Matt Slipich's 1952 Chevrolet

Photo courtesy of Matt Slipich.

Photo by Trent Sherrill.

Photo by Trent Sherrill.

Photo courtesy of Matt Slipich.

Photo courtesy of Matt Slipich.

Matt's version of the famous Ron Dunn photo. Photo courtesy of Matt Slipich.

Photo by Tim Sutton, courtesy of Driving Line.

Photo courtesy of Matt Slipich.

1952 Chevrolet owned by Matt Slipich of Ventura, California. Matt got the car in 2009, in trade for a 1966 Chevrolet truck. The Chevrolet was a mess when Matt bought it, and it had been customized by someone with different tastes. According to a featured story in the premier issue of Traditional Kustoms Magazine, the interior had more Mexican blankets than a street vendor. The roof was poorly chopped, and it ran a grill made from scrap-metal teeth, so Matt took the car to Matt Noble at Noble Fabrication for a makeover. Matt and Matt began by reworking and straightening out the chop, making it flow. When they were done with it, 2 1/2 to 3 inches had been taken out. A modest, but good looking chop job. The car had also been nosed, decked and shaved for door handles and side trim when Matt got it. Matt added 1952 Ford fender lips and mercy lips to the front and rear to make it a little subtle. The rear fenders received 1953 Pontiac taillights with rings as assets to give it a frenched look. It was dressed up featuring an after market stainless strip on the hood and Lyons aftermarket Cadillac hubcaps. The car was very mechanically sound when Matt got it. The engine and transmission were in place, but Matt redid the front and rear suspension to include dropping the original uprights, de arching the rear springs, and making custom block rot maintain pinion angle. A static drop that Matt feels comfortable driving 80 plus all day long. All body work and metal work had to be gone trough before it was coated in a single stage no metallic dark toreador red paint to give it a lacquer feel. In 2016 Matt told Kustomrama that he wanted to emulate an early custom with restraint, and nothing over the top.

The build was completed in 2010, and Matt took it right to Santa Maria once it was done.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Traditional Kustoms August 2014