custom, chopped, mercury, hot rod, pro street, street rod,show car

This is a once in a lifetime sale...1951 custom lincoln .. ’54 headlights and a ’51 front bumper. The seamless Lincoln has been chopped 41⁄2 inches, osed, ecked, eaked, nd shaved. Led by Troy Gaskins, elebrity Kustoms’ crew rounded the hood corners, olded lake pipes into the rocker panels, abricated stainless window moldings, nd shaped driprails from 3⁄8-inch steel rod. Note how the new rail extends beyond both side windows and curves below the rear glass. To save time, arcos Garcia—whom John D’Agostino regards as a master of candy apple—traveled from Lucky 7 Customs (Antioch) to mix and spray House of Kolor paint in Celebrity’s trick booth. Base coats of gold (overall) and silver (highlights) enhance Garcia’s candy-apple finish, hich was baked twice by Celebrity’s in-house oven.From this angle, stock bumper is the only clue to this custom’s Lincoln origins. The Merc effect is enhanced by the frenched Mercury taillights (’54) and rear window (’51). Celebrity flared the skirts to match the front fenders’ edges. Dan’s Auto Glass (Concord) and Tri-Valley Auto Glass (Pleasanton) share credit for the custom windows. All chrome parts were polished and dipped at Sherm’s Custom Plating (Sacramento).Ruby, he first project completed by Celebrity Kustoms, leeps in fine company. You may recognize the Caribbean, he ’56 Packard that John D’Agostino reluctantly sold to his old buddy and new business partner, ike Garner, after eight years of pestering.” Both men are recent retirees: John after 34 years (“to the day!”) with U.S. Steel; Mike from American Truck & Trailer Body Co., manufacturing firm he founded in 1977 and handed off to his three sons last year. Each was seeking a new challenge, referably involving custom cars. After Mike (below, eft) offered to share an existing Tracy, alifornia, ody shop and showroom, elebrity Kustoms had a home.