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27th Annual West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals- Veni, Vidi, Vici

27th Annual West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals
By Jerry Weesner
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1951 Mercury
Rick Dore's latest '51 Merc has brilliant paint by Art Himsl over its Keith Dean-massaged bod, a set of DeSoto chompers to die for, and '57 Caddy-like Colorado Custom Segundo wheels. Whether in the parking lot of the Santa Maria Inn or lyin' on the fairgrounds' lawn, this is one outstanding chopped Merc. Hey, it even grabbed the Bill Hines Award for best paint.

West Coast Kustoms Nationals Poster

West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1949 Ford
This bare-metal '49 Ford, what the Aussies would call a "single spinner," was a work of art. Makes me wish I still had one of my old shoeboxes. However, they're both now chopped and in good hands (of son Keith and kustomizing legend Bill Hines) and I can visit them any time I wish.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1954 Mercury Hardtop
Hop Up magazine's publisher, Mark Morton, cruised into the Inn's parking lot in his amazing '54 Merc hardtop. The pearl yellow absolutely glowed, even in the low light conditions of an overcast sky. It did so to the point where you'd wonder if it were plugged in. Inspired by the Ronnie Dragoo '54 Merc chopped by customizing legend Sam Barris more than 50 years ago, this one, unlike its muse (whereabouts unknown), is a keeper.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1940 Chevy
Ron Brooks has been the caretaker of this seminal '40 Chevy kustom for years. It's nice to not only have folks who preserve the roots of our hobby, but also have those who continue to share their historic treasures with all of us.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1932 Roadster
Speaking of being made from scratch, or pretty darn near, we present Gary Lazzerm's roadster, which is listed as a '32. Who's to say at this point? The look is very British (at least to us), to the point we'd expect it to be spinnin' its knock-offs at Goodwood or other similar venues of speed across the pond.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals Blue Mercury
Like they've always said, "Parts is parts!" But, just notice both the similarities and differences between Bob Gomes' '49 Merc and Rick Dore's '51. They also say that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." When it comes to chopped Mercs, would we have it any other way?
West Coast Kustoms Nationals Ford Roadster
Richard Deweese lists his roadster as a Ford, but it's obvious that pretty much everything except the title is not only handmade but perfect. Now, the question is, can something be called a "modified" if it's made from scratch?
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1958 Chevy
Jason Barr wasn't bashful when it came to taking Sawzall in hand to chop his '58 Chevy. His heavily hammered work-in-progress pretty much takes altering late-'50s American iron to the limit, wouldn't you say? Now, if the glass can just be figured out, he'll have one very wild and bodacious Stovebolt.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1950 Shoebox
Paul Bragg's '50 shoebox has been around for a few seasons but never fails to amaze. Took several inches out right down the middle, he did, and nary a seam is to be found. And no, it's not hiding behind the stainless side trim; that's too far down to properly section a car (with the exception of a "cheater" section taken off the bottom); you have to remove metal from the body's widest point, which Paul has masterfully done.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1960 Ford Starliner
Kirk Jones pulled off the Watson/Bellflower style so well with his '60 Ford Starliner (great name, what? Kinda' up there with Orbitron and the like), it was coveted by all who viewed it. When he power parked at the Inn's front door (not his choice-the crowd parted and he was directed to do so when he cruised by) on Friday evening, the car was an instant celebrity with a 100 percent wow factor.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1927 T Coupe
Matt's once-a-'27 T coupe competition roadster had many timeless touches and much trick fabrication, not the least of which being the polished and louvered aluminum hood, artfully fit around the mechanicals.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals Aluminum Hood West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1965 Ford Galaxie
Rob McDonald cruised in from Bakersfield with a car you'd probably never think of as custom bait-not until now, anyway. Yep, it's a '65 Ford Galaxie, lookin' for all the world like it's just come off tour with the Ford Custom Car Caravan, modified by the likes of ... oh, let's say a Gene Winfield-a perfect time capsule of our (at least my) long lost youth. So, why doesn't Ford still do this? There's a whole new generation of builders they could get involved. And, with FoMoCo in the shape it's in, what would they have to lose?
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1961 Pontiac
It was good to see Alan Mays' '61 Pontiac Ventura again. Built and painted by Bo Huff, it's an amazing tribute to the Watson/Bellflower style. Credit for its miles of fine-line pinstriping was incorrectly given in our June GNRS coverage by some old guy who wrote captions. It was indeed Bo's prodigy of a pinstriper son, Jr. Huff, who not only laid out the graphics in tape for Dad to squirt, but 'striped it, as well. I feel we're going to be hearing a lot more of this young man as time goes on.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals Roadster Truck
Tradition sure ain't what it used to be. If you're wondering what I'm getting at, you must not have seen Fred Siegeler's '59 Caddy. "His what?" "Yeah, well right back atcha" must be what his "modified" is registered as, wouldn't you think? What we're seein' is an early (pre-wrap-around windshield) F-100 cab, every which way and screwed down over a T-bucket-style chassis.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals Roadster Truck Rear
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1940 Mercury
Daniel O'Niell has a klassic kustom on his hands in the Nick Matranga/Barris mode. Take a '40 Merc, cut and reshape the roof until it flows into the trunk lid like syrup on pancakes, raise the windshield up a couple of inches into the header, shorten the side trim, create new side window frames, and so on, and you can have one, too.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1961 Oldmobile
Bill Hines modified John D'Agostino's beyond-beautiful '61 Olds ragtop, and the chopped top still folds and fits into its well, too, thank you very much. Oz Welch took care of the gorgeous candy paint. And yes, there was always a crowd around it, cameras in hand.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1957 Cadillac
Brian Nieri cruised in from San Jose with his very chopped and golden '57 Caddy. Other than the requisite shave and a haircut (betcha it was more than two bits), there's those raised and reshaped fins to consider, plus a tubular grille, an interior so comfortable you never want to leave, and much, much more.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1956 Chevy
Dan Cuellar's '56 Chevy kustom has been around for years and we never get tired of seeing it, either at shows or on the streets of Norwalk, CA. The Cruisin' Nationals wouldn't be the same without it, Dan.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1940 Ford Headlights
OK, we all agree-Jim Baugh out of Kennewick, WA, has one cute li'l '33 Vicky, but what's with those headlights? Well, what you see is what you get; they're '40 Ford units, just to be different, one would suppose. Hey, it got our attention.
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1933 Victoria
West Coast Kustoms Nationals 1950 Mercury Black
Javier brought his very nice and very black chopped '50 Merc down from San Francisco. There's not much else left to say, except that I'd like to have it parked in my garage-if indeed I could get a car into my garage. This seems to be a SoCal curse; just ask my neighbors, same story.

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