Custom Schmustoms

[Quentin Hall]

I'll be interested to see if i am convicted by a jury of my peers .
http://www.customcarchronicle.com/digital-restyling/digital-restyling-1939-cadillac-60/

[C.R. Patton II]

Hello Quentin

Rik is a creative stylist.  Nice work!

[russ austin]

Anything done in good taste, and done with quality craftsmanship is OK in my book.

[joeceretti]

I like the final look.  It's not a series 60 though, it's a Sixty Special. 

If it's done as it would have been done in the 30's and not turned into just another modern Frankenstein with a classic shell then it will be a thing to behold.

[Richardonly]

Normally, I like  an original car, especially in a Cadillac. 

BUT this final version truly is  a thing of beauty!!!

It should have been offered as a sports coupe when it was new.  I would want one, but so would everyone else.

[Chris Bryant #19358]

Great concept! I hope it goes ahead!

Chris Bryant

[harry s]

Very nice. Not radical just tasteful.     Harry

[INTMD8]

Very cool!  I like the idea and think it's best with no rear side windows.

IMO the body to top proportions may be slightly off.

I would like to see it with either another inch of roof height or 1-2 inches sectioned out of the body just for comparison 

[Gene Beaird]

Very cool!  I like the idea and think it's best with no rear side windows.

IMO the body to top proportions may be slightly off.

I would like to see it with either another inch of roof height or 1-2 inches sectioned out of the body just for comparison 

My preference is one of the '5-window' versions, but I agree, less top chop would look more in scale and be better balanced, IMHO.  Chop it enough that someone thinks something is different, yet no one immediately says it's been chopped. 

[joeceretti]

I have looked and looked again and then again. It's missing the beautiful side vents in the aprons. It needs something there.
I also think the front fender should continue back into the doors like the 1941 but even more to make the new lower profile appear more streamlined. Extending the front fender would make the door look less prominent.

[Quentin Hall]

The whole process of this design is to try and do it a if it had been started in 1940 and the war intervened and it was completed in 1946. There is the precedent of a factory 4 inch top chop for Sloan or Kettering. Does anyone have a pic?. I wanted to keep as much of the original styling possible. I love Bill Michelle's "suitcase" fenders and despite the post warcustom tend to flow the front fenders front to rear ala 41 Buick, I want to keep the Cord look fenders.
Yes I too am torn between 3 window coupe/roadster or 5 window coupe. I love each design. Maybe someone else can build the ones that I don't.
I really want to achieve the look that Bowman Schwartz and Coachcraft achieved during this time.
I must say that Rik's use of the earlier hubcaps really gives it an elegant feel.
I love the 39 Goddess but have to admit that the smooth good really emphasises the aero look.
Sometimes it is hard to redesign from the future looking back cos we are doing so with the knowledge of where the designs and the eras ended.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

My vote would go to the car in photo D - (with hood ornament, single strip molding, "Darrin" roof) - but raised back up to the proper height.

I think that would be a winner.

[Quentin Hall]

So the consensus is that there is no consensus. No wonder Cadillac offered  such a smorgasbord of custom bodies for their earlier series cars. Everyone has their own taste.

It seems that the roof chop is too severe for some. Perhaps it is because the standard Sixty Special is so tall.
The window height that I have "chopped" to is the same as the height of a standard 46 conv.. The whole idea of this custom is to look forward to the future from the past. Harley Earl was closely following custom trends emerging from California. Heck he was a Caifornia customiser....that's how he got to Detroit in the first place.Harley always said a rectangle is more appealing than a square. Roof chops were done even earlier. Their is a custom Brunn? 30 31 v16 with  a heavily lowered conv/coupe top. Check out a Voison.

A mate has just bought a,41 conv and it is on it's way. It will be interesting to get a few dimensions for  comparison.
I would still love to see the Factory chopped Sixty Special. Sloan got a coupe with standard roof height and it looks like a pimple, on a bum. Kettering got 41 stretched four inches. ... Their was another supposedly chopped. Yann would know?? Where are you mate?

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I should have clarified:

The suspension should be raised to correct height; not the roof - which adds to the sportiness.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

Not sure now the source of the information but the 40-60S factory chopped cars are 2 inches I believe and not 4".  The 40-41 convertibles are definitely a 2 inch chop in true length.  The actual elevation view chop would be less.  In other words the stainless trim in the middle of the windshield is 2 inches less in length on the convertibles than the sedans and coupes.  the angle is approximately 50 degrees so the actual elevation view chop is 1.5 inches.

[Quentin Hall]

Thanks Brad,  it was in a Self Starter that I read about the 4inch chop. I don't plan on doing any cutting till I get a goodlook at the 41 and relate sizes to 46 conv. Longer lower wider was the creed for a few years. The Bowman,Schwartz 40 has a very low screen. Anyone know who owns it? I'd love a windshield measurement.
The pic shows the white template for a 46 conv . It is sitting on the shoulder of the door so in actual fact would be half an inch lower.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Hi Q,
First I'd like to say I'm glad that this topic was reinstated.
Re my pick of the proposals... if you're SERIOUS  about the 60S theme, the only logical choice is "B" .
All the others remind me of a certain roof line which I know very well. LOL!
I seriously doubt that any GM cars had a 4" chop. Way to radical. Maybe a 4" stretch??? Brad pointed out the correct W/S to chop relationship.
Have fun, Bob

[Quentin Hall]

You are completely right Bob, and interestingly the first person to recognise B for that reason.  It's just that when I saw the 3 window hardtop....and then the roadster..... Especially with the chrome windshield frame. It was goodnight.  Roofline reminded me of a certain Calif custom that both Rik and I love.
It's kind if like going to a school prom again. I fall in love with every beautiful girl I dance with.

[Quentin Hall]

How i spent my fall vacation.

[INTMD8]

Quite a transformation. Very nice work!!!  Looking forward to watching your progress.