Technical Something you dont see every day

Dont know if this should get posted under; folks if interest, history, custom, all the above?? Admins move as necessary
We are at Autorama in Detroit and we are set up across from Gene Winfield's group doing the top chop...
This year they are working on Bill Hines "baby bat" (see story board)
Gene is getting up there and it's nice to see him still getting out and about and passing the craft...
Chappy

 

great story

 

Thanks - very Cool

 

I think the leadslinger would approve.


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I'm a little sad that they are chopping an iconic car as this one is. It's a bit homely for my taste, but I believe if uncle Bill wanted it chopped he would have done so. He had already modified the top to his liking, not everything needs chopping.

Mick

 

Most sources have him at 92 years old. Pretty incredible he is still out there doing cool stuff. I'm pretty sure he still campaigns a land speed car also.

-Abone.

 

Much as I respect the talent of Gene, I'm not sure even he can make anything out of that.

 

When I saw the first picture on this thread, I thought the greenhouse is too big to be in proportion.
It seems like a good idea to chop the top on that 4 door roof . Has the wheelbase been shortened on this car?

 

I'm sure it wouldn't be getting chopped unless Teddy Z said that Uncle Bill intended to chop it but didn't get to it before selling it and leaving for California.

 

Progress as of end of today...

 

Great history.... But all I can say is that they are all "original's" once...... Bill's work.
Even though thing's can be improved/smoothed/enlightened if you will, Does it make it right to try to correct what modern day seem's wrong? Just my op, which is like anything else.........

 

Very cool!

 

cool.........

 

Thanks Mark, I feel better now.

Mick

 

Glad to see the car was found/saved and that Gene is still going at it these days!

Having said that, I've always thought that car had a face only a Mother could love, woof!

 

And the "finished" product...

 

Great stuff.

 

Awesome!!!

 

Amazing story. It's so nice to see it being returned to its former "glory". (Not my favorite custom but it certainly deserves to be saved as an excellent example of the times)

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I'm so glad this car is out of the weeds and being preserved, I'm also glad it has a roof back on it again. It was sad to see a piece of history outside, roofless and full of junk, plus now Gene has added a bit more history to it's story, which makes it all the more special.

I hope it gets taken further than this, I'd really like to see it restored, or at least, assembled. But this is a great start. It may not be my favorite custom, but I love to see the appreciation of custom car history.

 

You don't have to like the looks of the un-finished product, just appreciate the time, and talent that went into getting the body that far along. Recognize Bill Hines for his talent and skill, and forward thinking.

 

Absolutely! Right on!

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I met Teddy Z back in 2018 when I did the Hudson Tour of USA. Got invited to his shop on Saturday morning where a group get together for coffee(worst coffee ever!!). He had a few projects going on in the shop but the history stuff of Bill Hines was the best.

 

Really cool that old Bill built it for himself back then and it was a daily driver for quite some time!

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A part of me wants to see this built into a bubble top

It sure is an interesting twist to the history of this car that Gene Winfield now has a part of chopping the top on it.

Thanks for sharing the photos @Chappy444 can I borrow a couple of them for the page we have on Kustomrama documenting the history of the car?

 

Thanks