Nosed

Bob Baker's 1946 Ford Four-Door Sedan of Lakewood, California. Restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1956, Bob’s 1946 Ford Four-Door Sedan is a rare example of a full custom sedan from the early Barris Kustoms era. Featuring a nosed hood, molded fenders, frenched rear pan, and a custom twin-bar grille, the car was finished in an iridescent lime-gold. Wide whites and Sombrero hubcaps completed the look, which was featured in Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car. Backed by a surviving 1956 Barris invoice signed by Sam Barris, the build stands out as a clean and refined four-door custom in a period dominated by coupes and convertibles.

Mike Monteleone's 1957 Oldsmobile of Van Nuys, California. Living in the San Fernando Valley, a hub for hot rods and customs in the 1960s, Mike's Olds was skillfully restyled by Bill Cushenbery at Cushenbery Custom Shop in 1965-66. The car was nosed and decked.

Nosed is a classic custom car modification where the hood ornament, emblem, and trim are removed, or "shaved", from the hood to create a smoother, cleaner front end. This technique became popular in the 1940s and 1950s as part of the overall effort to simplify and streamline factory body lines. Customizers would fill the mounting holes, shape the metal, and often apply subtle pinstriping or paint to highlight the clean surface. Nosing was often paired with decking, shaving, and frenching for a unified, flowing look. It remains a foundational detail in traditional custom car styling.

Nosed Customs

Bob Baker's 1946 Ford Four-Door Sedan
George Jezek's 1949 Chevrolet 2-Door Sedan - The Candy Cart
Kent Olof Olsson's 1955 Chevrolet
Mike Monteleone's 1957 Oldsmobile