HAND MADE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
We discovered this 1952 Chevy Styleline Coupe in a barn in Texas. Last driven when the previous owner went off to the Vietnam War, it had been sitting since 1967. It was 100% original, and our client fell for it as hard as we did. We did zero body modifications. Since the client is an avid hunter, we decided to go a bit crazy on the interior. All seat and door surfaces are finished in wild caught Alligator hides, with Deer side panel, and traditional Goat gut stitching. Built for daily use and serious performance, this car has surprised many a driver as it leaves anything in the rearview mirror once the light is green!
• Art Morrison chassis
• LS3 fuel injected motor
• GM 4L65E automatic transmission
• Wilwood power disc brakes (6 piston/4 piston)
• Custom stainless steel fuel system
• MIL Spec wiring harness, built from scratch
• Modern A/C and heat
• Modern wiper system
• Polyurea coated body underside and floors
• Extensive use of Dynamat sound deadener products
• All new weatherstripping
• Power windows converted to electric, controlled through stock switches
• Rolls Royce wool carpet
• Vintage Aston Martin wool headliner
• Hidden audio system, Bluetooth dependent, four speakers plus amp & bass
• Stock clock converted into tachometer
video
Starts with a rough sketch...
Next, we more fully rendered the idea with our friend, Dwayne Vance. The client could not envision what we had planned. This helped.
We added the vintage amber fog lights. Stock old housings with modern optics and LED bulbs. Glass lenses.
At first glance, it looks like it may be abandoned. But the longer you look, the more you realize something is up...
Patina so perfect is almost looks planned!
Seen here racing at the Optima Top Street Car Challenge. Everyone laughed until we blew the doors off all the fancy shiny modern rides!
Shown here with it's good friend, the ICON 51 DeSoto Derelict wagon.
This shot was taken during the shoot with Egarage, watch the mini-doc in our video section!
This one too!
The car was featured on the cover of Rod & Custom. I snapped a few photos while in the studio...
Modern safety glass windshield... CNC'ed aluminum sterring wheel half wrapped in leather.
Modern column with custom wheel, hand wraped and stiched. Vintage Chriscraft drain vents function as dash A/C vents now, keeping the style right.
This was fun. Client wanted a tachometer, and we struggled with finding the right one and where to put it. We ended up modifying the original clock, to function as a tachomoeter. The hour hand has a red tip, marking the red line. The minute hand swings wildly with the RPM speed! Problem solved.
We had to hire hunters to complete the hide collection for the interior. All 35-40 year old Alligators, for the large tiles which allowed us to realize our design. Soft and durable, certainly a one-of-a-kind.
Wild caught Alligator interior. Dyed and processed using the dye code Hermes used on the briefcase gifted to JFK. We are suckers for a good story!
Seating for six. Ready for a roadtrip?
The beauty and art is in the details. Here you see where we used traditional Goat gut cross stitching on the seats. Unique and very strong.
The cross stitch is complimented by a French double stitch on alternate seams.
A Chevy in a Chevy. The modern 440 HP LS3 fits well. Easy to service, light and efficient.
Big brakes are so important, and an integral element in all of our builds.
CAD modelled, then hand built by Art Morrison. Crafted in US sourced .180" steel, mandrel bent. All laser cut brackets. Best in the world.
Large fuel tank is crafted in stainless steel, TIG welded. In tank fuel pump and baffles, external filter and stainless plumbing to the motor.
Old school California plates complete the package.
CNC'ed wheels large enouigh for the modern brakes and ZR rated tires, ligher than original. Vintage hub caps fit on the new powder coated 6061 aluminum wheels. Almost looks stock...
ICON Derelict 1952 Chevy Video with GM
