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Kustomrama is an encyclopedia dedicated to traditional hot rod and custom cars. Our mission is to keep history alive by protecting, preserving and sharing hot rod and custom car history from all over the world. More info...

Featured Stories

Björn Ramsten's 1957 Chevrolet 1957 Chevrolet owned and restyled by Björn Ramsten of Stockholm, Sweden. Björn's Chevrolet emerged as a landmark in the evolution of Nordic custom car culture during the 1960s. George Jezek's 1931 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan 1931 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan owned and built by George Jezek of Waco, Texas, Jezek has been a dedicated figure in the hot rod and custom car scene since the 1950s. Ed Ward's 1932 Ford Roadster 1932 Ford Roadster owned by Ed Ward of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The story of this 1932 Ford Roadster begins with its purchase by Ed Ward in 1958. Before Ed's ownership, the car's history remains somewhat shrouded in mystery.

News

03.30.2025 - The Sandberg Family Wins The 2025 Kustomrama Award In March of 2025, the first Kustomrama Award was presented to the Sandberg family, whose contributions have been vital to the Swedish hot rod and custom car culture and scene. 04.22.2025 - Kustomrama Online Store Finally Goes European We’ve finally launched European versions of the Kustomrama Online Store! That’s right, shopping for tees, caps, and gear just got easier (and cheaper) for our friends on this side of the pond. 11.20.2024 - Introducing the Limited Edition Kraze Painter! We have released a Limited Edition 2024 Kraze Painter Design! This exclusive piece by the legendary Von Franco is a true collector’s item and the perfect gift for any Kustom Kulture fan.

Lost and Found

Lost: Sam Benton's 1936 Ford Coupe Sam Benton's grandson, Gabe Naccarato, is searching for his grandfather’s old custom. He believes the car was sold in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in late 1958 or early 1959. Lost Swedish Custom: Christer Gref's 1956 Ford Fairlane 1956 Ford Fairlane owned by Christer Gref of Sweden. This vehicle, tastefully modified and parked near the bridge to Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden, was immortalized in a photograph taken by Björn Ramsten in 1965. Looking for Info: Pat McNamara's 1928 Ford Model A Pick-Up 1928 Ford Model A Pick-Up, originally built by Pat McNamara in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The truck is a true relic of California's early hot rod movement. Now owned by Greg Stokes of GMS Hot Rods in New Zealand, the truck is currently located in Bakersfield, California, where it is being brought back to life in Pat McNamara's memory.

Photo Archive

The Dave Pettner Collection Dave Pettner has been involved with hot rods and custom cars since the 1950s. Growing up in Compton, California, he started working in a body shop as a teenager and never looked back. Over the decades, Dave has built, painted, and worked on hundreds of cars, with a personal collection that has included everything from chopped Chevys to classic Fords. The Milt Mallory Collection In the vast canvas of American automotive history, the late 1940s and early 1950s stand out as a period of intense creativity and mechanical ingenuity. It was an era that saw the birth of hot rodding - a unique cultural phenomenon that combined speed, style, and a relentless pursuit of personal expression. The Milt Mallory Photo Collection offers us a rare glimpse into this revolutionary period through a series of images that capture the raw essence of early hot rodding. The Joe "Bud" Simmons Collection Joe "Bud" Simmons was a founding member of the Throttle Benders car club in 1949. According to his grandson, Brian Burnham, it wasn't a big club, "just a bunch of farm kids from the California Central Valley."

Remembering the Legends

03.04.2025 - Gene Winfield Robert Eugene Winfield (June 16, 1927 - March 2025) was a legendary American custom car builder, painter, designer, and dry lakes racer. Known as "Windy" amongst friends, Gene began restyling cars in a chicken coop behind his mother's house at 1309 Figaro Avenue in Modesto, California, after WWII. 10.13.2024 - Per Arne Knudsen Per Arne Knudsen (July 1, 1941 – October 13, 2024) was a pioneer of the Norwegian hot rod movement. His contributions to the Norwegian automotive scene spanned the formation of two significant car clubs, Viking Custom and Nor-Way Custom, and his involvement in building one of Norway's first hot rods, a 1934 Ford Cabriolet. Over the years, Knudsen remained a central figure in Norway's custom car culture until his passing in 2024. 08.24.2024 - Alex Xydias Alex Xydias (March 22, 1922 – August 24, 2024) was a legendary figure in the world of American hot rodding, widely celebrated for his pioneering work in the automotive and motorsports industry. Known for founding the iconic So-Cal Speed Shop and his later contributions to automotive media and events, Xydias' influence spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on car culture and motorsports history.

Marketplace

For Sale: 1954 Lincoln Capri Custom For sale is a highly customized 1954 Lincoln Capri, known as "Betty," a show-stopping classic with a rich history and extensive custom work. For Sale: Bill and Bob Glazier's 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible - The Candy Wagon Old custom originally restyled by Barris Kustoms for the Glazier brothers from North Bend, Washington. For Sale: Sean Mason's 1950 Ford Restyled by Masterson Kustom Automobiles for Sean Mason, this 1950 Ford is a subtle yet classic example of Southern California custom culture.

Guides, Reviews & Recommendations

Rev Up Your Ride: Best Spark Plugs for Hot Rods & Custom Cars of 2024 When it comes to fine-tuning your hot rod or custom car, choosing the right spark plugs is as crucial as selecting the perfect set of wheels. Marvel Mystery Oil: Unlocking the Secrets of Engine Performance and Maintenance With a name like Marvel Mystery Oil and a reputation for extraordinary claims, this fuel and oil additive has captivated automotive enthusiasts for nearly a century. Mags, Drags & Rock'n Roll - Kustomrama's Guide to Mag Wheels You could see them on dragsters, hot rods, customs, lowriders, and show cars! Mag wheels were the ultimate craze during the 1960s, and no one wanted to stand outside the winner's circle.

Top Lists

50 Automotive History Books Every Car Enthusiast Must Read Are you a gearhead or an automotive enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge on hot rods, custom cars, and the rich history of the automobile? Look no further! Top 21 Barris Kustoms of the 1950s - Plus the Expert Picks of 2022 Do you have a favorite Barris Kustom build from the 1950s? We have made a list that showcases the 21 most famous and most important Barris Kustoms of the 1950s in chronological order. Kevan Sledge ranks the 3 greatest customs of all time Kevan Sledge is a founding member of the So. Cal Shifters car club. Kevan has had a passion for cars since he was a young kid and began building hot rods and customs as a hobby in the late 1980s. In 2011 he started up Sledge Customs, turning his hobby into a full-time profession.

Featured Events

Grand National Roadster Show 2025 The 75th anniversary Grand National Roadster Show was held from January 31 through February 2, 2025, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. As the longest-running indoor car show in the United States, the event continued its tradition of gathering some of the finest hot rods, customs, and classic cars from across the country. Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2024 The 32nd annual Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show was held December 01, 2024 at the Pacifico Yokohama in Japan. As one of the most significant automotive events in Japan, it attracts enthusiasts and professionals from around the globe. SEMA Show 2023 The 2023 SEMA Show was held from October 31 through November 4, 2023. The show is a key event in the automotive specialty products industry, held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Featured Projects

Marius Kristiansen's 1951 Ford 1951 Ford owned by Marius Kristiansen of Dal, Norway. Originally built in the United States, Kristiansen's Ford features a chopped top, airbags, and a shaved body, stripped of most of its chrome and ornamentation, giving it a sleek and streamlined appearance. Lawrence Garrison's 1940 Mercury Convertible In 2011 Birger Meland of Lier, Norway bought Lawrence Garrison’s channeled 1940 Mercury from Pat Orosco in California. For a long time, the history of this old custom has been full of holes and rumors. In June Birger told us that he wanted to restore the car back to how it was originally built. We applauded the initiative and agreed to help him research the history of the car. Gil Ayala's 1955 Ford Thunderbird - The Wild Bird Gil Ayala's personal custom, a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, known as the Wild Bird, has been sold to Scandinavia. Gil's Thunderbird is one of the few known surviving Ayala Customs, and it is a great addition to the Scandinavian custom scene. The restoration. We followed the restoration of the car, and it's trip halfway across the world on Kustomrama.

Kustomrama Styling Studio

1950 Ford Custom - Bongo Date 1950 Ford Coupe designed by Howard "The Weird Rembrandt" Gribble. Gribble drew this custom sometime around 1959, as a high school freshman. At the time he was busy restyling his own 1950 Ford, and this design shows what kind of ideas he had planned for the car. Panel Painted 1950 Ford Custom 1950 Ford Coupe designed by Doyle Bidwell. Bidwell drew this custom sometime around 1959, as a high school freshman. At the time he was busy restyling his own 1950 Ford Coupe, and this design shows what kind of ideas he had planned for the car. 1941 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Custom Janne Kutja has been down in his archive again and found a design he drew back in 2006. This concept is based on a 1941 Lincoln Zephyr convertible. Main modifications include a chopped and leaned back windshield and a padded top.

Recommended Reading

Hot Cars in Cool California by Henrik U. Forss Hot Cars in Cool California by Henrik U. Forss is a visual journey that captures the spirit of a bygone era through the lens of a modern-day observer. Recommended: The Automotive Alchemist by Andy Saunders The Automotive Alchemist dives into the universe of UK master fabricator Andy Saunders. A tapestry of inspiration, resilience, and craftsmanship unfolds over 464 pages adorned with 1,055 behind-the-scenes photographs, telling the story of a young man from Poole with an endless imagination. Recommended: Peter Sukalac: Photo Journalist Thanks to Peter Sukalac, Northwest hot rods and customs started appearing in national magazines back in the 1950s. Thanks to Albert Drake, the history of the man behind the photos has now finally been documented and preserved.

Misc

Craft of Speed Craft of Speed is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the journey of Shige Suganuma and Chico Kodama, two Japanese and Japanese American hot rodders who revitalized the iconic American speed equipment company, Mooneyes. Featured Video: Andy Southard Jr Archives - BOX 15: TEANECK NJ CAR SHOW 1958 Step back to 1958 with Andy Southard's stunning photo collection from a car show in Teaneck, New Jersey, now beautifully preserved and shared by Trent Sherrill of Speed and Kulture Magazine. Featured Video: The Barris Kustom Gets Revealed! A piece of custom car history brought back to life—this 1953 Oldsmobile Convertible, restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1958 for Bill and Bob Glazier, emerges from 50 years in storage. Chip Foose preserves its vintage spirit, allowing the Glazier family to experience the thrill of driving their father’s iconic Barris custom once more.