Customs Period correctness on a late 50's custom, do's and don'ts

So, the Dust Bowl speed shop has been thoroughly COVID cleaned since the isolation and I am just about ready to get back on mama's 55 custom.

I have been reading a lot of little books looking at trends etc. I think the look I am after is just about 1959. I am just curious what guys did to stand out from other cars? Nothing goofy, just things like painted inner fender wells, pleated package trays, chrome glove box door, finished out trunk with matching chrome tools . You get the picture.

I'm kinda weird this way but I need a total visual picture before I embark.

 

Oil, gas and water cans painted to match the car

 

No LED lights or bulbs, it just kills it for me....

 

Ripple lake pipes or exhaust tips

 

Well here are some pictures of Taboo from around 1958 and early 1959 when it still a pretty mild custom. The Chrysler headlights, Impala bumpers and 54 grille we added in summer of 59.

 

Mine won't be 100%. I'm not going out looking for T3 headlights and crap like that. It will be a hood down car, since I will have later 302, rather tan the Y block. But the things that a guy would see if he walked up to it and didn't start opening stuff.

Looks like contrasting binding on the carpet, according to your pics of the Taboo.

 

Jeez, I thought I was the only old guy who remembered that touch.

 

No tilt columns or ignition keys in the column

Sent from my SM-F900U1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

what about chrome plated steering column? Only show cars?

 

Here are a few pic's of my 51 mild custom built in the mid 50's!

 

Killer idea..chrome garnish moldings...yes please

 

55 thru 57 birds had chrome plated column's from the factory, probably others also.

 

That is the version of the car in the same issue of Rod and Custom that Taboo was on the cover for. I really like that version of Miss Elegance as well.

 

Sometimes you'd see a 1 3/4'' scavenger pipe from Whitney used as a mast jacket, usually on an early Ford.

 

Which part of the country?

 

Right smack dab in the middle. Mainly, because that’s where I live and both coasts tend to go overboard. Here in Oklahoma, things used to take years to catch on. I’ll just be glad when we get color TV here.

 

Check the little pages from that era, seems like it was anything goes. I'm more conservative in my taste and like the late 40's/early 50's style better. Still, it could be the Kemp era......

 

Please no. Too much show car.

I like that version with the tube grill and single headlights better. Guess I’m more into mild customs than radical ones.

 

Pleated inner fenders all day, every day. 10 years I've never had them out once.

 

Dig the rotary dial car phone, man. I need one!

 

Color TV is overrated. All the good shit is black and white.

 

Lots of roll

gotta have the pleated fender wells...agree 100% Joe

 

Here is a nice collection of customs from about that time period. Take a look and see what works for you.

http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/kustomcarpictures/index2.html

 

Fuzzy dice may be period correct but I almost puke every time I see them.

 

Gonna have to catch and skin several naugas