History Turnpike Cruiser/bubble Skirts on late 50's styled customs

Those bubble skirts have always looked stuck on as an afterthought and take away far more from the looks of the car than they add. That 59 that Moriarity posted in post 25 is prime example of an added accessory drawing too much attention away from the total car and not being a flowing component of the car. You see bubble skirt and then you see car.
I'm not a fan of skirts at all except those on 49/51 Mercs and a few others that have been flush fit. Paul Harper did that on Barb Johnson's 51 and it looks perfect that way.


Not a fan of cruiser skirts on cars that are too short in the tail end. The Turnpike cruisers they originated on between 57 and 59 have long quarter panels and that is why they look so good.
My theory on items on a custom or hot rod for that matter is if your eye focuses on a particular component on the car before you see the whole car as a unit it probably doesn't belong on that car.
My best bud used the term "radical" on cars that I knew before I saw the photos had some part that commanded your attention away from the whole car such as a blower scoop sticking though the hood of a low slung late 59's Caddy coupe. I knew if he raved about this "radical" car I wasn't going to like it.

 

That's a good litmus test. I like that.

 

I'm voting for bubble skirts, cruiser skirts, and factory skirts.. I've got 2 sets of steel bubbles, one aftermarket NOS, and one set of Jimmy Jones. On the right car, I don't see a full diaper, I see a badass custom.

 

She isn't sure either....

 

It sounds like with all the custom touches you are doing to the car skirts are a must. 55 and 56 Fords look great with skirts. Chis has the best looking 56 Ford. Also if anybody has a set of cruiser skirts for sale shoot me a message. I’ve always wanted a set for my Shoebox.

 

I want to make clear, I am in no way anti-fender skirts, I have run them on several of my cars and I really like the look. But I do have this '55 saved in my inspiration folder, and it really speaks to me. I really love this car, it's got spots and lake pipes but no skirts and it looks just right to me. Even if it had just a solid color and not the wild paint, I think I'd still love it.

 

Somebody post a pic of the purple 50 Merc with scallopes from Michigan with bubble skirts. That Ford coupe above has the wrong kind of bubble skirts, have seen a lot better. A good looking bubble skirt is custom made to fit the car. Not an aftermarket style. There is a difference.

 

Ding Ding.......you are correct sir.
Yes, she likes that car a lot.

 

That car is one of my favorites. It's my model for scallops.

 

If you get a set of stock skirts you can put them on or take them off to suit your/her mood.
That’s my plan anyway.

 

Only cars I like skirts on are late 40’s -early 50’s fastbacks or cars done up to a semi fastback like the 51 Mercury above. When you get into more formal rooflines , skirts to me make the top look like a box sitting on the body. I’m not a big fan of factory skirts on 50’s and 60’s either, with maybe a few exceptions.
And those bubble skirts do look like a diaper full of poop! Or a skinny kid with the mumps!

 

57 Fords look good.

 

I always wanted a 57 Ford...

I would start with the shorter 2 door Club Coupe. Then add either chrome reverse, same color steel wheels with chrome lug nuts or full Moon discs.. Painted Maroon or Custom Color Emerald Green with black high grade vinyl interior, Lee flat tail light lenses, antenna in the rear, 54 Chevy grill, recessed headlights.
Tri Power 352/390 with a solid lifter cam, 3 on the tree, duals with Porter Steel Packs..

 

X2...If my car wasn’t an original-paint survivor, it might look a lot like that green 55. It is the one that stands out to me at least in the style I would shoot for.

 

Is this the Merc you're talking about Jim? Love this car! The Jimmy Jones needle nose skirts are pure rolling art! E

 

I like 'em...

 

I'm biased, but I like your color choices: (White Diamond pearl and burgundy pearl)

 

I like cruiser skirts, and fender skirts in general, on the right cars. I think the turnpike cruisers and bubble skirts look great, but only cars that aren't minimalist. If you've got some wild paint, spots, and especially a continental kit, then the skirts look great. If the car is too mild, it's a clash of styles in my opinion.

Here's my 57 for consideration.

 

One point I'll make in fender skirts generally. Whether you use them or not (skirts of any variety, including stock skirts) should be dictated by your car's stance. The whole purpose of the skirt is to accentuate the "long and low" style by extending the bottom of the car basically from the bottom of the front wheel arch all the way to the back bumper largely uninterrupted. The proper stance is to go back down, or uniformly low. If the car has any forward rake at all, it's a big no-no with skirts. Also even if the car is level, if it's not low and a significant amount of tire is protruding or visible, the skirt will only accentuate the height of the car. Look at this thread here, the cars that look best you can barely see the back tires. You should only be able to see a hint of rim, if not less.

 

I do like the purple Merc with the skirts, that particular paint job really ties it together. And I like the cruisers on the '57 Fords shown above since the shape works so well with the side trim/upper quarter panel moldings. Those are good examples of doing it right.

 

I find it interesting that every picture of a good version of bubble skirts the skirts are scalloped which visually helps distract from the skirts bulbous look. To my mind if you have to try and hide what they look like with graphics they aren't that great looking to start with.

Sent from my SM-G950W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I hesitated to post pix of my skirts simply because they aren't bubble or cruiser...however they do resemble cruiser skirts more than bubble. These are hand built and are 74 inches long and make the car look longer than it is...of course, a '55 Cadillac does not have a body line around the wheel well but I feel the skirt adds to the quarter in lengthening it.



And...just to give you a comparison, my friends '56 Cadillac has modified 'Cruisers" on it...partially fitted flush to the car...and minus all the trim.
For additional comparison, my brother's '54 Caddy uses the stock skirts only these we sectioned and added three inches to them to bring the lip closer to the bottom of the car...


In short, and this is my opinion, I believe your '55 Ford two door would look best with stock skirts...even if they are sectioned and the lip lowered...if it were a hardtop, then it would looks best with Cruiser type skirts …

R-

 

I want to point out, because I am coming across as a negative nancy on this thread, that I am glad guys like different build styles This particular one (bubble skirts) is not for me. It would be a pretty darn boring hobby if everybody built a car exactly like I or anyone else would like to see it.

 

There all so nice but the Caddo just makes my heart skip when it comes to the "down low"... The women who designed those cars designed them around the "classy low" look..

Peoples spirits were on right back then, these cars are a direct result of living right..

 

in my professional opinion these look OK, though I like the standard skirts:


and these look like a loaded diaper: