How does that saying go about the person you don't want to meet in a dark alley? Well, these are a couple of guys I was happy to run into.
The dark horse started its life as a '54 Chevy 210 post-a perfect candidate for a heavy chop, flat paint, and a low, mean attitude. The grille opening has been massaged and a single, heavy chrome streak wraps from the center, around the front, and down the side of the body; its only interruption is the front wheelwell. The original grille is replaced with finer Corvette teeth, which have been split through their midsection and reside above and below the center bar of the grille. The bumper is peaked both at its center and under each headlight. Incisions through the fenders behind the frenched headlights reveal chrome trim that appears to be a part of the headlight ring itself. Modified '57 Caddy caps and spots poke through the A-pillar to add a bit of sparkle in the moonlight.
A hopped-up 265 small-block would send this Chev down the road through the midnight hours with a low rumble. The interior is bare until next year. But hey, with the amount of time spent on the exterior, the threads can wait. A couple of blankets over the seats make for one comfortable late-night cruise.
Our rising sun is the '54 Ford. This one is a hardtop version and has been treated quite differently than its mid-century rival, but the result is equally stunning. A 4-inch chop brings the lid down, and the car itself comes down to achieve the right stance. I've always admired the slab sides of the earlier shoebox Fords. By lowering the relief at the rear quarter-panel, the mid-'50s Fords achieve a similar simplicity. Stretched and massaged bumpers give it the look, and bullet taillights from a '56 Olds accent the original taillight rings nicely. While skirts would be a good look on this ride, the exposed Supremes and wide whites fill the opening perfectly.
A liberal coating of orange metalflake contrasts with the cream top. Under the hood is a well-appointed 292 Y-block. It has all the Offy and Edelbrock items needed to light up the tires, and a four-speed keeps both feet busy. The bright-as-day interior is filled with white tuck 'n' roll with orange piping.
So there you have it. Two cars that started their lives in the same year a half-century ago, only to be picked up and changed into what you see before you. How they ran across one another at this hour is a mystery. Although equals in their quality of customization, what makes each of them a knockout is also what makes them as different as night and day.