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December 9, 2008
Sam Barris: Chop Class Instructor
The custom car world is full of tight squeezes and close shaves, in fact, it's almost unimaginable to think of a world without chopped hot rods and mail slot windows, but there was a time when it was unheard of. Back in 1949, a revolution was about to take place and the race was on.
Many people site Sam Barris as bringing chopped tops from the Salt Flats to the streets, but during that same time a couple of fabricators known as the Ayala brothers were also chopping a similar '49 Mercury for a customer named Louie Bettancourt. Sam finished his first and entered the car in the 1951 Oakland Roadster show where his gorgeous green '49 Merc won second place in the full custom class and became a cover car.
Looking at a photo of Sam and his sled shows you how much the '40s and '50s defined styles that still seduce us today with a four-inch chop, shaved door handles, and frenched headlights. What's beneath the sheet metal may change from year to year as drivetrain, suspension, and electronics components are constantly evolving, but clean, sleek lines are always in vogue.
Want to learn more? You can find more info and images here.
Many people site Sam Barris as bringing chopped tops from the Salt Flats to the streets, but during that same time a couple of fabricators known as the Ayala brothers were also chopping a similar '49 Mercury for a customer named Louie Bettancourt. Sam finished his first and entered the car in the 1951 Oakland Roadster show where his gorgeous green '49 Merc won second place in the full custom class and became a cover car.
Looking at a photo of Sam and his sled shows you how much the '40s and '50s defined styles that still seduce us today with a four-inch chop, shaved door handles, and frenched headlights. What's beneath the sheet metal may change from year to year as drivetrain, suspension, and electronics components are constantly evolving, but clean, sleek lines are always in vogue.
Want to learn more? You can find more info and images here.
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EDITORIAL POLICY | PRIVACY POLICY | UNSUBSCRIBE
© 2008 National Street Machine Club
Be sure to add benchracing@streetmachineclub.com to your address book or safe sender list so our email gets to your inbox. Please do not reply to this message as the "reply to" function does not allow us to receive your email.
National Street Machine Club | 12301 Whitewater Drive | Minnetonka, MN 55343