Scallop Paint Job

Woody Lee's 1924 Ford Model T Roadster of Oakland, California. The build was completed circa 1949-1950, featuring a simple and elegant scallop paint job.

Gene "Clean Gene" Sadoian's 1934 Ford Four-Door Sedan of Fresno, California. The car went trough several iterations in the 1950s. In 1953, after attending the 1953 Oakland Roadster Show, Gene installed a 1950 Oldsmobile V-8 in the car. He also painted it fire engine red and had Tommy the Greek dress it up with pinstriping. Other modifications included a fully chromed and louvered hood, nerf bar bumpers, and copper-plated Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. Tommy the Greek dressed Gene's headlamps up with scallops.

Gene "Clean Gene" Sadoian's 1934 Ford Four-Door Sedan of Fresno, California. The car went trough several iterations in the 1950s. In 1956 it received a Candy cold and red scallop paint job by "Screwy Looie" of Fresno.

Bob Schremp's 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air of Norwalk, California was restyled by Branson's Custom Shop in the mid 1950s. In 1956 Bob's Chevrolet received a scallop paint job by Larry Watson. The paint job was done in the driveway of Watson's parents, and it was the first car Watson gave a scallop paint job.

Jake Bultsma's 1951 Chevrolet Hardtop of Bellflower, California. Larry Watson scalloped Jake's Chevrolet in his parents' driveway in 1956. A year later, in 1957, Jake brought the Chevy back to Larry to add more pinstriping. By then, Watson had opened up his own shop, Watson's House of Style in North Long Beach.

Joe Castro's 1955 Ford Thunderbird of Hayward, California. Known as "The CandyBird," Castro's Thunderbird was restyled by Joe Bailon at Bailon's Custom Shop in 1957. The CandyBird is believed to be the second car to have been painted Candy Apple Red. It was dressed up with Gold scallops that Tommy the Greek pinstriped.

Hayward Mendenhall's 1953 Ford F100 of Norwalk, California. Hayward bought the truck brand new and he had Larry Watson paint it in his parent's driveway. Watson scalloped the truck Gold Metallic with Candy Root Beer tips and White pinstriping.

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Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury of Long Beach, California. Dulin was a member of the Cut Outs of Long Beach car club, and his Plymouth went through seven iterations between 1956 and 1962. This photo shows the car as it appeared late in 1957 or early in 1958, by then the car had received subtle scallops by Mike Clines.

Larry Ernst's 1952 Ford Convertible of Toledo, Ohio. Restyled by Clarkaiser Custom Shop, the first version of the car, named "Pharaoh's Pacer", was completed in 1955. Larry was a Roman Catholic priest who later became a monsignor. Owning a radical and famous custom car put him at some odds with senior members of the church, so he showed the car under the fake name Grant Macklin. Larry's Ford received a subtle scallop paint job in the mid 1950s.

Jim Genty's 1952 Ford Victoria of Miles City, Montana. Jim's Ford, named "Nugget", was restyled by Jim and some friends in 1957. The car featured subtle scallops on the front fenders and rear quarter panels.

Harry Okuda's 1957 Dodge of Norwalk, California. In 1957 Harry's Dodge received a scallop paint job by Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style.

Duane Steck's 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air of Lakewood, California. Duane was a member of the Long Beach Renegades, and his Chevrolet was known as The Moonglow. A third iteration of the car, completed late in 1957 or early in 1958, featured a scallop paint job by Larry Watsonn of Watson's House of Style.

Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury of Long Beach, California. Dulin was a member of the Cut Outs of Long Beach car club, and his Plymouth went through seven iterations between 1956 and 1962. This photo shows the car as it appeared early in 1958, after Mike Clines had added Gold scallops.

Bill Hines' 1950 Ford of Lincoln Park, Michigan. Known as "The Bat," Bill started restyling the Ford for a customer in his Southfield shop about 1955 or 56. The customer lost interest in the build, it became Bill's personal car, and he completed it late in 1957. Bill debuted the first iteration of The Bat at the 1958 Detroit Autorama. After moving to California, landing a job at Barris Kustoms, he gave the car a scallop paint job in 1958.

Late in 1958, Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury was given a two-tone scallop paint job. Ed Roth sprayed the car in green before he helped Ron tape off a scallop pattern. As Roth didn't have time to finish the scallops, Ron had a fiend spray them in Gold. Photo courtesy of Ron Dulin - From The 46to64 Photo Collection.

Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury of Long Beach, California. Dulin was a member of the Cut Outs of Long Beach car club, and his Plymouth went through seven iterations between 1956 and 1962. This photo shows the car as it appeared late in 1958, after Ed Roth had helped him lay a two-tone Green and Gold scallop paint job.

Custom by Paint! A mildly restyled Chevrolet Corvette that Ina Mae Overman photographed at the 1957 Norwalk Motorcade show. The car has been dressed up with a tasteful scallop paint job. Photo from The Ina Mae Overman Collection.

A mild 1951 Ford Victoria custom photographed at the 1957 Norwalk Motorcade show. The car looks very good with its black and bronze scallop paint job. The name of the owner and painted is unknown. Photo from The Ina Mae Overman Collection.

Paul Sobeck's 1950 Ford two-door of San Jose, California was restyled by Wirth's Body Shop. Joe Crisafulli gave the car a scallop paint job.

Joe Hurst's 1947 Chevrolet Convertible of Torrance, California. The Chevrolet was Joe's first car, and he bought it for 75 USD in 1958. He was 15 years old, and a painter near North High had laid a Candy Red paint job with Pearl White scallops before Joe bought it. Mickey Vandervort pinstriped the car for Joe after he had bought it.

Paul Vona's 1950 Oldsmobile coupe of Salinas, California. Paul was a very talented customizer, pinstriper, and custom painter. He bought the Olds at age 19 in 1957, and he spent the next few months turning it into his dream custom. By 1958 Paul and Al Tompkins had given the car a wonderful scallop paint job.

Richard Torres' 1951 Chevrolet of Lawndale, California. Restyled around 1957 - 1958, Richard's Chevrolet featured a scallop paint job by Bill Hines of Long Beach, California.

Buzz McLeod's 1954 Ford Convertible of Seattle, Washington. Buzz was a member of the Draggin Sirs of Seattle car club, and the build, named "Little Star" was completed in 1958 featuring a scallop paint job by Martin White.

Jerry Koller's 1955 Ford of Bellflower, California. Known as the "Doll Buggy," Jerry's Ford featured a scallop paint job by Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style. The car was painted around 1958-59.

The first version of John Nadzon's 1954 Mercury of Parsippany, New Jersey was restyled by Korky's Kustom Shop in 1957. The car was given a green and gold scallop paint job.

Dick Jackson of Advanced Custom Paints in Compton, California gave Ron Dragoo's 1954 Mercury a maroon and silver scallop paint job in the mid 1950s. It was Dick who originally owned and built the Merc. Ron spotted it during the build, and decided that he just had to have it. Sometime after Ron purchased the Merc from Dick, he had Dick repaint the car for him. Ron told Bill Layman that he took the car to Dick and gave him a free hand as to the color. There was no discussion about doing the scallops, so when he picked it up he was surprised and shocked to see that Dick had added the scallops. He wasn't very happy at first, but learned to like them after a while. Photo from The Ron Dragoo Photo Collection, provided by Bill Layman.

Bill and Bob Glazier's 1953 Oldsmobile Convertible from North Bend, Washington, restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1958. Originally yellow, it was transformed into a Candy Apple Red custom with quad headlights, Packard taillights, a continental kit, and Dean Jeffries applied scallops and pinstriping. Stored away in the early 1970s, it resurfaced in 2024, catching the attention of Chip Foose, who cleaned up and woke up the iconic piece of custom history.

Jerry Feigner's 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air, of Wilmington, California. Jerry was a member of the Cut-Outs of Long Beach car club, and his Chevrolet was known as "Lil Honey Bee." In 1958 Mike Clines gave the car a scallop and pintripe paint job in his father's garage in Long Beach. Mike also added the chrome tape to the top of the car.

Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan of Portland, Oregon. Jones was a member of the Aristocrats of Portland car club, and his car was originally restyled by Jerry Campbell in the early 1950s. After buying the car, Jones had Gene Cargail of Gene's Custom Shop rebuild it. This second iteration, showcasing bold and unique styling, was featured in Car Craft October 1959, capturing national attention and admiration. That iteration featured a scallop paint job.

Jim Galvin's 1949 Ford Tudor of Ottawa, Illinois. Galvin was an original member of the Illinois Valley Mis-Fires car club. He built the Ford in his backyard, starting the build in 1958. By 1959, the car had been painted blue with a scallop paint job and a chopped top. Galvin took 6 inches at the rear of the roof, and 5 1/2 inches at the front.

Bruce McClellan’s 1956 Chevrolet of Pontiac, Michigan. Bruce bought the Chevy brand new in 1956. George Halpin helped restyle the car, and in 1958 it was ready for a scallop paint job by Paul Hatton. The completed build was shown at the 1959 Detroit Autorama.

Joe Cirimele's 1955 Ford of the Satan's Angels in Oakland, California was restyled by Bailon Custom Shop.

John and Ann Scarlett's 1956 Metropolitan of San Jose, California was restyled by Wirth's Body Shop in the late 1950s. Joe Crisafulli applied the scallop paint job.

Joe Crisafulli's 1956 Oldsmobile of San Jose, California. Joe was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club, and the Olds was restyled and given a scallop paint job during the summer of 1957.

Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane of San Jose, California. The first version of Jerry's Ford, known as the Maze, was restyled in 1957, featuring custom body work and paint by Wirth's Body Shop, and a scallop paint job by Joe Crisafulli of J & J Auto Painting. Jerry was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club.

Lloyd C. Hammond's 1949 Ford of San Bernardino, California. Lloyd was a member of the San Bernardino Krankers and his car was known as "The Majestic Lady." The first iteration of his Ford was completed circa 1958. Painted Mandarin Red, the car was dressed up with Gold scallops that Lloyd laid out in a popular spear pattern, sweeping from end to end.

Jim Bowers' 1951 Oldsmobile 2 door post of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Jim was a member of the Apostles of Shawnee. His Olds was restyled in 1958, featuring a scallop paint job by Bud Smika.

Bill Wolfe’s 1951 Mercury as it appeared in 1958.

Ron Fagundes' 1952 Ford Victoria of Napa, California. Ron's Ford, known as The Ronbardue Kart, was restyled by Barris Kustoms, A-1 Body Work and Hall's Top Shop. The build was completed in 1958. The same year the Air Force transferred Ron to the Mitchel Base in Long Island, New York. Ron brought the custom along. In New York it received lime-gold striping and scallop paint job by Andy Southard.

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Bill Sharpe's 1955 Chevrolet of Lynwood, California. Bill was a founding member and the first President of the Tridents of Southern California car club, and his Chevrolet was restyled in the late 1950s. Named "Dracula," the car received a scallop paint job sometime prior to 1958.

Doyle Bidwell's 1950 Ford Coupe of Torrance, California. Doyle bought the car in 1959, while he was a freshman in high school. After buying the Ford, he became a founding member of the Brahmans of Torrance car club. He started restyling the car, but lack of money and experience prevented the build from ever being completed.

Jerry Drake's 1955 Ford Fairlane of Lansing, Michigan was restyled by Ed Blaisdell of Blaisdell Body Shop. Jerry is a well known Michigan pinstriper that operated under the name "Spider the Crazy Painter." He bought the Ford, known as "India Ivory" in 1957, and it went through several modifications between 1957 and 1959. The scallop paint job was applied in 1958.

Milt Goodman's 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Milt was a member of the British Columbia Custom Car Association. He bought the car new in 1955, and spent the next three years restyling it. The build was completed in 1958, featuring a subtle scallop paint job.

Ken Sowers' 1956 Plymouth of San Jose, California was restyled by Wirth's Body Shop in 1958. Ken's Plymouth received a distinct scallop paint job.

An early incarnation of Dave Jenkins' 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air as it appeared in 1958. This version featured Jimmy Jones Bubble Skirts and a silver scallop paint job by Paul Hatton. The scallops were applied over the stock factory paint.

Buzz Pitzen's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster of Los Angeles, California. Buzz was a member of the Challengers of Los Angeles car club. The build was started around 1954, and completed in 1959 featuring a scallop paint job by Buzz.

Clarence Catallo's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Dearborn, Michigan. Known as "Silver Sapphire," Clarence's coupe was originally restyled by the Alexander Brothers in 1959. It featured a blue and silver scallop paint job.

Maximilian King's 1940 Mercury convertible of Morristown, New Jersey was first restyled by Meekers Body Shop in 1946. In 1959 Korky's Kustom Shop restyled the car further for current owner Ray Henyon.

Milton Depuy's 1949 Ford of Cleveland, Ohio was restyled around 1956. In 1959 Jerry's Auto Body of Lakewood, Ohio gave the car a scallop paint job for it's current owner Blaine Stone Jr..

Richard Gregg's 1950 Ford Pickup of Sacramento, California. Restyled by Richard at Rick's Body Shop, the build was started in 1958 and completed early in 1959, featuring a scallop paint job. The car was shown as "the Capri."

Garret Walther's 1950 Oldsmobile Fastback of Stockton, California. Garret bought the car in 1958. About a year he gave it a scallop paint job. He painted the base color, masked off scallops, and had Gene Winfield paint them gold at Winfield's Custom Shop.

Sy Gregorich's 1955 Ford Crown Victoria of Detroit, Michigan was restyled by the Alexander Brothers. Once completed in 1959 the car, also known as the Victorian, was painted black. By April of 1960, it had been painted pearl white by the Alexander Brothers. This iteration was also dressed up with scallops. Teddy Zgrzemski did the scallops on the car when he was 14 years old. "I went over to his garage and taped them all off," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2019, "then my uncle (Bill Hines) painted them." The next day Teddy came in and pinstriped around the edges. "I got 15 dollars for doing it," he still recalled in 2019. "Back then I was into customizing, and money wasn't that important. It was the second or third scallop paint job that I ever did on a car." Known as the Victorian, Sy's Crown Victoria went on to become a pretty famous car. "White Pearl with Candy Apple Red scallops. That was a beautiful car. The nicest car the Alexander Brothers built I thought." Photo from The Dave Jenkins Collection.

David Rolin's 1957 Ford of Sacramento, California. Dave's Ford was restyled by Dick Bertolucci of Bertolucci Body & Fender Shop and Harris' Body Shop between 1956 and 1958. Later on the same year, the car, named "Tormentor" received a paint job, pinstriping and eventually a scallop paint job by Dick Katayanagi of Katayanagi Custom Paint.

Jack Smario's 1957 Ford, of Pittsburg, California, was restyled by Gene Winfield at Winfield's Custom Shop sometime between 1957 and 1959. Jack's Ford featured a gold fogged scallop paint job.

Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane of San Jose, California. The second version of Jerry's Ford, known as the Maze, was completed in 1958, featuring a radical scallop paint job by Bob Heinrichs.

Larry Cooper's 1954 Ford of Lansing, Michigan. In 1959, after Jerry "Spider the Crazy Painter" Drake had been pinstriping for about a year, Larry Cooper approached him about scalloping his mildly restyled 1954 Ford. By then, Jerry had been pinstriping for about a year and eagerly took on all the jobs he could. Larry’s dad, Lloyd, ran Cooper Body Shop in Lansing, a traditional paint and body shop, that also took on some custom bodywork. After Jerry had masked up scallops on Larry’s car, Larry applied gold and silver faded scallops on the car in his dad’s paint booth. Satisfied with the result, Larry asked his dad if he and Jerry could do custom painting on the weekends when their body shop was closed. Lloyd gave them thumbs up, as long as they cleaned up and were out of the shop by the next Monday. Larry’s Ford was the first car Jerry ever scalloped. Photo from The Jerry Drake Photo Collection.

Howard Tirban’s 1951 Chevrolet - "Lil’ Bitty Pretty One." In 1959 Howard's Chevrolet received a scallop paint job by Jerry "SPIDER the Crazy Painter" Drake.

Al Neblett's 1956 Oldsmobile of Vallejo, California. Al was a member of the Swanx of Vallejo, and his dad, Boyd, ran Vallejo Auto Body where the car was restyled. Completed in 1957, the car became known as the Batmobile due to its Chrysler taillights and fins. In 1959 the car received a Pearl White and Candy Blue scallop paint job.

A second incarnation of Dave Jenkins' 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air as it appeared in 1959. This iteration featured a second scallop paint job by Paul.

Russ Edgers' 1957 Ford Convertible of Lansing, Michigan. In 1959, Russ' Ford received a scallop paint job by Jerry "SPIDER" Drake and Larry Cooper at Cooper Body Shop.

The second version of Chuck Burkart's 1958 Chevrolet Impala, featuring a scallop paint job that Joe Crisafulli laid in 1959. Chuck was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers.

Rich Vachata's 1936 Ford Convertible of Berwyn, Illinois. Rich was a member of the Bearing Busters of Berwyn, and the other members in the club helped him build the car. The first version was completed in 1959. In 1960 fellow club member Dave Puhl gave the car a scallop paint job. This version of the car was named the Beach Comber.

Dennis Titensor's 1956 Chevrolet convertible of American Forks, Utah as it appeared in 1960, featuring a scallop paint job.

Adrienne Hooper's 1956 Mercury convertible of Saginaw, Michigan. Adrienne's Mercury, named the Wild One, was featured on the cover of Custom Cars April 1960. The paint job on Adrienne's Mercury was inspired by Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane, known as the Maze.

Bob Dzemske's 1956 Lincoln of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bob's Lincoln was restyled by Dave Puhl and Johnny Malik at Trend Automotive in 1960. Dave gave it a white and orange scallop paint job.

Bill Shelley's 1957 Chevrolet Corvette of Oakland, California. Named "Bali Hi," the car was restyled by Bill and Bob McNulty. The build was completed in 1960, featuring a subtle scallop paint job.

Don Boeke's 1957 Ford Convertible of Dayton, Ohio. Boeke built the car after he was discharged from the US Navy. Taken circa 1960, this photo shows the car after he had painted pearl scallops on it and dressed it up with lake pipes, custom hubcaps, and a Canadian grille.

Jerry Drake's 1957 Ford Fairlane of Lansing, Michigan. Jerry was a custom painter and pinstriper, operating under the name "Spider the Crazy Painter". He was also the President of the Injectors of Lyons car club. Jerry's Ford, known as the Candy Cane, received a custom paint job by Jerry and his buddy Dave Edmonds in July of 1960.

Dick Rothfuss' 1959 Chevrolet Impala of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dick's Impala, known as "Poopsie", was restyled late 1959 - early 1960. It featured a scallop paint job by Paul Hatton.

Dell Chandler's 1960 Pontiac Ventura of a Lansing, Michigan. Dell's Pontiac received a scallop and panel paint job by Jerry Drake and Larry Cooper in 1960.

Dick Bailey's 1950 Mercury "The Dream Boat. Restyled by the Alexander Brothers, the build was started in 1959 and completed in 1961. It was dressed up with one of Paul Hatton' signature scallop paint jobs.

Ken Bausert's 1950 Mercury Convertible of Richmond Hill, New York City, New York. Known as "Mint Julep," the first incarnation of Ken's Mercury was completed in 1961. The car was painted mint green with black scallops, and a cat, courtesy of the film 101 Dalmatians, was painted on the deck lid. Photo from The Ken Bausert Collection.

Ron Aguirre's 1956 Chevrolet Corvette of Rialto, California. Ron's Corvette, known as the X-Sonic, received a scallop paint job by Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style in 1961.

John Rae's 1951 Ford of Kenilworth, New Jersey. John bought the car from Hanover, New Jersey in 1962. It had already been customized when he got it, featuring a scallop paint job.

Paul scalloped Gary Oliver's 1955 Chevrolet in 1960. In 1984 he also scalloped this clone for Gary. "I remember he charged me $80 to scallop my Chevy in 1960," Gary told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2018. He charged $800 for the clone 24 years later.

Bert Gustavsson's 1957 Ford of Bullaren, Sweden. The build was completed in 1985.

Helge Solberg's 1967 Chevrolet Camaro of Bø i Telemark, Norway. Known as "Low'n Blown," the car was built in the 1980s. Featuring a sectioned body and a chopped top, the first version made its debut in 1984. For the 1987-season, the car was dressed up with purple and pink scallops by Helge and Arild Bergskås.

John McLaughlin's 1955 Chevrolet of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. In the late 1950s Jim sent the car on a train from Oklahoma to Barris Kustoms in California to have they finish the build and paint it. In the early 1990s the car received a scallop paint job.

Rich Pichette's 1957 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery of Moreno Valley, California. The car was restyled by Bill Hines and Gary Minor after a rear end accident in 1992. The build was completed in 1998, featuring scallops designed by Jerry Weesner and pinstriping by Larry Watson.

Frank Livingston's 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline, the Caribbean II, of San Leandro, California. Frank's fourth 1949 Chevrolet was built as a recreation of his first 1949 Chevrolet, the Caribbean. The recreation was restyled by OZ Welch, and the build was completed in 2002. In 2007 Art Himsl gave the car a scallop paint job.

Joe Siclari's 1957 Ford Custom 300 of Union, New Jersey. Restyled by Joe and Moonlite Kustoms, the build was completed in 2010 featuring a scallop paint job.

Casey Martin's 1958 Plymouth Savoy. Kyle Martin at Martin Kolor & Style gave Caey's Savoy a panel and scallop paint job in 2012.

Jeff Bruns' 1959 Ford of Vacaville, California. Named "Green With Envy," Jeff's Ford was completed in 2013 featuring a scallop and panel paint job by Kyle Martin of Martin Kolor & Style.

Clyde Wooten's 1958 Pontiac Chieftain of Portland, Oregon. Featuring bodywork by Paul Gilbert and paint by Mike Parsons, the car made its debut in 2014. Eric Black designed the scallops on the car.

Nick Semeniuk's 1953 Mercury M100 truck of Courtice, Ontario, Canada. Nick bought the truck in the fall of 2013. Wanting to turn it into a period-correct late 1950s custom, he started restyling the truck in 2018. The build was completed in March of 2020, featuring a red and gold scallop paint job.

A Scallop Paint Job is a hallmark of hot rod and custom car culture, characterized by its bold, flowing designs that emphasize speed, style, and individuality. Popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, scallops became a defining aesthetic for car enthusiasts looking to make a visual statement. These intricate patterns are typically painted as contrasting overlays on a car's base color, creating a dramatic, eye-catching effect.

Origins and Evolution

Scallop paint jobs trace their origins to the burgeoning custom car scene of post-World War II America. The designs were inspired by racing stripes and decorative motifs that conveyed motion and aggression. Early practitioners, like legendary customizers Larry Watson and Von Dutch, used scallops to accentuate a car’s body lines, giving the illusion of speed even when stationary.

Initially, scallops were applied using masking techniques and spray guns. This process allowed for precise edges and sharp contrasts. Over time, advancements in painting technology and materials enabled more intricate and elaborate designs, incorporating techniques like pinstriping and metallic or pearl finishes.

Design Elements

Scallop designs vary widely in complexity, from simple, single-color patterns to multi-layered creations with shading and highlights. Key features of scallop paint jobs include:

• Sharp Points and Curves: The designs often culminate in sharp, tapered points that suggest velocity.
• Contrasting Colors: Vibrant or metallic hues are frequently used to ensure the scallops stand out against the base coat.
• Pinstriped Borders: Thin pinstripe outlines are commonly added to enhance the definition and detail of the design.

The placement of scallops is strategic, following the natural contours and lines of the car’s body to accentuate its features.

Cultural Significance

Scallop paint jobs became a symbol of individuality and artistic expression within the custom car community. They were particularly popular among hot rod enthusiasts, who viewed their cars as canvases for personal creativity. The style was prominently featured in car shows, magazines, and films of the era, cementing its place in the pantheon of automotive art.

In the modern era, scallop paint jobs continue to thrive as a nostalgic nod to the golden age of customization. They are celebrated at events like car shows and reunions, where enthusiasts share their passion for preserving and reinterpreting this classic design.

Techniques and Application

Creating a scallop paint job requires precision and skill. The process typically involves:

• Preparation: The car’s surface is meticulously cleaned and sanded to ensure a smooth base.
• Masking: Scallop shapes are laid out with masking tape, allowing for clean, defined edges.
• Painting: Contrasting colors are sprayed within the masked areas.
• Detailing: Pinstripes and additional accents are added for depth and texture.
• Finishing: A clear coat is applied to protect the design and enhance its luster.

Legacy

The scallop paint job remains an enduring symbol of the custom car movement, representing a unique blend of artistry, craftsmanship, and automotive passion. Its timeless appeal continues to inspire new generations of enthusiasts and builders, ensuring its place in the evolving world of hot rod and custom car culture.

Cars Featuring Scallop Paint Jobs

Larry Neves' 1924 Ford Model T Roadster
Woody Lee's 1924 Ford Model T Roadster
Buzz Pitzen's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster
Clarence Catallo's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe - Silver Sapphire/Little Deuce Coupe
Gene "Clean Gene" Sadoian's 1934 Ford Four-Door Sedan
Rich Vachata's 1936 Ford Convertible
Maximilian King's 1940 Mercury Convertible
Joe Hurst's 1947 Chevrolet Convertible
Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan
Frank Livingston's 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline - The Caribbean II
Jim Galvin's 1949 Ford Tudor
Lloyd C. Hammond's 1949 Ford - The Majestic Lady
Milton Depuy's 1949 Ford
Bill Hines' 1950 Ford - The Bat
Doyle Bidwell's 1950 Ford Coupe
Paul Sobeck's 1950 Ford Two-Door
Richard Gregg's 1950 Ford Pickup - The Capri
Ken Bausert's 1950 Mercury Convertible - Mint Julep
Garret Walther's 1950 Oldsmobile Fastback
Paul Vona's 1950 Oldsmobile Coupe
Howard Tirban’s 1951 Chevrolet - “Lil’ Bitty Pretty One”
Jake Bultsma's 1951 Chevrolet Hardtop
Richard Torres' 1951 Chevrolet
John Rae's 1951 Ford
Bill Wolfe’s 1951 Mercury
Jim Bowers' 1951 Oldsmobile
Jim Genty's 1952 Ford Victoria - Nugget
Larry Ernst's 1952 Ford Convertible - Pharaoh's Pacer
Ron Fagundes' 1952 Ford Victoria - The Ronbardue Kart
Hayward Mendenhall's 1953 Ford F100
Nick Semeniuk's 1953 Mercury M100 Pickup
Bill and Bob Glazier's 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible - The Candy Wagon
Bob Schremp's 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air
Duane Steck's 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air - The Moonglow
Buzz McLeod's 1954 Ford Convertible - Little Star
Larry Cooper's 1954 Ford
John Nadzon's 1954 Mercury - The Mysterian
Ron Dragoo's 1954 Mercury Monterey
Bill Sharpe's 1955 Chevrolet
Gary Oliver's 1955 Chevrolet - "El Prado"
Gary Oliver's 1955 Chevrolet - "El Prado II"
Jerry Feigner's 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air - Lil Honey Bee
John McLaughlin's 1955 Chevrolet
Milt Goodman's 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Jerry Drake's 1955 Ford Fairlane - India Ivory
Jerry Koller's 1955 Ford - "Doll Buggy"
Joe Castro's 1955 Ford Thunderbird - The CandyBird
Joe Cirimele's 1955 Ford
Sy Gregorich's 1955 Ford Crown Victoria - The Victorian
Bruce McClellan’s 1956 Chevrolet
Dennis Titensor's 1956 Chevrolet Convertible
Ron Aguirre's 1956 Chevrolet Corvette The X-Sonic
Bob Dzemske's 1956 Lincoln Capri
John and Ann Scarlett's 1956 Metropolitan - The Imp
Adrienne Hooper's 1956 Mercury Converible - The Wild One
Al Neblett's 1956 Oldsmobile Four-Door - The Batmobile
Joe Crisafulli's 1956 Oldsmobile
Ken Sowers' 1956 Plymouth
Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury
Bill Shelley's 1957 Chevrolet Corvette - "Bali Hi"
Dave Jenkins' 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air
Rich Pichette's 1957 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery
Bert Gustavsson's 1957 Ford 300 Sedan
Don Boeke's 1957 Ford Convertible
Harry Okuda's 1957 Dodge
David Rolin's 1957 Ford - The Tormentor
Jack Smario's 1957 Ford
Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane - The Maze
Jerry Drake's 1957 Ford Fairlane - Candy Cane
Joe Siclari's 1957 Ford Custom 300 - The Pearl Necklace
Russ Edgers' 1957 Ford Convertible
Chuck Burkart's 1958 Chevrolet Impala
Casey Martin's 1958 Plymouth Savoy
Clyde Wooten's 1958 Pontiac Chieftain
Dick Rothfuss' 1959 Chevrolet Impala - "Poopsie"
Jeff Bruns' 1959 Ford - Green With Envy
Dell Chandler's 1960 Pontiac Ventura
Helge Solberg's 1967 Chevrolet Camaro - Low'n Blown