Chris and Jeni Johnson's 1951 Ford

1951 Ford custom owned Chris and Jeni Johnson of Fairfield, California. Chris is a member of the Emperors car club, and his and Jeni's Shoebox Ford is known as "The Emerald." Photo courtesy of Chris Johnson.

A construction photo of the Emerald showing it fresh out of the paint box in August of 2016. Fellow Emperors member Johnny Aguirre helped Chris with the bodywork on the car. Photo courtesy of Chris Johnson.

The Emerald was featured on the cover of Hop Up Fall, 2018.

In 2018 Hollywood Hank did a story on the Emerald for Gasoline Magazine. The story was featured in Gasoline Magazine 1/2019. Photo courtesy of Kustomrama.

The Emerald was one of the Featured Registrations for the first Kustomrama Customs by the Sea car show in Santa Barbara, California.

A photo of The Emerald from the first Kustomrama Customs by the Sea car show in Santa Barbara, California in March of 2019. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Chris and Jeni's Shoebox Ford was dressed up with Firestone 670-15 3 1/4 Inch Whitewall Tires. The wide whitewall and original Firestone Zig Zag Tread make this tire a popular tire for 1940s and early 1950s styled customs. Click here to see other cars with Firestone 670-15 3 1/4 Inch Whitewall Tires in the Kustomrama Tire Buyer's Guide. Photo courtesy of Henrik Forss.

Check price and availability on Firestone 670-15 3 1/4 Inch Whitewall Tires on Amazon.com.

1951 Ford custom owned Chris and Jeni Johnson of Fairfield, California. Chris is a member of the Emperors of California car club, and his and Jeni's Shoebox Ford is known as "The Emerald."

Chopped Top

Jeff Bruns, a buddy of Chris, assisted Chris during the chop. The top was chopped 3 inches by the A-pillars before Jeff and Chris brought it down 5 inches through the sail panels.

Yosemite Green

Down in Southern California, the guys from the Emperors helped finish the body mods before Johnny Aguirre laid a 1939 Mercury Yosemite Green paint. Kyle Martin of Martin Kolor & Style sanded and buffed the paint out to perfection afterward.

Johnson's Kustom Upholstery

After the body had been painted and buffed, Chris upholstered the car in distressed Sierra Green and Ivory marine vinyl with Olive square loop carpet. Chris is an upholsterer by trade, running Johnson's Kustom Upholstery.

The Emerald

The build took 5 1/2 years, and Chris' originally tried to get the car ready for the 2016 Customs by the Sea car show in Pismo, California. He did not make the show, and the car made its debut at the 2017 Grand National Roadster Show instead.

Chris and Jeni's Shoebox Ford was dressed up with Firestone 670-15 3 1/4 Inch Whitewall Tires. The wide whitewall and original Firestone Zig Zag Tread make this tire a popular tire for 1940s and early 1950s styled customs.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Hop Up Fall, 2018
Gasoline Magazine 1/2019