Dick Jackson's 1952 Chevrolet Convertible - The Kalifornian
1952 Chevrolet Convertible Custom known as the "Kalifornian." The car was built by Dick Jackson of Carriage Restorations in Minden, Nevada as a tribute to George and Sam Barris. The car began as a 1952 Chevrolet hardtop that Dick bought from the Ponderosa Ranch at Lake Tahoe, and was finished with a chopped and padded "Carson Top" by Darrell Morgan, a 1957 Buick grill, two-tone paint applied by Dick himself, gold leaf and pinstriping by Herb Martinez, and white pearl tuck-and-roll upholstery by Emilio Hernandez.[1][2][3]
Background
The donor car was a rust-free 1952 Chevrolet hardtop that Dick spotted at the Ponderosa Ranch near Lake Tahoe. Karen Jackson recalled, "Dick saw it sitting there and said I must have that car. Well in a matter of hours it was at the house."[1]
The Build
The build took place at the Jackson ranch in Minden,Nevada. Karen Jackson remembered the project as "Lots of help and fun. Guy, Butch, Bobby — Dick, and even me, Karen. Best of times."[1]
A dedication plaque on the finished car listed the crew: built by Dick Jackson, Carson top by Darrell Morgan, upholstery by Emilio Hernandez, pinstriping by Herb Martinez, and wiring by Mark Topping. The plaque also thanked Bob Friday, Butch Davis, and Guy Hannan for their help on the build, and was dedicated "To George and Sam Barris For Their Knowledge Given In the Fifties."[3]
Modifications
According to the build sheet that Dick produced for the car, the top was removed, and 3 1/2 inches were taken out of the center. The roof was reshaped, and a Carson top in Mercedes Italian Canvas material was added by Darrell Morgan, and the windshield post was cut 3 inches.[3] A one-piece 1950 Oldsmobile windshield was installed.[2]
The two-piece hood was welded solid and nosed, and the hood corners were rounded. The front grill was completely molded in using a 1957 Buick grill and 1955 Chevrolet pickup turn lights, and the gravel pan was molded in. The stock headlight rings were Frenched in. The stock side moldings were removed and 1956 Buick side moldings were used. The rear quarter moldings were removed and [1955 Chevrolet]] Bel Air quarter and door moldings were added and reshaped to fit. The lower quarter caps were cut and an air scoop was custom built into the quarter panel. The rear fender skirts were lowered, with 2 inches added to the bottom to give a lower look and an even body line through the quarters. The rocker moldings were removed and lake pipes were Frenched and molded into the body for a lower body line. The front fender wheel openings were lowered to fit the new Buick fender moldings.[2]
The deck lid was shaved, and an electric latch was installed. The stock taillights were removed, and 1958 Chevrolet Corvette taillights were used and molded into the rear quarter panels. The rear license plate bracket was removed and filled, and a 1949 Chevrolet front license plate guard was added at the rear bumper. Real Appleton spotlights were added. The dash had the clock and original instruments removed, with new vintage instruments installed. The door handles were removed, and electric doors were installed.[2]
The car was painted two-tone with clear coat. According to the build sheet, the top was Cammon Pearl metallic and the lower body was mint green pearl.[2] A note in Karen Jackson's photo album described the same process: "Dick painted it all one color & then came back & painted the lower body with light aqua." Herb Martinez handled the pinstriping, with extensive use of gold leaf.[1]
The interior was finished in white pearl tuck-and-roll upholstery by Emilio Hernandez, with custom carpet front and rear and custom carpet in the trunk. The car was air conditioned and fitted with a stereo radio.[2]
Under the hood, the car ran a 350 Chevrolet engine and a 350 transmission with a Chevrolet rear end. The firewall was filled and painted to show quality, and there was extensive chrome under the hood. The chassis used a Mustang front end with rack-and-pinion steering and a Chevrolet El Camino steering column, an RBS crossmember in front, and an RBS rear spring kit.[2]
Hot August Nights Debut
Karen Jackson recalled that the Kalifornian was unveiled at Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Karen Jackson, emails to Sondre Kvipt, Kustomrama, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Dick Jackson, Carriage Restorations build sheet, September 24, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Herb Martinez Pinstriping promotional flyer, "California Line Dr.," dedication plaque to George and Sam Barris.
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