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Thread: What is a Kustom to you?
          
   
   

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  1. #1
    kustomskid is offline Registered User Visit my Photo Gallery
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    What is a Kustom to you?

     



    Hey guys!

    Im new here at club hot rod!

    So, me and my Dad are starting our own shop, specializing in traditional rods. and kustoms.

    The name of the shop is going to be SuzyQKustoms named after my mom(rip)

    But i have been doing some research around the forums and at the shows i have gone to...

    And... my question to you... is.. In your opinion, what is a kustom?
    what features of a kustom car stick out from say, a street rod or rat rod?

    i obviously have my opinions on what stands out as a kustom, but i want to hear your ideas!

    thanks in advance guys!

  2. #2
    halftanked is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    To me customizing has to include major reshaping of the body,as in chopping the roof or sectioning the body,not just changing seats, adding lakes pipes and minor dechroming. Hank

  3. #3
    shoprat's Avatar
    shoprat is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    As Hank said, minor dechroming, nosed, decked, doorhandles, louvers and
    lowering was always considered a Mild Custom... chopping, sectioning, rounding hood corners etc are a Full Custom.
    Ron

  4. #4
    HOTRODPAINT's Avatar
    HOTRODPAINT is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    I grew up in the fifties & sixties...started buying magazines in '58, but collected them back into the '40s.

    To me, kustom with a "K" implies a George Barris connection. The term custom meant "restyled" or "Personalized appearance", and when you add the terms "mild", "full", or "radical", it described to-what-degree.

    Today I find that newcomers are rewriting the definitions of terms that were developed over decades, but I am just glad the hobby will continue to go on, and the active participants have the right to change things. We surely did!

    Today I would bet that, to the majority, it is a vague term meaning "personalized appearance", and if you try to get more specific...the debate will start. In terms of you business, most will assume a general restyling of any kind is possible. The only limit being, of course, your abilities.

  5. #5
    chevy 37's Avatar
    chevy 37 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    I'm like hotrod. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and hot rods to us back then meant bigger motors than stock or keeping the stock motor but building it up for more HP and torque. Also we did some nosing,decking and channeling and we used mostly spray cans of paint to paint our rods. Nice reversed chrome wheels with white walls were in style and I see there coming back. we also did alot of scavaging through junk yards for newer rears and front ends. Raking was big back then and if you didn't have a good rake, you just didn't have it. Hot rodding has changed over the years and so have I since now I like the lower looks and brighter paint jobs, but everything the came around will go around again.
    Keep smiling, it only hurts when you think it does!

  6. #6
    mopar34's Avatar
    mopar34 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    Customs come in a variety of flavors as mentioned above: mild, full, radical. My 57 Olds is a mild custom. Custom interior, nosed, decked, shaved, smoothed, frenched, lakes, smithys and many more little changes. The 57 Olds had a factory low roof line, so any kind of chop would have made the car a radical custom. Paint jobs, other than the original colors can also be mild or radical and can define a car as a custom.

    Some radicals are simply that, a one-off vehicle. These are usually more show cars than street cars. Although custom building is still with us today, my preference runs to the customs of the 40's to the 60's.
    Bob

    A good friend will come and bail you out of jail....but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying..."Damn....that was fun!

  7. #7
    olegeezer44 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    I agree with mopar, kustom to me means, a chopped, shaved 40'/50's , or chop top with lake pipes, appleton spots and fender skirts. Oh and don't forget the flames and pinstriping. It brings to mind the names of Barris, Winfield, Starbird etc.

  8. #8
    Big Tracks's Avatar
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    Drop me back still another decade. I grew up in the forties and fifties.

    Hot Rod Paint's term "personalized appearance" says it well. Each of us has his/her own opinions as to how a car should look, although that look might not appeal to somebody else at all.

    I like the way chopped tops look just fine. How could one look at a chopped '49, '50, or '51 Mercury and not think "Ooooh, yeah" .... but personally, I prefer the look of a sectioned car with full height top. I once saw a car that started life as a '49-'51 Ford Club Coupe that was sectioned, had fully radiused wheel openings showing off wire wheels, frenched headlights, was slicked off, and had a very tasteful grill treatment.

    But it wasn't chopped, and that car really grabbed me.

    "Way back when", I'd say that customizing consisted of cosmetic changes
    only, but changes for utilitarian purposes would have to count as customization as well, and changes under the hood, too. The sectioned coupe I mentioned had an early "nail head" in it.

    Yeah, Jay, your posting is right on, at least from this geezer's point of view.

    Jim
    Last edited by Big Tracks; 10-22-2007 at 05:11 PM.

  9. #9
    flh4speed's Avatar
    flh4speed is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    although my truck is not a traditional hot rod it is a custom , i wont bore yall with the
    details in this forum but it is something for you to think about starting a new shop
    even though its not old school or back in the day kustom this kind of work will at lest
    help you pay your bills while you work on other prodjects , good luck with your shop






    Age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

    Kenny

  10. #10
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    Flipper_1938 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    If you have to ask that question....you don't need to be opening a shop.

  11. #11
    kustomskid is offline Registered User Visit my Photo Gallery
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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

  12. #12
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    Itoldyouso is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    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

  13. #13
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
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    Kustom??? Did somebody say Kustom???? I like Kustoms!!!!!! Nothing sez Kustom like a big old tank with chopped top and a bazillion other body mods that the average guy won't ever notice but you do anyway!!!! Preferably on a Merc, Buick, Olds, or Caddy!!!
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    Carroll Shelby

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  14. #14
    flh4speed's Avatar
    flh4speed is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
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    man i love that yella un-leaded sled


    Age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

    Kenny

  15. #15
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
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    Quote Originally Posted by flh4speed
    man i love that yella un-leaded sled
    That one was sold a couple years ago, but I got more!!!! Sure would like to see one setting in your shop!!!!!!
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

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