The History of Customizing Cars
The customized car has been part of the automotive landscape since the inception of the automobile. Farmers and ranchers often customized their Ford Model Ts to create a pickup truck to haul goods and serve as a ranch workhouse. It wasn't until the early postwar period that cars were customized as hot rods for looks, speed and as an expression of the driver's personality.
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Customization Defined
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A customized car is any vehicle that is altered from factory specifications. Any alteration to the vehicle's body, mechanical components and interior is considered as customization. Some car owners add only minor touches, such as chrome wheels or a sport-style steering wheel that do not come from the automaker's factories. Other owners perform full customizations that radically alter the body and engine of the automobile.
Early Postwar Era
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Custom car enthusiasts generally fell into two camps immediately following World War II. Returning servicemen often found jobs in automotive repair shops or gas stations while attending college on the GI Bill. Many tinkered with 1932 Ford coupes because they were equipped with versatile V-8 engines. The coupe was lowered and its fenders and hood removed. The roofline was often lowered by cutting three inches from the pillars. The second camp comprised of Mexican-Americans developing much more elaborate lowrider customizations on such vehicles as the 1949 Mercury.
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The Look
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Factory cars undergoing a custom transformation can be chopped by having the roofline lowered. The vehicle is often channeled by lowering the body over the frame--instead of on top--to have it stand just mere inches above the ground. Customizers often "frenched" their cars by welding factory seams to create a one-piece seamless look. Door handles, latches and holes were filled for a smoother look.
Performance
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The Ford V-8 was initially the primary customized engine. But Chrysler Hemis were also customized. Any of Chevrolet's small-block V-8s--most notably the 350--also got the treatment. Customization included adding a four-barrel carburetor, high-performance exhaust headers, a quick floor shifter and tuning the engine for more horsepower. Cosmetic touches included chrome valve covers, fans and air cleaners.
Lowriders
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The lowrider defined the custom car image of postwar California. Elaborate metallic paint schemes, murals on the trunk and hood, and two-tone colors dominated the lowrider look. Chrome wire rims and low-profile tires added to the lowered stance. Factory upholstery was ripped out and replaced with elaborately designed leather or vinyl.
Pioneers
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Gene Winfield and George Barris were early pioneers in the custom car field, producing many styles. Winfield produced the 1956 Mercury "Jade Idol." It featured a blended paint scheme and Chrysler tailfins. George Barris, founder of Barris Kustom Industries, was perhaps the leading voice of the early custom car movement with his series of outlandish designs, including the famed Batmobile, crafted from a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car for the 1966 through 1968 "Batman" TV series.
New Audience
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Car customization has been even more popularized due to such TV shows as "Pimp My Ride," hosted by Xzibit. The show has been on the air since 2004 (as of 2009) and has attracted a new audience of young women as Xzibit's team transforms their clunkers into works of art.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit MTV Music Television, Ford Motor Company
