Tom Winger

For as long as Tom can remember, he has been fascinated by cars. While he was always aware of customizing, it was the sight of car magazines on store shelves that truly ignited his passion. "This issue of Custom Cars is my very first car magazine which I got when I was 8 years old. This was just the first of many years of collecting car magazines of all types."

Tom’s interest quickly expanded beyond just admiring cars, he wanted to build them. In 1961, his mother gave him a subscription to Car Craft Magazine for Christmas, a gift that deepened his fascination with model cars. He was captivated by the scale model pages and inspired by the advanced builders featured in the magazine. His journey into model car building began with an AMT 3-in-1 kit of a 1960 Buick convertible, marking the start of a lifelong passion for customizing miniature machines. By 1963, Tom was ready to put his skills to the test, entering his first model car contest at a local Woolworth’s store. His efforts paid off, his 1932 Ford Vicky hot rod took first place in the junior division. The following year, he placed second with a custom 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, inspired by Detroit show cars like the first Dodge Charger prototype and the Barris-built 1964 Mercury Super Marauder. Photo courtesy of Tom Winger.

Through the years, Tom has continued to build and modify models, always brimming with new ideas—more than he has time to execute. Among his more recent builds is a striking blend of a 1953 Studebaker and an Enzo Ferrari, completed around 2009. “This model has appeared in a few model car magazines,” he noted. Photo courtesy of Tom Winger.

Tom's latest custom creation, finished in 2024, was a radically modified 1972 Chevrolet pickup with a chopped top, sectioned body, and a shortened bed seamlessly integrated into the cab. Sitting on a 1968 Chevrolet El Camino chassis, it’s a testament to his creativity and craftsmanship. Photo courtesy of Tom Winger.

For as long as he can remember, Tom Winger has been fascinated by cars. While he was always aware of customizing, it was the sight of car magazines on store shelves that truly ignited his passion. "This issue of Custom Cars is my very first car magazine which I got when I was 8 years old,” Tom recalled, sharing a photo of Custom Cars May 1960 with Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama. “This was just the first of many years of collecting car magazines of all types.”

Tom’s interest quickly expanded beyond just admiring cars, he wanted to build them. In 1961, his mother gave him a subscription to Car Craft Magazine for Christmas, a gift that deepened his fascination with model cars. He was captivated by the scale model pages and inspired by the advanced builders featured in the magazine. His journey into model car building began with an AMT 3-in-1 kit of a 1960 Buick convertible, marking the start of a lifelong passion for customizing miniature machines.

By 1963, Tom was ready to put his skills to the test, entering his first model car contest at a local Woolworth’s store. His efforts paid off, his 1932 Ford Vicky hot rod took first place in the junior division. The following year, he placed second with a custom 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, inspired by Detroit show cars like the first Dodge Charger prototype and the Barris-built 1964 Mercury Super Marauder.

Through the years, Tom has continued to build and modify models, always brimming with new ideas—more than he has time to execute. Among his more recent builds is a striking blend of a 1953 Studebaker and an Enzo Ferrari, completed around 2009. “This model has appeared in a few model car magazines,” he noted. His latest custom creation, finished in 2024, was a radically modified 1972 Chevrolet pickup with a chopped top, sectioned body, and a shortened bed seamlessly integrated into the cab. Sitting on a 1968 Chevrolet El Camino chassis, it’s a testament to his creativity and craftsmanship.

Tom’s love for all things automotive extends beyond model building, his collection of car magazines and photography reflects his deep appreciation for customs, muscle cars, drag racers, sports cars, pickups, and big rigs. His photo collection, now being shared on Kustomrama, offers a glimpse into his lifelong passion for cars and the culture surrounding them.