Chuck Krikorian's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster - The Emperor

The Emperor displayed next to the Ala Kart at an indoor car show. Two well-known Fresno hot rods. Photo courtesy of Custom Rodder.

A photo of Blackie with The Emperor taken by Howard Gribble in 2005. Photo by Howard Gribble.

The Emperor at the Barris Kustoms display at the 2011 Long Beach Motorama. Photo by Jerry Hatto.

The Emperor was part of a historical collection of past AMBR and Slonaker Award Winners at the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show. The display was curated in collaboration with the Petersen Automotive Museum. Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

1929 Ford Model A Roadster owned by Chuck Kirkorian of Fresno, California. Known as the Emperor, the build was started by Krikorian and completed by Barris Kustoms. As one of the most recognizable historic show cars, it won the prestigious America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the 1960 National Roadster Show. With its striking red and white paint scheme, extensive chrome detailing, and signature custom grille, The Emperor remains an enduring symbol of early 1960s show car culture.

History and Construction

Chuck, a teenager from Fresno, began working on his roadster in the late 1950s. His original intent was to build a drag car, utilizing 1931 Ford Model A frame rails and a 1957 Cadillac 365 cubic-inch (CI) V8 engine, which was later modified into a 406 CI high-performance engine. However, before he could complete the car for racing, he was persuaded by his brother-in-law Richard Peters and noted car builder Blackie Gejeian to transform it into a show car. Peters, who owned the Ala Kart, had won America's Most Beautiful Roadster at the Oakland Roadster Show in both 1958 and 1959, while Gejeian had tied for the 1955 AMBR title with his Shish Kabob Special. Their influence convinced Krikorian to abandon his initial drag racing vision and instead send the project to Barris Kustoms in Lynwood, California, for completion.

Under ||George Barris]]'s and his team's expertise, The Emperor underwent a complete transformation. The body was channeled eight inches over the fully chromed frame, giving the car a dramatically lowered stance. One of its most distinctive features, a custom grille shell and headlight bezel frame, was fabricated, instantly setting it apart from other custom roadsters of the era. The wheels were partially covered with molded motorcycle fenders, further enhancing the car’s sleek appearance. The interior was designed by Eddie Martinez, who created a stunning white tuck-and-roll upholstery, a hallmark of high-end custom builds.

Mechanically, the Cadillac V8 engine was meticulously detailed for show, featuring six chromed Stromberg 97 carburetors sitting atop the intake manifold. The final touch was the two-tone lacquer paint job, executed in red and white, which was completed just in time for the 1960 National Roadster Show. The stunning design and high level of craftsmanship earned The Emperor the America's Most Beautiful Roadster award, cementing its place in hot rod history.

Drag Racing and Later Modifications

Despite its status as a show car, The Emperor was not merely a static display piece. Shortly after its AMBR victory, Blackie Gejeian took the car to Kingdon Dragstrip, where he pushed it to a top speed of 106 miles per hour, setting a Street Roadster class record. The high-speed run led to an engine rebuild, one of the few mechanical modifications made after the car's debut.

Following its time on the show and racing circuits, Krikorian placed the car into long-term storage, during which he sold its original chromed reverse wheels and whitewall tires. More than twenty years later, Blackie Gejeian acquired the car directly from Krikorian, ensuring its preservation. Though some minor elements had changed—such as the replacement of the original wheels with wider chromed steel wheels and raised white-letter tires—the car remained largely original. The lacquer paint job by Junior Conway, applied in 1959, was still intact, and much of the chrome plating from its show circuit days remained in pristine condition.

One of the few missing elements was the set of custom motorcycle fenders, which proved too delicate for continued use. Nevertheless, The Emperor has remained remarkably close to the condition in which it left Barris Kustoms nearly sixty years ago.

Media Appearances and Legacy

As one of the most famous custom roadsters, The Emperor has been featured in numerous publications and media over the decades. It appeared on the July 1960 cover of Hot Rod Magazine, as well as on the covers of Barris Kustoms of the 1950s and Hot Rod Milestones. The car has also been included in numerous show catalogs, coffee table books, and several Johnny Lightning scale model toy editions, further solidifying its cultural significance.

Blackie Gejeian, who was instrumental in preserving the car, once remarked, "This is one of the most fabulous cars I’ve ever come across. It was painted back in the early part of 1959, and it’s still the same paint!" His words reflect the enduring legacy of The Emperor, not only as an AMBR-winning show car but also as a testament to the craftsmanship of George Barris and the golden age of custom car culture.

Today, The Emperor remains a revered piece of hot rod history, a shining example of Barris Kustoms’ ability to blend radical customization with show-winning style. Its surviving original features, storied history, and impact on custom car design have ensured its place as one of the most celebrated and recognizable hot rods of all time.

Magazine Features

Custom Cars July 1960
Rodding and Re-styling July 1960
Car Craft February 1962
Hot Rod Magazine July 1969