Well, today will be interesting. Leland and Margene will be seeing the completed car for the first time. If all goes well, rides are in order, and pictures will follow. Leland, the Man, with a twinkle and a wink of those bright blue eyes. It just doesn't git any better than that!!!!!!!! I am sooooo thankful to be able to call him my friend......
Even if your not into customs , how could you not like this ? Excellant job guys . You should be proud !
Man, that car turned out INCREDIBLE!!!!! I am an old school Kustom fan through and through. And I "Get it"! I will be completely honest and say that there are things on the car I am not crazy about (or just don't like), but that is the point!!!!! Kustom cars are like artwork. An expression and open to interpretation. They just sit there to be admired. Hot rods, on the other hand are NOT static. They are music (Rock and Roll). They perform, evolve and are best enjoyed while in motion (or sitting still with cackling exhaust). Kustom cars are "one of one". Sometimes it's a good thing that there is ONLY ONE! Other times they are so "Right", people build copies. And THIS CAR is one of the "Right" ones! It's (IMO) a perfect mix of REAL done in the 50s customizing mixed with 2014 technology. Expect a LOT of Chevy's popping up with Plymouth eyebrows and Olds 1/4's!!!!!!! And SO AWESOME..... That Leyland and bride finally get to take that drive 60+ years late, in their shiny one of a kind Kustom Kemp! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I've watched this from the beginning. All of you that took the time to make the transformation of this car a reality for Leland and his wife deserve recognition for your diligence in seeing this project through to completion. The finished car is absolutely stunning. Nice job.
Darn, I have a video, but can't seem to git it to stick, so, here's a couple pics of the infamous outing....Leland the Legend, Margene the Master, Rhonda the princess, and me, I'm Eddie Wilson.. Wait, not that last one, that's from one of my favorite movies.
Another quick shot of a happy Leland. We putzed around through a subdivision, since all the main roads had just been tarred and graveled, and every time the smitties would sing, a huge smile would spread. "Man, that sounds good!!!!!!" Remember my friends, Leland is 87 years young, and still appreciated that sweet music. we should all be so lu cky........
Love the pics! I'm sure that Leland and his bride were extremely excited to see their ride looking so good in person. Great job!
The cool smirk on Leland's face says it all. It is a sign of approval for a job well done and I am sure it may have also triggered some great memories.
Just plain fantastic Cabong. I noticed Lelands T-shirt. Was he in the 82nd? That's my dads old outfit. Torchie.
I've been following the rebuild since the beginning. Lost track of it since the HAMB rebuild as I wasn't getting updates after the big changes to the site. The before and after says it all. It went from being a cool old custom that somewhat missed the mark, to being pure perfection! Great to see Leland and his family so pleased with the end result! It's worthy of standing up next to all the best customs of past years!
Yes, he was in the 82nd airborne, and made a number of jumps here and in Japan in the early late 40's. He used his muster pay as the down payment for this Chevy. Between the '40 Ply sedan delivery and the Chevy, he has had a couple great cars around him all his life.
These are the things that make this hobby worth while... kudos Sent from my SCH-I200 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
Wow. Leland and you have proven that a radical custom does not need to be cartoonish to impress. Great design, quality execution, and restraint has produced a beautiful piece of art. The pleasure written on the faces of everyone involved is priceless. Very well done to all of the people who made this happen so quickly Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
You guys did it just right. I'm glad you stuck with the way custom cars were really built in the '50s, as far as the styling details & paint, etc. It would have been easy to stick the same cliched grill, taillight, & wheel cover treatments that we have seen ad nauseum since the rebirth of custom cars in the late 1970s & early 1980s. That's what most people would have done. I think it's obvious everyone involved "gets it." Well done, and congratulations. That was one of the nicest things I've ever seen someone do for another person!
All that car needs now are some chrome pencil tips on the exhaust. Looks like Margene and Rhonda got the color-coordinated top memo! Oh, and...the Cruiser's are back!
Saw the car at LARS today and the pictures really don't do the paint justice. It is so stinkin' cool. Let's be honest, I'm not a fan of the interior, but everything else is so sweet it really doesn't matter. Well done Cabong! --- Sent from the pits of dispair app. Wirelessly, of course.
The Jalopy Journal
