Fadeaway Fenders

As early as 1936 Bohman & Schwartz produced fadeaway fenders of the tack-on variety on Marquis Hachisuka's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr.

Butler Rugard's 1940 Mercury convertible of Sacramento, California. Butler bought the car brand new in 1940. He had owned several customized cars before, and wanted the Merc to be restyled as well. The work was done by Harry Westergard, and it is believed that Butler intially just wanted a set of fadeaway fenders.

Richard Meade's 1938 Buick convertible was restyled in 1941, featuring fadeaway fenders.

While Alex Xydias was hanging out at Jimmy Summers’ shop in the early 1940s, one of Summers’ employees, Bob "Barbells" Fairman, was working on a radical custom. Bob Fairman's 1936 Ford featured a chopped top and full fadeaway fenders, resembling the Buicks of that era. According to Xydias, it was the first custom he ever saw with fadeaway fenders. In Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette April 2010, Albert Drake recalled that renowned automotive designer Strother MacMinn once told him Summers built the coupe around 1943 or 1944, cementing it as an early example of the fadeaway fender style. Luckily, The Fairman Coupe has survived, and after going through a restoration, it looks better than ever. Photo from The Jimmy Summers Photo Collection.

Captured through the lens of George Barris, this photo showcases what seems to be a beautifully restyled 1937 Chevrolet Tudor Sedan that features one of the defining elements of early custom styling: Fadeaway Fenders. In the 1940s, fadeaway fenders became a hallmark of the custom car movement. George Barris believed that adding fadeaway fenders instantly set a car apart, stamping it as a true kustom. The modification created a smooth, uninterrupted bodyline, eliminating the visual break between the front and rear fenders. Both Sam and George Barris were huge fans of this look, and it became one of their signature styling cues in the early years of Barris Kustoms. Beyond its striking fadeaways, this custom Chevy features several period-perfect touches: sunken and molded-in headlights, fender skirts with 1941 Buick trim, whitewall tires, and a set of flipper hubcaps. Photo by George Barris, courtesy of The Brad Masterson Collection.

After serving in the Marine Corps during WWII, Lawrence Garrison moved to Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1947, bringing his passion for custom cars to the East Coast before hot rod and custom car magazines spread the movement. Based on a self-penned design, Larry transformed this 1940 Mercury into a sleek, low-slung masterpiece. He channeled the body, sectioned the hood, and chopped the windshield to achieve a streamlined European-inspired look. Full fadeaway fenders, nosed and decked bodywork, and push-button doors added to its elegance, while 1947 Buick bumpers and spun hubcaps gave it a distinctive flair. Larry built the car entirely himself, fabricating parts, stitching the Spanish leather interior, and even installing hydraulic window lifts. His Mercury wasn’t just a showstopper. It was a symbol of how custom culture was spreading across America. Luckily, the car has survived, and today it is currently located in Norway. Photo courtesy of Paul Garrison.

Barris Kustoms was still finding its footing when George Barris' 1941 Buick won top honors at the first Hot Rod Exposition Show at the Los Angeles National Guard Armory in January 1948. That victory changed everything. Completed late in 1947, the Buick, with its chopped top, fadeaway fenders, Cadillac grille, and deep maroon paint, became a symbol of Barris’ craftsmanship and helped establish them as top customizers. Understanding the power of publicity, George started photographing his work, ensuring Barris Kustoms stayed in the spotlight. When Hot Rod Magazine launched in 1948, Robert E. Petersen reached out to George for photos, leading to features in magazines across the country. Soon, customers weren’t just coming from Los Angeles, they were bringing cars in from the Midwest and East Coast, eager to have a Barris-built custom of their own. Photo from The Jerry Fassett Collection.

Raymond Jones' 1947 Studebaker Convertible of Dallas, Pennsylvania was restyled around 1947.

Bruce Brown's 1936 Ford of San Mateo, California. Bruce's Ford was restyled in the 1940s, sometime prior to 1948. It featured full fadeaway fenders.

Bob Creasman's 1940 Ford coupe of Los Angeles, California. Bob began restyling the car late in 1943, making it the first 1940 Ford coupe to be channeled, and the second to be chopped in the Los Angeles area. The work was done in conjunction with the Brand Brothers Body Shop in Los Angeles. In 1948 the car received fadeaway fenders.

Al Lauer's 1941 Cadillac Convertible of Sacramento, California. Restyled by Harry Westergard, the build was completed in 1948, featuring fadeaway fenders.

John Vara's 1941 Ford Convertible was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948, featuring fadeaway fenders. John sold the car to Johnny Zaro of Maywood, California before the build was completed.

Charles Kemp's 1941 Plymouth Convertible. Restyled by Al Twitchell, the build was completed in July of 1948, featuring fadeaway fenders.

A Jimmy Summers Fender Extensions ad from 1948.

Gil Ayala's 1940 Mercury. The build was completed New Years Day 1949.

Albert Fitzpatrick's 1940 Packard Custom, commonly known as The Fitzpatrick Special, is a custom-built car that is significant in the history of post-war custom car culture. Designed and built by Phil Lacey in the late 1940s, the unique Packard is notable for its sweeping fadeaway fenders, chopped-down doors, and the sleek, aerodynamic lines that set it apart from the more common design trends of the time. The car was designed in 1947. It took three years to build and was completed in 1949.

C. E. Johnson's 1939 Ford, of California was restyled in the late 1940s.

Var Martin's 1941 Buick. Var's Buick was completed in the late 1940s.

Bill DeCarr's 1941 Mercury. Restyled by Barris Kustoms, the build was completed in the late 1940s.

Butler Rugard's 1947 Chevrolet of Sacramento, California. Restyled by Harry Westergard, the build was completed in the late 1940s, featuring Jimmy Summers fadeaway fenders.

The 1950 Delahaye 135M by Vanvooren. This was the last Vanvooren bodied car ever built, and it featured full fadeaway fenders. A worthy finale after 50 years of coachbuilding. Photo courtesy of Artcurial.

Joe Urritta's 1941 Ford of Fresno, California. Restyled by Barris Kustoms, the build was completed in 1950, featuring fadeaway fenders.

Jack Stewart's 1941 Ford of Los Angeles, California. Restyled by Kenny Lucas, Gil's Auto Body Works and Barris Kustoms, the build was completed in 1951, featuring fadeaway fenders.

Hank Griffith's 1942 Ford of Pasadena, California. The build was completed in 1951, featuring fadeaway fenders.

Sam Barris' 1949 Mercury. Built around 1950/1951, the car featured fadeaway fenders.

Louie Bettancourt's 1949 Mercury. Restyled by Gil's Auto Body Works, the build was completed in 1952, featuring fadeaway fenders.

Buddy Alcorn's 1950 Mercury was restyled by Gil's Auto Body Works for an unknown owner. The build was completed in 1952, featuring fadeaway fenders.

Frank Monteleon's 1941 Ford. The build was completed in 1955, featuring fadeaway fenders.

Art Lehner's 1939 Ford ,the Fadeaway Ford. The build was completed sometime between 1956 and 1958, featuring fadeaway fenders.

"Innovations in production model design sometimes are the result of custom car styling trends," this is how Dan Post described the origin of fadeaway fenders in his book Blue Book of Custom Restyling. Fadeaway fenders were a popular kustom treatment in the 1940s. George Barris meant that giving a car fadeaway fenders sat it apart and stamped it as a kustom. It gave the car a new look with a smooth, rounded bodyline. Both Sam and George Barris liked fadeaway fenders, and the fadeaway fender became one of their trademarks. The Ayalas were also into fadeaway fenders in the forties.

Marquis Hachisuka's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr by Bohman & Schwartz

As early as 1936 Bohman & Schwartz produced fadeaway fenders of the tack-on variety on Marquis Hachisuka's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr.

Coachcraft Ltd.

Coachcraft Ltd. made several cars with fade-away fenders shaped from part of the door panel prior to 1941.

Harry Westergard

In 1940 Northern California customizer Harry Westergard added fadeaway fenders to Butler Rugard's 1940 Mercury. Where Butler and Harry got the idea of fadeaway fenders from are unknown.

The 1941 Chrystler Newport

In 1941 the 1941 Chrysler Newport Concept Car was shown to the public. The Newport was fitted with fadeaway fenders.

The 1941 Packard Clipper

In 1941 the Packard Clipper pioneered fadeaway fenders on the assembly line. In 1942 Buick introduced it on their Roadmaster and Super models.

Summers Fender Extension

In 1946 Jimmy Summers started offering fadeaway fender kits for 1942-1948 Chevrolets, Pontiacs and junior Buicks. Spencer Murray bought a set from Jimmy to put on his 1946 Chevrolet fastback, and he remembers that Jimmy had dies made to stamp the parts and a sheet metal shop to do the stamping. In 1948, Jimmy ran ads for his "Summer Fender Extensions" in Hot Rod Magazine. At the time Jimmy had a shop at 7919 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. According to the ads he ran, the fender panels served to enhance the body lines and inexpensively repair damaged or rusted doors and bodies. Fender extensions for Chevrolets, 1942 through 1948, were made in two types. "Type A" fit Aero Sedans, and "Type B" fit Convertibles, Coupes and Tudor Sedans. A complete primered set came with brackets, nuts, bolts, patterns and instructions for installation. The list price was $69.50.

Custom Cars Featuring Fadeaway Fenders

Bruce Brown's 1936 Ford
Marquis Hachisuka's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr
Richard Meade's 1938 Buick Convertible
Art Lehner's 1939 Ford
C. E. Johnson's 1939 Ford
Bob Creasman's 1940 Ford Coupe
Butler Rugard's 1940 Mercury
Gil Ayala's 1940 Mercury
Lawrence Garrison's 1940 Mercury Convertible
Albert Fitzpatrick's 1940 Packard Custom - The Fitzpatrick Special
George Barris' 1941 Buick
Var Martin's 1941 Buick
Al Lauer's 1941 Cadillac Convertible
Frank Monteleone's 1941 Ford
Jack Stewart's 1941 Ford
Joe Urritta's 1941 Ford
John Vara's 1941 Ford Convertible
Charles Kemp's 1941 Plymouth Convertible
Hank Griffith's 1942 Ford
Bill DeCarr's 1941 Mercury
Ben Mario's 1947 Buick
Butler Rugard's 1947 Chevrolet
Raymond Jones' 1947 Studebaker Convertible
Louie Bettancourt's 1949 Mercury
Sam Barris' 1949 Mercury
Buddy Alcorn's 1950 Mercury

Sources

Rodders Journal Number Twenty Nine
Barris Kustom Techniques of the '50s