DuVall Windshield

Southern California Plating's 1935 Ford Phaeton Delivery Truck. Restyled by Frank Kurtis and George DuVall, this groundbreaking build for Southern California Plating Company was completed in 1936, and it is known as the first vehicle to feature a DuVall Windshield. The chassis and body were lengthened 12 inches, with rear doors welded and filled to create a sleek delivery design. The Cord-inspired handmade brass grille, hidden Wood Lites headlights, and smooth running boards defined its futuristic look, while the distinctive Sea Foam Green paint by Charles Remidi and teardrop signs completed its transformation. This iconic truck was a rolling showcase of innovation and craftsmanship, blending utility and style to set a new standard in custom car design.

An Unknown Early Custom from The Jimmy Summers Photo Collection. This sleek custom build, photographed with a 1937 California license plate, shares a resemblance with the boat-tailed speedsters Frank Kurtis was creating in the early 1930s. Featuring a distinctive DuVall Windshield, the man pictured bears a striking resemblance to George DuVall himself, a pioneer of the custom car scene and later a business partner of Jimmy Summers in the 1960s. Could this be another one of DuVall's early creations? Completed in 1936, Southern California Plating’s 1935 Ford Delivery truck was the first car to showcase DuVall’s iconic windshield, further connecting this design to his legacy. Photo courtesy of Karen Smith.

The 1937 Kurtis Tommy Lee Special was started in 1936, and completed in 1937. Handbuilt by Frank Kurtis for Tommy Lee, this boattail roadster was designed to be the fastest and most sophisticated custom speedster of its time. Built on a 1936 Ford chassis with a Cord 810-inspired front end, the car featured a hand-formed aluminum body, a Cord-derived grille, and a DuVall Windshield. Powered by a massive 318-cubic-inch Offenhauser twin-cam engine producing 300 horsepower, it was capable of speeds up to 130 mph at the dry lakes. Despite its stunning design and advanced engineering, the car’s racing engine proved ill-suited for highway use, leading Tommy to eventually retire it to storage. At a reported cost of $25,000, it was one of the most expensive custom cars of its era, surpassing even the price of many Duesenbergs.

An early Northern California custom, this 1936 Ford Phaeton was restyled by Tommy "The Greek" Hrones in 1937. Known for his meticulous craftsmanship, Tommy later refined the car further, adding a DuVall Windshield, shaving the door handles, removing the running boards, adding fender skirts, and bobbing the trailing edge of the front fenders. By the time it was shown at the 1952 National Roadster Show in Oakland, the Phaeton had become a standout example of Northern California’s unique approach to custom car design.

Eddie Dye's 1929 Ford Roadster, was built by the Ayala Brothers in the early 1950s.

Buzz DeChamp's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster, of San Francisco was completed in 1952.

Raymond Patricco's 1934 Ford Roadster of Irvington, New Jersey. Patricco didn't build the car, he supposedly bought it in the 1960 or the 1970s. He planned to restore it. That never happened, and it stayed in storage until he passed away in 2018. Rumor has the car was built in the 1950s. Back then it is believed to have run a DuVall Windshield.

The DuVall windshield is a V'd and swept-back windshield designed by George DuVall.

Cars Featuring DuVall Windshields

Eddie Dye's 1929 Ford Roadster
Buzz DeChamp's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster
Doane Spencer's 1932 Ford
Southern California Plating's 1935 Ford Phaeton
Tommy the Greek's 1936 Ford Phaeton
Bob Trammel's 1941 Ford - The Bathtub