factory kustom friday: another starliner

I keep being haunted by those 1960 Starliners. So maybe there's a Ford in my future? Probably not in the near future but who knows. Have a great weekend.

celebration time

Holy wow. Something must have happened last night. The LOWTECH FB page went past the 6000 likes mark. THANK YOU! The "Burbank Choppers" photo I posted yesterday was my most popular post ever with almost 300 likes, more than 500 shares and a total reach of over 78'000 people. Whatever that means. But it sounds like a lot.

In order to celebrate this I'm posting another group of 4 terrific hot rods. Hope y'all like it. Thanks again! And just like the picture below, it's from my book/mag LOWTECH – The California Issue #1.

burbank choppers

It was foggy back in 2012 at the Mooneyes X-Mas Show.

LOWTECH – The California Issue #1: preview 5

Time for a commercial break. There are only a few copies left of my book/magazine LOWTECH – The California Issue #1. Sales have been strong so far and the great feedback I got makes me dream about an Issue #2. Well not now, or next week. But I got some ideas spinning in my head and I'd love to turn them into printed paper. So stay tuned. And in case you were wondering what Issue #1 is all about, here's the full table of contents. Dig it? Get your copy here.

– Throttlers Picnic Burbank 2012
– Jake's 1953 Chevrolet Kustom
– Hot Rod Reunion Bakersfield 2012
– San Clemente Stories: Chad's Shop
– ACES Poker Run 2012
– Mooneyes X-Mas 2012
– Grand National Roadster Show 2013
– Dustin's 1934 Ford Coupe
– The HOT ROD Homecoming Show 2013
– Garza Kustoms, Nipomo
– Mooneyes, Santa Fe Springs
– Centerfold: Jim Kimbrough's 1956 Nomad
– San Clemente Stories: Roy's Studebomber
– Panel Beaters Union Show 2013
– West Coast Cruisin' Nationals, Santa Maria 2013
– Garry Odbert, Arroyo Grande
– King Of The Clubs, Barona Dragstrip 2013
– Coco Shinomiya's 1927 Roadster 
– Mercurys by the Beach

factory custom friday: 1960 starliner

1960 is one of my favorite years in American automotive design. More than ever before or after, the cars looked like they had just escaped one of those glittery Motorama Shows. With their bubble tops and their tailfins turned by 90 degrees emphasizing the width of the cars even more, they were customs straight from the factory. This 1960 Ford Starliner, which I slightly improved stance-wise, is a perfect example. It would ideally complement the driveway of any midcentury modern house in Palm Springs but it still looks stunning even in this slightly more conservative setting. And yes, I'll be trying to post another factory custom the next Friday so stay tuned, Jetsons.

(via HAMB)

body, paint and flames

Another one from the archives. I took it during the Winfield & Watson Open House in Fall 2010. I posted it before in color but it works well in black and white, too.

the acme coupe

The ACME Coupe is a gorgeous new take on the traditional taildragger theme. Besides its stunning looks it also drives like a dream. Here's a series of snapshots I took when John and Cynthia stopped at our old house in San Clemente for a healthy saturday morning breakfast.

green machine

How about some musical entertainment?

watson flavor

I keep being blown away by the car culture in Japan. I just came across this pretty rad shot of some place called Kool Garage Fellows and it instantly made me think of those Watson shop pictures from the 1960s Rik Hoving keeps publishing over at the Custom Car Chronicle. But it's 2014 and it's in Japan. And I don't know exactly what the Fellows are up to but whatever they do they do it in style.

(photo credits: Kool Garage Fellows)

for sale: 1953 chevy kustom

Jake's 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan is up for sale. It's got less than 2,000 miles on the Dode Martin built 305 Small Block w/ rebuilt 350 trans. The roof has been chopped by Kyle Phillips who also built my own 1949 Chevy coupe. Other than that, the car is shaved, it's got a sectioned 53 Dodge grille, 54 Olds quarters, taillights, steering wheel and bumper, as well as Appleton 112's, Caddy Sombreros, chrome garnish, Firestone whitewalls, a C-notched frame with shocks and cut coils up front. Price is 29K, no trades. If interested, send Jake an E-Mail. (photo credits: Ben Grillo)

stolen in newport beach ca

The Kustomrama Wagon got stolen in Newport Beach, California. It is Olav Kvipt's daily driver to school and work, and he is really in need of getting the car back. The Chevy has the registration number 3UZF934. It is dark green and easy to recognize. Spread the word and keep your eyes peeled.

UPDATE! The car resurfaced and is in the posession of its owner again.