Maybe kinda off topic for the purist Forward Lookers ... but IMHO, Clif Inman's '57 Chrysler Custom is a thing of pure beauty ... simple, understated, classy, tasteful ... just perfect! ... I might go as far as saying that it was an improvement on Virgil & the boys original design ... let the beatings commence! ...

photo by Andy Southard Jr. (from the cover of his book: "CUSTOM CARS of the 1950s")

In the late '50s, Clif Inman (a recent graduate of Willow Glen High School in San Jose California) used to hang-out at Tut’s Auto Supply on Lincoln Avenue (in SJ's Willow Glen district).  There he caught the "Hot Rod bug" and rodded a '50s Oldsmobile.  It was around the same time that Clif saw a sleek, slinky ’57 Chrysler cruising John’s Drive-In (in downtown San Jose) ... and he was instantly hooked by its "forward good looks" .

In 1960, Clif sold his Olds, purchased a '57 Chrysler, and took it directly to (Joe) Wilhelm Customs (also in SJ) for installation of quad headlamps, a tube grille, custom hub caps & lowering.

In 1962, the car was in an accident and Inman was back at Wilhelm's shop ... “fix the quarter panel, and while you’re at it, chop the top.” To retain the long, low smooth lines, Wilhelm not only took three and one-half inches out of the top, but installed a ’58 Dodge front window and a ’61 Comet rear window and frenched in the taillights.

side by side comparision with a stocker

In 1963-64, the car was the "Custom Champion" at the Grand National (Oakland) Roadster Show ... and the "Custom Sweepstakes winner at the Sacramento Autorama.

Clif's entry in the 1964 GNRS Program

Clif's ride @ an indoor show (circa 1963 or 64)

The March 1964 issue of Rod&Custom magazine included this Andy Southard Jr. feature article on Clif's "Lean Long Luxurious" '57 Chrysler:

In 1965, Clif sold the coupe to a party in Fresno, California.

In 1977, my father and his friend Gary "Goodguy" Meadors (with the help of Fresno area Hot Rod builders Ronnie White & Pepper Snow) found the long lost "Inman '57 Chrysler":

The owner didn't want to sell this "milestone custom" to the "uninformed" ... but since my father knew exactly what the car was and it's historical significance (the "Inman '57 Chrysler" had been his favorite custom since he first laid eyes on it in 1964) ... he offered it to my father (for a hefty sum) ... but Dad had to decline (he was already building two '32 Fords Hot Rods and restoring a '57 300 C & '58 300 D Coupe).

My Dad later learned that Salinas, California customizer Rod Powell had a "secret customer" that really wanted wanted to own a significant Custom of the '60s ... This "secret customer" was film and record producer William E. McEuen.

At that time, McEuen was (stand-up comedian, star of SNL, & soon-to-be film star) Steve Martin's producer ... as well as the producer of other successful acts like "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band" ... and later Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Ruebens ... in a nutshell, money wasn't an issue for Mr. McEuen ... and arrangements were made for my father to purchase the car and deliver it to Rod Powell's shop ... McEuen brought a "Stack of Benjamins" to our house ... and the rest as they say is history!

Here's some pics from the day we picked up the car in Fresno and trailered it to Rod Powell's shop in Salinas:

Brian Burnett's (Los Gatos, CA) shop freshened up all of the mechanicals, Street West Upholstery (Campbell, CA) handled new threads for the interior, and Rod Powell resprayed the car with RM 400 Black Nitrocellulose Lacquer:

images courtesy Rod Powell

I believe the car was shown at the 1982 or 83 Grand National (Oakland) Roadster Show ... and then parked in one of Mr. McEuen's warehouses.

I recently stumbled across some Kodachrome slides taken the day my father found the "Inman '57 Chrysler" (in 1977 ... not "Circa 1980-81" as I stated in post #172157).

Here it is still covered in dust:

Washing it off:

A couple close-ups:

 Can't recall where I read it but I'm quite sure Clif Inman has been deceased for a number of years.

 What about the "almost clone" custom done in Scandinavia in recent years that was for sale?  and where is it today?

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 Do you mean the one that was built in Finland by Petri Hälvä?? If so then current location is in Sweden. It was sold 1st to Denmark and then later to Sweden...

 Here is the recent photo of "Petri Hälvä Chrysler"..  As you can see she already has the Swedish license plate.

In 1990, McEuen allowed Rod to show the car at his annual "Rod Powell Picnic" in Salinas.

Automotive photo-journalist, Pat Ganahl was in attendance at the picnic ... and wrote an article entitled "THE DARK SECRET: Clif Inman's famous chopped Chrysler Lives - but we don't know where".

Pat's article appeared in the December 1991 issue of Rod&Custom magazine:

In 1996, McEuen loaned the "Inman '57 Chrysler" to the Oakland Museum of California for their "Hot Rods and Customs: The Men and Machines of California's Car Culture" exhibition (which ran from September 21^st 1996 thru January 5^th 1997) ... Here's the photos used in the museum's exhibit book:

Flash photography wasn't allowed in the museum, but someone did manage to snap this pic:

The car hasn't been seen in public for several years ... here's the most recent picture I have of it:

image from McEuen's Aspen Film Society website

57burb - 2009-04-29 11:55 AM

Hello there Todd aka Hemi32. I knew it was you as soon as I started reading the post... the first clue was the subject matter itself! hahaa

Take care bud-
Danny
aka Gotgas :bleh:

Regards - Todd (aka FIN-ATIC ... and HEMI32 on a "certain other forum")

I haven't seen or talked to Mr. McEuen in over 27 years ... but next time I talk to Rod Powell (who I believe keeps in touch with Mr. McEuen, I'll mention that you have a set of US Royal Masters for sale.

On a personal note, I'm glad you found this thread ... you are one of the reasons I have been lurking on this site for several years (and finally joined 2 days ago) ... you're posts (on the forum & e-mail lists) are always a great source of information & entertainment.  This is only my 2nd thread on the FWDLK Forum ... be sure to checkout my introductory thread "Pics of our old '55-'59 Mopars") ... it's under the Member Rides category ... and includes photos of 3 of the 5 Chrysler 300s (including the 300C we sold to John & Christie) ... just click HERE.

Todd

Sid ... you posted about a "similar one" ... a '57 New Yorker Custom built in the late '90s by Petri Hälvä (of Finland) ... it was created as somewhat of a tribute to (or replica/clone of) the "Inman '57 Chrysler" [built in the early '60s by Wilhelm Customs (in San Jose, California)] ... NOTE: the "Hälvä '57 Chrysler" is currently owned by Søren Jensen (of Denmark).

I never stated that Mr. Wilhelm had any "understanding" or "sense" of (our beloved) Mr. Exner's "Forward Look" design ... the late Joe Wilhelm was a famous Car Customizer (i.e., Car Re-styler) in the '50s & '60s ... I personally don't care for many of his other designs (click HERE) ... but Clif Inman's Custom (based on a two-door '57 Chrysler) is definitely the exception! ... the photographs I have posted here don't do justice to the car's overall look and styling ... one really needs to see this car in person to fully appreciate it.

I would agree that the "Inman '57 Chrysler" Custom is "ANTI ForwardLook" ... but I would beg to differ that it is "ANTI 50s":

1960fury - 2009-05-01 3:02 PM
...the ultra fat C pillar looks like from a new car or from a 70s car

So ... since Mr. Wilhelm chopped the car in 1962, are you saying that he was a visionary?

Are you sure it doesn't need some ill-fitting fender skirts to make it a "Real '50s Custom"? ... perhaps the owner could grease his hair back, wear '50s American vintage clothing, hang "fuzzy dice" from the rear-view mirror, and play some Rockabilly on the accessory record player ... then it would be "Just like the '50's"

Each custom car is the individual expression of the owner with the assistance of the builder who interprets the owner's wishes.  This was true whenever the first cars were customized in the teens and trwenties.  A lot more cars were done in "the custom body era" of the 1930s.  That whole scene dropped off during the '40s due to the war.  Then it became the field of the "customizers" in the fifties and sixties.  It is an INDIVIDUAL thing.  My taste isn't the next guy's taste.  His taste isn't my taste.  That is ALL okay.  Somewhere in this discussion it becomes all about everybody else being wrong unless we all think alike and hey folks, that would be plain crazy.  It is in our variety and in our differences that we have great strength.  It is in our commonality that we are weak.  All hail the customizers and the customs. 

In my "book" the Inman '57 Chrysler is the outstanding forwardllook custom of all time.  But that is ONLY my opinion.  And everyone else is welcome to theirs.  Fortunately our web master, Dave Stragand, has given us a forum to continue to express ourselves and we don't have to be politically correct.

Dear 1960 Fury,

I beg to differ.  I think I am entitled to an opinion here.  I love ForwardLook design enough to own a 1960 300F hardtop, 1957 300C hardtop and convertible and yet I STILL love the Inman /Wilhelm custom '57 Chrysler. 

Don't deny me my opinion and I won't deny you your opinion.  Is that a fair enough deal or not?

Thanks!

Rik Hoving (in the Netherlands) maintains a wonderful photo archive of Customs ... with pics of a several chopped Forward Look cars ... including:

* John D'Agostino's "Imperial Royale" '57 Imperial ... click HERE.

* the Gene Winfield built "Golden Sunrise" '58 Chrysler ... click HERE and HERE.

* Richard Zocchi's '56 Chrysler Windsor, '56 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer D500, '57 Dodge Coronet, '59 Plymouth Fury, '60 Dodge Pioneer, and '61 Dodge Polara ... click HERE (and browse through the 4 page album).

* Johan Norlin's '57 Chrysler New Yorker ... click HERE.

... and just click HERE for some pics of the Petri Hälvä built '57 Chrysler New Yorker.

Here's one more Andy Southard Jr. photo of Clif Inman and his Wilhelm built '57 Chrysler Custom:

This pic was framed and hung on the wall of our garage all throughout the '60s & '70s ... brings back good memories for me!

I would agree with you.  Someone did a photoshop of our '56 Dodge project with a chop and it does make the car look longer and sleeker too.  But as you said, its out of our pocketbook as well.  Hell, I'm just trying to finish it!

 Do you mean this one built by Alex Gambino (Gambino Kustoms) ?

 Rik Hoving`s Custom Car Photo Archive is endless source what comes to custom cars. There you`ll found it under the name "Johan Norlin 1957 Chrysler New Yorker".

 -->    http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/customcars_i_like/custom_cars_from/johan-norlin-1957-c/

Thanks, glad to hear this.  Sorry for my incorrect post.

Hopefully I´m not too much off topic but as there are already good collection of chopped `57 Chryslers I assume that we should not forget the "Golden Sunrise" by John D `Agostino ....

 Can anyone recall more chopped `57`s? One unfinished was for sale in eBay ~ year ago, I need to check if I´ll find a photo of it...

Just ran into this picture here is what is done

late 57-58 dual headlights from Chrysler 

60-61 Comet rear windshield

rounded door edges

dropped suspension

trim removed

inset rear license plate

custom grill bars

Some interior from a 60 plymouth

58 tail lights frenched

chop roof 3 inches and put in a bubble top. other little stuff(antenna)

It's pretty much replicating the true advertised pics if you ask me. They were drawn lower and sleeker. 

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Here's another (circa 1990) pic of the Inman Chrysler at Rod Powell's shop in Salinas, CA: