Customs - The Beginnings with Barris

[petehoovie]

Good stuff here....Especially the memories conjured....Great olden day photos....

Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKrg...L9fSKKHwamubxD

Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y5i...amubxD&index=2

[RKS.PA]

Yes, Pete, really enjoyed watching both of those.....absolutely beautiful car and amazing workmanship.


Thanks for posting the links.

[V8COOPMAN]

GEORGE Barris was nothing but a Bondo-bandit 'hack job' that figured-out how to peddle some good cars that he trashed into bad cars, strictly for the bucks! Now his brother Sam was a whole 'nuther story at Barris North up until he finished his last of a long list of REAL 'customs' about 1960-ish. DD

[estout81]

What have you contributed to the automotive world Mr. COOPMAN?

[RalphM]

I would think in 1950 the custom work for that car would have been done in lead.
Nice custom by the way.
And I loved the original Bat Mobile!

[petehoovie]

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Originally Posted by estout81

What have you contributed to the automotive world Mr. COOPMAN?

The guy finds joy in ridiculing/criticizing....

[51 MERC-CT]

Yes, the 50's bring back memories of the two 4 dr. '49 Merc's I had in 1957, one stock and the other in process of being customized.
A couple of tidbits- 1954 Pontiac grille (new $14.75), new '51 rear quarters
($42.00), used '51 rear window and surrounding sheet metal, ($15 )

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by estout81

What have you contributed to the automotive world Mr. COOPMAN?

Originally Posted by petehoovie

The guy finds joy in ridiculing/criticizing....

You sure this is the way you two guys want to go? So what....am I now required to call Ryan every time I want to state my opinion on something? I don't believe we need your drama here, guys!


Now, joyfully back to our regularly-scheduled programming. DD

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

Yes, the 50's bring back memories of the two 4 dr. '49 Merc's I had in 1957, one stock and the other in process of being customized.
A couple of tidbits- 1954 Pontiac grille (new $14.75), new '51 rear quarters
($42.00), used '51 rear window and surrounding sheet metal, ($15 )

Great picture! If I recall correctly, the '54 Pontiac grille was a common swap out item for the '51 Merc - almost looked like it was meant to be. Did you ever finish the one "in progress"?

[Bob T]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

GEORGE Barris was nothing but a Bondo-bandit 'hack job' that figured-out how to peddle some good cars that he trashed into bad cars, strictly for the bucks! Now his brother Sam was a whole 'nuther story at Barris North up until he finished his last of a long list of REAL 'customs' about 1960-ish. DD

Sorry but you are wrong. George started Barris Kustom and then Sam joined. George taught Sam custom bodywork. There are plenty of early pictures showing George building cars. At that time George was the principle painter and did most of the design work. Sam was an excellant craftsman and wanted nothing to do with the P.R. work. No bondo was used. When the early 60's came Kustoms were dead. It was the muscle car era. While other shops closed George survived doing movie star cars , TV and movie cars and became MR. Promoter. Georges photography is recoginzed as being instamental in preserving the history of the custom car. RIP George and Sam

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Great picture! If I recall correctly, the '54 Pontiac grille was a common swap out item for the '51 Merc - almost looked like it was meant to be. Did you ever finish the one "in progress"?

The one in progress was complete to the point of being in primer but the interior was not complete.

It was driven for a short period of time until a long haul trucker saw it parked at my place of employment.
He made me an offer for it and next thing it was on it's way to South Carolina. Seemed like a lot of money at the time but it went for $700

[RalphM]

Even the 49 Mercury four door looked good customized!
I think it was a combination of styling, and the suicide rear doors.

[cas3]

yup, never had one but sure do like those 49-51 mercs

[19Fordy]

49-51 custom Mercs can't be beat. Some day...........

[glennpm]

Yes, a great looking body style and one which I'd love to have.

[Hoop]

When I was a kid in high school ... in a small coal mining and steel town ... George Barris was bigger than John Wayne or Elvis or Marilyn. At least to me and my buds in Mech Drawing class where we spent more time drawing custom cars than anything else.

The Hirohata Merc might as well have been on the moon. Along with James Dean's Merc. Barris was from Mars.

Late in life I got to actually touch those cars ... and chat with George Barris several times.

Without doubt one of the nicest guys ever. It was like we had been in Mech Drawing class together.

[petehoovie]

Barris Biography > https://kustomrama.com/wiki/George_Barris


And > http://www.barris.com/history.php



George Barris' 1941 Buick Convertible. Completed late in 1947, this was the car that established George as a builder. It was shown at the first Hot Rod Exposition in January of 1948, where it won top honors. Winning that show put Barris Kustoms on the map, and they consequently moved their operation to larger premises at 7674 Compton Avenue.

[Zeke3]

Thanks PeteHoovie for starting this topic, I found the videos interesting.

[RKS.PA]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

The one in progress was complete to the point of being in primer but the interior was not complete.

It was driven for a short period of time until a long haul trucker saw it parked at my place of employment.
He made me an offer for it and next thing it was on it's way to South Carolina. Seemed like a lot of money at the time but it went for $700

51MERC, I've always admired your avatar....and your posts, particularly with the "arrows" and diagrams to better explain the solution you're suggesting.

And, I've always been partial to those Merc's ,although I've never been lucky enough to own one. Used to work in Hartford back in the late 1960's. Can imagine your project car at your place of employment!! Lots of highly skilled people working there back then.

[RalphM]

Now Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was another story. He lived in fiberglass and Bondo. But he sure knew how to promote and sell! His items can still be bought on line today! In fact I still have some “Rat Fink” T shirts.
I remember all the bubble gum cards from when I was a kid.