South End Kustom
South End Kustom of Wyandotte, Michigan was a custom body shop run and operated by Dick Dean. Dean opened up the shop in 1954 after quitting his day time job at a steel mill. He rented a two-stall shop and built a customized 1953 Ford pickup as his rolling advertisement. South End Kustom was a struggle to keep in business. But Dick held in, and in 1959 he met George Barris at the Detroit Autorama. Dick had an orange and white 1957 Ford hardtop at the show that he called Orange Peel. Barris liked the car, and told Dick that if he ever needed a job he could come to California and work for Barris Kustoms. Dick took George up on the offer, and moved to California two months later in April 1959.[1]
Cars Restyled by South End Kustom
Dick Dean's 1953 Ford Shop Truck
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