What makes this hot rod stand out from the rest is the story that goes with it. A amazing story with history. Handcrafted by a legendary artist who brought a gentleman's dream to a reality. Great barn find. Thank you for sharing.
This is my grandpa. Thank you so much for sharing his story. Sadly he passed away two days ago. He would’ve loved the comments and how much love is on the video. Thank you all so much
My condolences for your loss, he seemed quite the interesting and personable man. May your Grandfather's spirit watch over you for all your days. I say Godspeed Bill, and thank you for sharing your unique custom - the design is quite striking and is as impressive now as it was in its glory days. It was good to see your dream of showing the car again realized. We need free thinkers such as yourself now more than ever. May God love you and keep you.
I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!!!! Im 76 now and Im in the same position having to liquidate many years of collecting! It's hard to see what you worked so hard for go away!!!
It's alright, they are only possessions in the end that you did cherish and now it's time for someone new to appreciate the items you've collected over the years. I am the same way. It's hard to part with stuff you've kept so nice for so long. Again, it's only stuff and there are more important things after you die. We only live for a spec of time. Maybe you'll live for many more years! God bless!
More art than Corvette, this custom floods the senses with American postwar optimism of the late 1950s and early 1960s when Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley were at the height of their popularity, the space race was on, and new colorful designs with their big fins, rocket exhausts, and flashy chrome emerged as purely American. During the 1950s, stock wasn't enough, and by the end of the decade and reaching into the early 1960s, customs reached the zenith of their popularity. This '57 is one of them, with a build heritage from the masters of the day. Absolutely, the 1957 Corvette is a beautiful GM design, but America wanted more. Lucky for us we get to see this 1957 Corvette custom as a time capsule, and mostly importantly, as it was customized in the day. You get to see it covered with stuff, dirty and dusty mixed with a half century of patina, a true American car treasure find emerging from its hiding place, while the original owner describes its history.
My Pops was from the area where this car was created as I said before on another channel Richmond California had thee biggest wrecking yards in California where they built the battle ship's for WWII my Pop's and uncle's knew a lot of the junk yard owner's. I built my first car in the late 80s from junk yard part, a 1968 4 door Toyota Corolla made it into a show car. My Pops bought it as a parts car for $50.00 I paid the 50 plus POP'S help my rebuild the engine. Gas was $1.10 a gallon. Took that little car to many car shows cruise's swap meets. I made the car look older than it really was put a 1951 Buick grill cut down to fit put older BMW bumber chrome guards on the front bumber Apple ton spot light's white wall tires with the stock hub caps with 3 prong knock offs added lowerd all the way around, color of the car was antique yellow to much to list this was before the air bags or I would have put them. Thanks to the owner of the wrecking yard he let me have anything I need to build it on the low buck.
I'm in that age group having been born in 1942. Really rings the memories!.. Only regret for me is not having any money to keep that 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon Sprint I bought new off the show room floor in Ming Green when it was sitting next to a Cobra. My wife and I have been married for 61 years and may have lived our lives during the greatest times of American History.
Thanx for sharing, glad it will c the care it deserves, growing up n the bay area, my life of love 4 cars came thru The Oakland Roadster Show, Cow Palace,San Jose Autorama and the highlight Of Blackie and the Fresno Invitational, not tension all the outdoor shows. Now I have the honor of passing that heritage to my grandsons. The History is more prudent these days as we get no younger, so n honor of those b4 us we must teach it and pass along our knowledge and teachings.
WOW, Great find Jerry, His own design and vision on the car especially the front.stunning. Hope to see it as he had it back in the 60´s car show. loved that you gave it a barn find presentation.
Thanks Steve for the nod on this project, which came up all the sudden and had me dropping other projects to get this car preserved and presented in video and in print in my column in Hot Rod Magazine, coming soon.
What an amazing custom style! I'm not one of those that is 'stock only' .. So nice to see that the new owner will honor and respect the incredible history and vision this car represents. May his Spirit rest in peace..
I hope it gets fixed how he wants it to It amazes me how people criticise what he did to it It was his car ,just an old corvette back then worth next to nothing and he wanted his own custom car I think when it was first done it would have been quite a thing to behold I do hope we see updates on their car 👍👍👍
Yes, people that criticize do not understand the movement into which and that he was moved by in the late 1950s to create this custom. I am planning updates. Yes, it was a thing to behold then and more today. What's the difference if the paint on the dash is not perfect? If this car were restored ground up it would look new. Right now we have a window back in time.
It is with great sadness that I am seeing this video for the first time today. This was my Uncle (and godfather) Bill and his corvette. I’ve known of this car my entire life, but I’d only seen it covered under boxes when I was a kid. This car was talked about often throughout the years. However, I only saw what it looked like once in pictures in a custom car magazine. Though I’ve known where the car was all these years, I had never seen it uncovered until this video. Seeing this video is oddly a bit like finally meeting a legendary member of the family. I’m sad that he had to part with his car but glad he was able to feel good about the future of his beloved corvette. And I’m grateful that my uncle was able to feel the recognition he deserves for his story and his part in the history of his custom corvette!
@@marcushume2240 Thank you! As my cousin’s daughter, Sierra, stated in another comment on this video, her grandfather (my uncle), Bill Shelley, passed away a little over a month ago. We are so grateful that my uncle was able to oversee the future of his beloved car and know that so many people appreciated it and its story. It is I that owes you, and every one of those people, my thanks for all of the love every one of you showed my uncle for his car and its story.
Thank You Jerry for this Blog on a car that has such a great history. Glad to see the original owner is around to share his pride and joy. I couldn't make the Grand Nationals this time around, but in watching other blogs on this year's event. I noticed a quick shot of what looked like two old customs that were outside on display. My son had gone to the event, but with so much to see didn't recall these two cars. When your video showed up, I was really pleased at getting the chance to learn more! Growing up in L.A. in the 50's and 60's this was what custom cars was all about. My brother and I would go to Ed Roths shop in Bell to check out cars at the shop when visiting my grandma who live not far from there. We got chased off for looking at the work painted inside one of the cars. Funny now. As far as ED I Remember him painting T-shirts with an air brush, wow that was a looong time ago. THANKS
He man, that's a dose of nostalgia for sure so thanks for sharing! What was the Beatnik scene like in LA in those pre-Beatle days? That's why I threw in a few rhymes, to recall those coffee shop days when people got up and read lines and sometimes with rhyme.
Another great story Jerry. It’s nice to see the car survived all these years. Yes it may be in pieces but everything is there for a fantastic restoration. To display the car in barn find condition was perfect.
Much respect to your Grandpa. He loves that car. I mean it’s a custom one off 57! I had a 58, not clean but I got my best to keep it running for 4 years. After major work needed in the car which is beyond my expertise, I sold the car. I bought it for 39k with a lot of missing items and sold it for $45k within a day.
While it’s too bad he let it sit so long, it is admirable to see him understanding that selling it now is the right thing. When you die all of your “treasures” are just more junk for your kids to throw in the dumpster.
Yep. There isn't a single thing of my parents that I want. If they had a classic car, it had best be in running condition not requiring 10's of thousands of dollars of restoration work. I'd take it if it was decent ... I am no dummy. But they don't. I do want something of my grandmother's. It is a simple candy dish. It is not expensive but associated with many memories of youth and my grandparents as I dipped into that thing and had a million little sugary treats. Everything else is just stuff.
Very respectfully done mon ami! Glad to see this little gem of a documentary was as much about Bill as his ride! Best wishes America, from an English armour-maker in a French forest. 👍⚒️
I'm 72 years old and had a few cool cars back in the 60's. I had a "56" Nomad that I bought in the 80's and had it for 32 years and almost had it ready for the road but it sat for several years and I was going to finish it when I retired. Then someone called me up out of the blue (I never put it up for sale) and offered me a lot of money for it. Like a fool I sold it and cried as it was pulled out of the driveway. That being said, I now have a "63" Falcon Futura Convertible in an upholstery shop getting a new interior and top. I'm going to drive it back to Pa. this spring. It will never be sold. It will stay in the family. She's Fire Engine Red and her name is "Ruby" because she's a gem.
This story goes right to my heart, reminds me of the days Barris was turning out something new every year, great story great history great find and best of all great imagination
Yes, having the original owner of this custom to give us the history is very unusual going back this many years. Now we know what happened, how it was built, and all kinds of details.
My father has a 60 corvette that has been sitting on blocks in his garage since 1975 !! Bought every single part available from gm to restore it and they still sit in the boxes in the garage with it ! He’s 78 years old now and still won’t part with it or the parts . It’s a real barn find !
email me and maybe we can do a video with you and your father on this. (jerryheasley@gmail.com) Look at the '66 Chevelle video that we did to see what I mean -ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iyINFhqbHd4.html
Hey my name is Will I believe you said your name was Bill it's so awesome that you definitely find someone to take interest in your car and I hope to see it on RU-vid or when it's finished myself and I really hope you get to see it when it's done too thank you for letting us check that out.
Hello, thank you for the love on the video, this is his granddaughter, sadly he passed away two days ago, but he would’ve loved to see how it turned out.
Jerry Great job. People trust you for a reason. Thanks to you and Mr Shelley we get to see that gem again as it was. I can’t say enough about that. Keep them coming on.
Bob's car reminds me of a 57 bird my dad has the is a 50's custom with 57 stude fins excalibur pipes the whole nine. It hasn't seen the light of day for decades still sinking in the mud in the barn. I'll try to do a video of it soon.
@@johngrepo9976 I'm not sure my dad's hard headed we just got in another argument about it. He says he'd rather crush it than take the chance of someone repairing it incorrectly. He's a metalwork guy doesn't use mud one of the fins is damaged and has to be sweated on so on and so forth smh. I was wrong it's a 55 bird and turns out it's an important car. Long story short the car was built here locally completed in November of 56 with 57 stude fins and an Ala kart nose among other mods. It was shown once in Pullman WA. Pictures were then sent to George Barris for magazine publication. Pictures were never published. One year later Barris came out with the Aztec with very similar design que's shortly there after he released the Ala-kart which I'm not sure of dates but I have Pictures from 56 showing designs that Barris is famous for that he didn't do. (did he steal the designs?) About 20 years ago my dad ran into Barris and talked for awhile then when my dad showed him Pictures and said he had the car. He says George's demeanor changed and he became agitated and upset that it still existed. So it turns out when this car is brought from the depths it's kind of going to be a big deal! 🤔 (Edit) my dad found the car in a field in Palouse WA and is upset he payed $50 for it over 50 yrs ago.
Im still going about in my head about the process in how he came up with the idea of "roofing paper" for metal flake in the paint he must have pioneered afew tricks to automotive customization 😄 NICE 😎💪🇺🇸TRUE INGENUITY GENIUS🇺🇸
He dumped sacks of mica into each coat of paint - BIll said there were maybe 6 coats - and also enlarged the paint gun's opening so the mica would pass through. You can read more about this paint in my article in Motor Trend online here - www.motortrend.com/features/1957-corvette-custom-bali-hai-barn-find/ and later in Hot Rod Magazine when it comes out in print.
Yeah, true, and this car was an Oakland Roadster Show entry, and a Corvette, which was expensive, and then got striped by legendary Tommy the Greek, and one of the names in fiberglass in the early days - Bob McNulty.
I really like the body modifications on this car, and I hope it gets restored to its original custom glory. Fur covered Lavender over Black seats and all! Though i think replicating the flake paint will be pretty difficult, it just isnt done that way nowadays but I hope the effort is made because not only is it unique in today's world its a moment in time in the history of custom cars. Also, i just really love flake paint jobs 😆
Duly noted yes and by you, a moment in time on the paint, but man I'm thinking the cool thing to do is not to replicate the novel mica, but to save it. The sparkle is still there for sure, and to me it's like looking back in time X years, as from stars X light years away finally hitting our eyeballs. Time is the constant and only space separates us from the light delivered from the Dawn of Cool, the 1950s.
@@thewriter2549 Without being there in person, and admittedly I am not any sort of expert on automotive paint, I really cannot say much about the condition of the paint as is, however more often than not I agree with your viewpoint on classic cars. Restored is nice, but if the car is good enough to keep Original and Unrestored, all the better. I just get the feeling that it would be more in line with what the original owner wanted for the car to bring it back on a full restoration as it was in it's first appearance at the roadster show. The current owner(s) have a hard decision to make on the direction of this car, I know I would be struggling with it myself. Thanks for the video and I hope you are able to keep us up to date on this one in the future.
Thanks for sharing this incredible slice of show car history. So glad it's getting a new lease on life. Kind of a shame that the son didn't take care of it. Wish MY dad would have had a cool car like that. FYI...Galpin also recently bought the Hirohota Merc Barris Custom
In my imagination I can see this already restored I very much liked the design modifications 👍🏻 Thank you for the video Gerry, Greetings from Mexico City 🇲🇽
Great save Bill. I know your pain of selling her. I just sold my project of 20 years. I always said, if ya don't drive these and show them off, you might as well have a poster hanging on the wall. Mine had been finished 8 years and never left my subdivision. I sold it to a young man who wants to drive her and show it off. He was a happy buyer and 3 months after the sell, I've grown use to the idea that it went to a better owner.
I had a 1936 dodge hotrod years ago and. It had a holden 253 v8 holden front end and a jaguar diff. Its still going down here in Australia. And was told by people that i wrecked it . But none of them would buy it from me and restore it back to factory 🤣🤣🤣 YOU OWN IT YOU BUILD IT HOW YOU WANT 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 AND STUFF THE WINGERS 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I personally like the modifications Mr. Shelley made to his Corvette. Too bad he had to quit working on it's restoration . Since it was displayed by Galpin I'm guessing they're the new owners. If so I know the restoration of this custom will be exceptional & totally accurate. Looks like the X Sonic Corvette parked next to Bali Hai ? Thanks for posting the video !
I am seventy two an a half.. I might of let people see me laugh but inside, I would of cried my heart out. I truly pray that respect for this man is kept with it
I give this guy props for taking the initiative to let someone else enjoy the car. Throw some paint on that thing and put it back together, probably be pretty cool.
I thought I would laugh at this early custom but I was touched by the story of a lost-to-time NorCal creation. Yep, it deserves to be saved. Thank you.
This was very exciting to see for a guy like me to know a historical Kustom . Yup show as is how they used to build them from what they had to work with. That just goes to show there is no wrong way if doing it. It's how you take care of the car. Lucky it was under a roof it's whole life..
I feel 100% the same way, to see how they were built. I thought maybe there was a better way, but they didn't know and this is how they built the cars. That's why I don't want to see this car "fixed" because like you said, there is no wrong way. This is a historical custom - a real history car. That is very well expressed, and thanks!!
@@thewriter2549 and they were young guy's with limited cash, for some builder's it's still the same way. They have the knowledge to use better materials at the hard wear store. Bad Chad is an example of just using what's around him.
OMFG! I FREAKING Love this guy and his Incredible stories about The Most Amazing, Influential, and True Foundation for Anything and Everything Custom. The one and only, AMERICAN HOTROD! Looking back on this growing culture one can't help but notice that Hotrodding is the only culture that has A to Z something for everyone. Nobody's left out. You'll have, Metal Men and Fabricators, and Mechanics,and Artists and on and on. I can't think of another culture that is so prevalent. Oh one more thing, Hotrod car culture is Immortal. It hasn't slowed yet
Back then, it was all about style. Futuristic and colorful. That 3 speed might be more trick than you might think. There were some 3 speed units that were a really wide ratio, I had a 3 speed like that and I'd race 4 speeds and cause they were shifting that extra gear and you weren't, you could get almost a car length on the other guy. You really missed the 4th gear when you were going up mountain roads and didn't have that split between 2nd and 3rd. Fun times.
