The best part of this whole story is that Leland got to see the car finished as he would have done it. Thank you for putting him first and getting him involved in the details and approvals and finishing it his way instead of doing it their own way as so many people would have. You are to be commended. Great job!
Hey there Girls and Gearheads.....Just got home from LaLa Land. Had a great time, talked to some old friends, and met some new ones. I stuck on a couple pics of Gene with the Slinky Stovebolt, and needless to say, he loves it, even though he did not paint the critter. I have a couple videos, one of Leland and one of Gene that I will post.......as soon as I learn how. Guys, I'm not pat'n myself on the back, 'cause I didn't do the paint, but I gotta tellya, out in the sun it looks fabulous. Nick and I have been sooo busy on this puppy that we really haven't had the time to admire the overall fit and finish. The chrome is flawless, and all colors match just right. It really turned a lot of heads, even at a hot rod show. So you see, even hot rodders have a soft spot for a kool kustom.
Yes, it turned out very well. Excellent job by all involved. One question though: looks like you're at a swap meet, is it for sale already?
Cabong, nice talking to you at LARS. The car was absolutely stunning in the sunlight! Kudos on a job well done. Mick
I do hope to get Leland and Gene together soon. Actually, it will have to be soon, as the big Kustom Kahuna in the sky has been asking Leland to come visit. Leland is fine with that, as are Margene and the girls. I showed Leland the pictures and video from LA today, and needless to say, he was tickled burple!!! I'm hoping to put together a get together for all his car buds, soon. This is something that Margene has mentioned a few times, and would be a hoot....Leland never wanted a bunch of attention or kudos for his fantastic fliptop, but he deserves every wink, nod, and handshake that comes his way. He's quite a guy, and I and everyone else is all the better for knowing him. God bless Leland and his entire family!!! Now......Nick and his brother have a booth at the LARS every year to promote their quickchange business. I thought it would be a great oppornockity to git the critter out there in the public, and of course, knew that Gene would be there. Yes, there was a for sale sign in the window, along with some history. More on all that at a later date. Thanks for all the interest!!!!!
This shot was in "Crazy Backyard Builder's" thread of LARS: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lars-photos-cars-trucks-in-the-swapmeet.929439/ click the photo and it gets HUGE.
Glad, you enjoyed the photo. It was neat to see it in person, never thought I would see it being it lives in Idaho.
The following was shot at LARS. I managed to spend quite a bit of time with Gene, and sure wish that Leland could have been there. The more I check into dates and locations, the more I realize that this fifties fliptop was really one of, if not the the first complete radical custom that Gene did. I hope it works, as I'm no computer geek, just an old geek!!!!!
I believe the picture on page 2, of Leland's sedan delivery and his convertible, was taken the day the R&C Dream Truck was delivered to Gene for some work, and was published in the corresponding issue of Rod & Custom.
Man-o-man!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The far reaching tentacles of this story just keep snagging ever so kool tidbits. Gene had the privilege of making the hood for the Dream Truck. Simple, right. WRONG!!!!!!!! Remember, Sam Gates started the chop. Valley Custom (may my good friend Neil rest in peace amongst all those heavenly car parts up there) straightened out the chop and did the section. Barris then did the grille (ala Stude pans) and headlights. Then our pal Gene was given the task of making a hood, sectioned, fit all that stuff. No small task my friends.......But do it he did, and a mighty fine job he did, and I gotta tellya, it weighed almost as much as the hood on Lelands Lowslung Leadster. On another note. Since the Burple Blaster is all but done, I figured another ride is due for Leland. I'm not sure of the day yet, but within the next week or so, I'm going to throw a party, okay, a picnic, for Leland. I want to git a bunch of the local ladies and leadheads to join together for a little Leland appreciation moment in one of our local parks. I figure he'll love it, and the window of time may be growing slim. I'll list a day and time soon. It will be on a weekday, late afternoon, early evening, as most of the weekends are booked up for everybody. Nick and I will have a registration book for acknowledging our thanks for Lelands great contribution to the world of Kustoms, and anyone wishing to have their name listed need only to let us know, by any means, and we will do the rest. I can't tell you how much this will mean to Leland, and Margene, and their daughters. Next to Leland of course, you guys are all the greatest, and he knows it!!!!!
Well it's set. One week from today at Lion Park in Nampa, Idaho. Four to eight. Anyone within range is more than welcome to come by and say high. If you're not close, like, New Zealand, or Denmark, just let me know by PM and I'll be glad to sign the book for you with comments. Again, you'd have to know Leland to understand just how much this will mean to him. Thanks again!!!!!!
I haven't checked this thread for a few weeks. Holy mackerel! That sure turned out sweet. Every single thing looks amazing. Kudos to all who put in the huge amount of work to make a fella's dream car come to fruition. Looks to me like Leland is very pleased with the results. What an amazing story from beginning to end. Looking forward to pics from the picnic!
Hey Cabong- went to the unveiling yesterday! WOW! What a cool thing to do for Lee and Margene. Lee was tickled pink- no burple. I could tell he was on cloud nine and stayed to the very end. He wad really glad to see his old Heap Herder pals and we were glad to be there for Lee and Margene. Really made me think of how much fun we had back then. The car could not have looked better! You and everyone involved should be Knighted for the work, time, money, and love you poured into making a man's (and woman's) dream come true. KUDOS! Too bad the old girl has to go down the road. Hopefully, the new owner will respect the history the car has, and the passion of everyone involved with the car from day one has shown her.
Hey Thanks for the kind words. A good time was had by all, especially Leland and Margene. I have some pictures and a video, but have had an issue transferring them to my computer. I'll keep trying. There were several cars there, including downlojoe's '51 (how kool is that), Dennis Booth's '53 Olds, Nick's Sedan Delivery, a really nice '31 Town Sedan, a '36 5-window that ws built by one of Leland's best friends, a '62 Starfire, a '40 convert (owned by Scott New, Boise Roadster Show, and Firebird Raceway), a '41 Plymouth convert, a Tr 3, and of course, Leland's '50. My apologies if I've missed anyone. I was pretty well burnt out by days end. Leland's critter crapped out on us going to the park. Seems the carb needle was sticking in the illustrious byproduct which our fine gas produces. So I coasted in, but got there. After everyone was gone, I sneaked over to Nick's, swiped a handfull of pliers and went to work. I got the carb cleaned out about the time that Nick came back to save my 'ol butt. We broke down the setup, and by the time I got home it was darned near 10:00. But what a good time!!!!!!! Leland was beside himself. One of the people there had been a friend of Leland's since they were about 8 years old. They both bought '50 Chev's the same day. When I mentioned the story about Leland and his buddies going into the Merchant Marines, after they had served in the 82nd, I didn't realize that Walter, whom I had met, was the second of the fearsome threesome who joined that day. Another true hero. Damn!!!!!!where are these people today. Makes me feel like a wimp, with my pants pulled up too tight. I can say without reservation, it has been a real pleasure having Leland as a friend. I just need more time with him........Thanks for following along in the back seat of a very kool kemp......
This is a picture taken at the beginning of the git together. Just a few people had arrived at this time, so it was a good time to git Leland and Margene with the Kruizer. I had just "koasted" in. Aside from old friends and relatives of Leland, there were members of the "Heap Herders" and the "Death Traps". I forgot to mention that Tony was there with the koolest Volvo around, and Andy came by with his little Nash, which is just as neet as the day is long. Even legal drag racing was represented, with members of the "Melba Outlaws", which won the Club Challenge for 2013, a real tough nut to crack. All in all, it couldn't have been a better "Hey we appreciate you" for Leland, Margene, and family. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!
So what has happened to this beauty since it's unveiling? I gather from one of the above comments it was sold? Man I love it every time I look through this thread.
Nick and I have been fixing a few mechanical glitches on the Burple Blaster. Just things that have gone bad from not being driven for so long, like the carb. I have been visiting with Leland and Margene alot, and in fact, there is an annual picnic at the facility tomorrow afternoon, and I will drive the lowster there. Leland has been a tad bummed, since Margene fell a couple weeks ago, and broke her upper leg. Ironically, she had just recently had a knee replacement on that same side. She is doing much better. I had a surprise call today, from one of the fellow involved in the engine replacement. He believes the sexy six may not have gone out of the area. Hot damn!!!!!!! I would still like to reunite the two, and will if the opportunity presents itself. Nick and I are going to the Winfield Watson Get Together in October, with the Kruizer. Nick will also take his Sedan Delivery. While there we will try to recreate the picture of Gene's shop with the Delivery and Leland's Lowtop. Sooooo, no.....the Kruizer still lurks in Nick's home shop, and still looks just as magnificent to me as the day we completed the work. Leland Lives!!!!!
Awesome ride. Another great day burning up the posts here on the HAMB, thoroughly enjoyed your work. It's beautiful. Luck of the Gods, doesn't cut it. You surely had the talent to smite luck in its eye as needed. Rub some of that this way please. I could use some. My habits of success have more luck than talent any day....more worse then others.
Regret hearing about Margene but glad to know that she is doing better. Keeping my fingers crossed that you can pull off what would seem to be the impossible and reunite the sexy six with the mother ship. But as this cars revival seems to have been fated perhaps it's not so impossible after all... Please keep us posted. Torchie.
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