1954

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An ad for Cadillac's concept cars for 1954. Both the El Camino and the La Espada featured quad headlights, and General Motors have often been credited for starting the four-headlight vogue.
Ed Seltzer's 1929 Ford Roadster of Tarzana, California. The car was originally built by Kenny Smith of San Gabriel, California. Ed bought the hot rod around 1954. After owning the roadster for a year or so, he wrecked it badly one night, and he had to completely rebuild it. Seltzer was into foreign cars and sports cars, and he added some European sports car flavor to the traditional hot rod.
Joe Brienza's 1929 Ford Model A Coupe of West Islip, New York was built in 1954.
The Cam Snappers of Newburyport's 1930 Ford Model A roadster was owned, built and raced by the Cam Snappers of newburyport car club of Newburyport, Massachusetts. The build was completed in 1954.
Don Conrad's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster
Ron Maxwell's 1934 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Salt Lake City, Utah. The car was originally built in 1954.
Solon Pierce's 1935 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Deerfield, Wisconsin. Solon was a member of the Vagabonds of Deerfield car club. Part custom, part hot rod, Solon ran his coupe with motorcycle-type fenders up front. This photo shows the car as it appeared in 1954.
Dick Colarossi's 1940 Ford coupe of Glendale, California was restyled by Valley Custom Shop. The build was completed in 1954, and it made it's debut at the Motor Revue and Motorama in November of 1954.
Jerry Berg's 1947 Mercury Convertible, this was the car that Jerry drove in high school in Seattle, Washington in 1954.
Ron Hart's 1951 Ford Club Coupe of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ron was a member of the Cincros car club, and he built the sectioned Ford in 1954.
Don Tubbs' 1951 Mercury coupe of Glendale, California. Don was a member of the Glendale Esquires car club. In 1954 his mildly customized Mercury received a Metallic Maroon paint job by Johnny Hagan at Hagan's Body Shop.
Fred Rowe's 1951 Mercury Convertible, of Los Angeles, California was restyled by Barris Kustoms. The build was completed in 1953. A second version of the Merc, restyled in 1954 was featured in the movie Running Wild along with Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury.
Henry Dominguez's 1951 Mercury of Indio, California. Henry bought the Merc around 1952. Around 1954, he brought it to the Ayala shop to have it customized. The inspiration for the build came from Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury.
Don Stone's 1952 Oldsmobile 88 Convertible, of San Francisco, California was built by Ted Lundquist of Lundquist Coach Craft in the winter of 1953/1954
Wally Troy's 1953 Buick Convertible, The Troy Custom, was built by Wally Troy of Springfield, Illinois. The build was completed in 1954.
Jim Skonzakes' 1953 Lincoln Capri "The Golden Sahara" of Dayton, Ohio. The first incarnation of The Golden Sahara featured a lift-off transparent roof with hinged panels above each door. A tinted T-bar kept it from becoming a full bubble top. The Golden Sahara made its debut at the 1954 Petersen Motorama in Los Angeles. In 1955 it appeared on the cover of the May 1955 issue of Motor Trend as “The $25,000 car.Motor Trend Magazine had shown photos of the car to a group of people who were asked to give their impressions of it, and about half of the interviewees guessed wrongly that a Detroit manufacturer had built the car.
Bruce Bartlett's 1953 Studebaker Starlight coupe of Long Beach, California. Bruce was a member of the Ramblers of Long Beach car club, and his Studebaker was restyled by Sam Barris at Barris Kustoms. The build was completed in 1954.
A photo of the members of the Ann Arbor Timing Association taken in 1954. Dave Jenkins, who is kneeling, third from left in the photo, was a founding member of the club. Started by a bunch of high-school kids studying at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor the guys had a lot of fun, and they were treated like a bunch of rebels. The customized 1949 Ford in the photo belonged to Elwood Peterson, who appears kneeling second from left. According to Fred Thomas, Peterson's Ford was a visual treat with its chopped Carson style top. " Photo from The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection.
in April of 1954, the Storm Z-250 made its debut at the Turin Auto Show in Italy. Winning the first prize for style and design, the Storm Z-250 concept car was built by Sports Car Development Corp., a company founded by Fred M. Zeder Jr., and Gene Casaroll. Fred was the son of well-known Chrysler profile Frederick M. Zeder, and the car incorporated as many Chrysler components as possible, including a Dodge Hemi engine. A complete chassis was shipped to Italy, where Bertone fabricated a body for the car. The Storm Z-250 introduced dual headlights that were stacked on top of each other. Photo courtesy of Michael Lamm.
The 1954 Edwards America Convertible, envisioned by Sterling Edwards, melded European design with American muscle. Built on a Kaiser-Frazer Henry J chassis with an Oldsmobile "Rocket" V-8 engine, it was a rare blend of fiberglass coachwork and robust performance. Norman Timbs helped design the car for Sterling.

<-- 1953 - 1950s - 1955 -->


Late in 1954 the first Chevrolet V8’s left the factory.

In 1954 Harry Bradley got himself a 1951 Chevrolet Bel Air, after restyling the car it became better known as the La Jolla.

Cars Restyled or Completed in 1954

Bob Johnston's 1923 Ford Model T Roadster - The Tweedy Pie
Joe Brienza's 1929 Ford Model A Coupe
Tom Pollard's 1929 Ford Model Roadster
Cam Snappers of Newburyport's 1930 Ford Model A Roadster
Don Conrad's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster
John Patrick's 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Ron Maxwell's 1934 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Doug Rice's 1939 Ford Coupe
Dick Colarossi's 1940 Ford Coupe
Blaine Rockhold's 1941 Cadillac Convertible
Jerry Berg's 1947 Mercury Convertible
Jim Musick's 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air
Ron Hart's 1951 Ford Club Coupe
Don Tubbs' 1951 Mercury Coupe
Fred Rowe's 1951 Mercury Convertible
Tommy Ivo's 1952 Buick Super
Wayne Rogers' 1952 Ford Sunliner
Don Stone's 1952 Oldsmobile 88 Convertible
Gene Meeks' 1952 Packard Patrician
Wally Troy's 1953 Buick - The Troy Custom
Jim Skonzakes' 1953 Lincoln Capri - The Golden Sahara
Bob Aguilera 1953 Mercury Montery
Bruce Bartlett's 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coupe
Milton Melton's 1954 Cadillac - The Parisienne
Don Chapman's 1954 Studebaker


Sport Cars Built or Completed in 1954

1954 Edwards America Convertible


Custom, Body, Paint and Repair Shops Started in 1954

Star Kustom Shop


Hot Rod and Custom Car Shows Held in 1954

International Motor Sports Show
Los Angeles County Auto Show
Pennsylvania Autorama
Speedorama Auto Sports Show


Car Clubs Established in 1954

San Jose Rod and Wheelers




 

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