60s Attitude 63 Ford Fairlane Custom

1963 Ford Fairlane 60s Custom

Author and Photographer: Mike Harrington

Less IS More

We Americans seem to have this “bigger is better” mindset. After all if a little is good then a lot is better right? We can biggie size our French fries, biggie size our body parts with pecker pills or bags of silicone. Big, big and bigger! We are obsessed with size. Don’t take me wrong, if someone wanted to put a 572 cubic inch big block in my classic ride, I surely wouldn’t object, but is bigger always better? I guess it all depends on your perspective.

(Editor’s note: Maybe less isn’t more with the lovely Cherry Doll! She’s smokin hot…)

I once heard a saying that has seared its self into my memory. “Less…is more”. This saying holds true to music, design and even meal time. It also holds very true in the case of this ’63 ½ Ford Fairlane. With all the subtlety of a serpent, Ford introduced the 260 cubic inch lightweight Windsor featuring 164 horsepower, that was the “Challenger” versions of Ford’s mighty small block. At 12 inches shorter than a Galaxy and a good 16 inches longer than a Falcon this Fairlane and its owner don’t care about size, it’s all about the aesthetics.

RJ McRae, owner of the mid-size 63 Fairlane seen here believes in the less is more philosophy. He ply’s this philosophy everyday with his customer’s rides at his garage known as the Madratter Garage, so why not with his own personal rides?

The Fairlane, when first acquired, was in a very cherry, yet stock, state of existence. Why mess with perfection some may ask? Keep the Ford stock and enjoy it as is! But, where is the fun it that? Owing to his less is more philosophy, a few subtle modifications were made to really give this little Ford a beautiful mild 1960’s California cruiser look.

With four months of hard work, the Fairlane was sporting some new skin. R.J. repainted the body in the stock “Viking Blue” colored metallic blue DuPont paint, but when it came to the roof, a silver metal flake was sprayed giving it that all important sparkle.

Bedsides the paint, the stance and wheels will make or break the look of any vehicle. This Fairlane struts its stuff with set of 14 inch Supreme’s with ½ inch whites, air springs on all fours corners and a set of chromed Bellflower pipes cinching the mild mannered ‘60s custom look.

You better make sure your backside is free of any oil stains before you climb into the cabin of this cruiser. The attention detail in the office space is no less important than that of the exterior. The mid-size Ford is draped in white tuck & roll with blue piping accents, blue carpet, a white Mooneyes wheel and genuine Hurst 3-speed shifter. The rest of the interior, the instrument panel, the door panels etc. remain in their stock configuration, sometimes leaving well enough alone is the smartest action.

Less is not more when it comes to photos so here’s a few more shots of RJ’s 63 Fairlane featuring Model Cherry Doll.

6 Basic Steps to Drawing Hot Rods

Words and Drawings by Ryan Hadden

See more at thehaddenhotrodshop.blogspot.com

I am no Chip Foose, but I do like to draw cars. I have no formal education in drawing automobiles, but I did leave some killer renderings in the back of a few school books when I was younger! I hope that this quick tutorial will help you to do something a lot of guys / gals fear they cannot do.

A few “tools of the trade”. This is a shot of some of the tools I have collected over the years while drawing. Included in this photo are markers, colored pencils, pastels, a metal ruler ( I prefer them over wood or plastic), ball point pens, and erasers. Art supplies are expensive. If you are just starting out don’t let a trip to the local hobby shop scare you. Honestly all you really need to begin drawing is no more than a pencil, paper, and a good drawing surface.

It is also helpful to have reference material. This can include magazines, books, posters, photographs, internet (including websites like myrideisme.com, haha, thanks for the plug Ryan!), or 1:1 subject matter (aka the real thing). Here is a small sampling of my printed reference material.

Step 1:  Start off with a really loose sketch of your subject. Go wild and add-in anything you think you may want in the finished piece. Our subject in this short tutorial will be the Scion Chris Hecht (hechtspeed) has had bouncing around in his melon for several months now. Our goal will be to get his ideas down on paper before he shells out the bones on completing the car.

Step 2:  After I have all the ideas thrown out I like to come back and use the previous sketch to make a tightened up line drawing that will be the basis of the finished piece. As you can see we have narrowed down where the final rendering is headed.

Step 3:  I’m going to start this sketch with the roof. Chris wanted a white Scion with a red metal flake roof ( a first time task for me). I blocked in the darkest areas with marker and then faded into the center with pastel and pencil.

Step 4:  I am now going to block in the darks (tires, shadows, and reflections) with a black marker. I have also added in the Moon discs at this point.

Step 5:  Now I have started to add a little more detail. I have started to bring in headlights, shadows on the body, more definition to the shadows and highlights in the windows, and some foreground. This was all done in pencils and pastels.

Step 6:  Added the last of our details and sign the work.  Note: The door art and door handles were actually added after Chris saw the previous version of the drawing.  Door handles since he is a family man and the door art well… just ’cause he digs it! And that is why a concept drawing is a useful tool in any build. It allows you to see an idea before you commit to it only to later find out it just doesn’t work for you.
This is a very simplified tutorial, but it gives you the basics to start your own concept work for yours or your buddies next build.

Dig other blogs about Ryan and his hot rod sketches

Haddens Hot Rod Drawings

5 Steps For Painting Vintage Hot Rod Door Art

Hot Rod Ramblings: Mild Customs

It’s been too long since I rambled on about Hot Rods and Customs, I mean Kustoms.  My crazy car brain has gone down the path of  “Mild Customs”.  I’ll say it right now, the car that really got me started digging Customs was Nick Hoesing’s ex-Ford Galaxie I scoped at Bonneville last year.   Peep it below…

Then I picked up a Rodders Journal that featured Kirk Jones’ 1960 Ford Starliner.  Kirk’s a member at MyRideisMe.com, see his Garage Here for more pics.  Our camera man Swanee grabbed this first pic at last years Grand National Roadster Show.  This ‘Liner blew me away!!!  I pulled that TRJ #45 out again last night to re-read the story and stare at the rad photography.  Man, this kustom is mad rad!

 Ok, so it may be categorized as a Mild Custom, but this thing is Wild!  That paint (better pics in the Rodders Journal, you’re just gonna have to go buy a copy) is nutty!  The interior is grade A.  This Ford oozes style and stance.  Can you imagine the hours spent building this car.  I bought this magazine when we were staying in the hospital for the birth of our 4th boy last fall and so, the late nights/early mornings combined with the top notch photographs of this Custom just made me crazy for it even more. 

Just sit and stare at this thing…it will make any die hard hotrodder really appreciate the work the Custom boys are doing…  Take a funky late 50′s, early 60′s land yacht, drop it, add wheels and tires, paint it and you’re crusin’!  Ok, its not that easy, but the formula is simple.  Nice pic Pikesan!  Oh that you woulda had the wide angle and D90 for this ride!  Oh, and anybody know (cheaters can read The Rodders Journal article) where the name “May Cause Dangerous” came from?  It’s pretty funny!

 

This is my favorite Kustom photo at the moment.  Props go to Swanee for the photo.  This was taken at the 2010 Grand National Roadster Show.  Man!  These Kustoms (red is a ‘ 54 Chevy and black a ’51 Merc’, thanks for the heads up Swanee) are amazing.  The red one is LOW!  ……………sorry, I was staring again!  I’m back now.  ha ha  Love that grille.  Are those lights in the outer edge of the grille factory or is that custom?  Either way I dig.  I’m the biggest fanboy of white walls!  I mean come on!  Even Disney knows whats up.  Remember when “Lightning McQueen” got a “Pimp My Ride” makeover in the Cars movie?  What did Luigi recommend?  WHITE WALLS!!!  So rad!  This picture is my current background desktop at work. 

 

Swanman at it again at GNRS 2009.  This is a ’62 Chrysler Newport.  I’ll take your word for it man.   Are those the stock headlights?  I’ve seen a lot of Kustoms with that style of canted headlight design.  It looks factor on this ride, it just has a matching style doesn’t it?  I’m not usually a fan of flames, but this one works.  Doesn’t this have a low rider look to it?  The mini white walls and the Astro wheels give it that look I think.  Super low ride height is required for a Kustom. 

The takeaway from this pic is grab an early 60′s large coupe or sedan on the cheap and apply some tasteful Custom touches and you’ll be cruising in style like this Newport!

 

Continuing with this oddball Chrysler Newport above is this Station Wagon.  I think Pikesan said this is a Mercury Comet wagon?  It’s sporting the same Astro Supreme wheels and mini whites.  Nice custom grille too.  But, that paint.  Custom paint is key to pulling off a top notch Kustom.  Man, the paint alone is a work of art.  These early 60′s wagons have Loooooong roofs, that’s for sure!  “All the better to store surfboards on my pretty!”  (quote a la Little Ride riding hood ha ha).  I’ll try and get more pics from Pikesan and Swanee of this ride.  It deserves a blog post all its own!

Last pic of this rambling session.  I really dig trucks.  I think the Kustom look applied to trucks is a perfect combo.  This time, instead of high gloss super detail paint like the Starliner or Wagon above, this truck seen at Viva Las Vegas last year sports a satin red suede with tan panel.   Again its got the tail dragger stance, wide whites and custom wheel covers.  Oh and a trick grille too.  I love the snouts (big hood) of these late 40′s, early 50′s pickups.

Got pictures of the “May Cause Dangerous” ’60 Starliner above or that Lowrider/Kustom station wagon?  We’d lvoe to see them and post them up for all to see.

Hechtspeed

Galaxie Custom and Bonneville Salt Cruiser

This 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 was easily one of my top 3 favorite cars from Speedweek 2009.  I first noticed it in the pits then saw it again while Pikesan and I were cruising down the Long Course after the drivers meeting.  We sort of cruised the rest of the Long Course along side Nick and his Gal’ then turned onto the Return Road back to the pits. Almost 7 miles from the start, we spied some pristine, undisturbed virgin salt and decided to make a detour for some salt-throwin’ pictures Craig’s ’27 T, Nick’s Galaxie and Nick’s buddy’s 5 window Coupe you see in this picture above.

Here’s some more shots of this Mild Custom!

I love this car!  That red satin paint against the bright white salt is rockin’.

I dig the long lines.  That stance is perfect with its Air Ride Technologies 4-way system with electronic controller.

I dig this shot with Pikesan’s roadster in the background.

From Nick: “This car has been a great driver for the past 4-1/2 years. It originally had a 390/auto and I decided to swap in a 302/T-5 and 3.70 gears last year. It’ss an absolute blast to drive and I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere. Come to think of it, during the 40,000 miles that I’ve put on it, I don’t recall ever being stranded.”

Here’s the specs on the Gal’

Engine:
Roller cam 302 (5.0), rebuilt .030 over, Trickflow Stage 1 cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, Edelbrock 650 carb., shorty Mustang headers

Exhaust:
2-1/2″ with H-pipe, 40-series Flowmaster mufflers, dumps just ahead of the rear bumper and sounds great.

Transmission:
Stock ’94 Mustang GT world class T-5 5-speed.

Rear suspension:
3.70 gears. Air-Over-Leaf ‘bag kit, 2 leaf springs remain, with 2″ lowering blocks added.

Front Suspension:
Ford Granada spindles, disc brakes, and (manual) master cylinder.  ‘Cool Ride’ air bag kit installed with shocks relocated to rear of control arms.

Wheels/Tires:
15×7 with 225/70r15 Diamondback Classic tires.  Chrome wheels – original centers with new 7″ wide rims by Rally America. Chrome Spider Caps.

Body:
Red primer and Silver flake / Red candy roof

Enjoy these pics from Nick.

This was taken in 2008 at Nick’s first Speedweek trip.  He drove it all the way out from Nebraska.  Crazy!

This Galaxie just has it all for me.  Late model 302, a T-5 5 speed trans, air ride, white walls, Mild Custom look with great stance-NAILED!!  Nice work Nick!

But Nick, despite his fond memories and long drives in the Gal’ moved on to another project. A 1929 Model A Roadster with traditional style to come, no doubt.   I can’t wait for Model A’s debut. See you at Speedweek 2010?

See you on the Salt!
Hechtspeed

One-of-a-kind Interior defines this 65 Buick Riviera

House O Speed’s 1965 Buick Riviera.

“THE DEVIL’S DOLLHOUSE”

The are basically two types of rides in this world. The ones you proudly bring home to mother, and then, of course, there’s the other kind — the type you stealthily roll to the curb in with the engine killed and leave tucked in the shadows when you pick up your date.

The HouseOspeed-built 1965 Riviera falls squarely into the second camp. Once you’ve ridden in it, you’ll understand why.

Simply put, interior is swimmin’ in women. Vintage pin-up girls, to precise, the work of a man named Peter Drieben, whose sexy illustrations graced the covers of fifties stag magazines with titles like Whisper, Titter and Eyeful.

The stock headliner has given way to black angel hair, and gray glitter vinyl and orange piping on the seats to match the interior motif. The stitching is the handiwork of Fat Lucky’s Sean Johnstun, now the head upholstery guru at the Austin Speed Shop.

But lest you think that the pin-up girl interior is the entire story, let’s take a moment to touch on a few of the car’s other mods. The 401 nailhead was rebuilt to original specs, and fitted with period-correct Offenhauser accessories, Jet Hot coated stock exhaust manifolds and a throaty dual aluminized exhaust set-up with custom tips. Before returning to its rightful place bettween the front fenders, the Riviera’s rebuilt nailhead was color-matched to car’s colors and the spaghetti of factory wiring was cleaned up and tied down.

To keep tabs on the mechanicals, Mooneyes gauges were brought into the upper center console where the FM radio originally resided. Meanwhile, an upgraded sound system was buried beneath the seats and speakers strategically stashed throughout the interior. A joystick now operates the entire system remotely.

To help the little ladies keep their cool, a Vintage Air AC system was installed, and the car’s suspension was put closer to purgatory by way of an Air Ride suspension, originally installed by Gary Howard several years ago and since been thoroughly updated by John Henson of DB Rodz and Miniz.

The car’s gunmetal gray metallic paint was laid on by Horace Joseph while a mixture of flames, scallops and freestyle pinstriping were laid down by the Frank Palmer (who else?).

Originally purchased in California, the Riviera surrendered the its original black and yellow California plates after the Day family’s relocation to Texas. Shortly after arriving in Texas, I stumbled upon a pair of vintage 65 Texas plates that were too good to pass up. The three numbers on the plate that caught my attention? “666”. It was these plates, in fact, that inspired the car’s nickname.

Today, the Devil’s Dollhouse can be found slinking around the streets of Austin, Texas when not rolling into car shows to help promote Cameron’s hot-rod related businesses, HouseOspeed.com and Hotrodshiftknob.com.
One can’t help but wonder if Cameron’s teenage sons will be borrowing his Riviera for their prom dates. If they do, one thing will be made infinitely clear. They had better remember to park it in the shadows.

The Day’s know how to build a sweet ride. Check out their garage’s custom cars. Then, make sure to check out the the story MyRideisMe.com did about the Day’s other ride: 1965 Tiki Suburban and if you’re a Buick fan, check out Ed’s 1956 Buick Special.

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