It’s Fast! Custom Studebaker Coupe Fastback

Custom 1953 Studebaker Coupe

Studebaker folks are unfailingly interesting. So when I met John Saltsman at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show this past January standing by his amazing Atomitron, a highly customized 1949 Studebaker pickup, I wasn’t too surprised to hear that he had other Studebaker stories to share. However, when he produced the few pictures in existence of the 1953 Studebaker Coupe he modified as a teenager, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing!

The Atomitron

Custom Studebaker Pickup from 2011 Grand National Roadster Show

I promised I had a few customized Studebakers up my sleeve that I found at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show….so here’s #2 (Check out this Ute if ya missed #1!)

Who’s ever seen a Studebaker pickup like this one!? Believe it or not, this 1949 Studebaker Pickup has been in the works for about 25 years. When the current owner, John Saltsman, got the truck it had already been chopped about 6″ by “Merc John.”

Studebaker Ute

It isn’t every day you see a custom Studebaker coupe. Really, I think what people say to themselves before changing any metal of the Studebaker coupe body is…The coupe is a perfect car – why change it? I certainly don’t have plans of truly customizing my own ’55 Studebaker. Metal flaking the roof, moon discs, and some pinstriping is as far as it’ll go. But I do love customs – so every time I encounter a custom Studebaker coupe I get pretty excited!

This year at Grand National Roadster show I encountered not just one – but three custom Studebakers! I’ll be unveiling each one (and hopefully one or two more) in the coming weeks. To start with…the Studebaker Ute, a.k.a. Kart Hauler.

Custom Coupe – 1955 Studebaker Coupe

It’s not very often you see a customized Studebaker Coupe! So when I was browsing through the web during vacation in Montana and came across the “Yellow Pearl” on Kustomrama, I knew it needed to be shared on GreaseGirl. Both because its so swell and because I’ve been sadly absent from posting this past month – with SEMA follow-up going on, car shows, and Gasoline Girl projects. But I promise – as soon as I’m back from Montana, I’ll be back to writing about all my hot rod adventures and learning opportunities!

So cruise on over to Kustomrama, and find out more about this custom 1955 Studebaker. Its gone through a number of transformations since Long Beach’s Cut Outs car club member Dick Gonzalez sent the Speedster to Art’s Custom Shop in 1956 (an earlier version shown above.) The Yellow Pearl version was painted by Larry Watson and appeared on the cover of Rod & Custom in December of 1959.

Eventually the car was destroyed during a fire in 1973. Good news is, Dick Gonzalez is at it again. He’s at work to recreate the Yellow Pearl and hopes to have it completed in 2012. Good luck to him – and I can’t wait to see this car out on the road!

Droppin’ Anchor at Ink and Iron

This past weekend I was able to make it to Ink and Iron 6 – a tattoo festival + car show + rockabilly music event held on the amazing Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California. Am I glad I dropped anchor! Not only did I hear some great bands and see some awesome cars – but I got to meet up with car customizer Bo Huff and best of show winner Voodoo Larry!

Let me fill you in on the show…this was year #6 for Ink & Iron – and I dug it! Each year it’s held in Long Beach aboard the Queen Mary – which is a huge, Titanic-ish ship. There are tons of tattoo artists exhibiting and doing tattoos. There’s dozens of bands playing throughout the day. Pinups are around too of course – vying for the $2000 grand prize in the contest (why don’t they award cars that much when they win?!?) And obviously… custom cars. This show is all about rockabilly and kustom culture. So of course the cars showing up are along the style the rockabilly crowd likes – Classic rods and crazy customs. The show runs for 3 days…I only wish I was there for more than part of one…there’s always next year, right?!

I mostly went to check out what I’d been hearin’ about for years. (My Stude didn’t make it – she’s waiting for new brake shoes and master cylinder.) Never would’ve guessed I’d be meetin’ and hangin’ out with Bo Huff – a well known custom builder and all around cool cat. Not only that but also taking some pics alongside Dixie Deluxe as well as Rockabilly Playboy. (Thanks to Becky Sue at Pin U up beckysue@PinUup.com for these pics!)