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KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 204

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Happy April, Reader,

This month, we're shining a spotlight on two remarkable individuals who embody the spirit of our Swedish division: Mats Wallander and Björn Ramsten. If you made it to the Stockholm Hot Rod & Kustom Show last month, you might have had the pleasure of meeting them at our Kustomrama stand.

Mats and Björn have been instrumental in preserving and sharing the rich tapestry of Swedish hot rod and custom car history. Both are not just historians but active car builders, with Björn's roots in the custom scene stretching back to the early '60s.

Back then, Stockholm was buzzing with a new kind of car culture, one that melded American flair with Swedish craft. Björn was at the forefront, turning a tired 1957 Chevrolet into a Swedish custom icon. Inspired by legendary builders like the Alexander Brothers and Bill Cushenbery, he crafted a car that wasn’t just for shows but could tear up the drag strip too. His Chevy, painted in a striking Hunter Green Metallic, became a symbol of the multifaceted capabilities of custom cars—cruising, showing, and racing.

The 2025 Stockholm Hot Rod & Kustom Show was more than just an event; it was a celebration of 60 years since the first hot rod show in April 1965. This edition of our newsletter takes you back to that landmark event with a special feature on Björn’s Chevy, a throwback to the 1965 show, and some exciting updates, including the winners of the 2025 Kustomrama Award, a 1965 limited edition Kraze Painter cap, and the launch of our EU online store.

As we continue to explore and celebrate the past, present, and future of our beloved car culture, remember to keep sharing your stories and photos with us. And if you’re one of the lucky ones attending the Stockholm Hot Rod & Kustom Show, remember to share those snaps!

Thanks for keeping the passion alive and kicking. Here’s to more history-making moments together!

Catch you next time,
Sondre Kvipt
Kustomrama Editor

Björn Ramsten's 1957 Chevrolet

In 1960s Stockholm, a new kind of car culture was taking root, one that blended American influences with homegrown creativity. At the center of it was Björn Ramsten, a young enthusiast from Kungsholmen who transformed a tired 1957 Chevrolet into one of the most tasteful customs Sweden had ever seen.

Inspired by the wild styling of Bill Cushenbery’s Limelighter and designs from the Alexander Brothers, Björn set out to build his own version of an American show car, on Swedish soil. He shaved emblems and bumpers, welded in metalwork by hand, and crafted an asymmetrical hood scoop before grafting on dual headlights from a 1958 Chevrolet and taillights from a 1960 Plymouth. The grille was built from chromed perforated mesh, and the front pan was rolled and reinforced with handmade nerf bars, sourced from street construction barricades and bent by hand in a vice.

By 1967, the car was ready for paint. Björn chose Hunter Green Metallic, a 1956 Chrysler color that he found after a long hunt through local paint shops. The result? A custom that not only turned heads on the street but held its own at Sweden’s first official drag race in Anderstorp, and later at Mantorp Park, clocking 14-second passes.

Björn’s Chevy was a car you could cruise, show, and race. It embodied the passion, inventiveness, and spirit of a new generation of Nordic customizers.

For many years, Björn has been a valuable contributor to Kustomrama, helping to keep Swedish hot rod and custom car history alive. He has shared plenty of photos and stories from his Chevy, so we urge you all to click here for more photos and the full story of Björn Ramsten’s 1957 Chevrolet on Kustomrama.​

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The Dream Catcher Traced to Kentucky – Can You Help Us Fill in the Blanks?

David Engemann recently uncovered a new lead in the mystery surrounding his 1939 Ford Convertible custom, the Dream Catcher. Through a brief conversation with Dan Sampson of Escanaba, Michigan, David learned that the car was hauled up from Kentucky in 1982 by Dan’s late brother, Wayne Sampson. It then sat outside on Wayne’s property for over 40 years before being sold and eventually ending up in David’s hands. The big question now is—what happened before 1982?

Was the Dream Catcher customized in Kentucky? Do you recall seeing an old, chopped '39 Ford Convertible with a Packard grille and frenched Buick taillights sitting in a field, garage, or shop in Kentucky during the '50s, '60s, or '70s?

If you have any information, photos, or leads that could help us uncover more of this custom’s story, please contact us at mail@kustomrama.com. Click here for more info and photos, and help us bring the Dream Catcher’s lost history back into the light!​

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The Sandberg Family Wins The 2025 Kustomrama Award

We are excited to announce the winners of the inaugural 2025 Kustomrama Award, honoring the remarkable Sandberg family for their enduring impact on Swedish hot rod and custom car culture. Starting with Ewert and Astrid Sandberg's foundational support, this legacy was furthered by Bo "Gamen" Sandberg and his brother Sven, both of whom drew inspiration from American car culture to shape the scene in Sweden. Today, the family tradition is carried forward by Sven's descendants, ensuring that the rich heritage of custom car culture continues to thrive. Congratulations to the entire Sandberg family for truly embodying the spirit of "Keeping History Alive." For more on their story and the Kustomrama Award, click here to visit our dedicated page.​

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Kustomrama Online Store Finally Goes European 🇪🇺
25% OFF This Week Only!

Big news, Kustomrama Family – We’ve finally launched European versions of the Kustomrama Online Store! That’s right, shopping for tees, caps, and gear just got easier (and cheaper) for our friends on this side of the pond. 🇩🇪🇸🇪🇫🇷🇳🇴

We’re throwing a 25% off sale on everything in the European store to celebrate the newcomers, but only through Thursday, April 4.

And that’s not all…

We’ve also released a brand-new Limited Edition version of the Kraze Painter design, specially created to celebrate the 60th Stockholm Hot Rod Show! These sold out at the show over the weekend, but by popular demand, we’re giving them a second life—only for a limited time.

Click here to shop the sale and grab the new Kraze Painter merch before they’re gone again:

• ​Europe​
• ​Sweden
• ​Norway​
• ​Rest of the World​

Let’s keep history alive—one shirt at a time.

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More Than 11,500 Plaques Added – Help Bill Junge Keep the Car Club Plaque Legacy Alive

It has been another milestone month for Bill Junge and his fantastic Car Club Plaque Website. In March alone, Bill added 32 new car club plaque photos to the collection, bringing the total to an impressive 11,525 plaques!

This passion project has been years in the making, and it's taken Bill over 18 months to add the last 500 plaques. As you can imagine, it's getting harder and harder to track down new ones. That’s why we’re putting the call out—if you have photos of plaques, or even old club info that might help, now’s the time to share it.

Bill’s site is a goldmine for anyone who loves hot rod and custom car history and the roots of American car culture. It’s well organized and packed with thousands of plaques from clubs across the world, preserving a vital visual record of our shared history, one casting at a time.

​Click here to visit the site and see if you might have something to add to the collection​

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Stockholm 1965: Where Hot Rods Became Art

Hot rods as art? That was the pitch that helped launch one of Sweden’s most influential car shows—and it worked. This month’s Featured Photo takes us back to April 1965, inside Östermans Marmorhallar in Stockholm, where thousands of spectators gathered for Sweden’s very first indoor Hot Rod Show. Captured by Christer Wistam, this stunning photo shows a packed hall and some of Scandinavia’s finest hot rods, including the Early Bird, the Glowing Coupe, and Purple Passion.

Hosted by Bosse “Gamen” Sandberg, Acke Nordström, and Jonas Qvarnström, the show drew over 20,000 visitors, proving that Sweden was ready to embrace the creative spirit of American hot rod culture. And thanks to Gamen's bold claim that hot rods were more than machines, they were rolling sculptures, the organizers secured this iconic venue and paved the way for future custom culture events across Scandinavia.

​Click here to dive into the early days of Sweden’s hot rod history on Kustomrama.​

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Alright, alright, alright, folks! It’s time to crank it up and let loose! Your Kustomrama April 2025 playlist is ready to rock your world, filled with the kind of sounds that'll make your engine roar. From the raw energy of Terry Malts' ‘No Good For You’ to the soul-burnin' rhythms of Harlem Pop Trotters and the electrifying ‘Sidekick’ by Soulive, we’ve got your road trip soundtrack locked and loaded! So hit play, turn it up, and let the good times roll. Only on Kustomrama, baby!​

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Fritz's Beatnik Bandit Clone Coming to Life

Alan Mayes recently wrote in to share an update on a build they had been covering in Ol’ Skool Rodz: Fritz Schenck’s tribute to Ed Roth’s legendary Beatnik Bandit. In addition to building his own wild bubble tops and restoring Roth’s originals like The Mega Cycle and The Druid Princess, Fritz is now taking on one of Roth’s most iconic creations. This photo, taken in early March 2025, shows the clone in progress, freshly painted and already oozing that unmistakable Roth-style attitude. The radical body lines and bold panel paintwork stay true to the original, while Fritz adds his own meticulous craftsmanship to the mix. Want to follow the build? Fritz is documenting the entire process over on his YouTube channel. Click here to check it out, and stay tuned—this one’s going to be a showstopper!​

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Roy DeLaney’s Dream Truck-Inspired 1947 Chevy Pickup

Jackie DeLaney recently shared this great photo of a custom 1947 Chevrolet pickup her late husband, Roy DeLaney, built in the 1960s. At the time, Roy was living in Lewiston, Idaho, with his first wife, Beverly, who is seen standing proudly next to the truck. Inspired by the Rod & Custom Dream Truck, Roy crafted his own version with a sleek mid-’60s custom flair. Chevy II headlights were recessed behind a hand-formed grille shell, giving the pickup a futuristic, show-ready look. The truck made its magazine debut in a 1966 issue of Popular Customs, where it was spotlighted as a standout grassroots build. Thanks to Jackie for keeping Roy’s legacy alive and sharing this moment in custom car history! Click here for more info on Kustomrama.​

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Inside the Vault: Roth, Smith, and Himsl at the Petersen

Longtime Kustomrama contributor Howard Miereanu recently returned to Los Angeles and made a stop at the legendary Petersen Automotive Museum. While he's been there many times, this trip included something special: A tour of the museum’s Vault, an underground trove of more than 300 rare and historic vehicles from around the world. Howard sent us a few snapshots from his visit, including three wild custom creations that caught his eye. On display in March 2025 were: Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s Outlaw, Tex Smith’s XR-6, and Art Himsl’s Alien. Thanks to Howard for thinking of Kustomrama and sharing these great photos from his visit. If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles, don’t miss your chance to explore The Vault, a must-see for anyone passionate about automotive history. Click here to check out the rest of Howard's photos on Kustomrama.​

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New Memories Surface About Butler Rugard’s Westergard Custom

Every so often, we get a note that helps piece together the ever-expanding puzzle of early custom car history. Recently, Jack Hurley reached out to us about Butler Rugard’s 1940 Mercury, one of the great early Westergard customs, and his email included small, personal details that help bring the bigger story into focus.

Jack’s father, Bill Hurley, worked on the Rugard family farm in Walnut Grove, California, during WWII. While working there, Bill became good friends with Butler and rode in the Mercury many times. “My father told me that the Merc was used, rather than new, but in the current model year when Butler bought it,” Jack wrote. “Butler was somewhat worried about the car, assuming that there must be something wrong with it, given that the original owner had kept it less than a year.”

That tiny moment of doubt may have long since faded, but the Mercury lived on, and thrived as an icon of the emerging California custom scene. Styled by Harry Westergard, Butler’s Merc later went on to be shown at the very first Sacramento Autorama in 1950, leaving a legacy that would influence custom builders for decades.

Jack also helped clarify a lingering misconception. The car was later featured in Custom Cars magazine as being owned by Marie Fernandez, who was listed as the builder’s daughter. “Butler didn’t have any children,” Jack told us. “Marie was the daughter of Manny Fernandez—the man who bought the car from Butler.” And it was Manny, not Butler, who wrecked the Mercury and redesigned the hood during its repair.

Even decades later, Jack recalled sitting in the car as a kid in the late '60s or early '70s. “It was parked on Front Street in Rio Vista,” he said. “I would sit in it and pretend to be driving.” At the time, Jack’s parents rented a duplex to a member of the Fernandez family—likely Jeff or Manny Jr.—and the Mercury was just part of the neighborhood scenery.

Bits and pieces like these may seem small on their own, but when they come together, they create the kind of rich, personal history that gives a car like Butler’s Mercury real soul. This is early custom car culture at its best, built on memory, myth, and metal. And we can’t get enough of it.

Thanks again to Jack Hurley for reaching out and sharing these stories. If anyone knows whether Manny Fernandez, or another member of the Fernandez family, is still around, we’d love to hear from you.

​Click here for more photos and the full story of Butler Rugard’s Mercury on Kustomrama.​

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How much is our automotive heritage worth to you Reader?

At Kustomrama, we're driven by passion, not paywalls. As a volunteer-run Encyclopedia, we're dedicated to keeping the history and legacy of traditional hot rods and custom cars free and accessible to everyone, everywhere. From server costs to content collection, every aspect of our mission needs fuel. Whether it's $5, $20, $50, or any amount you choose, your donation keeps the engine of history running.

​Click here to tip today and be a part of preserving this unique legacy for future generations.​

I appreciate your support!

Best regards
Sondre / Kustomrama Founder / Keeping History Alive

What is Kustomrama?

Kustomrama is a comprehensive online encyclopedia passionately dedicated to the preservation and sharing of traditional hot rod and custom car history. With a mission to keep this vibrant history alive for generations to come, Kustomrama offers an extensive repository of knowledge, featuring over 11,716 pages filled with information and more than 30,000 photos showcasing hot rods and custom cars from around the globe. Our goal is not only to document but also to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the hot rod and custom car community, ensuring that the stories and innovations of yesteryear enthusiasts are accessible to everyone.

What is the Kustomrama Newsletter?

The Kustomrama Newsletter is our vibrant bridge to enthusiasts of traditional hot rods and custom cars, offering a direct line to the latest entries and features in the Kustomrama Encyclopedia. As a free publication diligently curated by the Kustomrama team, we aim to deliver rich insights and fascinating stories right to your inbox on a weekly basis. Each issue is packed with summaries of new stories, in-depth articles, and captivating photographs that celebrate and document the evolving world of hot rods and custom cars.

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At Kustomrama, we believe in the power of collective storytelling. An astonishing 90% of the material we publish is sourced directly from emails and contributions from our newsletter subscribers. This vibrant exchange of photos and stories allows us to continually enrich and expand our encyclopedia, creating a more comprehensive and engaging experience for everyone involved.

The more enthusiasts join our mailing list, the broader our network of stories and contributors grows. This means more fascinating tales, more rare photographs, and a richer history for us all to share. So, in forwarding this newsletter, you're not just spreading the word—you're helping to preserve and celebrate the legacy of hot rods and custom cars for future generations.

Join us in this exciting journey. Forward this email to those who'd cherish it as much as you do, and let's build an even stronger Kustomrama community together.

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At the heart of Kustomrama, beyond the vast encyclopedia of traditional hot rods and custom cars, lies our vibrant Member Community. Each "COMMENT" button embedded within this newsletter serves as a portal to a collaborative space where enthusiasts like you can engage, discuss, and dive deeper into the stories that fuel our passion.

Our community platform welcomes contributors and supporters to share their insights, offer feedback, and contribute to the evolving narratives of the hot rod and custom car culture. Whether you're looking to provide additional information, share a personal anecdote related to a story, or simply express your enthusiasm for a piece, your voice is invaluable to us.

Interested in becoming an active participant in shaping the history and stories of hot rods and custom cars? Click here to join our community today. As a member, you're not just joining a forum—you're becoming part of a dedicated collective committed to preserving and celebrating the rich legacy of automotive culture.​

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The Kustomrama Marketplace is a curated classified section for traditional hot rods and custom cars. It's the go-to place to buy, sell, and explore vehicles, parts, and memorabilia. For a $100 fee, your ad will be featured on Kustomrama, in our Monthly Newsletter, and across our social media, reaching over 100,000 enthusiasts. Click here for more information.​

I have some stories or photos that I want to share with you. What do I do?

We're always on the lookout for fresh stories and photos to enrich the Kustomrama Encyclopedia and share with our community. If you have material related to traditional hot rods, custom cars, or any piece of history you believe deserves a spotlight, we'd love to hear from you!

Getting in touch is easy. You can simply hit the 'reply' button on this email to start a conversation directly with us. Prefer a different method? No problem! Email us at mail@kustomrama.com with your stories, photos, or any inquiries. Alternatively, if you're a member of our vibrant community, you're welcome to submit your material directly to our Member's Community platform.

Your contributions play a crucial role in keeping the spirit and history of hot rodding and custom cars alive. Whether it's a personal anecdote, a piece of automotive history, or a series of photographs, your shared materials help us all to celebrate and preserve the rich tapestry of this culture for future generations.

Thanks for helping us keeping history alive

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