Sondre Kvipt's 1957 Ford Ranchero - The Kustomrama Dream Truck

The Ranchero as it sat the day Sondre bought it from Christian Berthau. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Sondre with the Ranchero the day he bought it. Photo by Martin Andersen, courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero as it appeared after Sondre had washed it and installed a set of whitewall bias-ply tires. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Jerry DeVito really liked the idea Sondre had about a Ranchero the Maze build, so he sent a stack of old magazines and photos Sondre could use as inspiration for the build. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A photo of Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane, the Maze, the car that is used for inspiration for the Kustomrama Dream Truck. Photo by George Barris.

Olav visualizing and planning the roof scoops on the car in December of 2013. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A greeting from Jerry DeVito. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Sondre with the Ranchero before they started the build in December of 2013. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

January 3rd, 2014 Olav began working on the tunneled taillight. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A 6 inch tunnel was made, just like the original Maze. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The rear fin was extended 4 inches. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Old photos and scans provided by Jerry DeVito were instrumental in the build. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Fellow Coupe Devils member Tom Røine helping out shaping the metal for the beaks over the taillights. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav gas-welding the beak over the left taillight. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav leading the left fin. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Sondre leading the fin, carefully following Olav's instructions. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Kraze Painter by Von Franco - For a long time, we dreamed of having an authentic Weirdo shirt for Kustomrama. To make that dream a reality, we turned to none other than the legendary Von Franco! A key figure in the Lowbrow art movement and the world of Kustom Kulture, Von Franco worked side-by-side with the iconic Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, painting shirts at car shows back in the day. If you're a fan of Kustom Kulture, this shirt is a must-have. Get yours today and wear a piece of history!.

Sondre brazing the side trim holes on the rear quarter panel. Photo courtesy of Olav Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Stian Nybru.

Photo courtesy of Stian Nybru.

Olav applying a coat of primer on the left quarter panel January 18, 2014. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The shaved tailgate after Olav has filled and braced the holes. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The right taillight tunnel ready to be molded in. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The rear taillight-tunnel welded in place. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav leading the right fin. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The stance of the car after installing 3 inch lowering blocks. Sondre and Tom were added for extra weight. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Thursday February 6, 2014, Olav had primered the rear end of the Ranchero. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Friday February 7th Sondre and Olav could turn the Ranchero around, and start working on the front end of the car. They decided to start with the headlights. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

When Jerry DeVito restyled the Maze back in 1958 he could buy those good looking 1956 Ford F-100 headlight rings from Cal Custom. Luckily for Sondre, these are still sold by KustomCarParts.com. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The end result. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The front as it appeared after Olav had modified the original headlight rings to fit the F-100 rings and with one beak mocked up in paper. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav brazing the right headlight beak. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The front end in bare metal Saturday February 15th. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

When the headlights were done, it was time to start adding louvers to the hood. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Not able to locate anyone in Norway that could help us punch louvers in the hood, we decided to weld in louvers from RodLouvers.com. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav working on the bodywork on the hood after he had added the louvers and the scoop. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The front after it had received first round of filler. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero as it sat February 26, 2014. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav repairing rust damages on the right front fender. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Early March of 2014 Olav had to return to Lynwood and school, and the project was put on hold until he returned. Before he left the Ranchero was partly primered white. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero as it sat outside of Sondre's house June 10, 2014. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

June 10th, Olav brought the Ranchero to Fyresdal to finish off the bodywork. "The plan was to have the car in white primer by June 27, so we could show it at the 6th annual Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza". Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Olav with the Ranchero in Seljord, on his way up to Fyresdal. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero as it sat June 20, 2014. The photo is taken in downtown Fyresdal. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Sondre's Ranchero on historic ground. In 1978 First Go! was held at the airstrip in Fyresdal. First Go! was the first official dragrace event held on Norwegian soil. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero in the paint booth at Momrak Verkstad June 25, 2014. Photo courtesy of Olav Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero outside of Momrak Verkstad June 25, 2014. Photo courtesy of Olav Kvipt - Kustomrama.

June 27, 2014 the Kustomrama Dream Truck was shown in white primer for the first time, at the 6th annual Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza, just outside of Oslo. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

In October of 2014 Sondre bought a NOS Cal Custom tube grille for the Ford on eBay. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Ranchero as it sat in December of 2014. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

March 7, 2014 Sondre and Olav decided on a base color for the body of the Ranchero.

The Kustomrama Dream Truck fresh out of the paint booth. Olav laid the glossy white paint job April 29, 2015. Photo by Olav Kvipt.

The passenger side masked up and ready for paint. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Dream Truck in the paint booth before the clear coat was applied. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Kustomrama Dream Truck was debuted at the 7th annual Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza May 22, 2015. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A photo of the Ranchero taken at Sinsen in Oslo. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A photo of the Ranchero taken in front of the Kon-Tiki Musueum in Oslo. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A photo of the Dream Truck taken in front of Hotel 33 in Oslo. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Dream Truck at Kala Raceway, June 6, 2015. Sondre won the "Best Kustom" award with the truck at the show. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Dream Truck in Turku, Finland, on its way to the 2015 Pistons Rumble car show. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Kustomrama Dream Truck appeared in the book Amcar by Karl Eirik Haug and Stephanie Dumont in 2015. The photo that was used in the book was taken by Kimm Saatvedt at the 2015 Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Dream Truck ready to be put away for the winter in November of 2015. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Kustomrama Dream Truck was featured in Old Kool Issue 7. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

The Kustomrama Dream Truck was featured in Kustom Life Magazine Issue 04.2018 in a story titled "The Return of the Maze." The car was also featured on the cover of the magazine. Photo courtesy of Kustom Life Magazine.

Somewhere between Norway and Sweden. The Dream Truck loaded up and ready to attend the first Kustomrama Invitational in Grängesberg, Sweden. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

1957 Ford Ranchero owned by Coupe Devils member and Kustomrama founder Sondre Kvipt of Oslo, Norway. Sondre bought the Ranchero from Christian Berthau in July of 2013. The car came from the US, and Christian bought it from the guy who had imported it to Norway. Christian used the Ranchero as his daily driver for some years, before parking it in a barn. It stayed in the barn until Sondre bought it. Sondre came across the car in June of 2013. At the time he owned a lowered 1970 Ford F-100 truck. As he knew he couldn't house both cars, Sondre decided to sell the F-100 so he could buy the Ranchero.

For a couple of years, Sondre had played around with the idea of building a Ranchero version of the second and most famous version of Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane, known as the Maze. The idea was born one late night as Sondre was looking trough the Big Book of Barris. In the book there is a huge color photo of the car, that really shows the wild paint job Bob Heinrichs gave the car for the 1958 season. Due to the scarcity of Ford Ranchero's in Norway, the concept lived on in Sondre's head for a couple more years. In January of 2012 Jerry DeVito found the page Sondre had made on his old custom on Kustomrama. He wrote Sondre an email, and the two started to talk. Sondre told Jerry about the Ranchero concept he had been thinking about. Jerry really liked the idea, and sent Sondre a bunch of old magazines and photos he could use for inspiration. In December of 2012 Sondre got in touch with Joe Crisafulli, a legendary San Jose custom painter, and a founding member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers. As Jerry DeVito also was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers, Sondre told Joe as well that he one day wanted to build a Ranchero version of Jerry's Fairlane. Joe could then inform that he actually painted the first version of Jerry's Ford in his dad's garage. Sondre knew this version of the Maze, but he was not aware that Joe had painted it. The more Sondre talked about and thought about the concept, the more found he become of it, so when he heard that Christian Berthau had one for sale in Oslo, Jerry's Ford was the first he thought about.

The Ranchero in Oslo turned out to be in a pretty good condition. It was evident that the car had been restored back in the 1980s or 1990s. Some rust had been repaired in the floor of the car, and it had received a blue paint job and a blue fabric interior. After seeing the car, Sondre went back home and advertised the F-100 for sale. After a week the old work truck was sold, and Sondre bought the Ranchero. He took it back home, cleaned it up, and put on a set of whitewall bias ply tires that he borrowed from fellow Coupe Devils member Tom Røine. The rest of the summer, Sondre used the car as his daily driver.

A couple of days before Sondre bought the Ranchero, his little brother, and Kustomrama contributor Olav Kvipt, moved to Lynwood, California to study custom body work and work with Brad Masterson of Masterson Kustom Automobiles. Brad, who works out of the old Barris Kustoms Lynwood shop, taught Olav everything he had learned about gas welding and leading from George Barris and Bill Hines. After building custom cars the old way for about a half year, Olav returned to Norway in December of 2013, to celebrate Christmas with his family. About a month before he returned, Olav and Sondre found out that it would be kool to use the Christmas vacation to finally start the build. Their plan was to during January of 2014 perform the bodywork on the Ranchero like Bill Babb and J.R. Wirth would have done it at Wirth's Body Shop in 1958.

The build was started by shaving the driver side door. The holes were brazed and leaded before the trim on the driver side quarter panel was removed as well. The original taillight ring on the driver side was removed before Olav made a new one from round rod and sheet metal. The shape of the extended fin and taillight ring was made similar to the ones on the original Maze. The stock taillight lenses were tunneled 6 inches before everything was leaded. The gas filler door on the quarter panel was removed as well for a cleaner appearance. January 18, 2014, Olav had completed the body work on the quarter panel and door, and he could apply the first coat of primer on these parts.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Old Kool Issue 7
Kustom Life Magazine Issue 04.2018