Houston

Paul Sylva's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster was sold to Tommy Traylor of Houston in 1960.

Gene Peterson's 1931 Ford Roadster

Leon Kendrick's 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Houston, Texas. Featuring stacked dual headlights and a panel paint job, the "Wild Deuce" iteration of the coupe started appearing in magazine in 1963.

Mike Tomforde's 1934 Ford Roadster, of Houston, Texas.

Warren Dorrill's 1949 Ford - The Shark sat at a used car lot in Houston.

Chet Herbert's Beast III

Mike Budnick's 1960 Pontiac - The Golden Indian

Billy F. Gibbons' 1948 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette of Houston, Texas. Named "Cadzzilla," Gibbons Cadillac was designed by Larry Erickson. It was built by Boyd Coddington Hot Rod Shop. The build was completed in 1989.

The 1952 Fageol Pataray Roadster, a unique creation by Ray Fageol, featured a 300 horsepower Fageol bus engine in a roadster body. It was a standout cover car for Mechanix Illustrated, embodying a two-tone design that merged family legacy with automotive innovation, highlighting the Fageol's influence in early American sports car history. In 2023, the car was owned by Mark and Newie Brinker of Houston, Texas.

The 1953 Kurtis Sorrell SR-100 Roadster, with its unique aluminum body by California Metal Shaping and Bob Sorrell, debuted at the Petersen Motorama in 1953. Built on an Indy 500 Kurtis chassis, it featured a 302-ci GMC I-6 engine, a Howard 12 port head, and six carburetors. This model is notably the only SR-100 with an alloy body. In 2023 the car was owned by Mark and Newie Brinker of Houston, Texas.

The 1954 Edwards America Convertible, envisioned by Sterling Edwards, melded European design with American muscle. Built on a Kaiser-Frazer Henry J chassis with an Oldsmobile "Rocket" V-8 engine, it was a rare blend of fiberglass coachwork and robust performance. Norman Timbs helped design the car for Sterling.Gary and Cathy Edwards of Houston, Texas owned the first Edwards America in 2023.

Dick Axcell's Influence

In the early 1960s, California customizer Dick Axcell relocated to Houston, bringing West Coast techniques and style to a city where young do-it-yourself enthusiasts still did most custom work. Axcell’s arrival helped shape Houston’s emerging custom scene. He supplied materials, shared painting methods, and influenced local builders such as Eddie Cox and Charles Burwell, who adopted his use of pearl and panel paint finishes. His presence bridged California’s polished custom culture with Texas’s grassroots hot-rod spirit.^[1]