in.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  11. With that narrow hood, motor access must have sucked....

    Pretty typical early '50s-era scratch build, and not the ugliest one I've seen. Looks like the workmanship was pretty decent.
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  12. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Ditto on the workmanship, and not ugly by most standards...
    Motor access not necessary. Stoody V8s never needed repairs or maintenance! :rolleyes:
     
  13. corndog
    Joined: Nov 27, 2007
    Posts: 4,700

    corndog
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Indiana

    I will go to Elkhart and take some pictures!! Its only about 8 miles away from where I live.
     
  14. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    I’ve said it before and once again it’s fitting here.
    It’s obvious that some people are great automotive designers and others should have found a different hobby :D:D
     
    alanp561 likes this.
  15. I dunno.......kinda cool, kinda ugly. Not everyones "vision" is the same. Or even 20/20......
     
  16. B Bay Barn
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 468

    B Bay Barn
    Member

    I do like Jimmy Buffett's Land Shark :)
     
  17. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,709

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    It has/had potential.....the bug eye headlights and pointed front fenders look out of place to me. A more graceful flowing fender like a 34 Ford and a set of torpedo headlights would look more at home. Almost as ugly as a 39 Willys front end.
     
  18. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    Pierce Arrow.
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  19. 28 Ford PU
    Joined: Jan 9, 2015
    Posts: 464

    28 Ford PU
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    It's a clown car. Look at all the circus tents


    Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2018
  20. Beauty is in the eye of the BEER holder. :rolleyes:

    Even though it's kinda quirky it's actually pretty cool, the car is one man's idea of a one off unique piece. HRP
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2018
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  21. Makes it easy to find in a parking lot full of belly buttons. :rolleyes:
     
  22. This falls in the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" . I like it.

    Ben
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  23. Think I saw the pickers buy it on an episode about 3 mo. ago.
    I remember the seller talking about the hood used for the boatail. It was pretty rough looking stored outside

    Sent from my smartass phone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  24. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,321

    dwollam
    Member

    Almost positive that was a different car. Had a '42- '47 Ford pickup hood on the rear.

    Dave
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  25. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    This car was built at a time when hotrods were trying to look like the sports cars that were just beginning to be sold in America.
     
    chryslerfan55 and Hnstray like this.
  26. Cars cool. Not my thing, but cool and probably built quite well.
    Its be neat to see it now.
     
  27. corndog
    Joined: Nov 27, 2007
    Posts: 4,700

    corndog
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Indiana

     
    chryslerfan55 and Hnstray like this.
  28. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

  29. chrome grill, a hood ornament and some running boards and i would cruise the wheels off of it.
     
  30. corndog
    Joined: Nov 27, 2007
    Posts: 4,700

    corndog
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Indiana

    Stanlow69, I will see if I can get some current pictures to post.
     
    chryslerfan55 and stanlow69 like this.

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