Chevy 1949 - 1952 customs & mild customs galerie

1951 Chevrolet Club Coupe originally restyled by Bailon's Custom Shop for Satan's Angels member Jerry Sahagon of Hayward, California. Jerry worked hand in hand with Bailon customizing his Chevy. The unique grille consisted of two 1954 Buick bumpers and bullets, round center bars and seven 1953 Mercury teeths were placed in the upper grille cavity. The scooped headlights were frenched using 1954 Mercury headlight rims. Small air-scoops, featuring five 1953 Mercury trim teeth, were crafted onto the rear fenders. 1956 DeSoto taillights were grafted onto the extended rear fenders. The rear bumper was taken from a 1953 Oldsmobile. Jerry's car was lowered six inches both rear and aft. The car was decked and shaved for handles, but the side trim and hood molding were kept stock. The Chevy rolled on wide white walls with Oldsmobile Fiesta hubcaps. Once the body was completed, the car was painted in Bailon's own mixture of "Candy Apple". Jerry's car was actually the first car ever to be painted Candy Apple red. About five months and $500 later, Jerry's Club Coupe was finished.[1]


Jerry's Chevrolet was later restyled by Joe Ortiz. The Bailon restyled front was placed onto a second car and modified to accept a pair of canted quad headlights.[2] The top on the second car, also a 1951 Chevrolet, was chopped 6 inches and fit with a one-piece windshield. This time the side trim and hood molding were shaved. Dual spotlights, lakes pipes and special made hub caps were added. A hand formed scoop was grafted on to the hood, custom taillights were tunneled on the quarter panels and the rear of the car was modified to accept a custom made bumper. The rear wheel openings were reshaped, and two peaks were molded on to the deck lid. Jerry's Chevrolet was later shown at the 1960 National Roadster Show. By then it featured a pleated and tufted Naugahyde and velvet interior stitched by Jerry himself. The car had also received a Pearl White and Chicano Purple scallop paint job by Joe Ortiz.



lien de référence: http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Jerry_Sahagon's_1951_Chevrolet

Magazine Features

Car Craft July 1957
Trend Book 133 Custom Cars 1957 Annual
Custom Cars January 1958
Car Craft April 1958
Custom Cars February 1960
Trend Book 197 Custom Cars 1961 Annual

Sam Barris, Gil Ayala, Harry Westergard, and Donn Lowe? Probably the only valid argument one could pose to not justify that last name into the “legends of customs” list would be nothing more than a generation gap—because when it comes to style, vision, quality, and hands-down raw talent, Donn’s the cream of the crop and at the top of any qualifying list of traditional custom car builders … then, now, and even those yet to come.

While maybe not quite the household name as the aforementioned (yet), Donn Lowe’s credentials truly speak for themselves. Most recently, many of you may recall, we featured his work resplendent on the “Futurama Forty”, recipient of America’s Kustom D’Elegance at the 2011 Long Beach Motorama. And when we got word that Donn not only was about to debut another one-of-a-kind creation at the most recent Cruisin’ Nationals in Santa Maria, but a “personal” car of his own, there was no thinking twice about shuttling ace lens man Tim Sutton up to capture it on film—sight unseen. Without question, the only thing we were disappointed with was the fact that, unlike his previous efforts, we didn’t get to see his ’50 Bel Air in person. So, as will have to be the case with the majority of you, our esteemed readers, we’ll have to settle with the best printed reproduction can offer.

According to its current curator and re-creator, the hardtop Chevy is, or should we say “was”, a one-owner gem prior to it changing hands. Having wanted to build a ’49-52 custom of his own for quite some time, upon learning of the Bel Air’s availability through his friend, Al Pierish (a little eavesdropping at car shows never hurts), Donn wasted little time getting in touch with the original owner’s son to make a deal happen. Within days, he and his wife, Jeanie, drove down the coast from Oregon City to Coos Bay, paper was exchanged, and just as quickly the Chevy (under its own power, no less) was headed to Lowe Customs. This was back around 2006, however; the following transformation wouldn’t come together in such a timely manner—but what custom does … especially one not getting billed for all the countless hours of labor?!

Donn says it was a couple of years before he actually got started on the ’50; four years from first slice to final polish. In our book, that’s no back-burner build. He also noted the Bel Air is his 73rd top chop—that’s right, 73 lids lowered over his career. And even with that many over the beltline slices under his belt, not to mention the minimal amount of material removed (a couple inches, max), it’s still what he considers the project’s most challenging aspect, obviously the pillar-less model option having much to do with that (i.e. massive stainless reworking and a tricky three-piece backlite). Donn furthered his reassessment of the build, claiming that in retrospect, he would have sectioned the Chevy as well. Don’t think we need to question that, regardless of how impressed we are with the hardtop in full lower profile.

Now, when we use the term “traditional” in regards to Donn’s custom, well, it goes deeper than the gold-accented creamy white exterior skin. While the old Blue Flame inline 216 has given way to a slightly newer ’62 283 V-8, the powerplant is still considered vintage to some degree; the original IFS is still intact, albeit now outfitted with Fatman Fabrications dropped spindles and cut coils; and each factory 15x5 wheel retains drum brake mounting (the rears a bit newer by way of a Ford 9-inch, however). So basically, minimal modernist modifications, as it were.

OK, let’s get back to the body where Donn and Lowe Customs’ Eric Johnson undoubtedly spent the majority of their time and effort. Beyond the chop, here’s a summary of what it took to achieve the final product: filled hood, ’53 Chevy grille surround with custom grille, frenched headlights, ’52 Ford front fender flares, tapered quarter-panels, wedge-sectioned decklid, inverted ’51 Frazer taillights, ’50 Olds one-piece windshield (and same-year rear bumper), front/rear splash pans molded in, handmade side trim, and scratch-built (smooth) rockers. The Bel Air’s main coloring, PPG Vanilla Shake, was applied by Gene Delco, while Donn teamed up with Mitch Kim (Oregon City) for the accenting scallops and striping. For the interior, Jim Allmer (Longview, Washington) carried out the hardtop’s early/elegant vibe perfectly by outfitting its innards with cream-colored, biscuit-tufted vinyl complemented with similarly templated black Cadillac material inserts.


About the only thing we’re wondering at this point is whether or not Donn’s got anything special planned for his stellar 75th chop? Only time will tell.


Read more: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/1301rc_1950_chevrolet_bel_air

1951 Chevrolet Deluxe Fastback Rat Rod. Equipped with a 1970 Chevrolet Nova Straight 6 motor. Engine has approximately 30,000 miles. Odometer has 3 miles on it. 3 speed with new clutch. Tires have approximately 5000 miles on them. Has air ride suspension. Car is painted flat black with air brushed flames coming from hood to slight past the doors. Has frenched in headlights and taillights. The tail lights are from a 1954 Cadillac. Shaved door handles and trunk handle. Power door locks and trunk popper with key fob. Re-chromed bumpers Custom one piece hood Red vinyl interior all new. Dome light doesn't work. All the gauges, lights, and even custom horn work. Working disc brakes in front and drums in the rear. Ford II front end. Stock wheels painted red to give it the authentic rat rod look. Some delamination on wing windows and at bottom of front windshield. Also rubber around windshield has moderate cracks. No known leaks and all glass is original. Windows roll up and down fine. Original Chevrolet steering wheel. Car is registered until April 2014. Single exhaust with dual pipes coming out the back Chrome trim is decent with a few minor dings.

Le flaming ...