Leadsled
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A leadsled is a car from the 1950s or early 1960s that has had extensive customization done to the body. The most common type of car turned into a leadsled is the 1949-1951 Mercury. A famous example is the one driven by the Pharaohs gang in American Graffiti.
These customizations could consist of chopping down the roofline, removing the side trim, extending the rear fenders, nosing & decking (removal of trim from hood & trunklid), sectioning and/or channeling the body, adding fender skirts, and lowering the suspension. The term "leadsled" derives from the lead filler that was used to fill holes and smooth the edges of modified parts. This filler, while very durable, was difficult to work with and highly toxic. It has almost completely been replaced by Bondo.
Some customiser have built leadsleds out of later model cars from the 70s, 80s and 90s. For example, Darryl Starbird's 1990s Lincoln Mark VIII. Other late model candidates have included the 1990s Orca Chevy Caprice and Vauxhall Carlton.
