Hello, That photo "enlarged" has a "...FOX" sign the roof of a brick building. There was an old radio station on Anaheim Street, a few blocks away from our old Long Beach Poly High School Campus. Anaheim Street was/is a major cross town street running from the edge of Palos Verdes/San Pedro all the way to PCH in Long Beach, where there used to be a Hody's Drive-in restaurant. In 1946-48, we lived in a trailer park just down the street in that old neighborhood of the old KFOX building. Jnaki If the photo is in the old Anaheim Street, Long Beach neighborhood, some of the old guys still around the Long Beach area from those old car clubs might be able to give a more accurate information. Nice old photo not seen before.
There is a front shot of the 40 in Strother McMinn's beautiful book. Unfortunately he provided no additional information as far as owner etc. Mick
I like it a lot, a Custom with Attitude with huge blindspots, Oh Yeah...but they weren't really built with that in mind of course... I hope some additional info comes up... What's with the Strange reflections on the rear fender in the skirt area...it looks like the skirt is offset and miniature or perhaps there is a nearby car reflected into the fender...
@Ryan do you you have any pics of Ken's Custom that he thought might be the topic of discussion...sounds like a nice addition to this thread...if you can't locate the real deal a close match would compliment the thread...one pic wonders...how valuable are they, eh...
Current San Diego Symphony Building was orginally a Fox Theater. Based on that and other building looks like it says something like "First" or Fifth" , I say picture was taken on "A" St. Near 5th St. There is a First Republic Bank and parking structure in that area. Edit: Research shows System Auto Park 1950 address of 1166 8th St. and Fox Theater main entrance was on "B" St. , so photo may have been taken on "B" St. near 10th street.
@Ryan Location of picture solved. As I posted earlier along "B" St. from 10th looking toward Fox Theater. It just might be the car Larry has with the San Diego connection. San Diego 1946/47 B St. addresses: 710.0.Fox Theatre ~echt L R eng Powell T H Ins 722.0.Montgomery Ward -& Co 729.0.Drake Hotel 739 Ewing J C auto pk 1 8th a'v Intersects 802.0.Camlel Zel gro 810 Bradley 0 L barber · c ride Hazel C chlro- 814 Roberts Chas reetr Praetor 818 "C i , .0.McBrlde -R J chiropractor .-. Reemelln R L acct Y am el Zel variety store .O.McBr.ld w ~ 820 Lippman Sarni clo clnr 5014.BaU · H A chlr~pr~tor 840.Goodrich B F Co tires 9th av Intersect 9051).Dorman•s Inc auto acces-. 912.0.Calta -M F gas sta 4LacotaRrlasl Serv &.Michael's used cars· Also Michael's Signal Service is listed at 912 B street in 1950.
Hammer time! Love the chop. A guy had one much like that in Stamford, CT. Back in the day. Bad ass. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
Hey C, I would say that my recollection of the KFOX Studios in Long Beach in that old photograph is off, since your facts and enlarged photos seem to be the correct building structures. My hat is off to you. We have driven by that new Copley Symphony Hall many times in our last 7 years of visiting San Diego weekly. We did not know of that particular portion of history. Thanks... our road trips were to see and attend those little cool restaurants all over San Diego's different areas. One of our favorites was the Queensland Public House, several city blocks to the Northwest of the Copley. If one looks at the 1928 photo of the building, the FOX tower had distinct spires. In the custom car photo, the OX and spires are evident, when the photo is enhanced and enlarged. Jnaki So, if this was taken in the 1940s-50s, the oldest hot rod club in San Diego is the famous San Diego Prowlers. There are still many members with tons of old memories and photos. Perhaps one of them would enlighten us to the hot rod/custom car photo information. Jim R? Andy B? or send me an email/PM
Hey E, It is old school forensics with easy access to friends in San Diego and of course, the internet searches. It is funny that you would mention that, my wife has always thought we could be detectives back when we were younger. Or now, use the searches as old guys/girls trying to solve "unsolved" cases. That is intriguing. Jnaki We had no time back then to do that kind of stuff. But, these days, there is plenty of time to do fascinating searches and research. It is just like those old college research days until 3 a.m. in the morning, in the darkened library stacks.
Prowler charter member Dick Bradford in 1948. Car appears to have skirts. Maybe before chop? Looks like could be same guy in other picture.
Reminds me of Jack Runyan's 1939 Ford from Kustomrama: https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Jack_Runyan's_1939_Ford But there are some differences: Less chopped, Buick trim mounted differently, side trim.
Agreed but you can't get away from the larger rear side profile on the 40 Tops...but what's great to see is that it can be worked into a positive outcome...I hope someone comes up with a some more Custom dirt...
What's left of the original Prowler guys, are getting pretty long in the tooth these days. I do know a few of 'em, and their president lives lives within walking distance to me, so I'll try to stop by his place and see if he can shed some light. The Prowlers have kept their history together, and showed off 70 years worth of their photos at their last (and final) picnic, a few years ago at Grape Day Park. Their current historian will probably know for sure.
Also check with the original Oilers club members they were from that same area and might know something.
I pick up that picture in frame about 10 to 15 years ago at the Portland swap meet. It a 11 x 14 photo. Would like to know more about it. Heavy chop