fbekholden.com

If you think the Smooth Kustoms '37 &*#@ is Kool, have a gander at this!
Here is Paul McKennariey's '48 Hudson Commodre, this took our Paul Kelly here a frustratingly 7 YEARS to build!! I own a video of this car when it arrived at Paul's workshop, I think most of us here would'nt have even contemplated doing anything with it as it was NOTHING like what you see here in the finished photos! It was more rust and odd panels than a car!
So here it is, the car that I think is Paul Kelly's all time best build (mind you I love leadsleds!).. THE 7 YEAR HUDSON!


Scotty.

Thats a very smooth Hudson and a way cheaper option than a Merc

WOW Im gobsmacked ,One of my favourite cars of all time and built by smooth awesome

hey thanks for the pic's scotty...

and paul, what can i say.....


i'm speachless....






matty martin

nice nice and niicee

you gotta be happy with that

no matter how long it took
what a master piece! love the colour

cheers!

Scotty!!!!
My new promotions manager.

Harko, am glad you like it

Stingray, It was built over seven years but in real time possibly a little under two years.
Jobs like this are a major undertaking and can only be worked on when money is available.
The colour suits the car so well

Like the 37 &*#@, the owner trusted my judgement and what I had designed. And allowed me to build the vision


Because it was a true custom most Australians seemed to over look it.
Even though Street Machine did a great feature on it followed by the other publications.

It recieved major exposure in at least one newspapers motoring section in each capital city nationally
And was the promanant car on the Motor Ex bill boards when it competed in the Super Stars selection . Placing in the top three cars selected in the country. No mean feat for a full on Custom

But it attracted more attention outside of Australia, making covers and fantastic features in the top publications in America Japan and Europe.
Something most Australians would not be aware of.

Thats a little bit of information on this Hudson.
And it started life as a 4 door!

Hudsons are great custom fodder. I was at Choppers the night he lopped off a Hudson roof, it too was 2 doored, but it ended up being painted candy red with a white side panel (Buick side trim).

I new the Hudson made a bit of an impression OS just didn't realize it was a big. Great work Smooth, everything on it looked right.

Perfect lines... love it.

Cheers

Ed

Worth the wait i love it.

Mr Kelly,

You totally disappoint me, you had better lines on the cardboard boxes that were storing all you morry tailight lenses at Raby.
What going on up there in Cane toad territory?................................................................................................................


Just Joking...............Thats a pretty SchMICK lookin Hudson with a.....H.....

Regards John

I keep coming back to look at your creation Smooth and I keep wondering how you can create something from your own mind / visions and it wont be yours ,All the hard work and gruelling hours - fighting to have motivation and sometimes be paid , and then to give it up at birth ,Then enjoy all the commotion it creates from afar and possibly have no recognition or even negative recognition .
Im kinda thinking how I like to keep ideas to myself considering Ive had so many stolen from me in the past (the FC nomad at models56 comes to mind) and another side of me would love to be building full time for enthusiasts , but the two veiws dont marry together real well

I envy your position and feel pretty privelaged to see this stuff and hear it from the creator , cheers

along what harko said i've seen this car heaps and didn't know you did it that would certainly suck building such fantastic cars and hopping into yor commodore or whatever you drive (i'm assuming it's a normal car) to get around
what ever happened to the i think mainline ute you did when you were out campbeltown way

You guys have backed me into a corner

I will try and answer your questions as simply as possible

HARKO
I have a head full of things to build, and for many years during the 70's I built cars for mates for nothing just so it would exist

Otherwise they would still just be pictures in my head or a draw full of drawings

I never have a problem with motovation when I start a project, the lack of money to purchase materials is always a problem. People that have known me for years still talk about the 20 hour days seven days a week when I had a project on the go.

Have slowed down a little now, but still do the seven day weeks.

Dont even mention the money.

In Australia most owners dont want people to know that they had to get someone to do the work, so if your name isnt mentioned that too bad.
They believe if you are paid for the work, that all you should want or get

I have always shared some of the secrets to how some jobs are done.
I will only be able to do so many of this type of job, so why not share the information on the bits that people have not been able to wok out. that way more of these cars with whatever can be built and enjoyed

No use having the attitude, I worked out how to do it and Im not telling anyone.

As far as having your ideas stolen
In the 70's I designed a full range of mechanical conversions covering basically the total upgrade on a certain make of car.And the full range of fibreglass panels, rubber reproductions and rust repair panels
I marketed them and they are still being produced 30 years later (but not by me), and have been used all over the world.
Many owners of this make of car would not buy a kit but chose to copy one a mate of theirs had. Problem is they make such a bad job of it. Now that pisses me off.

Doing what I do is more about the creation of a mental picture into reality.

But the truth is that there is more money to be made in doing rust repairs, knocking out dints and putting a fresh coat of paint on.

RATBOX

Dont ask about what I drive, my daughter hasnt asked for it back yet.

The Twin Spinner turned out a very smart custom and is still in the Newcastle area as far as I am aware.
Scotty! has some finished pictures of it.

What about that A40 ute you came to look at, no one would have ever thought about that as it was driven down the road, and still is today.

I have a dorment WEB site that if I get my act together could be up and running in a couple of months.
Then you could look at all the cars and other things I have built or had a hand in over the last 30 odd years that most people are unaware of.

dont know why anyone wouldnt want to praise heaps of thanks to you for the work youve done smooth,(i would have you sign it if it was mine) as that looks absolutely fantastic....

damn i wish i had alot of money(and a spare car)