Features Kustoms blues? I need to see some kustoms....

It's rare to come up with an original idea on the old standards, but check out the '47 Caddy fenders on this '41 Buick HT. Outstanding!

 

You know guys, the cost back then compared to now is all relative to wages and the cost of living.
My late friend Teddy who was an excellent body man, painter and pinstriper in his own right told me many stories of how much custom work cost in the 50s.
Back when he was a kid before he learned all the skills to do his own work, he used to look around for guys to do the work for him. Around 1956 or so, he had a '50 Chevy Deluxe that he wanted to go the whole mild custom route with. He wanted to shave the door handles, nose it, deck it and fill the hood and eventually repaint the car.
He had a job working down on Larimer washing milk trucks. That area is now called "LoDo" and is a trendy upscale area for well-to-do people to live. The dairy that he worked at is long gone replaced by Coors Field where the Colorado Rockies play baseball.
Teddy worked hard and saved his money to get his little custom off the ground. There was an Asian guy that had a small body shop down around where the milk plant was and Teddy would stop in to see him work all the time. He was affectionately known as "The Chinaman". His shop was in lower downtown since before World War II. He worked with his father and brother and all of them did excellent work.
One of Teddy's older cousins had a '41 Ford that "The Chinaman" did the shave work on in 1951, then he painted the car a beautiful jet black. Teddy always spoke fondly of that Ford and the flawless work "The Chinaman" did. His cousin paid about $125.00 for the custom work and the paint job--a lot of money back then. (Sadly, Teddy's cousin was killed in action in the Korean war).
One day Teddy stopped in at the shop to see what the guys were up to. Some of you bodymen who run your own shop can relate to a slow time of year when there is no work and you might give someone a deal just to get a quick job in to make a few bucks. Times must have been a little lean at the shop as "The Chinaman" offered Teddy a deal. He offered to nose and deck the car and fill the hood seam and put the work in primer for $10.00! As much as Teddy wanted to have the work done, he couldn't come up with the full $10.00. So, the work didn't get done.
According to the inflation calculator I found on the internet, $10.00 in 1956 is equal to $91.99 today. When you figure that Teddy was making about 25 cents an hour you can understand how $10.00 back then was a lot of money. Add in living expenses, insurance, gas and so on, you can see how it would take a long time to save up even just $10.00.
Oh, almost forgot. Teddy's '50 never got done. The engine went south and he sold it off to a friend. He took the money from the '50 and put a down payment on a '54 Bel Air. It was going to be his next dream car, but that is another story..........E

 

'Mo,The 41 was built by Jack Walker,first shown in 2010 at the KKOA Leadsled's

 

From the 2011 Long Beach Motorama

 

From the KKOA 2010 Host Motel for the KKOA show

 

Dads 53 Chevy at the KKOA 2010 show

 

The A Bros. 57 Chevy built for the late Bill Jenkins

 

Dan Jetter rolls into the KKOA Show 2010

 

from Paso Robles 1999

 

I know so well, OG lil E, having seen much change myself.
My dad was born in 1918, and lived to be 91. Until his death, he would insist on (my) buying his newspaper from the less convenient of two local stores, because their outside newspaper box would save the penny tax charged at the other store's check-out counter. A PENNY!
As his mind declined, he would also hand me a five dollar bill to fill up the car with gas, then accuse me of pocketing the change. Different times, indeed!

 

Japan has bought and built some Very Traditional Customs,(Driven Not Trailered)

 

Long Beach 2011

 

Long Beach Motorama 2011

 

The tag on the the front said “everything else is just traffic” this Chevy was/is special, mild and tastefully done. Bought new and pampered. Truly a great car. Jus mho.


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Dan Greenberg took this kool shot, love the view.

 

I agree @PasoJohn, it seems like the builders in Japan are really interested in keeping the definition of “Traditional” adhered to. Some of their paint work is exceptional. Certainly enhancing the hobby.


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Dedication and detail go hand and hand. That’s how I see everything in your collection, Mark, adding to this history. Thanks.


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First time that I had the chance to visit with you was the weekend you guys brought the car to Starbirds museum. You blew my mind when you told me what was involved in just the license plate. After that weekend I realized how dedicated you are to kustom history.

 

Ok straykatkustoms, something about seeing this post brings me to this guest ion: Before the A-brothers built the Golden Chariot, it was a 56 Chevy black in color, from Toledo Ohio, covered with Seaweed flames and called the “Inferno”. I remember being in Gettysburg for the KKOA show and Artie Epstein brought the GC in on an open trailer. Later it was sold to Lou C. But I remember talking to Artie about some magazine features about the Chariot. And what was needed for the interior restoration. Gold thread ran thru the Black fabric. The guy that Artie bought the car from didn’t seem to know much about it. So it’s time to pose the question. This isn’t Ot for this thread is it? My memory isn’t what it used to be but I’m interested in the history, I have some older magazines but haven’t found any thing on this, but I don’t study them often. Anybody??? Maybe OG lil E can post this on whatever happened to....


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Lancing Mi held 2 KKOA shows 1995 and 1997,as they cruise the grounds

 

Along with Dan Cuellar (55 Chevy Truck)and me in my 59 EL we visit Kurt McCormicks 2012

 

The 60 Mercury Grill looks like it belongs in the 59 EL,Hub Harness Red and My Gold-White -Wichita 2012

 

Scott Pavey's 56 Chevy CCR 2015

 

Sorry guys: kustomrama has all the info. Sorry for ramblin. Gettin old sucks.


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Lol! Not a problem That is what we do on the HAMB. Kool that you found the answer.