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This site will document what has been a very long-term project.

Some readers will suggest that my spelling leaves a bit to be desired (true).  However, the word "kustom" (see site title) and "kustomizing" reflect how folks spelled it during the '50s and '60s.  Indeed I have been a member of Kustom Kemps of America (link) for almost three decades.

In 1988 we drove our '56 Chevy to a KKOA event in Holland, MI.  At that event, there was a '47 Buick that blew my socks off:

composite

In 1991 I responded to this ad:

The ad that started it all

The wrecking yard was in Cheyenne Wyoming.  Needless to say, I could not resist.  I about fainted when I saw a '47 Buick Roadmaster fastback in the yard that was in reasonable condition.  The red Buick (above) immediately flashed in front of my eyes!!!  While the Buick was not badly damaged, it was missing some body parts.  I purchased the car along with some body parts off a 4 door '47 Buick so that I would have enough body panel parts to make a fairly complete car.  The photos in the header show the Buick in the condition I obtained it from the wrecking yard.

In the first couple of years after I brought it home, I modified the chassis and started the kustomizing bodywork.  As is often the case, life got hectic and I relegated the unfinished project to life under a tarp.  Even though the project was on hold, I continued to gather parts for the project.

In the past couple of years, I have really enjoyed working on some of my car projects.  I am in the process of repainting the '56 Chevy and have started a major rebuild of my '59 International truck (link).  However both of those project are being worked on in the shop where I keep our '87 Eagle bus conversion (link).  That shop is not heated.  In December of 2014 I decided to move the Buick into our garage (which is heated) so that I can do the body work during the cold winter months.

I will be modifying my Buick with many of the modifications that the red Buick received.  As you can see in the photo below, I chopped the top, but that is as far as i got.

20141212 Buick Going into garage 2 (Small)

This photo was taken on 12/12/14 as the Buick was about to be driven

into the garage for extensive body modifications

 

The past and present work will be documented in separate pages (links in header)

Note, many of the photos on this site are "thumbnails".  If you click on them, you will get more detailed photos.

 

 

Contact Information:

Jim Shepherd

Evergreen, CO

Email:  jim@beltguy.com