1958 Ford - The Royal Coach -

In the May 1963 Rod & Custom magazine this 1958 Ford custom was a cover car and a full spread feature was shown inside. This version was painted by Larry Watson

Photos taken at the El Segundo show on August 23rd
All photos by Howard Gribble

The Royal Coach is an original 1960's custom car that went into the shop new in 1958 and came out in 1962. The motor has excessive chrome and triple carburetor set-up. The engine is a 390cid V8. The interior has Thunderbird bucket seats and beverage area for extra points at car exhibitions. The headlights are set back 1" in 4" extended fenders and the grille is a modified 1959 Imperial. The rear fenders are finned 10" and have 800 hand turned buttons added, with 8 cad tail lights and functional roof scoops. The Royal Coach is extremely well known in the custom car world. Its pedigree is impeccable; being originally painted by Larry Watson and upholstered by Joe Perez, with body work by Art Lehnerd of Art Chrome Body Shop and being owned by Johnnie Taylor. The Royal Coach has been on many magazine covers, even on one with the Italian Thunderbird. The Royal Coach went on to become the 1963 California custom champion.

http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Johnny_Taylor%27s_1958_Ford

1958 Ford restyled by Art Lehner of Art Chrome Body Shop for Johnny Taylor. Johnny's real name was actually Johnnie Taylor, but after the misspelling in Rod & Custom May 1963 the car has always been called Johnny Taylor's 1958 Ford. Art set the headlights of the car back 1 inch in the 4 inch extended fenders. The grille opening was also modified and fit with a 1959 Imperial grille. The rear fenders were finned 10 inches, the rear pan was rolled and the car fit with eight 1959 Cadillac taillights. Round rod was frenched to body for the taillight housing. The side trim on the car was fit with 800 hand made chrome buttons. The roof was restyled featuring two functional scoops. Art Lehner's son Bud Lehner painted the car once the bodywork was complete. The roof was painted in Lavender metalflake, and the rest of the car in a purple metalflake.




Inside the car featured an interior by Loveland Custom Upholstery. Up front the car featured Thunderbird bucket seats upholstered in white pearl Naugahyde and purple tufts.


The stock engine was swapped for a 390 CID Ford engine featuring an Edelbrock triple carb set-up.


There is some conflict about who did what on Johnny's car, but according to its current owner Chris Yates, Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style painted the car. Chris has had this confirmed by Larry himself.


The car is still around, and is currently owned by Chris Yates og Hawthorne, California. Chris who has restored the car, has owned it since 1983. Joe Perez redid the interior when the car was restored.


June 27, 2010 the Johnny Taylor Ford was sold at the Barret-Jackson Orange County 2010 Auction. Sale price included buyers commission was $23,100. [1]


In 2013 the Johnny Taylor Ford was advertised for sale at the Newport Beach Auto Gallery.[2]