Peter is a “photographic observer” who is living in Australia. Today’s collection of photographs from Peter are of some very interesting Bits and Pieces of photos that he has taken in Australia and here in the US. I like that we get to see how Peter shares his views of the hobby in Australia and here in the US.
In Peter’s “Hood”, Queensland, a neighbor down the road owns a Ford Model A tourer and also owns a Model T as well. For the first time the Brisbane Model A Club members had a get together on his property that made for a good photographic setting and some good neighborhood excitement.
Peter photographed this wildly customized Corvette while caught up in traffic here in the US. Peter had just arrived from Australia when was told that George Barris had died, November 5th 2015. Peter never met Barris but, some of his friend here in the states knew him and were going to his funeral. Did Peter want to go? Yes, but with other commitments made that impossible! The photo here he was thinking could this be a GB custom and was taking part in the ceremonies or just a coincidence. If it is not a GB custom, it is a Corvette of significance. Not long after this photo another truck blazons with a Hot Wheels logo, open side, but empty? Could there be a connection with Hot Wheels and not with Barris? Peter asks the question, then whose custom work is this? Well, hang on I have the answers to Peters questions.
I found this article on Ebays Motors / blog written by Daniel Gray, March 2, 2021, and I think it answers some of Peter’s questions.
The Asymmetrical “Outer Limits” Corvette is For Sale on eBay – Modifying a classic C2 Corvette with an asymmetrical design is a gutsy move. But that’s what makes the “Outer Limits” 1963 Corvette for sale on eBay such a legendary car.
Here’s how it happened back in 1963. The ‘Vette was involved in a nasty high-speed crash with less than 100 miles on the odometer. Then, Ray Fahrner—the famous custom car builder and show promoter—spared the split window car from the wrecking yard. Farhner dropped $950 on the frame and pile of parts emerging from the accident. He hauled the lot to his custom shop in Kansas City, Mo. Six weeks later, the car emerged with an off-kilter design inspired by Dean Jeffries’ Mantaray and Big Daddy Ed Roth’s Mysterion.
Disproportionate Design – The body modifications were extensive. The finned fenders are way taller than stock, and the wheel wells are radiused to accommodate the larger tires. This technique is a gasser-era hallmark. But the most notable feature is the design of the front and rear fascia. They’re not symmetrical. A prominent extra fin runs from below the front grill, around the beak, and down the hood to the windshield. Meanwhile, a wide one-piece rear light panel stretches across the right side of Outer Limits’s sleek tail, with the license plate inset on the left side.
Like No Other ’63 Split-Window Corvette – The Outer Limits Corvette changed hands many times. Each owner had a distinct view of how the car should look. As a result, it had more facelifts than Joan Rivers.
Consider the paintwork over the years: – When Outer Limits first emerged from Farhner’s shop, the car sported light blue pearl paint with lighter and darker blends to accent the body lines.
- A Candy Red respray soon followed.
- The third paint job was a green-gold candy fade.
- Darryl Starbird, the renowned car builder, opted for a Candy Blue hue half a decade or so after the initial build. (He had a 392 Hemi installed, just for hoots.)
The Corvette fell on hard times in the 1970s. Builder Gary Logan worked at a NAPA Auto Parts store in 1979 when he found the pieces collecting dust. Logan would go on to establish his own custom shop in Independence, Mo. That’s when he bought the Stingray and set out to restore it to its former glory. His crew did a faithful job of reconstructing the car.
A Museum Car in the Works – The drivetrain currently consists of a naturally aspirated 350 cubic-inch Chevy V-8, a Muncie four-speed manual transmission, and a 3.36:1 Positraction rear differential. This is the combo installed by Logan. While the engine sported a turbocharger at one point, the snail is long gone.
Yet another owner opted for star-themed wheels and interior. The makeover included replacing the original build’s round headlamps with rectangular units in the 1980s. Burly side pipes soon sprouted from the rockers, as well. Score one for star-power, as the multiple remakes by famous builders caught Robert Peterson’s attention. Outer Limits landed in the world-famous Peterson Museum in Los Angeles, Calif., which proudly displayed it for years. However, it left the Peterson collection in 2013.
The car crossed the block numerous times, with appearances at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction and the Mecum Kissimmee Auction. The current owner purchased the car only recently but is now reluctantly parting with it. This ’63 is a cat with many lives.
That leaves one critical question: How will the next owner of Outer Limits remake the split-window one more time?
In Peter’s 2012 file he found these photos of this local project that he had no idea what it was all about. Well Peter, another mystery solved. If you clean up and blow up the first image you can see painted on the hood. Sabrina, Supercharged, 1958 Aust Special. Well read on.
Sabrina is an Australian built sports racing car with long motor racing history.
This fabulous Australian special well known in historic racing was on the market. Powered by a supercharged Austin Healey 3000 motor in a tubular chassis with a custom built fiberglass body this is a very special and competitive sports racing car, the quintessential Australian special. Sabrina’s history has been extensively documented and has featured in many reviews including the April 2010 issue of Vintage Racecar. The car is in great condition and comes of course with its CAMS C of D and logbook, a customized trailer and an extensive spares inventory including the fiberglass body moulds. The asking price was $A80,000 for the complete package and all offers will be considered as it must be sold.
This photo is not one of Peter’s. The photo dates from the 80s. People then and still do make a living shooting, roo’s (kangaroos), wild goats, rabbits for pet food. Night spotter lamp somewhat attached to the wind screen pillar in place of any glass at all. They skin and gut them on the tail gate. A 1960-70 Falcon V8 wagon would be sought out and restored these days. . How many would want to take on restoring this if found in an outback shed? Not!
On one of Peters trips back here to the states he stopped by the late Mick Felders shop. Here is a 1936 Ford Woody finished in Dessert Sand that is having the finishing touches done at Mick Felder’s Shop located on PCH and Second St. in Hermosa Beach, CA.
This Shell service station was not far from Peter’s father’s home here in the U.S. and Peter would almost always find something interesting being serviced there, His fathers own 1973 Chevy Nova SS was also serviced there. In 2019 he found service station empty but, still standing. The cars waiting service were a 1961 Ford Falcon fordor sedan finished in Montecarlo red and a 1971 Buick Skylark Convertible finished in Cascade blue. 58 years old and 48 years old at the time they were photographed.
Peter and I want to thank you for riding along. Frank