’53 CHEVY FULL CUSTOM!

Owner – Kimberley Pennington,
Lake Havasu City/Prescott, AZ

Found this kool ride at the Havasu Hot Rodz earlier this year, it was kool sitting in the grass with that brandy wine candy paint that just came alive. It had me at 20 feet and glowed with so much side cast it was 2 feet thick! This ride definitely needs to be at West Coast Kustoms and Kustom Kemps of America. They did go to Hot-Rod-A-Rama in Prescott last May as a traditional custom, this is the quality you would see there!

In ‘53 Chevrolet created a new look post‑war cars with several new model names and exterior design. It was Chevrolet’s second major post‑war restyling, featuring all‑new sheet metal and a bold, chrome‑heavy front end. Most of the updates were exterior design with most of the mechanicals a carryover from past Chevys. Unfortunately, Chevrolet considered introducing V8 for ’53, but it wouldn’t be ready until late ’54 for the ’55 model year, oh well that’s history, we got thru it!

Kimberly ‘53 still has an in-liner but an upgraded to 250 ci up from the 235 that came in it with 155hp verses 108hp in the stock engine. Yes, this kool ride is owned by Kimberly and proud of it! The chrome in-liner valve cover commands the engine compartment with twice pipes with cherry bombs. What is that, well it’s the affordable way to get dual exhaust verses a split manifold that was available. This author had a ’53, 235 in liner with split manifold with 13” smittys and was always getting pulled over for being too loud.

It kool so see a 700R4 tranny behind the in-liner feeding a chevy, of course, 10 bolt out of a 2000 S10. To keep this iron stopping on demand is disc brakes front and rear. The Coker big whites with the caddy caps. Keeping the ride low and kool the frame was “C” notched with rear air bags to get it down, you know if it gets too high you get nose bleeds LOL. The interior is clean, bench seat done with white leather with piping with well-done door panels and carpet accents. Did you notice the door handles, naughta, it has poppers and smooth sides accented by the chopped top. The shifter is so kool for those fast shifts. The candy red wine paint is accented with tasteful pinstriping and lace on the roof with fish scales of course, it’s a custom! Keeping you guessing is the ’54 taillights with Winfield lenses.

Notice the license plate, “Lucele”, named after Lucille Ball, her favorite actress. Kimberly is into nostalgia and history of classic rides, as they are moving pieces of history that each have their own stories. This seed was planted after American Graffiti, need I say more as many of us have the save affliction. Oh yes, her husband Eric has a ’53 Ford Victoria and ’36 Plymouth coupe, look for more from these two motorhead!