Maryland

"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.

"Mechanical Works of Art" – This cartoon-style ad appeared in The Evening Sun April 16, 1949, promoting Frances Smith’s upcoming feature in The Sunday Sun. The story spotlighted the emerging custom car culture in and around Baltimore, Maryland, emphasizing that these creations weren’t just teenage hot rods, but serious mechanical art built by skilled hobbyists. It invited readers to discover how local enthusiasts, many of them returning WWII veterans, were transforming old cars into sleek, California-inspired customs.

Bob Hagerty's 1931 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan of Wheaton, Maryland. Bob, who was a member of the Coach Masters of Wheaton, built the car himself. The build took two years, and it was completed in 1964. Bob's tudor was shown on the East Coast as "Jade East."

Gary Jacquemin's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster

Charles Crowther's 1932 Ford Roadster, of Maryland.

Conrad W. Jacobs' 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Baltimore, Maryland. Built around 1956-1958, the car was known and shown as "The Klondyke Koupe".

John A. Good's 1932 Ford Woody Wagon

Ram-Rods' 1932 Ford Roadster

Earl Phillips' 1936 Ford Roadster

Ed Dell's 1936 Ford Roadster

Bob Bissell's Sports Roadster

George W. Jackson's 1939 Ford

Robert Howes' 1939 Ford Coupe

Paul Michael's 1940 Ford

Bud Unger's 1946 Ford Convertible, of Rockville, Maryland, was restyled by Bud Unger of Unger Auto Body Company. The build was started in 1950 and completed in 1951.

Tom Brooks' 1950 Buick 4-door Sedan, of White Marsh, Maryland.

Bob Cusic's 1955 Mercury

Ronald Schmidt's 1957 Chevrolet Corvette

A photo from an outdoor car show held at the Langley Theater in Langley Park Maryland in the early 1960s. Photo from The Ray Soff Photo Collection.

Rockets on Rubber: The Rise of Baltimore’s Postwar Custom Car Scene

On April 17, 1949, The Baltimore Sun published an article titled “Rockets on Rubber” by Frances Smith, offering a rare window into the emerging custom car and hot rod culture in the Baltimore area. At the time, the movement, popularized in California, was rapidly spreading east, inspiring a new generation of mechanically inclined young men to transform old cars into sleek, high-powered machines.^[1]

The article spotlighted a number of Baltimore-area builders and enthusiasts who were redefining what was possible with secondhand autos. Among them was Ed Kairis of Catonsville, described as a highly regarded mechanic and authority on supercharging. Working with Dan Millians, a credit insurance man, the two were part of a growing circle of speed-hungry innovators pushing the limits of performance and design. Their experimental engines, sometimes assembled on kitchen tables, reflected the hands-on, trial-and-error ethos of the time.^[1]

Another standout mentioned in the article was Harry Heim, a Baltimorean with a Jaguar that featured a special, chopped removable top. He even crafted a custom-built steering wheel modeled after aircraft yokes, showcasing the creative crossover between aviation and automotive technology that influenced many early hot rodders. But perhaps the most iconic local custom of the era belonged to Ray Giovannoni, whose 1936 Ford convertible had already earned national attention. Known for its clean, stylish lines and expert craftsmanship, Giovannoni's Ford was considered Baltimore’s top custom at the time and had been featured in Hot Rod Magazine, setting a new bar for East Coast custom car builds.^[1]

The article noted how Baltimore’s young customizers were often former servicemen—veterans of World War II, who returned with mechanical skills and a hunger for speed. They stripped down old sedans, added performance upgrades like higher compression pistons, dual manifolds, and even homemade superchargers. Weight was reduced by removing non-essentials like fenders and bumpers, and many went so far as to hand-fabricate parts to achieve a personalized look and feel.^[1]

While Southern California remained the epicenter of the movement, the Baltimore scene was thriving in its own right. In garages, basements, and makeshift machine shops across the city and suburbs, Maryland's earliest hot rodders and customizers were laying the foundation for a local tradition that blended ingenuity, resourcefulness, and a deep love for the automobile.^[1]