Theme Tuesdays: Lead Sleds/ Kustoms

May 1, 2012

Lead Sleds are cars I wish I saw more of first hand, sure I’ve seen a scattered few at a few Street Classics events but I need more!

The fact that only certain cars take really well to this treatment makes them even harder to find.

Huge respect to the people still building these cars today, it shouldn’t have taken me so long to do this and I plan on making this one more than one part.

Local ride that sports a Lead Kings dragger plate

A shot from a later event, hubcaps changed a bit

sled1 — Love the very subtle use of pin striping on the raw metal

sled3 — Restrained palette, sick results

sled5 — 49ish Olds, I wouldn't like this car stock I don't think

sled6 — That distinctive fool your eye reverse rake sled profile

sled7 — I love this, the roof sets it off without looking gaudy.. looks like it just rained almost

sled8 — More incredible pin stripping on the trunk of this car

sled9 — Want to see more bad ass photos? Check out Brett Sloan's tumblr

sled10 — This Caddy... the grill might not be for everyone but damn

sled14_51_sundance_merc — Can a drop be a sled? Guess so?

sled15_ford — Retina popping color choices working quite well

sled18 — One from Japan... I'm deep in the Japanese American car culture rabbit hole these days

sled4 — This is one of the longest and lowest cars I have ever seen... dually length status

I’d love to shoot a sled if anyone out there reading this in the GTA has one…

Also what is the difference between a Sled and a ‘Kustom’? I couldn’t really find a definitive answer.

10 COMMENTS

go kart tyre fitment oliver May 1, 2012 At 2:19 pm

AWSOMENESS!!!!!

hahaha May 1, 2012 At 2:48 pm

The last one = gnarly as fuck

Schnitz May 1, 2012 At 4:02 pm

Check out the ’48 Hudson. It would seem that Mercury followed them. You don’t hear of it much because Hudson sold so few cars in comparison. You pretty much don’t even need to chop the top of a Hudson and you have a sled. Not that chopping is an ‘absolute’ necessity either.
AFAIK a ‘sled’ is just a form of Kustom. Usually latge ’40s early ’50s era cars with alot less chrome than say a ’58 Buick.
Kustoms are pretty much anything Kustom-ized. I’m no expert so don’t wikipedia this. 😀
A sled (hopefully a Hudson) is my next build.

the cat herder May 1, 2012 At 10:25 pm

I could look at sleds all day…

A friend of mine has a 49 Mercury (among other cool rides) that was chopped by Bill Hines and Gene Winfield at a show a few years ago. Lots of good pics of the chop process starting here: http://www.carnut.com/show/06/kkoa/kkoap25.html

chris May 2, 2012 At 8:48 am

**made my day**

Rick May 3, 2012 At 2:57 am

I see that caddy all over… extreme but tasteful. The pictures don’t do it justice, gotta be seen in person. Best theme-tuesday yet.

- DaveT May 3, 2012 At 11:52 am
  
  Thanks Rick! I can’t beleive it took so long.
  
valek May 3, 2012 At 6:12 pm

nothing beats a chopped sled. that caddy … wow!

Fastphil May 4, 2012 At 10:39 pm

Kustoms deserve respect for the simple fact that it is such a fine line between just right and retarded-looking.

Sure drop tops can be sleds, Google Carson Tops and I’m sure you’ll come up with lots of droptop sleds.

On a side note, these cars always remind me of the movie I.Q. with Walter Matthau, Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins. Good movie on so many levels, plus one more for car guys!

P.S. Still waiting on a “Droptops” Theme Tuesday… 🙂

Jmaltz May 12, 2012 At 10:43 pm

That shit is sick! I want one of those beauties