East Coast Custom

Ray Giovannoni's 1936 Ford Roadster of Washington, D.C. Before custom car magazines spread the gospel of chopped tops and lead sleds, Bud Unger was shaping metal on the East Coast, unaware of the California scene. A skilled metalworker trained in the Air Force, Unger applied his aircraft fabrication techniques to Ray Giovannoni's 1936 Ford roadster, creating one of the finest early East Coast Customs. He fully molded the fenders, quarter panels, aprons, and running boards, shaved the deck, moved the taillights into the bumper, and reshaped the front end to fit a Packard grille. The finishing touch? A deep, 20-coat jet black paint job laid down circa 1947-1948. Ray drove the freshly built custom across the country to have a Carson Top made in Los Angeles, gaining nationwide attention along the way. The trip proved that East Coast builders were creating showstoppers on par with their West Coast counterparts, and in November 1948, the car landed a feature in Hot Rod Magazine, cementing its legacy in early custom car history.

"Rockets on Rubber" – This feature from The Baltimore Sun, published April 17, 1949, spotlighted the rising custom car culture in Maryland. It showcased the creativity and technical skill of local builders and enthusiasts like Ed Kairis, Harry Heim, and Ray Giovannoni, whose 1936 Ford roadster became one of the most iconic East Coast customs of the era. The article reflected how returning WWII veterans helped ignite a national movement, often referring to their creations as “California Jobs” in homage to West Coast styling trends.

East Coast Customs

Ray Giovannoni's 1936 Ford Roadster