Kustom of the year?

I was reading the latest R & C and noticed they were doing a Custom of the
year. Trying not to slam their picks but what does performance have to do
with a custom. Any way, I started to think about my Kustom picks of the
year. I have two that should have been on that list. The koolest one that
I've seen this year would be McGregor's '51 Mercury. One that I would
like to see in person would be Kaucher's '54 Vicky. What?? both of my picks
have white walls. Sorry for being prejudice.

What would be your picks?

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

MAN THAT MERC LOOKS GOOD! i may try that look for mine next season. chrome wheels no skirts. if the frenz sees this (im sure he will) can ya photo shop those wheels onto my eyesore?

 

No shame having a low Merc with no skirts...no shame.

 

i actually found a few from when it was 1st going tegether. im gonna try it

 

Could not agree more than Rick's Merc, it is absolutly a piece of art.

 

Skirts are so common on Mercurys it throws you for a loop when you see one
with exposed rear wheels. How can one go wrong with the following formula;
Black, chopped, dropped with chrome wheels and spiders. I forgot to mention
about his white fire wall with black pinstripes. The funny thing we
were in Salina and this Kool black Merc with skirts and Caddy caps cruised by
and it was the same sled but a completely different look.

Try it, you will not be disappointed.

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

this would be my pic too

 

I totally agree with you Mark. Keith Kaucher's '54 Ford Victoria is a freakin' work of art!

 

"Kustom of the year" and "custom of the year" are two entirely different Koncepts, er, I mean, concepts.

As it is, R & C picked a "customized" car for the award.
I truely like the "customizing" done on the '60 Vette, (except it should have five wheels and tires all the same size,) but it's not a "Custom" (by the definition Pat Ganahl described in his book on them and I agree with him on that, anyway,) and definitely not a "Kustom", but "Kustom of the Year" is not what R & C called the award so lay no guilt on them there.

IMAO* The '49-'51 Mercs NEED skirts.
Shoeboxes on the other hand, look better without them.








*
In
My
Arrogant
Opinion

 

Glassguy Isn't no shame in that merc of yours looks good with out the skirts sit just right.Nice chop flows like butter.

 

Mick, do u know McGregor or have any contact info on him. I spoke with him for awhile at SK500 about the chop on that car and I should've written down everything that he told me but I didn't, and I've slept since then.

 

Yes I have all of the info at home. I can pm it to you tomorrow.
If yblock 292 reads the post he can get the info for ya. Either
way your taken care of.

See ya this weekend,

Hey Grinder your right the Merc is pure Butter.......

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

Going back through the photos I took this year:

Best radical tailights





Smoothest overall, Javier Mejia's Merc



Best paint. My photo doesn't show the Winfeld fade job very well.



Best backlite

 

Thanks Mick!!

 

Hey Mike,

I started this post to see the best Kustoms of the year and I appreciate you
posting your list. The only question is the "back light" pic. I may have to get
my eyes tested because I cannot see one. Because I cann't see it it must be kool.

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

Hubnut---
Rick's on here, I think his screen name is Louver_it
if he ever checks it!
Or you can pm me I'll get you the info (he's my dad-in-law)

 

I think he means the back glass, cause I was trying to do the same, unitl I realized he meant the glass, i think...

 

Those Mercs are like belly buttons, assholes and opinions.
Everybody has one.
That '51 Kaiser that won the show in California is truly a custom of the year.
Isn't "custom" supposed to be different?
Those Mercs aren't.
But I like them......
Anybody have a picture of that Kaiser????
Thanks.

 

Backlite is another name for backglass, I think. The pic is a chopped 54? chevy hardtop. I believe that is one of the more difficult chops if you use the stock wrap around glass. Lots of those models end up with a small shoebox back window. I thought this one was very well done, good angle and the trim is all back n there.

 

Do you mean this one?

 

Really nice proportioned job, nice craftsmanship, I wish I could do that.

It does look like an oversize KarmannGhia, althought that is not necessarily bad. I think because that car is so well proportioned, I.e., like a detroit styling studio exercise, it has a street rod feel to it. That would be my only negative vote on that one, because it is a modern looking custom. The more traditional customs had an edge to them because the proportions were a bit exaggerated.

 

I'd pick Kirk Hammet's 36 built by Cole....

Other great cars are Paul Cepeda's Desoto, and Javier Mejia's Merc, The pinkish 57 Cadillac... and I know there's more.


-Juan

 

Ops!!!! Is this a Kustom or Hot Rod?

Sorry...... this one always makes me laugh.

 

Here you go Deadender60........'36 by Cole.

 

All these mercs -

howzabout a '55 chrysler? I'm partial to these...

 

You know, the winner at that event could ONLY be selected from the cars that showed up and actually competed in all the competitions. Not ONE white wall car entered the competition so there was no way to put one in the running. One pretty cool old kustom was asked to join in at the event but like a lot of people the guy didn't want to drive his car through the performance testing (and this car had the stuff to not embarass itself!).
There are a few kustoms that are actually suited for this like the totally bitchin' gold Merc with the black scallops that just got a sey of big diameter chrome reverses and white walls.
Yes, this is a niche' competition intended for actual cars that get driven- but just that a "custom of the year" title and competition exists is good for custom loving people- now just get some KUSTOMS to show up like Jim Karl's did with his '32 Ford Roadster and things will get really interesting!!!

I want to say something while this topic is up that I am extremely proud to have been the one voice that fought really hard to put Jim in the top 5 that competed for the title and then he went out and WAXED EVERYONE'S ASS with his simple HOT ROD winning EVERY catagory in the driving competition! There were plenty of more expensive cars that didn't get in, but Jeff's car to me was the pure essence of what the ROD in "Rod & Custom" represents- not fluffy luxo-rods with every option a new Lexus or Lincoln boasts. Hell, Jim doesnt even have a top!!! His face was the MOST sunburnt I'd seen on the entire two-weeks on the road including our own that traveled out in a topless '32 ourselves (but we know what sunscreen is and how to use it!).
Reflecting now on this competition and what I could bring to it it saddens me that I won't be a part of it next year to see what happens- maybe a white walled custom will be in the future- but first someone needs to BRING THEM!!!

 

Is the '32 a HOT ROD or is it a custom?
How does a HOT ROD win CUSTOM of the year?

 

There was BOTH a "ROD of the year" and "CUSTOM of the year" title on the line at Rod & Custom's event in Lincoln, Nebraska this summer. The full story is in the issue on the news stand now- pick one up and make the bean counters in New York happy

 

I think I would pick the Cepeda De Soto...just because I love it so much..."you guys hate it compared to how much I love it" (quote taken from one of my kids cartoons)

 

awsome Merc!