Mild Custom Masterpiece – Cliff Frye’s ’49 Ford Coupe
There’s something almost timeless about the look of a well-designed, well-crafted mild custom, and Clifford Frye’s tasty avocado-hued ’49 Ford Coupe is a wonderful example. It’s not overdone or unnecessarily flashy, but instead wears thoughtful modifications in just the right places that result in a cohesive whole that exudes ’50s cool.
Cliff’s fascination with cars goes back to high school in the mid-’80s when he had a ’55 Chevy. That was followed by a ’58 Ranchero and a ’64 Valiant. A friend had this Ford coupe for sale back in 2012, and Cliff figured it would be a good candidate for building a true ’50s-style mild custom.
He began by having the original frame sand blasted and powder coated, and then reassembled it with dropped spindles and coil springs in front and dropped leaf springs augmented by lowering blocks in the rear. Drum brakes were retained at all four corners, and period-perfect rolling stock came in the form of 6.70-15 Firestone wide whitewalls, Ford wheels, and Cadillac Sombrero wheel covers with Ford emblems.
Cliff’s engine choice was equally old school – a ’53 Mercury Flathead V8 rebuilt with the help of Will Mediros and outfitted with Navarro heads, an Offy dual-carb intake, MSD ignition, and Reds headers sending fumes through Smitty’s mufflers. The faithful Flattie is backed by a rebuilt three-speed transmission.
Sean Renteria of Renteria Bros. Customs in Morgan Hill, CA gets credit for the metal work, which is more extensive than it might first appear. Subtle mods like filled seams and rounded door top and hood corners enhance the car’s curvy lines, while frenched headlights and taillights and shaved emblems help smooth things out. The front wheel openings have been flared; the rears covered with fender skirts. Lincoln door buttons replace the original handles, while ’57 DeSoto side trim provides space to incorporate a tasteful cream-colored accent to the custom-mixed green PPG finish applied by Sean. The tucked bumpers are adorned with cut-down ’49 Mercury guards (front) and a ’54 Studebaker rear license guard.
The clean and classic theme was continued inside, where Jesus Rivera stitched period-style white vinyl upholstery with green rolled and pleated inserts and piping over stock seats. Crestline trim was used to dress up the original dash, with a matching Crestline wheel topping the stock column. A Rebel Wire harness connects the electrical components.
Finished earlier this year, the ’49 Ford Coupe won first place in the 1949-54 Early Custom class at the Sacramento Autorama before claiming the Fuel Curve Custom of the Year finalist honor in Pleasanton. Cliff is quick to credit his friends and racing family at Renteria Bros. Racing, as well as his wife, Joanne, for their help and support in bringing this mild custom masterpiece to fruition.
Photos by Steven Bunker
