Frenched Rear Pan

Bob Baker's 1946 Ford Four-Door Sedan of Lakewood, California. Restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1956, Bob’s 1946 Ford Four-Door Sedan is a rare example of a full custom sedan from the early Barris Kustoms era. Featuring a nosed hood, molded fenders, frenched rear pan, and a custom twin-bar grille, the car was finished in an iridescent lime-gold. Wide whites and Sombrero hubcaps completed the look, which was featured in Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car. Backed by a surviving 1956 Barris invoice signed by Sam Barris, the build stands out as a clean and refined four-door custom in a period dominated by coupes and convertibles.

A Frenched Rear Pan is a custom modification where the rear lower body panel, also known as the rear valance or roll pan, is smoothed and blended into the surrounding bodywork for a more refined, integrated look. Rather than leaving the factory seams or gaps between the pan and the quarter panels, customizers would weld, fill, and shape the area to create a seamless flow. This could be done with or without a bumper: some builds retain the stock bumper fitted tightly to the frenched pan, while others go bumperless to emphasize the clean lines. Often paired with frenched license plates or custom taillights, a frenched rear pan is a signature of well-finished traditional customs.

Custom Cars Featuring Frenched Rear Pans

Bob Baker's 1946 Ford Four-Door Sedan