Gary Fiotos 1955 Ford Beatnik Bubbletop Custom Goes Under The Hammer

Here is a tribute to the Detroit cars that made the late 1950s and the early 1960s so special. If anything, pioneers like Ed Roth and Darryl Starbird would be extremely proud of the 1955 Ford Beatnik Bubbletop Custom. The name might suggest that the car belongs to the Beat generation, but it is, in fact, an entirely new creation. Designed by Gary Chopit Fioto, the car is a new interpretation of the retro idea of Bubbletop customs. This is not Fiotos first time in customising an old car either. Earlier, he transformed a 1950s Merc into Tuf Enuff, a sleek hardtop.

With a lavender 1955 Ford as his basis, Fioto raised the roof of the car to handcraft the largest Bubbletop custom. On 2 March, the car will be driving to Florida for RM Auctions annual Amelia Island event. Fiotos Bubbletop custom has already won a series of awards including the $20,000 prize at the Darryl Starbird Show.

Built over four years, 1955 Ford hardly resembles the original vehicle. The front and rear bumpers are inspired by the bumpers of 1950s Cadillacs. A 1960 Chrysler shows up in the Beatniks finned taillights. Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Look under the hood, and there are more transformations.

The Beatnik runs on a Chevrolet engine a 350-cubic inch small-block V8 engine. There is also a modified chassis of a 1988 Lincoln Town Car. In fact, Fioto has freely borrowed from various cars of the Beatnik generation, whether Cadillac, Chrysler or Lincoln. The result is a unique model that is sure to rouse collectors interests as it goes under the hammer.

Via: Carscoop