Life & death of a Custom

[Harko]

What are the caps on the pontiac made from ?

[Sunny Rob]

Harko, they were made from a moon disk, a dress rim over that, a cheepo stainless bowl from k-mart with an FB star in the centre,and cut down chrome strips from FBEK front seat pans.

[Sunny Rob]

I had used a wagon fuel tank and made up a filler door from sheet metal, a magnetic sterio cabinet catch was used to keep it closed, (high tech stuff) and the back of a speedo housing was welded in for the recess of the tank filler neck.
This was about the time I started making those bullet tail lights (1994) as a set can be seen in the car.
It was also decided not to use the bubble skirts as they didn't suit the lengthened tail. Luckily enough, I was soon to meet ace metal man & fellow custom nut Paul Kelly, (that was the Cararra swap I think) and was soon to swindle him out of a set of his neat-o cruiser skirts. Hey Paul, was that set no. 1.
The car in the background was a 48 Buick that I got as a sedan & turned into a 2 door roadster. Sadly never finished it tho, new house .

[Sunny Rob]

Car was ran into again by an unskilled lane changer with the ability of poor judgment. Had this repaired at a panel shop.

[Sunny Rob]

[Sunny Rob]

By the way, an early Rav 4 wheel cover was used & narrowed to suit EK rim & crossply. To pivot this out only the bottom bolts that hold the centre bumper section in were used, allowing it to pivot out & 2 EK door hinges with a made up catch used to hold and pivot the wheel for access to the boot.

[Trev]

If the car was normal length the other car probably would have missed .
That is the best continental kit (conversion) I have ever seen, and I've seen some ugly ones.
Build another one, go on this is grouse, Trev .

[Smooth customs]

Rob

You left a little bit out about the Cruzin Skirts.

I spoke to Rob at the swap and told him I was starting to make up some bolt on custom parts for FB EK Holdens, and was looking at doing Cruzin Skirts

Rob had an FB EK wagon parts car sitting around that he let me use to make the master patters for the skirts on.

Am sure the ones I did for you were the first.

[parisian62]

A great thread Rob. A 'history' lesson at its best. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

regards
Stewart

[Devilrod]

There seems to be a recurring theme here Rob. I think that car was a little jinxed!!! I 've never known one car to be hit so many times.

[Sunny Rob]

Yes, it shure did cop a battering. The last one (more pics to come) was what killed it, and then, Ive heard that a tree fell on its remains. Like I believe in karma but this is rediculous.

[J]

i was wondering about the death bit
sounds brutal

pics?

[FB MAD]

There was some pics of the remains of the shell on someones property on the forum not long ago from memory and there was mention that the current owner was content to let it rust away to nothing and wouldn't sell it.

Pity that something with that sort of history ends its days like that

[Brootal]

Very cool story. You can a lot of US custom influences in that car, way ahead of what most Aussie guys were doing with their early Holdens in the 80s and 90s.

J - that roof scoop was a feature on '58 Chevy Impalas and became quite a common custom touch in the late-50s. That (I dare say) is the inspiration.

The high-mount brake light? Well... that's just sensible. Doesn't look like it helped... although you never did get hit up the arse, did you!

[fb cruisin]

Awesome stuff Sunny Rob .

I remember reading the history and demise of this great custom in a magazine some time ago.
but never in as much detail.
you have us all enthralled, with your story and pics

cheers Rob