East Coast Kustom Style...

Custom cars from the "right cost" here in America have always suffered from the stigma of being "un-cool", or at best, unattractive. There's always this opinion that seems to surface when talking cars (especially hot rods and customs from the "glory days" of the fifties and sixties) that East Coast customs and hot rods were "ugly" or lacked style. Granted, there are quite a few examples that support this claim, but, having grown up on the "right coast", I have always felt a need to defend that side of the hobby.

The magazines of the time chronicled what was immediately available to them, and that meant, for the most part, West Coast cars. The few East Coast cars that were seen seemed to have cemented a certain image in most car guys' heads... I'm not a fan of severely channeled coupes, but can appreciate the style and work that went into them, certainly. I'm also not a big fan of an overly-accessorized custom with giant skirts and a continental kit, but I do "get it". I think it's just got a lot to do with the times, the region, and the cultural differences. The East Coast has always been a bit grittier, relying on manufacturing, and with cooler weather, shorter summers and all, people just took a different approach to building, and making due with a smaller number of shops. Consider that there were much fewer shops, and that many skilled custom craftsmen went West (where the magazines and show coverage were), and you're left with but a few builders, and thus, less ability to really push the envelope.

I've been working on a project for some time, and recently kicked it into a higher gear... My goal is to document the East Coast style, and, at the same time, chronicle the builders and their cars, and hopefully, shed some light on the little-known history from the region. I am fortunate to have grown up with some of the people who were "there", and even call some friends. We have family friends that built customs and hot rods, raced in the region, and were, generally, part of the scene. As I compiled photos and stories, I was continually blown away by the variety of cars, the quality of the work, and the great stories that have been shared...

As it all comes together, I'll share more, but wanted to throw at least one quick look at what's going on in front of you.

Take a look at this home-built '50 Ford. This is the kind of stuff that gets me going... a family project, and definitely something we can all relate to:

Wayne's '50 Ford is a piece of Western New York custom history, and, in his words:

"Here are some shots of the car my Dad (William Carrig), my Mother (zelda), my four sisters and I built in his one-car garage in Kenmore, NY over a two year period beginning in 1964. This was my first car, bought it when I was 16 years old and my Dad who had a body shop at one point in his life fixed the body (it was a mess, rusted out floors, rocker panels, quarter panels, etc.).

We also customized it frenched headlights, shaved hood, truck, removed side chrome, sunken antenna, custom grille, hand built taillights.

Everything on this car was done on a strict budget as I had little money. Grille opening was formed from electrical conduit, sunken antenna and handbuilt taillights made from brass kitchen drain pipe, taillights were red truck clearance light lenses, upholstery including truck except for the back seal and convertible top were all done by my Mother, Dad and me. Front seats were from a 65 Mustang and my Dad fabricated floor mounts so they would fit. I used 57 Oldsmobile turn signals as they looked like Lucas lights and I sure as heck couldn't afford Lucas lights at the time! Grill was chromed metal mesh. It was flawless after many other hours of block sanding and my Dad put on many coats of Corvette Honduras Maroon Lacquer paint which looked a mile deep!! A true family project, my sisters helped and everyone in the family loved the car. Unfortunately I had to get rid of the car when I got drafted and joined the Air Force during the Vietnam era. I hated to do it but had no way to get the car from Buffalo, NY to San Antonio, TX. I did use the money from the sale of this car to purchase the Black 57 Chevy I purchased in TX and still have today. Even so....I still miss this car and would do about anything to have it back..."

It's just one of those stories that make our hobby's history so rich. There are a LOT of stories to be told yet, and I'm stoked to be compiling it all, and learning as I go.

If you're an East Coast hot rodder/custom car owner or fan, and would like to share some history with the project, hit me up! I'd be delighted to make your car or story a part of this project, and will work to ensure that all proper credit is given where due. hit me up (see site link below), and I'll get you the info you need to participate, and even throw a gift your way...

Thanks again to Wayne, and those who have shared already. I'll keep you updated as we progress...

More interesting Kustom Kulture for your brain on the site at www.problemchildkustoms.com .

Resilience Storms the Midwest!

A HUGE congrats to our team, Tim, Carrie, Erik, Paul, Shawn and Dave on the outstanding showing of the mighty Buick this past weekend at the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular in Salina Kansas! The copper-colored cruiser grabbed the 777 Custom Crown Award, a John D-Agostino Best Contemporary Custom Award, and the revered Eldon Titus Memorial Design Award!

We're all just stoked to see this project getting recognition like this... We were fortunate to have assembled a truly dynamic team on this car, with visionary owners like Erik and Paul Hansen, a builder like Tim, and talented craftsmen like Dave and Shawn... We all just happened to click, and seeing others appreciate the end result is nothing short of incredible.



On a personal note, it's been absolutely mind-blowing to be a part of this all... As a kid, I had dreamed of going to a KKOA event, and had watched videos made by family friends, simply awestruck by the cars and the good times. Now, so many years later, seeing a car that I was fortunate to have created some doodles for and worked on such a creative high with an outstanding builder and friend take home such accolades from such an event, I'm speechless. Seeing this car grab the Eldon Titus Memorial Design Award is just amazing... It holds an incredible amount of meaning for us all, as he was an innovator, a gifted designer and builder, and truly a man who led the custom car back to the forefront. Growing up, he was one of my favorite builders, mixing and matching styles to create mind-blowing rides... and having a hand in a car which received the award bearing his name and legacy... well that my friend, is absolutely priceless!

Thanks for looking in, and more soon...

Innovation, guest appearances and simple math...

...all combined in my head over the past couple of days. I had been in the studio almost non-stop this past week, trying to keep up, and finishing up some bigger projects, and as usual, began to ponder mysteries of life.

One topic that often entertains my gray matter is that of innovation. I enjoy looking back on instances where one single event or idea made enough of a ripple to change something. Consider skateboarding (not much of that happening with a knee like mine lately)... A simple trick like the Ollie took it from slalom and simple "sidewalk surfing" into a whole new universe. Arials, tricks previously unimagined... Hell, almost all extreme (board) sports can trace some lineage back to this simple trick (consider how surfing was transformed by the arial). Car-wise, consider Sam Barris chopping the first Merc...

...or better yet, his fastback Buick!

Style moved in a whole new direction! Lower, cleaner designs poured from Detroit following this most basic (yet complex) custom idea.

It's all simple math, really. Add where you must, subtract what must be removed for the sake of style, and, if you do your math carefully, you have a winner! Consider that there are an almost infinite number of equations to arrive at a solid design, and it boggles the mind. It all falls on vision, and carrying elements to the right places.

Speaking of innovations, simple math, etc... I listen to a lot of music in the Studio, and I enjoy a broad range of styles. A recent spinning of some classic R & B really got the brain firing on all cylinders. I began to think about guest appearances, and the blending of occasionally different, and sometimes similar elements, and how they can affect the final product, be it music, cars, or even food. Canned Heat recorded an album with the legendary John Lee Hooker, entitled Hooker n' Heat, as the band was getting back to their blues roots.

The album is almost, in essence, a John Lee Hooker album, with the Heat playing backup... But it works. In fact, it's something beyond a simple listening experience... it takes on a life of its own (namely in Wilson's unbelievable harmonica playing-- sadly, also his last appearance). The meshing of Canned Heat's loose, funky, boogie style, with Hooker's down and dirty demeanor make this not only a great listen, but inspiration!

Consider how, in most cases, a guest appearance by anyone (be it TV, music, or anything) is often watered-down. In the case at hand, Hooker just stomps his way in front, and stays there... It's pure "attitude music" if ever such a thing existed.

How does this apply to cars? Like any good design, it's in choosing the right ingredients, and using them to the right level... pulling the most from their potential. It's not about just bringing in the hottest "at-the-moment" thing (remember composite headlamps being installed on EVERYTHING in the '80's? There's a warning.), it's choosing some elements that may be, on the surface, anyway, entirely different... and finding some common ground or theme for them to work from. Looking at the raw material, and then seeking out an element, a slice of character in either a part or a modification that just makes visual "sense". Consider the use of Buick trim on a Merc. Just looks "right" somehow. A good idea that spawned countless clones. I suppose that my point is simply to hone your ability to discern what makes for good design, and to absorb those things that look (or sound!) "right"... and make sense of the WHY (why they look right, why it flows). In short, don't be afraid to kick the tail of your board, invite a different co-host (or opinion), or throw a few new numbers into the equation.

After all, when it comes to innovation or imitation, there's really only one way I'd like to go...

Ingenuity...

...is defined by Webster's as "skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventiveness, or: cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance".

It's been a word that has spent an unholy amount of time bouncing a

round in my brain lately. I find it to be a powerful word when applied to our hobby/industry of hot rodding in general, as it's really the backbone of what we do. Consider an engine builder, working to tweak every last ounce of power, Sam Barris chopping the first Merc roof, or the first guy to conceive the idea of using lace to create killer patterns in custom paint. Hell, each day I'm confronted with the challenge of bringing unique ideas to a project, and in some cases, finding ways to stretch a budget, and draw in some wicked little details to set a car over the top. It's a matter of using what's there in front of you (and occasionally what doesn't exist!) in a new or different way, and then getting it all to flow.

A recurring theme here in the old blog has been that of cool details and inventive use of materials on a project, and this entry brings in some really neat stuff. First off, time had shot over some pics of his new, self-made planishing hammer.

Confronted with pre-made units that maybe had the power but lacked the throw he needed, or even vice-versa, he did what any hot rodder might do: He made his own. 

Pretty slick, indeed, and a great illustration of the point here. The human mind is capable of solving problems with amazing agility at times (there's even some grace in banging a sheetmetal panel to shape over a 2x4 when it's in the right hands!), and when it comes to creating tools to aid in work, provide convenience, whatever, it's always cool to witness. 

Speaking of ingenuity, a recent side trek on the web, seeking more info on Sam Barris' Merc led me to a video highlighting a car that's always kept me fascinated (and, amazingly, another Barris-constructed car -- I say "constructed", as the majority of the innovations on the car were those of the owner), the Golden Sahara II, from the ingenuity (see a theme here?) of owner/designer Jim Skonzakis (aka Jim Street). Every inch of this car is loaded with ingenuity, and inventive, if not a step beyond state-of-the-art for its time (this was pre-1962!)... Man, consider that this was the FIRST car to have a TV in it, much less every other technical marvel thrown in. You may know this '53 Lincoln Capri from the Jerry Lewis movie Cinderfella:

or even the old Rob't. Williams "Leadsleds" poster (it's there in the original incarnation, anyway), too! In any event, over on YouTube is the following video... take a peek, and we'll pick this back up in a few: 

How absolutely freaking cool is THAT??!

...and those light-up tires? Dig this:

In the '60's, Goodyear toyed with translucent polymers to create pastel-colored, illuminated tires! More likely than not, they were to be marketed toward women (color matching everything was in fashion, after all), yet the material proved to wear too quickly, and they never made it to market... 

Ponder the thought that went into this car, the forward thinking, the sheer inventiveness... the INGENUITY. Granted, there's a lot of gimmickry going on here, but isn't this car just the perfect illustration of the times? That whole "world of tomorrow" kinda vibe going on, and all wrapped up neatly in a pretty slick custom.

 
I had shown this to my kids, and they flipped that the car had a TV, a remote... and then they said "they had TV back THEN"? Illuminated tires, whoopie.... TV? Amazing to kids. Go figure...