Is there an East coast and west coast style custom? I'm starting with a '50 with '51 sheet metal Tudor Shoebox. . Chopped 5' in the rear and 4" in the front so not a radical chop. ."B" pillars tipped forward. .I don't want to get it wrong and make it too personalized. . Any pix and pointers form custom guys welcome. .
i assumed when you said 50/51 it was a shoebox(49-51) ford or merc the top chop you're talking about is a perfect tratitional chop..not really east or west coast. the stance lowered in the rear(tail dragger) was more west coast 50s/60s.. the last 25 or 30 years with hydrolics and now airbags the stance is pretty much the same everywhere.
Never thought I'd be a custom guy, but I liked what I saw as a beginning and it had a story which has a lot of influence when I start something. . Before Pix
Shoebox = 49/51 Ford car. I never heard anyone call anything else a shoebox until I was over 60 years old and then it was some mouthbreather calling a 55 Chevy a shoebox. I like your keep it simple with well thought out modifications concept. The best looking shoebox customs that I have seen have always been the simple ones that the builder didn't get caught up in the more radical than the other guy race.
If you want ideas and inspiration, go live in the Kustoms Blues thread: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/kustoms-blues-i-need-to-see-some-kustoms.946075/ But, you've probably been there already. Nothing BUT ideas in that one.
C2 on the Kustoms thread but I guarantee you will be up all night! Before I started my Merc project I studied this thread. Your car looks great so far
Looks real good, dig those Olds caps too. What are the plans for the rest of it? Any side moldings? I'd like to see where this one goes, I love it so far.
Body work is fun and to me relaxing. My dad taught me how to do it an now am glad he took the time and showed patients
I always felt that the tudor Ford, such as yours look like a 4 door with the rear doors welded up, so what you are accomplishing is very good and going in the right direction. Now what about taking 3 to 4 inches out of the middle and calling up Valley Custom for any pointers.
40's and Mid 50's on the West Coast skirts were in, after 53/54 if you ran skirts it was cause to kick your ass for being so lame, where I lived in So Cal. because the Rake was in and no skirts were the in thing. So to boil it down ,in the Mid 50's lowered in back and skirts East Coast look, Late 50's Rake and no skirts West Coast look. Now days there is no difference in the east and west looks. Hot Rods is a different story, East Coast cars were channeled real low, West Coast cars were not, and just lowered with dropped axles. I live in So Cal and was there in the 40's 50's so I'm sure about it. JW
That's the Bob Lund Mercury. '51 Frazer horizontal bars and '51 Desoto teeth. Dan Landons Chevy had the same set up.
That, my friend, looks really good... I believe the tudor makes a better looking chop than the coupes. (I'm biased, I had one a lot like it) As far as "get it wrong", that's like beauty and art, it's in the eyes of the beholder. Customs are not what "the other guys did", it's improving the style to your taste... not theirs. You obviously have a good eye for design, so trust it, don't get carried away and know when to stop. You'll end up with a car worth falling in love with. I miss my '49, it was one of the most fun cars I ever built!
There are differences in East coast vs West coast customs. As has been stated, some were due to local driving conditions as well as weather consideration. Hop over to the Custom Car Chronicle site and ask Rik about the differences. He will be able to enlighten you. Yours is looking good so far. Not too heavy a chop. IMHO. Next to 49-51 Mercs the Ford shoe box has to be one of the most customised car made. Rather then East coast vs West coast i would try to find a build period that you like. Trends changed as time went on. Skirts/no skirts. Spotlights/no spotlight. Speed boat stance/ more of a level stance. The list can be long. Im currently running the same wheel covers on my 49 Dodge Coronet custom. I plan on going to something a little newer as my build period is 1953-56....ish. Just remember. It's your car. Do to it what please you. Keep at it. Torchie
There is lots of potential in that ford..you are on the right track..just dont put a air scoop on hood,or a big wing on the trunk. Make sure nose in the air and ass on the ground.
56 Olds headlights are a plus for me and many of the early 50’s customs of any brand. Many added a sunken antenna in the right rear fender which are basic also. This may not meet with some custom lovers but see them as needing to be smooth. A 50’s Merc grill surround a plus obviously and the grille needs to float and not be too busy. I’d have the antenna under the right door mounted on the frame. Rounded hood ends, your tail lights are perfect. I feel a smooth trunk with no plate and it integrated into the rear bumper. Now for my personal choice. No dummy spots. They just ruin the flow for me.. I do like skirts. And last a level ride height. Love following what you are doing and keep it up.
I'm more parcel to a little higher in the rear because.......it's been tubbed out so the Big Mickeys can fit in! No daylight between the top of the wheels and the edge of the fender. 6sally6
Make it flow, smooth and clean and it will be timeless. Choose what's right to your eye, not what someone else has done. Lot of customs end up the same: this car, with these headlights and tailights, with this grill. It's just a rehash. Careful on referencing past show cars, as the show circuit started providing points per modification a lot of cars ended up with random changes that didn't always enhance the car. Decide if you're going to pay to have bumpers rechromed. If yes. Tuck them in tight, it's not always traditional but makes a clean ride that's your own.
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