The Greatest Rod & Custom Cars!

I think you are absolutely right. It's funny how you assume certain "truths", and sometimes find that you were wrong, or that things have changed with time.

I do differ from the average enthusiast in one way...I have done extensive work on Corvettes, and other 'glass bodies. I would rather have a 'glass car by far, as I have seen the result of trying to salvage old tin, always wondering when some part of it would fail, some rust reappear, or be badly damaged, producing very difficult repairs.

I guess for me, being a practical person, it's hard to understand the obscession with vintage tin, but I suppose for some people it is like owning a vintage antique.....a "perceived value".

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Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

.....a "perceived value".

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Amen brother!!!

I think the market has gone soft because people are (finally) tired of seeing just another variation of the same thing.... Vintage tin used to bring a premium, IMO just a "snob factor" but now with everyone making the brand new steel cars it's had to effect the price of the real parts.... I'm really hoping this means that we're back on the path of unique cars that are designed as "one-offs" and bring back the old adage of "take what you have and build what you want. I suppose this sounds like my usual rant about "another black Deuce" but maybe I'm no longer the only one who feels this way?

It's going to take some real creativity and a very high level of quality to bring the top prices, as it well should! I'm looking forward to seeing the best cars turned out by the best builders utilizing creative design and superb craftsmanship rather then the guy with the biggest checkbook....

You are not alone. I am so tired of seeing the same thing in my biz. I have files full of new ideas for paint, but it has always been hard to get street rodders interested in anything too different.

I am starting to see increased business in shiney paint again, at least in my local market, so I think the interest in flat paint is starting to level off.

You guys mentioned this one, and I could not agree more. I always liked the longer rear fenders of the '51, but maybe that is because back-in-the-day I ran around in one that a friend had.....complete with the "flatmotor"!

I can't tell you what made them popular in the first place. Maybe it was the styling....or the popular Ford engine....or both, but they did have a look of mystery, and if the top was chopped they looked very sinister!

....and more:

My first car was a pale yellow '51 Merc tudor...............what's that line?......................wish I still had it today.:D

Love that '51 Woodie, that's hot!!!

Some probably already know the story. The design of the '49 Merc was originally planned for the Ford line, but someone in management decided it wasn't "modern" enough so sent the stylists back to the drawing board. Then the L-M management picked up the style for Merc. Can't help but wonder if they would have had the same "mystique" if they'd been badged a more common Ford.

The Ford of the time looked pretty good, but the Merc became the enduring classic. I guess that speaks for the design.

Now yur talkin' KUSTOMS!!!!!!

Lets find some more super classic rod & custom material.

Was there a more popular truck than the '53-'56 F100?

These have been on top of the heap since I got interested in the late '50s. They have been built every way possible, and even though other models have become popular since then, such as the early '50 Chevies, these still hold a high position in the world of custom trucks.

...and some more:

The F100's have been up there since their beginning. As for Chevies, yeah the AD, 47-55 (first series) models have enjoyed some good popularity in recent years, but I think the ones that are right up there with the popularity of the F100 are the '67-72, most especially the swb style side.

If you agree....I've got a '68 "three door" Suburban I'll let go. :-)

The Model T Ford has been raced in various forms since the birth of hot rodding, but it gained amazing popularity since the '50s & '60s due to a few very influential cars.

I believe the biggest influence was the famous "Kookie Kar" from the TV series, 77 Sunset Strip, which ran from '57 to '64. It was about some private detectives, and one person who helped them a lot was the parking lot attendant "Kookie", played by Ed Burns. The car (built by Norm Grabowski) was seen often in the series, and eventually became famous enough to do the show circuit. Once you discovered the hobby, there were many more cars that drove the popularity of these rods.

Noteworthy cars included The Outlaw showcar of Ed Roth, and also his "Tweety Pie" T, the red T of actor "TV Tommy Ivo", Ed Iskendarian's roadster, famous Fuel Altered race cars, like The Winged Express,.....and many more, even the model car kits of The Green Hornet, Big T, Uncertain T, and others added to the popularity!

Today you see them in many forms of motorsport, and if you will go to the site of "The National T-bucket Alliance", you will find there are nationally linked T-bucket clubs in every major city in the U.S.

....and more:

and...

Here's a few more, but I couldn't find pictures of the Brizio show rod, and others. Lots of famous cars fanned the flames in the '60s & '70s!

if i had a pic of one i'd throw it into the mix...49 mercs are
so cool!:toocool:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...O/DSC_0787.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...O/DSC_0791.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...O/DSC00920.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...O/DSC00923.jpg

The purple car is really wild!!! Gorgeous, too! Thanks for the post, Deuce!!!

More nominees?

The early Thunderbirds were beautiful, but rarely used as the basis for "go-fast" or "custom" cars.

Maybe early 'Vettes, as they were often modified, especially in the '60s & '70s.

Others?

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..then there are the unusual stories, like the '33-'34 Ford popularity. As far as I can tell, they were not real popular in the early days, since the trend was to strip the fenders and hood off to lighten the car. The '33-'34 looked awful this way! The firewall portruded, and looked cluttered, the grill hung out there with no shell around the radiator, and there was a funny inner fender piece showing.

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I resemble that remark . . . :3dSMILE:

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Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

I resemble that remark . . . :3dSMILE:

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I second that.

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Here's a neat link for some kustom car info--www.roadsters.com/custom/#pioneers

PS--- Them 30's stuff is Hot Rods-----
THIS is a KUSTOM!!!!!

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I don't care what it sold for, that is one ugly car in my opinion.

I can see I ruffled a few feathers, but I believe it was a key reason why these cars started gaining tremendously in popularity in the '80's, instead of from the beginning, like the '32s....

....and I never even mentioned how tiny that flathead V8 looked sitting in a '33-'34, for the same reasons. :-)~

My feathers aren't ruffled. :LOL:

I will admit that the hood makes a big imrovement in the way it looks.

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Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

I can see I ruffled a few feathers, but I believe it was a key reason why these cars started gaining tremendously in popularity in the '80's, instead of from the beginning, like the '32s....

....and I never even mentioned how tiny that flathead V8 looked sitting in a '33-'34, for the same reasons. :-)~

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I built a 32 v/8 5 window(1957),my buddy(God Rest His Soul)had a 34 v/8 3 window.We were running the same SBC .I always liked the 34 more than my 32.40+ yrs.later I built the 34 3 w/coupe.I like what I am driving now but I could build a 32 and be happy with it also.Engines and chassis are so advanced it is a different world now.

You know the bank robbers back in the 30's would only drive the 34's.My mother had a cousin who robbed banks back in Tennessee. He was never caught driving the cars.He paid with his life later in a set up.