Technical Whatitiz

Sometimes a kustom shows up, that is almost to kustom to identify. Let's try to figure some out.

 

Ok here's one I cannot Identify. Found it on a website, but nobody has a clue what it is. It was found in Chicago in the 1970s.

 

Looks like a '38 Lincoln Zephyr with some 7" headlights and a '49 Merc rearend grafted onto it.

 

Ya gotta wonder how the builder/owner got a drivers license since he was obviously blind......

 

Looks like some kind of 50% scale Lincoln.

Half Topilino, half Lincoln

 

If I still had my full custom ( 1960 to 64 ),there be a lot of "WTH is that" now days,but it was stolden in 1964,n never recovered. I'd build it again just same as I did in 1960,if I had 50 Henry J,to do it with,no windows or top ,engine/tran ,bumpers ,grill or seats needed.
In Car Craft mag. in Jan of 63.

 

x2

 

I'm pretty sure the grill started out as a 48 Chevy. Center piece molded in with the horizontal bars cut.

 

So, like when you order a Zephyr from Wish?

 

It's got 1971 Minnesota plates on it and 38 Willy's head lights.

 

Merit truck parts is listed at 1638 S Wabash Ave,Chicago Not going there to check if it's still there

 

'40 Plymouth-ish....??

 

Pretty sure some MSRA member would know the history.
I'll ask a couple of the older than dirt guys I know in the club.

 

Lincoln coupe

 

That's a snazzy Plymouth!!!

 

Better title would be “whatwazit”

 

Unfortunately, not mine....this was mine back in 1972 in the early stages, sigh.....

 

Willys coupe

 

Upon further inspection this isn't it. More like a Lincoln.

 

Those grille bars look like cut down '41 Chrysler to me. I think this is a shortened '38 Zephyr that the rear fenders were basically shaved off of and made flush with the quarters. Why someone would do that, I'm not sure.

 

You got my vote on the grill bars being 41 Chrysler.

 

Car Craft January 1963....I was just flipping through that one moments ago....went back and looked again, first time through I saw it and thought WTH someone went and customized one of them little amphibious cars....just kidding,
I bet it was alot of fun, hey just up the road from me there a 50 "J" that's had the roof jumped on and at one time had a Pontiac V-8 in it....I need to go by and see if the guy is dead yet, if so might be able to grab it.

 

A photo from first 1960 show,dose show statinless steel custom wheelwells front an back. Had a lot of other custom stuff,the new trunk cover was a 1960 Chevy hood skin turn backword n bent down a little to make a smooth flow. < The teardrop bumps of the Chevy hood are a match to the teardrop bumps in the "J" frender sides. Power was Olds Rocket 88.
The first plan was nerfbars with full rolled pan,both front and back>but right after get a almost brand new 1960 Corvair front bumper,I used it on the front{ The Corvair having the very same size an "V" as the "J" front end.

 

Ok, here's another one to figure out..

 

Wow. I'm gonna need some better drugs to understand the builders "vision" on that one......
Less is more IMO.

 

One piece at a time.

 

Hopefully he made it all the way back from the trip that inspired this. That said, you have to give him his 'props' for sticking with it and finishing it. Certainly wasn't a 1(800), tab A, slot B build.

 

I would name this car "Fever Dream".

 

And since nobody's really biting, here's another whatitiz.....