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New Member - 1951 DeSoto Custom Kustom


smgutierrezsb

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Hey ya'll. Thanks for adding me to the forum. Taking a bit of a leap of faith by bringing up the dreaded "kustom" word, but I'll give some back story.

 

I grew up in Northern California going to shows with my pops and always liked the kustom crowd. I remember as a youngster seeing a '51 Merc with a DeSoto grill for the first time and telling my dad, "I want one of those". His response was something along the lines of "Sure kid, you've got champagne taste on a beer budget". Being that young I didn't know the grill wasn't original to the car. Fast forward many years and many cars later I came across a 1951 DeSoto Custom that needed a home. 

 

Guys usually rob the grills and bumpers and leave them to rot so I decided to give it the full custom treatment it deserved. Inspired by the Barris & Ayala's of Southern California I wanted to do something traditional that gave the '51 a facelift while still being true to its roots. Not slammed. No bags. No SBC. No tricks, just the good stuff. Here are some photos as it stands today and a list of the custom bits.

 

  • Shaved and molded all around
  • 4.5" chop
  • Reshaped rear wheel openings
  • Headlights extended 1" & frenched stock rings
  • 1956 DeSoto 330 hemi w/ dual quds
  • 1953 DeSoto Grill (STILL LOOKING FOR THE 2 OUTER MOST TEETH & WILLING TO BUY)
  • 1956 DeSoto dash
  • 1955 DeSoto wheel covers
  • 1951 Packard spear trim
  • 1956 Hudson tail lights
  • Overrider using 1951 DeSoto bumper guards and 1951 Mercury center bar
  • Ford shoebox rear window
  • Will be painted 1951 factory solid midnight blue

 

Will post more as things happen. I might be hounding ya'll for some parts!

 

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Edited by smgutierrezsb
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I like the tail light job particularly.

 

Edit: not so big a fan of the amount of roof chop without a whole lot of other stuff to balance that but I still think it's fantastic work. 

Edited by 50mech
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3 hours ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

I'll chip in for a quart of paint and a brillo pad for the tires....good start, hope this is not the finished look....

? the tires definitely need a good clean...I didn't want to buy them at the beginning because I knew they would get filthy, but I wanted to make sure the huge 4-1/4" whitewall looked proportional. I don't know, maybe a 3-1/4" WW would look more appropriate? 

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WOW!! A true Barry's works,,, and all Mopar (close enough)  , you are a master craftsman.    Can't wait to see more pics..   any older pics like went you first got it!!??

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Welcome to the forum.Thank you for posting the photos and details of the work done to date. Along with other forum members, I like your concept, some original ideas and also look forward to more photos. ☺️

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8 hours ago, lepic56 said:

WOW!! A true Barry's works,,, and all Mopar (close enough)  , you are a master craftsman.    Can't wait to see more pics..   any older pics like went you first got it!!??

 

Oh I won't pretend to be a craftsman! I took it to someone for the sheet metal fabrication work. My limited skills only go so far.

 

Here are some before photos. It was repainted a bluish-green at some point. 

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