'53 Studebaker CoupeGerald Frey, Plain City, OHGerald first built his chopped, sectioned, shortened, and channeled Stude in the early '70s, then sold it. In 2001 he found the remains in a barn, bought 'em, and began the ground-up process all over again. Besides the aforementioned mods, the car sports a custom grille, bumpers, and taillights, radiused and flared wheel openings, and bright-yellow paint. It rides on a custom frame with a '62 Chevy front clip and relies on a small-block Chevy backed by a Muncie four-speed. Something tells us Gerald won't let it get away this time.
'49 Chevy FleetlineMatt Zehentner, Waterloo, IAWe can relate when Matt calls his Chevy an "ongoing attempt at a custom." Purchased for $400, it had more Bondo than steel, a leaky gas tank, and a poor-running six. Matt bought a $65 parts car and solved one problem at a time, learning as he went. Friends Al Heber, Bob Birch, and Jerry Hayzlett helped as Matt made the car roadworthy and established a more custom look with black suede, whitewalls, and flipper caps. More custom mods are pending. "I've seen trends come and go," Matt says, "and always yearned to build a car that reflects me." It looks like he's well on his way.
'51 Studebaker CoupeBill & Helen Dye, Sunrise Beach, MOOur second Studebaker this month is of the bullet-nose variety. Bill and Helen have lavished it with plenty of attention, too, grafting on a '72 Nova subframe, installing a 327/TH350 drivetrain, and adapting an S-10 rearend out back. The body, meanwhile, is cleaned up with shaved emblems and handles, welded and molded fenders, and extended rocker panels under the "double metallic turquoise" paint. Factor in a two-tone leather interior with tilt wheel and power windows, and it's easy to see the Dyes are Stude cruisin' in style!
'36 Ford CoupeRay Agen, Anchorage, AKYou've gotta be hardy to be a rodder in Alaska! Ray located this coupe in Everett, Washington, and shipped it to Anchorage. It was so nice he was thinking "resto," but the drive home convinced him otherwise. Now it has a boxed frame, Heidt's IFS, ShockWaves, 16- and 17-inch Americans, and a stroked Windsor V-8 with overdrive. Ray did his own rust repair, bodywork, and paint and even learned to sew so he could stitch the cabin. It was a great learning experience. "I like the lines," Ray says, "it's not a kit, and I can say it's all steel!"