1954 Chevy kustom - The Moonglow - Duane Steck

The Moonglow Story

Bellflower, California, 1955-1962


Duane Steck's 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe, better known as the Moonglow, was built by Duane himself in his own front yard in Lakewood, California. The car that was a low budget build, was classified as a radical kustom due to its chop. But the truth is that the car featured many subtle modifications that enhanced the already good looking lines of the car. The appearance of the car changed several times during the years, but most people favor the first version that was shown on the cover of Car Craft January 1957. Duane Steck was a member of the Renegades Car Club out of Long Beach, California.


In 1954 a young commercial Artist, Dwayne Steck, dreamed of building a 1954 Chevy Bel Air 2 door Hardtop into a radical custom ca. Dwayne purchased a 54 Chev and began to build his dream, first by chopping the top 3 ½ inches, shaving the entire body of all chrome ornaments, making the 2 piece grill into one piece, nosing the hood and designing a Kustom grill.


Dwayne frenched the headlights and installed 56 Chrysler inverted taillights using a shark’s mouth design as a housing. He then rolled the gravel pan and lowered the car 10.5 inches and added custom made fender skirts creating a famous fade away look.


Moonglow made it’s debut on the cover of CUSTOM CARS Jan 1957. After many many car shows and first placed trophies, the car re-appeared on the cover of CUSTOM CARS March 1960.



The moonglow was to become one of the most famous custom cars ever built in America. ROD ANS CUSTOM MAGAZINE listed it in it’s top 20 pick. George Barriss stated it was the best role model he had ever seen for all Chevs, and he particularly liked the car from all angles for it’s clean lines. Then it was traded in 1962 and sadly crushed.


The original Moonglow


Credits: Choosen consistently to be one of the most famous custom cars built in the 50’s.


Builder/ Owner: Bellflower California



From ever angle it looks right with a chopped top, skirts, frenched headlights, and custom grille. The Moonglow was one of the dshow favourites, and written in Barriss Kustoms as one of George Barris’ favorite picks.


• Car Craft- jan 1957


• Custom Cars- March 1960


• Rod & Custom- June 1991


• Custom Cars of the 1950’s by Andy Southard and Tony Thacker- 1993


• The rodder’s Journal- 1994


• Barris Kustom- 1996


• Rod & Custom Top 50- November 2003


•


Most famous pick of 50’s rods and customs. Moonglow was right up there with the Bob Hirohata 51’ Merc, Nick Matrana 40’ Merc, and Larry Watson “Grapevine” 50’Chevy.



The Moonclow was admired by the following experts:


• Geeorge and Sam Barris


• Larry Watson


• Eddie Rhodes


• Bill De Carr


• Dean Jeffries


• Junior Conway


• Von Dutch


• Ed “Big Daddy” Roth

1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe owned and restyled by Long Beach Renegades member Duane Steck of Lakewood, California. The car is also known as the Moonglow. The Moonglow was a low budget build, but was classified as a radical kustom due to its top chop. The truth is that the car featured many subtle modifications that enhanced the already good looking lines of the car. The appearance of the car changed several times during the years, but most people favor the first version that was shown on the cover of Car Craft January 1957

First Version
In late 1955, while the car was still under construction, Duane drove it around in light blue with primer spots. By then the car had been shaved, nosed and decked. The upper part of the grill had been molded, the taillights were frenched. Duane had also modified the car with hooded headlights similar to 1955 Chevrolets. The 55 Chevy style hooded headlights were later replaced by frenched 1952 Ford headlight rims, new taillights were also created from sheet metal and round rods. For the homemade taillight housings, Duane had fit a pair of frenched 1956 Chrysler lenses upside down. Small backup lights from a 1956 Chevrolet were placed in the bumper guards.


In 1956 the first final version of the car debuted. With good help from Duane's friend Ben Cook, owner of a local welding shop, the build took 12 months to complete. Duane and Ben chopped the top of the Chevy 4 1/2 inches. The rear window was made from Plexiglas that Duane and his brother heated in their mothers oven. Duane kept the stock grille, but added extra teeth to it, 15 teeth were used in total. The trim of the car was frenched into the body side and the interior featured plain powder blue panels with white rolls that actually followed the stock Bel Air pattern. The upholstery was stitched by Delbert Crocker of Del's Trim Shop.[1] The first version of the Moonglow was painted in a simple icebox white enamel with powder blue inserts. Earl Schieb laid the white paint on the car. Duane had heard about this kid Larry Watson in Bellflower that pinstriped cars out of his parents driveway. One day he pulled into Larry's driveway, introduced himself and asked if Larry could incorporate these nude ladies into the striping. Duane had brought his own sketches, and wondered if Larry could copy these. Larry didn't know if he could do it, but he took a chance and said yes. He outlined the tracings , and striped around them so that they were less obvious. According to Larry he pinstriped the Moonglow in the first part of 1956.[2] The engine in the Moonglow was a 235. This version of Duane Steck's Chevrolet appeared on the cover of Car Craft January 1957.




Second Version
By mid 1957 Duane was already busy restyling the Moonglow again. For the second version of the car, a new grille opening was made. The rear bumper was lowered, and the exhaust tips were routed through it. Duane also lowered the car, and extended and molded the rear pan in order to make it fit the rear bumper. In the same operation, Duane also removed the bumper guards and moved the license plate away from the bumper. The car was also painted in a white enamel again, before Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style striped it. The second version of the car has according to Rod & Custom magazine never been seen in print.




Third Version
Later on in 1957, not long after the second version of the Moonglow was finished, Duane and Darol Jorgenson stripped the car down and painted it in a silver metallic nitro lacquer. Larry Watson did the scallops in white pearl tipped in candy blue and pinstriped in blue.[3] The car also got "Moonglow" lettered on the rear fenders. For the third version of the car, the driveline was removed, in order to fully paint the car under the hood. The engine was aslo fully chromed by now. This version of the car is seen in Andy Southard's book Custom Cars of the 1950s. The photo is taken at the first annual Renegades Rod & Custom Motorama in 1958.[1] The third version of the Moonglow was also shown at the 9th annual National Roadster Show held February 15-23, 1958. The car was entered in the Full Custom Sedan class, and won the award for best car in its class.[4]




Fourth Version
By early 1959, Duane had removed the exhaust from the bumpers, and Buick Portholes were added to the rear fenders and hood. At that time, the wheel covers were changed and Duane removed the front license plate. The engine sported dual carbs on a Sharp manifold, split exhaust and plenty of chrome.




Fifth Version
In 1959, Duane brought the Moonglow over to Watson's House of Style for a new paint job. Larry painted it candy blue over silver pearl. According to Larry, it was his best candy blue paint-job ever.[3] This version featured small scallops on the spotlights, dashboard and on the new Dodge Lancer wheel covers. Duane had also modified the car with peaked hoods over the headlights. This version of the car was featured on the cover of Custom Cars March 1960.





Where Is It Now?
In the early 60's Duane traded the Moonglow away for a sports car. After that, the Moonglow was last seen by Duane's brother Steve as the car was on its way into a crusher near the L.A. Harbor.


article original:
http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Duane_Steck's_1954_Chevrolet

23 Mai - 21:42





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http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/customcars_i_like/chevy_custom_cars/53-54_chevy_custom_cars/50s_built_53-54/moonglow/