Joe Crisafulli's 1951 Oldsmobile

Photo from The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection.

Photo from The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection.

Joe's Oldsmobile at an San Jose Rod and Wheelers event at the IES Hall in San Jose. Photo courtesy of Joe Crisafulli.

Another photo of the car from the same event. photo courtesy of Joe Crisafulli.

Photo courtesy of Joe Crisafulli.

Photo courtesy of Joe Crisafulli.

1951 Oldsmobile owned, restyled and painted by San Jose Rod and Wheelers member Joe Crisafulli of San Jose, California. Joe traded the Olds for a 1957 Cadillac he had molded, lowered and painted. The owner of the Olds was a doctor who had seen the Cadillac parked in front of Joe's mothers house. He asked if it was for sale. And told Joe he had to have it. He kept his word, and came back with cash and the pink slip for the Olds. When Joe got the Olds it had all the bells and whistles on it, including a Continental Kit. Joe did the Oldsmobile in his dad's garage, late in 1959 while running J & J Auto Painting out of it. Thel Oldsmobile was nosed, decked, and shaved for most of its side trim. Only a small horizontal piece of side trim on the quarter panels was kept. The Continental Kit was removed as well. The stock grille and surroundings were removed, and a Mercury grille was installed in the stripped down stock opening. An unusual flat-type airscoop adorned with three chrome teeth were shaped in metal on top of the forward section of the hood. After the body modifications were done, Joe painted the Olds purple with contrasting outlined scallops in gold. Pinstriping was also added to the hood. Moon discs, side pipes, dual Appleton spotlights and chromed window frames wrapped up the style.

When Joe got divorced, the Olds went with his first wife, while Joe got the daughter and the house. He sold the house, kept the little girl, and bought a 1960 Ford Thunderbird. Joe didn't see his ex-wife for years, and he don't know what happened to the Olds.

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Trend Book 175 Custom Cars 1959 Annual