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Lil Honey Bee: A Sweet '55

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jive-Bomber, Jun 4, 2013.

  1. Jive-Bomber
    Joined: Aug 21, 2001
    Posts: 3,753

    Jive-Bomber
    MODERATOR

  2. pwschuh
    Joined: Oct 27, 2008
    Posts: 2,827

    pwschuh
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Can't argue with that.
     
  3. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,632

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

  4. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Interesting treatment of the bumper guards on the front corners. Painting chrome bumpers is traditional? I had a 54 Pontiac grille in my 55 Olds. Looks good in a Chevy, too.
     

  5. That thing just plain rules.
     
  6. flamingokid
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 2,200

    flamingokid
    Member

    I can do without the top,but overall it still rocks.
     
  7. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,175

    Gotgas
    Member
    from DFW USA

    As much hell as everyone gave him for changing it up, I liked the 'after' version of butt reynolds' '56.

    [​IMG]

    I also like McPhail's '56.

    [​IMG]


    They both need some chrome reverse or Skylark wires, hahahahaa
     
  8. Pewsplace
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 2,795

    Pewsplace
    Member

    I couldn't afford the 55 so settled on the 54. I think the custom 55's were far better looking and powerful to the youth of the day especially if you could afford more than a nose and deck job. I turned 16 in 1957 and wanted the cool 270 hp version engine in my 54 so I could keep up with the tri-fives. The 53/54 soon became obsolete to many but were cheap to purchase and easy to modify. I still prefer the 55 for the stylish lines and the SBC but Moonglow is my all time favorite of the breed.
     
  9. banjeaux bob
    Joined: Aug 31, 2008
    Posts: 6,614

    banjeaux bob
    Member
    from alaska

    Here in Fairbanks,Alaska(about 1975)there used to be a very similar '55 2 door hardtop.It was painted gold on the bottom as this one,then solid blue on the top.The interior was pretty much the same except this one was red and white.When I saw the black and whit shots,I thought it was the same car.

    Eventually the straight arrow car was painted a gloss black and received a big block.
     
  10. froghawk
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 857

    froghawk
    Member

    That is a lot of stripes for one car. Love the stance though.
     
  11. Jive-Bomber
    Joined: Aug 21, 2001
    Posts: 3,753

    Jive-Bomber
    MODERATOR


    Yes-- Imagine if he would have picked up the green color from the scallops and sprayed the entire roof that color, with some nice pearl or flake to make it pop-- That would have been sweet.
     
  12. I think that there used to be more custom tri-fives then there are now. One thing that we forget is that low and slow is a sort of a modern concept when one looks at the different eras that we emulate. Even into the '60s show customs often ran V 8s and multiple carbs in there chromed and glitzed out engine compartments.

    By the way you could not have chosen a better car for us to ponder, that car is beautiful.
     
  13. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    Nice 55, but do you really have to ask why there was not as many Tri-Five Customs as they were 53-54s? It's so elementary, you don't screw with beauty. In my opinion, it is very difficult to customize a Tri-Five and make it look better than stock and the Honey Bee is one of the very few Tri-Five customs that looked good.
     
  14. autobilly
    Joined: May 23, 2007
    Posts: 3,123

    autobilly
    Member

    As stated yesterday, I've always liked mid to late '50's Kustoms as exemplified by the Cut-Outs and Renegades. This mild '55 is a knockout.
     
  15. JoeyP.
    Joined: May 19, 2013
    Posts: 160

    JoeyP.
    Member

    That car has so much class.
     
  16. green53ford
    Joined: Mar 4, 2009
    Posts: 206

    green53ford
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Lil honeybee ended up in a wisconsin junkyard in the early 60s.
     
  17. nowaxn5
    Joined: Apr 15, 2007
    Posts: 818

    nowaxn5
    Member

    I love the top, could do without the stripes in the seats though.

    I know it's a '56 but Jim Johnsons more door hardtop is the cats ass as a mild custom. Again, photo courtesy of James Potter

    [​IMG]
     
  18. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I always thought any tri-5, especially a 55, was the perfect canvas to exercise restraint. Too much and they become a hideous mess. Paint, stance, mild messing around with the jewelry, done. Takes a good eye to do it right. Just sayin...
     

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