Chrysler & DeSoto 1955 - 1956 custom & mild custom

Chopped '55 Desoto... 17 body mods, 291 hemi with 5 speed manual... Bought it when I was 15 stone stock, owned for 10 years now and built it all with some help here and there. Still lots to do before it's "done".

This car was built by Richard Zocchi of California.  This 1956 Chrysler has been in many magazines including the cover of Rod N Custom and Custom Rodder.  The two toned Metallic Tiffany's Turquoise and pearl paint applied by Art Himsl and it is very custom and well done.  It has won best paint, best custom and best interior at the Oakland Roadster Show.  It has many body modifications including the chopped top, custom headlights, bumpers and many more.  The front grille was reshaped with round tubing and trimmed with the original stainless. The stock grille bars float in the opening, recessed 1.5 inches. The stock Chrysler rear tail light lenses sit in a molded housing made from round tubing that gives them a frenched appearance as they say. 


This Chrysler has air shocks ride with custom wire wheels and radial whitewalls.  The interior nicely complements the car.  It has 36,000-mile original V-8, 331 cubic-inch FirePower stock engine. With push button automatic transmission, power steering and brakes and air conditioning.   It has been said that when Richard Zocchi sets his mind to designing a new custom, he will wage war with the sheet-metal until the battle's won.


The bumper was lowered 1½’ inches and the stone guard was molded into the front sheet-metal to flow with the new bumper positioning and the wheel-well openings. This little trick creates the impression that the coupe is lowered more than it is. The bumper was shaved and tucked to the body, giving the installation a clean and finished look. The lower edge of the rocker line was dropped with the addition of ’58 Thunderbird rocker panels, which turn the rocker line out. This combination of the lowered front bumper and the new lower rockers gives the car a dropped look without slamming the suspension. 


Other bodywork detailing includes a rounded hood, rounded door and trunk lid corners, and shaved door handles and trim. The rear was equally reworked with a '50 Cadillac bumper molded, filled. and rechromed bv Sherm's Custom Plating in Sacramento, California. The finishing work and pre-paint detailing were handled by Logan Davis at Sahagon's. The paint work was performed by "The Gun Master of the East Bay." Art Himsl, himself. Once the paint was dry, the Chrysler went back over to Jerry Sahagon's shop for a complete interior makeover. To get the interior trimming just right. Jerry was assisted by Ken Whistler and Jeff Morelli. They crafted four handmade bucket seat frames with a built-in stainless-steel beverage box in the console. All of the surfaces were then covered in dark- and light-toned Aqua Naugahyde and tweed, with body color filling in the metal spaces. The overall effect is mono-toned but snappy looking. 


The original stock Chrysler hides under the hood. The suspension is reset with C'ed frame-rails and lowered leaf springs at the rear, and modified A-arms and dropped spindles up front. Bill and Tom Fraser at Antioch Muffler in Antioch, California, performed this work.  Optional Kelsey/Hayes wire wheels was adapted to use'61 Thunderbird centers with chrome bullets. They were capped with Remington G78-1-5 whitewalls for the perfect look.  The Chrysler is a beauty from every direction. 


The 1956 Chrysler is described, as "Powerstyle."  with their long, crisp lines and exaggerated fins that today are considered classic works of automotive art.   It takes about $100K to do a car like this, but you'll need to right team to do it as well. It took about 2 years to finish.

´55 DeSoto full kustom with 291 Hemi, Packard taillights etc.