Paul Wood's 1953 Ford

A photo of Woody's Ford developed in July of 1959. Photo from The Ken Bausert Collection.

A photo of Woody and Sal Consiglio in front of an early iteration Woody’s 1953 Ford. "Back in the day, Woody had no garage and often worked on the car in the street," Ken Bausert told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2017. "This photo was shot on 116th Street, just north of Liberty Avenue, in Richmond Hill, around 1961." Photo from The Ken Bausert Collection.

Woody’s 1953 Ford ran a Carson-inspired padded top. Other modifications included frenched and tunneled headlights, the usual dechroming, and shaved door handles. "The rear fenders were extended and flanked a Continental kit in the rear. The hood had louvers punched in, and scoops were molded into the rear quarter panels." Custom accessories included dual spotlights, skirts, and 1957 Cadillac hubcaps. Photo from The Ken Bausert Collection.

An in-progress, later incarnation of Woody’s 1953 Ford featuring scooped and canted quad headlights, a new grille cavity, and a pancaked hood. Taken in 1962, this version did also run a 1955 Buick engine. Photo from The Ken Bausert Collection.

The Official New York Division Supporter Shirt - Click here to order yours today.

1953 Ford Convertible owned and restyled by Paul "Woody" Wood of Richmond Hill, New York City, New York.

Built on the Street

"Back in the day, Woody had no garage, and he often worked on the car in the street," Ken Bausert told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2017. Photos of the car taken in 1961 show it with a padded top, and a shaved and louvered hood. "The rear fenders were extended and flanked a Continental kit in the rear. The hood had louvers punched in, and scoops were molded into the rear quarter panels." Covered in primer, the door handles are also shaved, and it has been dressed up with dual dummy spotlights and 1957 Cadillac hubcaps.

Canted Quads and Scoops

By 1962 Woody had restyled the Ford further, and at the time it featured canted quad headlights, a new grille cavity, and a pancaked hood. Power came from a 1955 Buick engine. According to Ken, Woody wound up having the most customized cars in our neighborhood. "The problem was that he never finished his cars. The 49 Merc never really got done. He sold it before it was finished. He then bought the 1953 Ford that he did a lot of work on and sold. Woody also did a lot of work for other people, including me."