Very weird car. It may still be around. A subsequent owner may have gotten a new hood and front fenders, and shaved off the tail fins. But it is quite an interesting car...something that I would be ashamed to be seen driving.
The shark is so weird it´s already cool... Also the paint on the truck, perfectly 50s no rules ...I kind of love these weirdo style 50s Hot Rods and customs. Taste was not as refined as today, where we can pick what we like or not after we have been reading the little pages, Hop Up and Rodder´s Journal for 20 or more years. These guys had to hit or miss, and some almost hit, some did not hit by far. And even the automakers were off on their designs from time to time. I´m sure if somebody built a car like the shark today people would call him nuts since it does not ressemble a traditional custom....
When the camera operator panned from the plane to the car, I definitely see why. There's a similarity between the plane and the car.
Well it does look like Fido's butt but you have to admire the guy's spunk. He went for it (swing and a miss)
Ok, so it's not the cutest shoe in the box but.......a lot of time and energy went into it and then filmed it for posterity.
I'm going to stick my neck out and surmise that this guy didn't go on to become an automotive stylist.
He was an innovator with his use of the 3rd tail light I'll give him that but the rest ehhh well not my cup of tea
if I were to ever discover a 'barn find' time capsule custom..........it would probably be this one thats how my luck goes
Sondre does great work at Kustomrama...always trying to add to his great Site. The "Shark" though...well, to be kind, I just don't like it. However, I do realize the humongous amount of work that went into it back during that long-ago time-period, and the pioneer/primitive equipment they had to work with. As was previously stated by 2935 ford, they did think far enough ahead to film the final result of all that work for posterity. And, remember, even home movie cameras & color film in those days were not common, and were not cheap...nor was the developing of the film. Thanks for Posting this, Ryan... Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net
I think it's fucking awesome, warts and all. I'd rather see this goofy but beloved and well-finished chopped shoebox at a show than another row of new Corvettes.
Seems like there was a thread here on a car line that that got found several years ago? Maybe it was a Caddillac though and the fins have me confused?
My first thought was that the front end looks like a fold out couch about half way threw being pulled out. The second thought is that it seems out of place that it’s got outside door handles.
@Ryan if ya pulled into the Hamb party with this custom you would be abandoned by many it seems. You are a wee bit different as you cross the divides...many do and heck it's even got Louvers...I applaud the diversity of the whole mix. This fella was a bodyman and had a mind and eyes and in the mix of things he had planes, customs, hotrods, racers, the huge mix of commercial automotive design and mags to glean from. If anyone could see this thru he could and did...thanks for sharing that. Credit to Photographers, Owners
It may well be a swing and a miss in many ways. Love the exhaust idea, the Caddy fins and lights are fairly kool (2 of em), and I'd bet the headlight bezels ended upside down once and his mind's eye said "Hey, this might look..." She's a star player with weird taste in wardrobe and haircut, or that girl you saw from behind and went "Ooh yeah..." with a leer in your eyes. Then she turned around. A lot of cars carry lessons with them. I think the lesson here is restraint, or rather what can happen if it's not exercised. With a right hand raised I don't have an ounce of disrespect for it or the builder. It took talent and discipline to build it. Well some guts too. The fact it survived as long as it did and made magazine covers is a major tell. From the time it came to life, moving forward to today, our world has a PhD in what works and what doesnt. Hey, the "Pink Panthermobile" is quite a creation too, but also drives home the lesson of knowing when to quit. An advanced lesson at that.
It is a car that does *not* need more cowbell. He took it to the end though. Gotta give him props for that.
Yeah, its weird, but I can't help but think a 6"section through the original tail lights and reducing the distance from the top of the fender to the headlights would help a bunch.
I remember reading that after being forced to appear in this home movie, his wife ran off with a traveling accordion player..
Can you imagine finding that thing, restoring it, then taking it Pebble Beach? "But you gotta let me show it, it's got great "provenance", it was in a movie and on the cover of a magazine!"
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