Candy Apple Red

Gary Elmore's 1949 Ford of Castro Valley, California. Gary was a member of the Swanx of Vallejo car club, and his Ford was shown at the 1955 National Roadster Show. Gary's Ford featured a Candy Apple Red paint job.

Joe Castro's 1955 Ford Thunderbird of Hayward, California. Known as "The CandyBird," Castro's Thunderbird was restyled by Joe Bailon at Bailon's Custom Shop in 1957. The CandyBird is believed to be the second car to have been painted Candy Apple Red. The first being Jerry Sahagon's 1951 Chevrolet.

Al Neblett's 1956 Oldsmobile of Vallejo, California. Al was a member of the Swanx of Vallejo, and his dad, Boyd, ran Vallejo Auto Body where the car was restyled. Completed in 1957, the car was painted Silver Gray with a Candy Apple Red top.

Bill and Bob Glazier's 1953 Oldsmobile Convertible from North Bend, Washington, restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1958. Originally yellow, it was transformed into a Candy Apple Red custom with quad headlights, Packard taillights, a continental kit, and Dean Jeffries applied scallops and pinstriping. Stored away in the early 1970s, it resurfaced in 2024, catching the attention of Chip Foose, who cleaned up and woke up the iconic piece of custom history.

Don Ellis' 1955 Ford Thunderbird of Portland, Oregon. Ellis was a member of the Ramblers of Portland car club, and the Thunderbird was restyled by several of the guys in the club. The build was started in 1958 and completed in 1959. Once completed, it featured a striking Candy Apple Red paint job.

Bill Merrill's 1959 Chevrolet Corvette of Thermopolis, Wyoming. Bill got the Corvette in 1959, while he was a junior in high school. He lived in La Jolla, California for a short while in the spring of 1959, and he had Dean Jeffries lay a panel paint job on the car. Unfortunately, the car was vandalized and the hood was damaged. Jeffries came down to La Jolla and picked up the car to fix the damage and painted the Corvette candy apple red with a gold underbase. The side panel was left gold with a clear coat covering it.

Doug Osterman's 1957 DeSoto of San Jose, California. Doug's Desoto was first restyled by Flyer Tabata at Flyers Body Shop in 1959. In 1960 it was taken to Joe Bailon of Bailon Custom Shop for a makeover. This version received one of Bailon's signature Candy Apple Red paint jobs.

Manuel Gonzalez's Californian of Wilmington, California. Manuel's blown Chevrolet dragster was built by Allen Murdersbach. Started in 1959, the build featured an aluminum body by Bob Sorrell that Dean Jeffries painted Candy Apple Red and Pearlescent White. Don Prosser performed he engine work, and the build was completed sometime around 1960.

George Barris' 1963 Buick Riviera of Encino, California. George, who owned and operated Barris Kustom City in North Hollywood, California, designed the car himself. Known as "The Villa Riviera Buick," the build was completed in 1963. In 1964 a white iteration of the car appeared in the popular Surf-movie "For Those Who Think Young." After the movie work had been completed, George gave the car a Candy Apple Red paint job.

Cars Featuring Candy Apple Red Paint jobs

Gary Elmore's 1949 Ford
Bill and Bob Glazier's 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible - The Candy Wagon
Don Ellis' 1955 Ford Thunderbird
Joe Castro's 1955 Ford Thunderbird - The CandyBird
Al Neblett's 1956 Oldsmobile Four-Door - The Batmobile
Doug Osterman's 1957 DeSoto
Bill Merrill's 1959 Chevrolet Corvette
George Barris' 1963 Buick Riviera - The Villa Riviera

Dragsters featuring Candy Apple Red paint jobs

Manuel Gonzalez's Californian