Customs THE........CONNOISSEUR’S CUSTOM

ITS OFFICIAL
I’m the Proud new caretaker of the
Bob McNutt's 1939 Ford
“Connoisseur’s Custom”
















Looks like I’m the proud new caretaker of
Bob McNutt's 1939 Ford connoisseur custom

1939 Ford Coupe owned and built by Bob McNutt of Ada, Oklahoma. The car was built over a 4 1/2 years period. The first version of the car was featured in Custom Cars July 1960. By then the car had attended 4 shows, and brought Bob 4 first place trophies. One of these shows was the 1st annual Dallas Autorama. This version of the car was chopped 4 1/2 inches, and sectioned 5 inches. 4 1/2 inch shortened and 4 inch sectioned 1948 Lincoln quarter panels were molded on to the car, giving it an illusion of extreme length. The stock 1948 Lincoln taillights were retained. A shaved 1941 Mercury bumper was fit in the rear. License brackets on the rear were made from bumper guard components. The deck lid was shaved, and operated by a pull latch. Stock fenders and headlights were used up front, but the wheel wells were radiused. A shaved 1941 Mercury bumper was also chosen to protect the front of the car. Once the bodywork was done, the car was painted in an iris hued lacquer. Bob stitched the upholstery himself in Natural leather and white Naugahyde done in a pleat and roll manner. The ashtray was filled in, and the dash knobs replaced by 1949 Ford knobs. The trunk was upholstered in white Naugahyde by Ada Top Shop in Oklahoma. Ruel Hopper of Ada, Oklahoma made the blue carpeting for the trunk. [4]

After being featured in Custom Cars July 1960, the front was restyled drastically. Bob pancaked the hood, and the front fenders were modified to accept a pair of 1959 Chevrolet quad headlights with vent scoops. The stock grille was replaced by a grille handmade in copper, and chrome plated. Under the hood, the car was powered by a 1957 Chevrolet 283 Power Pack with a Rochester 4 barrel. The engine was hooked to a 1946 Ford 3 speed transmission. Bob handbuilt the adapter between the engine and transmission in order to save the $25 the adapter costed to buy. A 1940 Ford rear end and hydraulic brakes were used in the rear.[5]

In 1964 the car was retired and put in storage. The car was sold in 1976 and towed to a dirt floor barn were it sat untouched until 1994. In November 1994 David Guymon of Cartright, Oklahoma bought the car. David restored the car in 31 days, in order to exhibit it at the 1995 Dallas Autorama. The restored version was painted in a 1957 Studebaker Azure Blue color. After Guymon restored it, the car was invited into the Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame. The car was the 1st non Darryl Starbird creation to be shown at the museum, and was shown there for 2 years.[5]

In 2010 the car was shown at the 60th annual Dallas Autorama. After that the car was advertised for sale in Arlington, Texas.

1939 Full Kustom Coupe Connoisseur’s Custom AKA The McNutt Coupe
This car was started in 1958 with a complete 57 Chevy Power Pack 283 (like an LS today)
It had a 47 Ford 3 speed but now has a 700R but still has clutch pedal and looks the same as it did with standard tranny. It still has a Banjo rear end but now open drive shaft. It has all new 40 Ford drum brakes including new drums.
The car has been chopped, sectioned, 47 Lincoln rear fenders, 59 Chevy headlights, full Custom Grill. The color is a 57 Studebaker factory color. I have the interior door panels & seat cover skins from 1962. It just looked too tired for a fresh build.
This car had AC installed in 1959 (even some new Cadillac’s didn’t have AC in 59)
The gentleman Bob McNutt that built the car was 6’-2” and he drove it to most shows back in the day. I’m 5’-6” and it’s right for me. The car is a Blast to drive & Show.
It was in 12 magazines including front cover & full spread in 63.
It won over 40 1st place trophies including Best Custom 1958 NHRA Detroit, MI
I’ve got tons of information & photos of it’s History.
It was just featured in Rod & Kulture Magazine by Trent Sherrill. It’s been in Rodders Journal as well.
It won a Top Award @ Lone Star Roundup picked by famous Jeff Norwell. It won Best Custom at The Invasion in Dallas.
It was at The Customs Then & Now 2011 at Grand National Roadster Show 2011.
FROM KUSTOMRAMA

The car was retired in 1964 and stored until 1976. It was sold in 76 towed to a dirt floor barn and sat untouched until 1994.
In 1994 famous car customizer David Guymon out of Cartright, Oklahoma bought the car in November. At Mr. Don Deere’s (then ISCA director of Dallas AutoRama) request Guymon refreshed it to it’s present stage for the Dallas AutoRama in 95 in 31 days.
The car was the 1st and only car, other than Darryl Starbird cars, to be invited into The Darryl Starbird Museum. It sat in The Starbird Museum for 2 years. Today the museum has a separate wing for cars other than Starbird originals.
Currently the 283 runs strong but smokes. The late 50's Air Conditioning system is still hooked up but currently not working. The tires are new exact reproductions of what it had in 1962.

DRAG RACED:
1957 oklahoma nationals
Ardmore Dragway 58/59
Enid Speedway ?
Duncan Drag Strip 1955

COLORS PAINTED:
58 FORD AZURE BLUE
57 STUDEBAKER AZURE BLUE
DARK BLUE IMROM

CAR SHOWS :
1957 Oklahoma Nationals
1958 Playboys CC Autorama Enid Oklahoma
1959 National Drags & Car Show Detroit
1960 DALLAS AUTORAMA
1960 second annual Auto Capade in Kansas City, Missouri
1963 chargers CC New Orleans car show
1963 Mill Winders Houston Texas show
1964 DC armory show
1976 October Sherman Texas car show
1994 Hangin Dice Nats fort smith
1995 Dallas Autorama
2003-05 National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum
2010 Dallas Autorama
2010 TEXAS THAW
2010 LSRU
2011 GNRS Customs Then & Now.
2018 LSRU
2019 LSRU

OWNERS:
BOB MCNUTT > 1958-1976
PAUL BRENDLE > 1976-1984
DUKE DUROUGH > 1984-1994
DAVID GUYMON > 1994-2003
FORNEY GUY > 2003-2007
CLYDE MAJORS > 2007-2010
TONY DURAN > 2010-2020
WILL YOUNG > 2020-?

Magazine Features
Car craft December 1959
Custom Cars March 1960
Custom Cars July 1960
Trend Book 206 Custom Cars 1962 Annual
CUSTOM CRAFT JULY 1963
Car Craft july 1963
Custom Car Yearbook #1
Custom Car Yearbook #2
Customizing Your Car 1965
Rod & Custom June 1996
Traditional Rod & Kulture 2018

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Photos from the Petersen Archives









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@Austinrod, any idea if the car still exists?


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Yes headed too my garage in two weeks


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Always loved that car. I'm thinking it was also featured in one of the large format East Coast mags in the 60s, I think I have that mag in a box somewhere. Very cool!

 

Please share if you do


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There was a thread on here about the car, probably where it was for sale 10 years ago.

 

That's great. How well has it survived?

 

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Very cool. Do you have every magazine it was in ? Not sure yet but I have a couple of boxes of old mags that I can go through and see. If I find anything, I will send it too you .

 

I’m waiting too see how many come with the 39
Post them here if you find any


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Wow!! In color, it is absolutely beautiful....its really elegant.

 

I’ve been after this car for a few years now very elegant


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Congratulations! I am letting all the Fordy Friends know about this!
Follow my signature link to view site!

 

That Azure Blue color is awesome...I looked at a paint chip for 57 Studebakers and there are a few beautiful colors...who knew?

 

When it had flames




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This is the only thread I could find which had a picture that wasn't a red X.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/pic-request-david-guymon-cars.68722/

 

Flames look godawful on that car...

 

congrats on the purchase !!! Glad it was procured by a HAMBer ! Looking forward to seeing a few pictures when it gets to your place

 

Will do


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I think it looked better before the superfly grille!

 

1958 Playboys CC Autorama





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Article from 1996




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Cover



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OLD AND NEW




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It appears that Bob McNutt really liked the word AZURE BLUE.
I read in a 1996 article that Bobs first color was a 1958 ford light blue
Only color match was 1958 ford AZURE BLUE and
last version it was painted is
1957 studebaker AZURE BLUE!




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What are the plans for it. Will you own it or just keeping it for someone else?

Either way good find.

 

I don’t know if I’ll change anything like it as is
Just drive it


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Hope I don’t get right after it was discovered in a barn.
Notice the dust still on the radiator 1994



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I was a young person when he was building the car. He would come to the local drags. It was his dailey driver. Has been around a long time.