Rounded Hood Corners

Jerry Harris' 1950 Mercury of Tacoma, Washington. By 1958, Tacoma Toppers member Jerry Harris had transformed his 1950 Mercury into a classic mild custom. Shaved and nosed for a clean look, the Merc featured frenched headlights, a 1955 Dodge grille, rounded hood corners, and full-length lake pipes. A touch of trim above the rear wheels and the absence of skirts gave it a sportier edge. Lowered with dual spotlights, Fiesta hubcaps, and a full custom interior, the car was finished in smooth metallic paint, making it a textbook example of late-1950s custom style.

George Jezek's 1949 Chevrolet 2-Door Sedan of West, Texas. Jezek was a local pinstriper and a founding member of the Eliminators of West car club. Known as The Candy Cart, Jezek's Chevrolet went through several modifications during the late 1950s and the 1960s. This photo, taken sometime around 1960, shows it after Jezek had molded in the grille shell and rounded the hood corners.

Rounded Hood Corners are a classic custom modification where the sharp front corners of a car’s hood are reshaped into smooth, curved edges. This subtle yet effective touch became popular in the 1950s, often used on cars like early Fords, Mercurys, and Chevrolets to soften the factory lines and give the front end a cleaner, more refined look. Rounded corners were frequently paired with nosed hoods, frenched headlights, and other body-smoothing techniques. Though easy to overlook, they’re a hallmark of tasteful, detail-oriented traditional customizing.

Cars Featuring Rounded Hood Corners

George Jezek's 1949 Chevrolet 2-Door Sedan - The Candy Cart
Jerry Harris' 1950 Mercury