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Features The "Bonus Roll" From Lee Pratt

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Ryan, Apr 22, 2019.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    The "Bonus Roll" From Lee Pratt

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2019
    Eric H, stinson, Okie Pete and 13 others like this.
  2. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    The thing about slides is it's easy to put them in backwards. ;) NWOD OL

    Neat shots, and I remember the Merc convert and the 41 Ford. I also remember Lee's Buick.

    Maybe the other Merc was shot for a feature in Classic & Custom.
     
    OG lil E likes this.
  3. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Funny you should mention that. As part of the process of getting these usable, I had to scan with the non-sticky side down. Of course, the sticky side was different on each strip... So half of these shots were backwards when I first uploaded them.
     
  4. Wow! Those are incredible!
     

  5. Thank you for the extra effort so we could enjoy these. I look forward to the Buick roll.
     
  6. El Pratt
    Joined: Jul 28, 2009
    Posts: 34

    El Pratt

    I guess I should have looked at those slide rolls a little closer, I thought they were images of the Mid America Nationals in addition to my old Buick. These images are from the first Leadsled Spectacular In Wichita, Ks. I don't recall the Mercury but the group shot is Larry Purcell (41 Ford), Mick Ellis, (40 Merc), Bob Johnson, (40 Merc), and yours truly with the Buick. Sorry for the condition, glad you were able to use them.
     
  7. straykatkustoms
    Joined: Oct 30, 2001
    Posts: 22,307

    straykatkustoms
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thank you for sharing the kool pics. Wow what a time warp..... 1981 is when I entered Kustom Kemps of America's first Spectacular, what a life changer. That weekend introduced me to Kustoms and I fell in love with 49-51 Mercs, 39,40 Mercs and 41 Buicks & Fords. What a kool show and on the way home I lost interest in my '57 Nomad. I caught crazy about a Mercury blues. It took me a while but I finally got a chopped Merc.

    When Lee Pratt drove the Buick into the show it just dropped my jaw. I was going to Tri Chevy shows and wasn't use to seeing kustoms. The two tone purple with the flake top was a work of moving art.

    Thanks again for sharing the pics.
     
  8. Those shots of Low & Lovely were indeed used for the feature in Classic & Custom Magazine. I believe they were shot in 1981. Definitely in Wichita! The brown square building in the background is the Kansas Coliseum where the first Spectacular was held.
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2019
    John B, loudbang, OG lil E and 3 others like this.
  9. Torchie
    Joined: Apr 17, 2011
    Posts: 1,099

    Torchie
    Member

    Great Pics and great Job on preserving them Ryan.
    Thank you!
    Torchie
     
    straykatkustoms likes this.
  10. Here's a page from the Classic & Custom article. (originally posted by @OG lil E

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Hot damned...

    And Lee, don't you dare apologize... Working on these slides has been the highlight of my 2019 thus far. It's been a ton of fun for all sorts of reasons.
     
    John B, loudbang, OG lil E and 7 others like this.
  12. Danekejt
    Joined: May 27, 2012
    Posts: 106

    Danekejt
    Member
    from Pa

    Thanks for sharing your photos Lee and thanks Ryan for putting the work in so that we can see them. Great shots.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2019
    straykatkustoms likes this.
  13. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    Yes way cool. Thanks.
     
    straykatkustoms likes this.
  14. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,091

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Fantastic!
     
    straykatkustoms likes this.
  15. BLAKE
    Joined: Aug 10, 2002
    Posts: 2,783

    BLAKE
    Member

    #leeprattrules

    Killer work, RYAN... sooo good!!
     
    OG lil E, straykatkustoms and Stogy like this.
  16. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    what a treat to see this vintage treasure, thanx for sharing Lee, and thanx boss for your efforts to let us see them
     
    straykatkustoms and Stogy like this.
  17. Yes, that is the first (1981) KKOA Spectacular held in Wichita. I drove my 40 Merc and was very privileged to be photographed in such great company. Made many good friends there.
    I have a bunch of photos from that run I hope to get scanned one of these days.
    Thanks Lee and Ryan!

    Mick
     
  18. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It's really nice to see the Traditional Customs amongst the landscape of major changes in styling that occurred over those years.

    Timeless...and Easy on the eyes...thanks @El Pratt & @Ryan and the others for their input and dotting i's & t's...;)
     
  19. Curt Six
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 992

    Curt Six
    Member

    These are priceless. Can't wait to see the shots of the sedanette. Maybe they'll spur Lee on to recreate that car, too.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  20. Great photos! I remember when Lee use to bring his 41 Buick to DesMoines for Leadsleds and later Goodguys. The 40 Merc with the Carson top belonged to Council Bluff, Iowa native Bob Johnson who passed a few years back. I miss Bob. Great guy.
     
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  21. Wow, those are some great shots, man! Dig the group shot of the four customs together!
    The shots of Ernie Roth's Mercury are pretty rare. Ernie's car was somewhat famous in it's day, but more so for the burgundy version. Shots of it in red aren't as common. Either version is way cool. I would have loved to have seen this car in person.
    Here are a few shots of Ernie's car in the second version courtesy of @KustomLincolnLady and Scott Pavey.

    Ernie Roth Merc b  KLL.jpg

    Ernie Roth Merc c SPC.jpg

    Also, here's a link to the discussion we had about Ernie's car on the "What Ever Happened To..........?" thread. Ernie's car was W.E.H.T. #5. E

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/what-ever-happened-to.1016572/page-4
     
  22. hotrodmano
    Joined: May 3, 2011
    Posts: 412

    hotrodmano
    Member
    from Norway

    Nice trowback. And regarding Iowa and customs: I have about 50 to 100 slides i took at Lead Slead Spectacular in Davenport in 89. Any interrest?. They are mounted in frames so it must be shot of the shot on canvas. I ev. have to check how they turn out first...and where they are. Ive moved acouple of five times since :)
     
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  23. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,257

    corncobcoupe
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Totally Bitchin '
     
    stanlow69 likes this.
  24. John B
    Joined: Mar 9, 2001
    Posts: 1,433

    John B
    Member

    \

    Any interest? I'm sure I speak for a few others on here when I say HECK YEAH!
     
    stanlow69, Sancho and OG lil E like this.
  25. gsnort
    Joined: Feb 5, 2008
    Posts: 281

    gsnort
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    There's mention of photos; I only see one--and that is the group of customs in the first share.
     
  26. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    Scan0104.jpg Scan0103.jpg The late Bob Johnsons 40 Merc is alive and well in Wisconsin. It was one of the first custom I saw as a little kid. It is one of my top 5 customs of all time.
     
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  27. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    Lee`s Buick was at the Street Rod Nationals in Minnesota when I saw it first. More than likely, it inspired me to install hydraulics on my car when I was 16(see avatar). 33 years ago. Scan0600.jpg
     
  28. Okie Pete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2008
    Posts: 4,968

    Okie Pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Glad you could save the film . Great Job Ryan
     
    OG lil E, Sancho and stanlow69 like this.

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