Custom Dash Knobs

1952: A closer look inside the Hirohata Merc reveals the custom dash knobs hand-made by Bob Hirohata himself. Fabricated from plastic to match the white and green interior, these knobs became trendsetters—so much so that Cal Custom later put them into production. A small detail with big influence, they helped define the look of early 1950s custom interiors. Photo courtesy of Mecum Auction.

A close-up of the Hirohata Merc’s gear shifter. Photo courtesy of Mecum Auction.

Bob Hirohata didn’t stop at the dash and shifter, he even cast matching custom knobs for the radio. Made in green and white to tie in with the interior theme, these handcrafted details helped set a new standard in custom car interiors and contributed to the rise of personalized accessories in the early 1950s. Photo courtesy of Mecum Auction.

Even the tool kit in the Hirohata Merc’s trunk didn’t escape Bob's eye for detail. He hand-cast matching green-and-white handles for the screwdrivers, extending the custom theme all the way into the trunk. It’s another example of how the Hirohata Merc set a new bar for what a truly finished custom could be, right down to the smallest parts. Photo courtesy of Mecum Auction.

1958: Jim Seaton’s Barris-built 1955 Chevrolet featured a custom dash treatment that blended subtle elegance with performance styling. Upholstered in white tuck-and-roll with burgundy carpet, the interior included a smoothed and reworked dash fitted with custom knobs, gauges, and a steering wheel center cap to match the car’s show-and-go theme. Like other top customs of the late 1950s, Seaton’s dash reflected the growing trend of full interior integration, where knobs, trim, and layout were just as customized as the bodywork.

1960: The fully chromed dash of Don Fletcher's 1957 Chevrolet, the El Capitola, featured custom-made dash knobs that matched the car’s futuristic, show-car theme. Built by Sam Barris, the car was upholstered by Eddie Martinez and packed with high-tech touches like a joystick controller and in-dash TV. Debuting early in 1960, El Capitola was more than a custom; it was a rolling showcase. The custom knobs, seen here beneath the sweeping gauge cluster, echoed a trend that had begun earlier in the decade with the Hirohata Merc and helped define the custom interiors of the era. Photo by Josh Sweeney, courtesy of Hagerty.

Custom Dash Knobs became a popular styling detail in the 1950s, offering builders a simple way to personalize and dress up their interiors. One of the earliest and most influential uses of custom knobs appeared in Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury, built by Barris Kustoms for the 1952 Motorama. As the interior was coming together, Hirohata himself hand-fabricated a set of unique plastic dash knobs to complement the white and green Carson Top Shop upholstery. The look caught on quickly, and the knobs were soon put into production by Cal Custom, helping kickstart the aftermarket trend. Hirohata’s dash, also painted by Dick Jackson and pinstriped by Von Dutch, became a benchmark for early custom interiors and is still studied today for its attention to detail.

Cars Featuring Custom Dash Knobs

Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury Club Coupe - The Hirohata Merc
Jim Seaton's 1955 Chevrolet
Don Fletcher's 1957 Chevrolet 210 - El Capitola