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History Top Ten kustom icons of your youth

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by 'Mo, Feb 1, 2018.

  1. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    saw this one at Lodi about 1975 when I was 15. I had never seen anything like it as there was nothing like this being covered in magazines at the time. all I knew was that it was extra cool. 40 years later it still gives me wood.
    scan0018.jpg
     
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  2. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    John Lee Williamson noted the Grabowski T in an early post. I feel it deserves special mention.

    Seeing that most here apparently hail from more recent times, you may not realize the impact this car had on the emerging "counter-culture" scene, of which rods and customs were so representative. It went on to be leased by Hollywood for the TV series ,"77 sunset Strip", and known as the "Kookie Car" (for the hip, youth character that drove it, Ed "Kookie" Kooksun.) At that time, there were no "Fad T's".
    John also mentioned former "Mousketeer" 'TV Tommy' Ivo's T, which followed soon after (in much refined fashion), and was featured in some Hollywood "B" movies. But Grabrowski had already done the damage, with
    outrageous body rake, pipes, lots of carbs, buckets of chrome, and colorful flame laden paint.

    [​IMG]

    (BTW, Grabowski himself had a small part in the fore-mentioned "High School Confidential" film, as one of the high school heavies.)

    For those interested, here is a short article on both "T"s.
    https://selvedgeyard.com/2009/05/24/the-great-1950s-t-bucket-rod-rivalry/
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
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  3. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    In 1979, our family took a trip to Minneapolis MN. One of the stops was the NSRA nats to see Street Rods. I was 9. That`s when I saw Lee Pratts 41 Buick Lowrider. The first car I had seen with hydraulics. It was my favorite car at the show. Somewhere I have a pic of it from that show. 8 years later I had hydraulics installed on my car when I was 17. Lee was from Des Moines, about 2 hours from our hometown. Only went there for state basketball playoffs and the state fair. Lee was a legend in my book back then. 4 years later I saw his Buick in Kansas City Scan0600.jpg Scan0601.jpg , A very slick looking late model to say the least..
     
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  4. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Well you learn real quick that your old fart status is upheld when half the cars shown weren't customize until you were in your 40's but they were fresh when the poster was young.
    As far as influential from my youth The Rod &Custom Dream truck is high on the list even though it was wrecked about the same time I became a teenager.
    Favorites. Red Rage that Paul Harper restored but is now lavender and in the Portland area. I saw that car at a Seattle show the year before it was sectioned and then the next year after it was sectioned. My Blue Heaven 59 Ford. Another one I saw at early shows. The Bare End a 56 I think F100 that was white with canted quads that was in shows in the PNW in the early 60's and driven on the street around Renton Wa. Moon Glow Chevy. Still one of my all time favorites.
     
  5. Surprised it didn't make the first page. Built in his driveway. CCC-duane-steck-moonglow-chevy-12.jpg

    02-duane-steck-moonglow-1954-chevrolet-bel-air.jpg
     
  6. aircap
    Joined: Mar 10, 2011
    Posts: 1,748

    aircap
    Member

    I grew up in the 60's and 70's, so my custom influences were informed by Hot Wheels, model cars, and Hot Rod Magazine. Starbird and Stuckey were local, so they loomed large. Ed Roth, Barris, and Bill Cushenberry were in the thick of it. My thing as a youth were cars like Lil Coffin, Silhouette, Beatnik Bandit, all those crazy Monogram models, the Batmobile, Predicta, and the like. The more radical, the better. Mercs didn't happen for me until later.
     
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  7. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    All of these are some cool rides, but since I was a child in the sixties, I always dug Cushenberry's Silhouette. And as a teenager in 1977, it was on the cover of one of our refinishing manuals at Tri County JVS, Nelsonville, Ohio. I knew at that moment I had picked the right career for me. The paint on it on the cover was like a magic mirror, and I couldn't wait for the day when I could paint like that.
     
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  8. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    @Mr48chev I was around when Paul Harper brought his Buick to the KKOA show in Springfield Illinois in 87. Kool car to say the least. I also the fresh clone of the El Matador there too. Later on I saw the Rod and Custom Dream truck. Seeing them in person for the first time is something you don`t forget. No matter how long ago it was. Here are some pic`s. Scan0605.jpg
     
  9. This is a 58 Chevrolet custom from the central N.Y. area.
    I have seen the car around for about ten or fifteen years, but never been able to catch up with the owner.
    It always stood out because most cars in this area are Boyd or Chip style.
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
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  10. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    It's been eye opening for me too., Mr48chev.
    Growing up on the East Coast when I did, most of my exposure was from West Coast publications and Hollywood "B" movies. (As well as a handful of East Coast little pages.)

    I was aware of the influence TV cars had in subsequent years, but was relatively naive as to the interest generated by the large custom gatherings in the nation's heartland during the Eighties. (Although the "What Ever Happened to.......?" thread has provided some insight.)

    I guess it's just a matter of time before some HAMB builds make the list. (Deservedly.)
    But then again, I guess most of us who find their way here are already 'bent'! :D
    "And the beat goes on...!"
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2018
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  11. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    I believe that to be an older build, Robert, as I remember it from early magazine coverage.
    (I seem to remember it in maroon (?), and definitely without the Connie kit.)
    Although my memory is somewhat sketchy on the past details, I'm certain that it is the same car.
    And I think it looks even better, as pictured!
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2018
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  12. I have a feeling its an old build but I have never been able to catch up with the owner to find out the history.
    There is always a big vintage car show trophy in the back seat.
     
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  13. I'd like to narrow it down to some cars i've seen in person, there are too much customs on the globe to only pick ten.... Trip to OSW 2017 635.JPG Trip to OSW 2017 748.JPG Blue-DanubeFP.jpg Claudi und ich 002.jpeg

    just some samples of my fav's, of course i'd like to mention Dirty Napkins cars, Roger o'Dells Zephyr and many others. so many great builders here.
     
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  14. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    Geez! I'd SLEEP in this beauty!

    [​IMG]
     
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  15. KustomLincolnLady
    Joined: Oct 17, 2003
    Posts: 1,030

    KustomLincolnLady
    Member

    Not considered Icons I suppose, but some of what got me hooked on Kustoms IMG_0006v.jpg IMG_0009.jpg IMG_0010.jpg IMG_0036.jpg IMGxx (2).jpg
     
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  16. KustomLincolnLady
    Joined: Oct 17, 2003
    Posts: 1,030

    KustomLincolnLady
    Member

    I forgot this one IMG_0043.jpg
     
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  17. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 9,291

    jnaki

    upload_2018-2-6_4-14-51.png 1963
    Hello,

    It was not a dream car in a magazine from back east or anywhere. It was in our own cruising grounds of Long Beach, CA. Back in 1961-62, we saw a cool looking 58 Impala at some local car shows in Long Beach. It had the blue with silver scallops and custom, Halibrand wheels. Did it ever, stand out at those shows? We were lucky when we talked to Mox Miller at those shows. That Impala was a car load of ideas for my black 58 Impala.


    By this time, the drag racing in the A/Stock class was over, so the only racing for our black Impala was the sometimes, street race or two. Custom ideas popped up after seeing what could be done to an Impala. We already had 6 red taillights and the chrome stuff on the 348, plus the left over racing stuff, including quad, chromed, scavenger pipes. That Mox Miller blue, scalloped Impala had stuff that would have been nice on our Impala. (471 dual quads, etc.) But, we were still teenagers with limited budgets.

    Jnaki

    The closest thing that was similar to that cool blue, show quality, Impala was a set of custom wheels. I bought a 5 wheel set of 56 Buick Skylark wire wheels a friend had for sale. Now, our 58 Impala was as custom as a daily, street cruiser can be. But, that 348 motor with the 471 supercharger was just something that was out of reach.
    upload_2018-2-6_4-17-51.png one of a kind
    upload_2018-2-6_4-18-16.png
    Rodders Journal
    upload_2018-2-6_4-19-4.png
    Rik Hoving photos
    upload_2018-2-6_4-20-2.png upload_2018-2-6_4-20-18.png
    upload_2018-2-6_4-20-41.png upload_2018-2-6_4-20-54.png
    upload_2018-2-6_4-21-11.png upload_2018-2-6_4-22-20.png
    upload_2018-2-6_4-22-39.png



     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2018
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  18. R Pope
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 3,309

    R Pope
    Member

    First version of "Moonglow" is #1 on my list, surprised it took till page 2 to show up here.
     
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  19. KustomLincolnLady
    Joined: Oct 17, 2003
    Posts: 1,030

    KustomLincolnLady
    Member

    This needs to come to Custom Car Revival! Beautiful

    Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  20. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    G. Barris: Invader
    invader.jpg
     
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  21. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,025

    19Fordy
    Member

    Really cool. Just think how many other "oldies but goodies" customs are tucked away
    in garages across the country........unknown
     
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  22. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    Coincidentally, I was just reading on KUSTOMRAMA about someone who found an old Lincoln custom in a barn and bought it for $275. He and a his buddy threw the worst flame paint job ever on it, and raffled it off at their local cruise. They later found out that it had magazine history, then saw it for sale in Hemmings for $35,000!
    Story HERE: https://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Tony_Bruskivage's_1952_Lincoln
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2018
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  23. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    In 1983, we went to the Leadsleds in Springfield Ohio. There was a 54 Ford Vicky that was forsale. I fell in love with that car. And that bodystyle. It was only about $4500. I was a lot short. I dreamed about that car(and still do). A year later, we met Gary Howard. He had this in Des Monies in the 84 KKOA show. He was originally from the Logan, Dunlap area. Then moved closer to Council Bluffs and worked in Malvern Iowa for a bit. Much later he would finish building a 54 Ford for Jimmy Vaughn similar to the 54 I saw. I talked his brother(Paul) into going to Salina with us to see Gary inducted in the KKOA Hall of Fame. Paul took a car similar to mine. Scan0622.jpg Scan0623.jpg
     
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  24. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    Don't get your hopes up. I see that the picture was posted from Germany!
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2018
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  25. ....and the car rolls through Sweden, so you'll have to come over to see
     
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  26. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I don't remember Lil John being part of that group. My favorite is Ron Courtney's X-51, built about 35 miles from me. The thing that sets it apart from many, is the fact he used a minimal amount of parts from cars to make the transition. Instead, he fabricated the grille, tail lights, and fins using flat steel, along with some modified Oldsmobile parts from the dealership where he worked. I fell in love with this car, seeing when I was eleven in 1959. I took these pics out in front of my shop in the middle 80's, when John Corno owned for the second time. It was a treat to get to work on it ! IMG_1612.JPG IMG_1614.JPG IMG_1617.JPG
     
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  27. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    A true icon, as noted.
    I always felt that grille work on the leading edge of the fin was genius.
    I understand that this was Courtney's one and only custom car? Too much!
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2018
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  28. Lou kriger
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 914

    Lou kriger

    Yeah this is one of the ones that captured my imagination. I thought Duane Steck was almost a genius. For a young guy, he had a great eye. Still inspired by the “Moonglow” and many others already mentioned here. Great thread!


    Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
     
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  29. I was born in '61 and these were the kustom icons from my youth:

    Wacky.jpg
     
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  30. ccc-hub-harness-60-buick-02.jpg
    Top of my list. Hub Harness' Buick.
     
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