Nudie Mobiles

Nudie Mobiles are vehicles customized by the designer Nudie Cohn.

History

Nudie was a Ukrainian-American tailor, known for designing rhinestone-covered outfits worn by celebrities as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. Between 1950 and 1975 he customized 18 Cadillac and Pontiac convertibles with typical Nudie icons, such a silver-dollar-studded dashboards, pistol door handles, and longhorn steer horns as hood ornaments.[1] Presley almost got himself a Nudie mobile, "In 1972, Nudie made a [customized] car for Elvis 'cause Elvis thought, Well I've got to have that in my collection'...but his manager would not let Nudie get close to Elvis."[2]

The "Nudie Mobiles" have become collector's items. Nudie's Online Car Museum with 16 cars, Los Angeles.[3] One car is in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1972 and 1974 two cars were bought by Bobbejaan Schoepen, a Belgian entertainer with a passion for country music.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Nudie, Jamie Lee; Cabrall, Mary Lynn (2004). "Chapter 4: The Cars". Nudie: the Rodeo tailor. Smith, Gibbs Publisher. pp. 62–71. ISBN 978-1-58685-381-5. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  2. ↑ George-Warren, Holly; Freedman, Michelle (2001). How the West was worn. Harry N. Abrams. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-8109-0615-0.
  3. ↑ "Nudies Rodeo Tailors official website of Nudies suits". Nudiesrodeotailor.com. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  4. ↑ Dixon, Chris (2005-09-05). "A Rhinestone Cowboy Who Grabbed Cars by the Horns". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-26.