Sadly, Larry Watson passed away on July 20th, a day before his 72nd birthday.
The Custom painter supremo, who created the ‘panel painting’ style most famously on his brand new ‘58 T-Bird, will be sadly missed by his fans and admirers.
No doubt there will be plenty of ‘Watson-style’ tribute cars appearing in the future.
RIP Larry.
Images from Kustomland: the Custom Car Photography of James Potter 1955-1959 by Thom Taylor.
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Categories: Hot Rods, News, Vintage Stuff
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Here on the underside of the world, it’s usually raining for 4th of July celebrations. But this year the weather gods didn’t dampen the party, and a big crowd of our U.S. pals turned up at Kardinya (just south of Perth) for the annual A.W.C. Fair. If the hot dogs, popcorn, donuts, candy, Millers and salsa sauce didn’t stir up the homesickness, the bouncy castle sure would.
Rumours that Elvis arrived in the big ole ‘Tupelo’ Cadillac were eventually dispelled… but it would have explained the ’sold out’ sign at the Krispy Kreme counter.
Paul and I waited in line for a hotdog, and dressed in patriotic colours for the occasion. We even affixed a U.S. flag to the back aerial, embassy-style. Happy Birthday Uncle Sam.
Snaps of Tbirds, Mustangs, Cadillacs, Jeeps and assorted sights here.
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Tags: 4th July, 57, Events, T-birds, Tbirds, USA
Categories: Events, News
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Last Saturday Bill invited a couple of Tbird Tragics (and a Fairlane) over to his garage for an informal howdy and a chinwag. It’s great to see one of his lovingly maintained Square Birds out and about – one of a striking couple! Luckily they escaped the hail wreckage a couple of months ago.
Bill spends some time in Broome – and wouldn’t we all love to be there basking in some sunshine? – but when in Perth he’ll come to the unveiling of a Tbird seat cover, he’s so keen. See the Big Al’s gallery for a couple more pics of his cars on the road.
Check out more pics in the gallery here.
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Tags: 1958, 1959, 1960, BBQ, Events, meet & greet, square birds, Tbirds
Categories: Events, News
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Travel back a little in time to when the beautiful Californian town of Paso Robles hosted the famed West Coast Kustoms car event over the Memorial Day weekend in May. Just before the earthquake a year or two later, and then the show moved South.
We travelled there in 2002 (little did Tracy realise that the entire 6-week round-the-world trip was choreographed to this one weekend).
These video snippets (amateur warning alert!) capture some famed show T-Birds (including the electric green 1963, which now resides in the U.K.; the renowned ‘Time Machine’ which has won more than its own weight in shiny trophies; plus a couple of 50s Birds) and a taste of West Coast car culture.
Plus to recreate the atmosphere, some very high-pitched American accents, extremely loud car noises, and a couple of em-Barrised moments (“is that a 61 or 62?”).
And the $10,000 question: why-oh-why didn’t Paul ask Barris for his autograph? or Von Franco? or Shige?
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Tags: Barris, Cruises, Customs, Events, Tbirds, USA, Vintage Stuff
Categories: Cruises, Events, Vintage Stuff
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Perusing Paul’s extensive collection of car books (I mostly look at the pictures), I was struck by the number of cool Tbird customs by legendary George Barris.
For all our square-Bird friends, here’s a beauty: the 58 “Ultra-Bird”. Barris customised this t-bird for his wife Shirley’s birthday, painting it in 30 coats of Candy Red with white pearl outlining, adding 18 side louvres and illuminated hubcabs. It won the Motor Life ‘Car of the Year’ in 1959. Shirley is marvelling at how George managed to convert a miniature car into a full-sized version just by the application of Kolor Crome products!
So blog readers, what do you think of custom cars? Sacrilege… or you can’t get enough of the chopped, channelled, sectioned and lowered?
Check out some background on George here.
Image from Barris Kustoms of the 1950s by George Barris and David Fetherston.
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Tags: Baby birds, Customs, square birds, Tbirds, USA, Vintage Stuff
Categories: Vintage Stuff
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That day the heavens opened and hailstones pounded everything in sight, we held grave fears for the Tbird’s bodywork. Although it’s kept under cover in the garage, we watched in horror as hailstones the size of lemons rebounded onto the car.
The next day we gingerly peeled back the cover and were amazed to see no real signs of damage. We could have used a Lifeguard out front – our front lawn was converted into a lake.
How did your car fare?
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Tags: 1957, Tbirds
Categories: News
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