Thread: What is a Kustom to you?

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thanks alot guys..

the kind of cars i want to do are more of the barris/winfield/bo huff hot rods...mostly one off, if not fairly radical kusoms and lead sleds. I have a few projects lined up right now, 54 and 55 caddy coupe devilles, 65 caddy, 49 merc 2 door convertible...im sure youll see pictures sooner or later on here..

to flipper 1938....i think that oppening a shop is just like any business. You want to go out and see what the customer wants or is expecting from what you promise, in say, your business title like SuzyQKustoms. I believe you think just because i ask that question, i dont know what im doing. or I am un knoweldgable on the subject... well i can say im just getting started. i have plenty to learn and plenty i have already learned. You have to start somewhere right.

thanks again guys

The answer to your question is somewhat akin to asking 100 men what makes a woman attractive............you will get 100 very different answers.

I also grew up in the '50's, and have seen a lot of "custom" cars over those years. Some ranged from very nice to downright ugly, but each one featured modifications that the owner felt were complimentary to the original car. Some customs were stockers with simple modifications like removing (or adding) some chrome, a different wheel (or hubcap) treatment, etc. Some were more radical with things like chopped tops, severe lowering, custom paint, etc.

Your customer will be the one to answer your question. He or she may want you to do some things you feel are not the best way to go, but ultimately, they are the one signing the check. All you can do is offer your best professional advice and try to steer them to something they want and can be proud of. Bottom line however is that you are not building these cars for yourself, so your involvement will be solely that of paid builder.

Good idea to do market research like you are doing though.

Don

Originally Posted by kustomskid

....i think that oppening a shop is just like any business. You want to go out and see what the customer wants or is expecting from what you promise, in say, your business title like SuzyQKustoms. ...................... well i can say im just getting started. i have plenty to learn and plenty i have already learned. You have to start somewhere right.

thanks again guys

kid, it's refreshing to see that kind of insight from a young guy. If you can remember that it's as much about running the business as about doing the custom work you'll do well.

Originally Posted by kustomskid

to flipper 1938....i think that oppening a shop is just like any business. You want to go out and see what the customer wants or is expecting from what you promise, in say, your business title like SuzyQKustoms. I believe you think just because i ask that question, i dont know what im doing. or I am un knoweldgable on the subject... well i can say im just getting started. i have plenty to learn and plenty i have already learned. You have to start somewhere right.

thanks again guys

We've all heard stories about shops butchering peoples cars (some to the point the cars were scrapped). I'd say you need buddy up with an existing shop/serious hobbiest that does that kind of work before you go experimenting on a customers pride and joy.

Also, you need to build exactly what the customer wants regardless of what the traditional definition is.