The Turquoise Turtle

[Mark Pribanic]

Found this at a yard sale this weekend. May have been owned by John Macia and/or Paul Buckingham of northern California. I would say this is one of the earliest outlaws I have seen. Anyone recognize the car or remember seeing it in California during the late 1950's/1960's?

[Trevor Gates]

Cool find Mark. Looks like 59 Cadillac tail lights frenched in.

[Mark Pribanic]

Yup, wonder where it is now? and if anyone remembers seeing it around Cali.

[Trevor Gates]

Digging up an old thread. Charles from Woody’s Custom shop posted this front view picture yesterday on Instagram and I knew I had seen this “Kustom” 356 before. I’m glad Mark and Charles both posted pictures.

Notice it has a bent windshield. Could it be the first ever Outlaw???

I wonder if it still exists today and what condition...

[Norm Miller]

I like the period Lucas mirrors. (long stem).
They might have chromed the bumpers. Hard to tell.

[George Kehler]

The sign says a 1954.

[Jay Wiener]

My Jeffries carrera is the first outlaw. This was probably done shortly after

[Richard Emerson]

My Jeffries carrera is the first outlaw. This was probably done shortly after

How could anyone know that? Your car first appeared in a magazine in October 1959which was earlier. We don’t know when this your or this car was finished. Not to mention that Jeffries traded a 356 he had “lightly modified” for your Carrera, so perhaps that was the first outlaw? (Lightly doesn’t sound like an outlaw though). And maybe they both were inspired by others.

Obviously both were very early modifications but no one can say who was first, if that even matters. It was the spirit of the times.

Perhaps yours is the first published outlaw and inspired others. And Jeffries obviously is famous for his work.

Edit: I agree below that these are customs more than outlaws.

[Martin Benade]

To me outlaw means performance enhancement with some “sport” visuals. Both these cars are Kustoms, not exactly outlaws. But still interesting.

[Don Gale]

Looks like 1958 Buick headlight bezels with modified Citroen DS21 covers.

[Ted Hedman]

Oakland Roadster Show 1960. Photos are from the Petersen Digital Archives.

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[Ted Hedman]

Same car at the '63 Oakland Show (from the Petersen Digital Archive):

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...and before the custom headlights at the '59 Oakland show (from the Petersen Digital Archive):

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[Al Zim]

Am I that old? This is a 1953 or 4 car heavily customized with the tail lights from a 1959 Caddy. In many shows back then chroming everything was a big plus. al

[Jim Liberty]

I have never seen this car. Wonderfully executed. Note the Super oil breather. .....Jim.

[Martin Benade]

Maybe the taillight bodies are from a 59 or 60 Chrysler product. Not sure which one.