Dick Del Curto's 1950 Ford
1950 Ford Coupe restyled by Bailon Custom Shop for Dick Del Curto of Hollister, California. The front of the car featured a 1955 Oldsmobile center bar with upper parts from a 1956 Mercury bumper inserted into a molded grille shell. Frenched and tunneled headlights used gold plated 1953 Ford rings. The rear fenders were extended 3 inches and fit with frenched 1956 Dodge taillights and upswept fins. Joe used 1957 DeSoto side trim and cut-down scooped fender skirts. Mercury teeth were used over the scoop opening. Door handles were removed and the doors were operated electrically. The front and rear bumpers were shaved of bolts and smoothed. Once the bodywork was completed the car was painted in Candy Apple red and gold. Banning's Upholstery Shop of Gilroy, California upholstered the car in red and white Naugahyde with gold beading. A padded arm rest was built in to the center section of the seat and padded.[1] In February 1958, Dick's coupe was shown at the 9th annual National Roadster Show in Oakland. At the show, Dick came second in the Semi Custom Coupe class.[2] Later on in 1958, Dick's Ford was nominated as one of 28 "Top Customs of the Year" by Motor Life magazine.[3] Rod Powell remember seing Dick's Ford all the time at Mel's Drive-In in Salinas. In 1959 he also watched Don Varner repair the paint on the car at Vern Lacey's shop on Market Street.[4]
In Rod Action September 1975 Dick's Ford was featured in a story by Dean Batchelor called "Custom Cars Circa 1956-1960". The story featured 3 photos of Dick's car in a redone version. The version featured here is owned by Jere Ehrich and it has been repainted in Pagan Gold with Candy Apple Red trim. The 1953 Ford headlight rims have been replaced by 1954 Ford units and the 1956 Dodge taillights have been replaced by 1959 Cadillac bullets. The fender skirts are gone and the car has received scoops over the headlights and dual spotlights. According to Dean Batchelor the fins on the car came from a 1957 Studebaker Hawk, while the grille shell was from a 1950 Mercury.[5]
Magazine Features
Motor Life July 1958
Rod & Custom September 1958
Custom Cars November 1958
Trend Book 189 Custom Cars 1960 Annual
Rod & Custom September 1960
Rod Action September 1975
References
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