Chevy 1955 custom & mild custom

“After 30 years of not surfing or having an old custom car, I decided it was about time for both. So, I went out, bought a new surfboard, and got back in the water. That was the easy part; now I just needed to find a car.



“Out of all my cars, boats, and Harleys, my ’55 Nomad was my favorite. When I graduated from Carson High in 1964, a friend of my brother was selling his Nomad; it was black on the bottom with a silver ’flake roof, black tuck ’n’ roll, and Astro Supremes. I drove it like that for a few months to all of the A&Ws, The Wich Stand, Wray’s, Harvey’s Broiler, and so on. I started seeing all the nice custom paintjobs and realized that’s what I wanted on my wagon. Soon afterward, the redo began: new diamond/button-tuft interior with four bucket seats and dual consoles, hydraulics, and the custom burgundy fade paint with silver metalflaked and webbed roof. I was invited to enter it at the 1966 Long Beach Show, where I won first in class.

“By 1969, I’d started water skiing and ended up buying a boat, which the Nomad couldn’t tow. I ended up trading the wagon to a friend for his ’64 El Camino. Eventually my friend moved back east, taking the Nomad with him, and I never saw it again. That was the end of the original ‘Pink Panther’!

“After months of searching for another Nomad, I finally found one in the Old Car Trader for $15,000. I had it shipped from Illinois and drove it as-is for a couple weeks before starting the build. For the next 10 years, I worked on it on and off, all the while still driving it. By 2010, everything but the paint was finished—it was primed, taped off, and ready to be sprayed. I had done some painting myself earlier on other projects, but was not too sure about the design on the Nomad.

“I live across the street from Stevenson Automotive Paint and Supply, so one day I talked to the owner, Mike Stevenson, who suggested I go by a shop up the street called Starlite Rod and Kustom thinking I might get some ideas from their custom paintwork, so I did just that. After seeing all the paintjobs they’d done, which were just my style, my confidence level was up. We talked for a while and I felt good about the guys; I told them my history and showed them pictures of my old car from the ’60s. We came up with color schemes and designs together, and instead of going back and applying them myself, I un-taped the wagon and brought it back to Starlite for them to fine-tune the bodywork and do the paint for me!

The Nomad turned out perfect, in no small part thanks to the guys at Starlite Rod and Kustom. The Pink Panther is back! Rod & Custom Feature Car



Jerry Aggus

Carson, California

1955 Chevrolet Nomad Wagon

Chassis

While Jerry’s original Pink Panther Nomad was outfitted with hydraulics, his modern version has a more contemporary approach to adjustable ride height, airbags. Ponch, The Bag Man, in Anaheim, CA, handled the install, while Gary Paolucci (Signal Hill, CA) saw to the wagon’s power steering and power brakes.

Drivetrain

A venerable Chevy 350/350 combo powers the Nomad. Underhood niceties and performance goodies include an Edelbrock Performer carb and intake, Mallory ignition, March Performance pulley/bracket system, Mattson’s aluminum radiator, and various brightwork by Bob Sebring (Torrance, CA).

Wheels & Tires

Once again deviating slightly from his original custom cruiser, Jerry opted for a set of 14x7 Tru-Spokes rather than Astros. His choice of rolling stock is wrapped with “pinner whitewall” 175/70R14 Hankook radials.

Body & Paint

A self-admitted painter in his own right, having done the original Pink Panther himself nearly five decades prior, Jerry instead relied on the skills of Jack Fields and crew at Starlite Rod and Kustom (Long Beach, CA), and the outcome obviously speaks for itself. The application of the House of Kolor candies, pearls, and ’flakes (courtesy of Stevenson Automotive Paint and Supply) is nothing short of eye-searing custom perfection!

Interior

One area Jerry didn’t stray too far from original was the interior. Using a quartet of Chevelle bucket seats and a pair of Impala center consoles, Redondo’s Trimline laid out and stitched up an era-correct—’60s, that is—diamond-pleat and button-tuft upholstery in black “pleather”. Complementing amenities include a chrome ididit column, leather-wrapped Lecarra wheel, Dakota Digital gauges, and a Pioneer/Rockford-Fosgate sound system installed by Al & Ed’s in Torrance, CA.



Read more: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/1209rc_1955_chevrolet_nomad_wagon/

There are some differences of opinion that will never change as long as we’re still able to modify cars; ’glass or steel, bias-plies or radials, and driven or trailered, all spring to mind. The “built not bought” debate is another, with some owners of cars they bought preferring to say they built them. Not so with Jack Elderkin, who, whilst capable of building his own—and indeed he has done—is the first to admit he bought this ’55 Chevy exactly as you see it here.

 That was back in February 2009, though Jack’s story goes back to the mid-’60s, when he owned a custom ’58 Ford that was very similar in concept and execution to this ’55—one of the reasons he was attracted to it when he discovered it for sale on the Internet. After that ’58, he met and married his wife, Cathy, and found raising a family put his car hobby on the back burner for quite a few years. Familiar story, huh?

 Returning to cars in the mid-’90s, Jack started small, buying, repairing, and selling, working his way up to a better car each time, and showing them at local shows, as well as Goodguys events and the Syracuse Nationals. According to Jack, “I would look and think how nice it would be to have a car of the caliber I saw at these shows.” Meanwhile, the buying and swapping continued, with all that trading paying off when he found the ’55 while browsing through car websites. “It immediately caught my attention. I called to my wife telling her she had to come see this car. ‘What color is it?’ she asked, followed by silence when I said ‘green’, until she came over to the computer. We both fell in love with it, as it brought back many memories of when we first met and married. Her graduation picture is now permanently mounted in the center of the dash.”

 Turns out the ’55 was owned by Mike Freund, proprietor of Classics Plus, Ltd. in North Fond Du Lac in Wisconsin. Specialists in modifying and restoring ’55-57 Chevys, though not limited to, Freund had built the ’55 not for a customer, but with the intention of selling it on completion. Jack and Freund developed a friendship via telephone, and a deal was put together that saw the ’55 change ownership and move to the Elderkins’ New York home. Jack is full of praise for Freund, impressed with his build quality and the fact that he stands behind the cars he builds.

 Even a cursory glance through the Classics Plus website will reveal that he knows his way around a Tri-Five Chevy, and this one received his full attention, with a body-off resto that resulted in the entire chassis—front to rearend—finished in the same shade of green as the bodywork. The entire underside of the floor is finished in white, lending a ’60s show car feel to the very clean undercarriage. We don’t envy Jack when it comes time to clean under there! Prior to paint, Freund boxed and smoothed the front framehorns then added McGaughy’s disc brakes and gas shocks to the stock front suspension. The original rearend was mounted on 3-inch dropped, reversed-eye leaf springs, with an additional 3 inches of ride height reduction coming courtesy of lowering blocks. A 605 power steering box was added, before 15x6 and 15x7 Wheel Vintiques and Coker radial wide whitewall combinations made the package a roller.

 Freund dressed a white-painted 283 small-block with finned valve covers before adding an Offenhauser six-pack intake, making an impressive statement when the hood is lifted. Chromed hood hinges, master cylinder and booster, and a polished Griffin aluminum radiator all add to the underhood sparkle.

 While all this was going on, the body was receiving its share of attention too, with a custom recessed firewall, shaved handles and badges, and a custom grille. A louvered hood and custom taillight lenses make a difference, but essentially it’s a mild custom, relying on paint for its “wow factor”, as so many ’60s customs did. Freund used PPG and House of Kolor products to produce the end result, with silver metallic scallops and a darker green metalflake roof. Note also that the grille recess and fenderwells have been finished in white.

White is also the theme inside the car, with the stock bench seats recovered by United Auto Trim in white vinyl, white carpet throughout the cabin and trunk, a white steering wheel, and even white weatherstripping. An ididit chrome tilt column replaces the original, with the shifter and pedals coming from Lokar. The stock gauge cluster was retained in a custom insert, but Auto Meter gauges mount under the dash in chrome pods. There’s more chrome, too, on all the window garnish moldings, another nice ’60s touch.

 To say Jack is pleased with the ’55 would be somewhat of an understatement, especially as it realized that dream for him of having a high caliber car. When we asked what had been his most memorable experience with it, he replied it was when he’d won a trophy at a national event, especially as it had been shared with family and friends. We’d say he’s pretty happy with his ’55! 


 This ’55 150 Will Remain Just As Purchased

Rod & Custom Feature Car

Jack Elderkin

Walton, New York

1955 Chevy 150 sedan



Read more: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/1201rc_1955_chevy_150_sedan/viewall.html

tres jolie    

Indianapolis 1964

Originally built in 1960, long time show car, 39 Sweepstakes and Special Awards. Seen here in Ron Hing's garage where it sat for decades. The Corvette was painted the same color and towed the Chev to shows. That's Ron Hing saying goodbye. In 2001 after a fluff up. Everything on the car except paint is original to 1960-63.

1955 Chevrolet Convertible owned by Sam Barris. The rear fenders were reshaped in order to accept the 1956 Chrysler taillights. Both front and rear fenders were extended to give it a longer appearance. The sidetrim were made from 1956 Ford components that were modified to paralell the dip aft of the door. The body was nosed decked and shaved for handles. The rear gravel pan was extended and a continental kit was added. The exhaust pipes were routed through the rear bumper corners. Dual spotlights were added to give the windshield a visual chop. Fender skirts and custom hubcaps on wide whites wrapped up the style.[2]



Magazine Features

Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car
Trend Book 156 Custom Cars 1958 Annual



http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Sam_Barris%27_1955_Chevrolet

In 1955, future Darryl Starbird Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame member Sam Barris customized a then new '55 Chevrolet convertible. The full-custom cruiser walked away from the 1957 Oakland Roadster Show with First Place in the Convertible Class. Nearly everything the Barris Brothers built during those times received notable magazine coverage; this car was no different, although its fame seemed to fizzle quickly compared to other Barris cars.

Like so many other customs of the time, this one was sold and resold until 1958, when it eventually ended up on a used car lot in Arizona. It, however, didn't remain there for very long. A young airman named Stan Robles, who was serving in the Air Force at the time, spotted the Chevy and knew right away what it was and who had built it. Hours after spotting the Barris car, Stan was now the proud owner of a genuine Barris custom.
1955 Chevy Convertible Wheel


Upon his release from the Air Force, Stan drove the car back to his hometown of Dragerton, Utah, a small, isolated coal town. It was there that the Chevy took on many different shapes and colors, first changing to forest green with mint scallops, and later to eggplant purple with lilac scallops. Beyond color changes, Stan also frenched in lakes pipes, installed quad headlights, and added sidescoops.

Few customs last forever, and this one was no different. By 1972, Stan was no longer living in his little hometown, and the Chevy had been parked in his mother-in-law's yard for years. She grew tired of looking at the non-running car, and more than once she threatened to have it hauled off if he didn't come get it. Like any typical son-in-law, Stan lent a deaf ear to his mother-in-law's rantings. Eventually, she made good on her threat. The last time anyone ever saw the formerly elegant custom, it was being hauled to the crusher on a wrecker.
1955 Chevy Convertible Rear View

This story could have ended unhappily right there, but it didn't. During the car's heyday on the streets of Dragerton, a young teenager named Bo Huff fell under its spell. Bo recalls riding shotgun with Stan many times, and if you think that didn't leave an impression, think again.

Fast forward to 2002. The Sam Barris convertible was long gone, but not in the mind of a certain custom car builder plying his trade in Utah. When customer Nick Phillips walked into Bo Huff's shop, he said he wanted to build a custom car, and that he was open to suggestions-music to Bo's ears. He quickly drew some sketches and spilled the story about the Barris Chevy. Nick was soon sold on the idea, and came up with a two-door post-project '55 Chevy.
1955 Chevy Convertible Tire Cover

Bo spent the next 16 months transforming the sedan into a clone of the old convertible. He was careful to replicate the Barris mods as accurately as possible, from the '56 Chrysler grille frame and custom grille to the '56 Ford trim, Continental kit, and '56 Chrysler taillights in extended quarters. He also copied the Barris paint scheme. He took a few liberties by incorporating some of Stan's updates, such as the vertical quad lights and frenched pipes. Better yet, he updated the underside with a late-model small-block, air springs, and disc brakes to make it more drivable.

The real prize in the Cracker Jack box came when the Chevy rolled out of Bo's shop just in time for the 2004 Grand National Roadster Show, where it once again won the Convertible Class. It's funny how history repeats itself. In this case, it's great to see an otherwise-extinct custom rolling down the blacktop again.

Read more: http://www.superchevy.com/features/trifive/sucs_0662_custom_1955_chevy/

1955 Chevrolet constructed by Barris Kustoms for Jim Seaton of Santa Maria, California. The front fenders were reworked to accept the quad seperated Lucas headlights. The grille was removed and a new one made out of perforated screen with bullets was installed. The stock frenched and tunneled taillights were modified with plastic fin additions, three red and two frosted plastic tiers. The side trims originated from a 1955 Dodge. The body was painted white pearl with Burgundy scallops. Seaton reworked the engine, making his custom a car built for both show and go.[1]


The car is still around, and is owned by concept car collector Joe Bortz.



Magazine Features

Custom Cars June 1959
Custom Cars July 1959
Car Craft October 1959
Trend Book 197 Custom Cars 1961 Annual



http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Jim_Seaton%27s_1955_Chevrolet