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KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 205

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May Editorial – A Quick Reality Check (and an Exciting Look Ahead)

May has been a friendly reminder that Kustomrama is still a side hustle for me. If you live in Norway and have small kids, you probably know what I mean (and I bet it’s a worldwide thing). I just got back from nearly a week on Crete with my day job. I had planned to wrap up this newsletter while I was there, but… well, let’s just say that didn’t happen.

When I returned home on Tuesday, I realized I had less than 24 hours to meet my deadline for the next Kustomrama Korner column for Finland’s V8 Magazine. That got delivered last night, so here we are with a slightly delayed, but finally finished, May edition of the Kustomrama Newsletter.

Now, looking ahead…

The last weekend of June, I’ll be hosting the 15th annual Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza in Blaker, Norway, alongside my brothers in the Coupe Devils Car Club. And we’re pulling out all the stops for this one. This year’s show celebrates our 15th anniversary show, and for the first time ever, two of the biggest names in Norwegian rockabilly will share the same stage: The Lucky Bullets are making a long-awaited comeback after a six-year break, and Hot Rod T!—the band that was on constant repeat when we first founded Coupe Devils around the turn of the millennium, is finally playing Bonanza!

This will be a historic show, and we’d love to see as many of you as possible, cars or no cars. Click here to check out the Facebook event page, and if you can, help us spread the word.​

Hope to see you at Blaker!
Sondre Kvipt
Kustomrama Editor

P.S. I hope you all are able to see that this year's poster for the show is a tribute to the one and only Gene Winfield, who we lost earlier this year. RIP Gene, and thanks for your friendship and inspiration.

Hugh Nutting's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster

This month, we’re thrilled to introduce you to another one of our beloved subscribers, Hugh Nutting, a lifelong hot rodder whose journey began with a handful of parts and a big dream in Midland, Michigan.

Hugh’s 1929 Ford Roadster wasn’t his first car, but it was the one where everything started to come together. He bought the body for just $35, towed it through a Michigan snowstorm wrapped in an army blanket, and began shaping it into a true hot rod. It featured bobbed fenders, a cherry wood dash with Mercury gauges, and started life powered by a beefed-up banger before graduating to a 1951 Olds V-8.

The build spanned high school and tech school years, with Hugh turning wrenches in borrowed garages, dealership body shops, and anywhere he could find space. Painted 1954 Chevrolet red, the car was a daily driver, a weekend racer, and a true expression of midwestern ingenuity.

In 1961, as Hugh left for design school in California, he sold the car to a gas station owner. He last heard it was still alive and well, somewhere near Cadillac, Michigan, now running smallblock Chevy power.

It’s an honor to share Hugh’s story with the Kustomrama community. Stories like his are exactly why we do what we do.

​Click here to read more about Hugh Nutting’s Model A Roadster on Kustomrama.​

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Is This a Long-Lost Barris Custom?

Every once in a while, a car surfaces that makes us stop and ask, "Could it be...?" This time, it’s a chopped 1940 Ford Tudor Sedan owned by Erik Chaputa of La Verne, California, a mysterious survivor with whispers of Barris Kustoms heritage in its lines.

Covered in dust but rich with character, the car features a signature chop and rear contour so closely resembling Sam Barris’ early work that several respected custom veterans, including Don Ferguson Sr., believe the master himself may have shaped it.

Originally believed to have been completed in the 1940s or the '50s, the car reportedly spent time in Texas, where it was said to race at local strips before being parked and forgotten. Now in Erik's hands, this rolling relic is being carefully studied and preserved, and we’re asking for your help to fill in the blanks.

Could you have a lead or old photo that helps solve this mystery?

​Click here to read the full story and see more photos on Kustomrama. And if you have any info that could help trace this custom’s past, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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NEW: California Division Hot Rod Design Just Dropped!

We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand-new California Division Hot Rod Design — now available in the Kustomrama Online Store!

It’s fresh, bold, and built to turn heads—just like the legendary West Coast rides that inspired it. Whether you're a fan of classic Cali-style rods or just love clean, vintage-inspired design, this one’s for you.

💥 LAUNCH DEAL: Save 10% when you buy 3 or more products!
But hurry—this offer is only valid through May 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST).

​Click here to head on over to Kustomrama to check out the new collection and the sale.​

Let’s keep history alive—California style! 🏁

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Featured Video: Rare Footage from SHOW-64, Sweden's First Indoor Hot Rod and Custom Car Show

Step back into a pivotal moment in Scandinavian hot rod history! This month's Featured Video takes you back to SHOW-64, the very first indoor hot rod show ever held in Sweden. Organized by 24-year-old go-kart champion Roffe Skoghag, the event took place in April 1964 at Scania’s facilities in Stockholm, bringing together around 25 hot rods and customs under one roof. It was a groundbreaking milestone for Sweden’s growing hot rod scene.

Created by Kustomrama Contributors Mats Wallander and Björn Ramsten, this video stitches together rare Super 8 footage from the documentary "Flammor, Asfalt, Nagellack" and historic photos, capturing the raw energy of the show, including an improvised awards ceremony where Palle Eriksson is believed to have taken home the Best in Show award.

This priceless footage not only preserves the spirit of SHOW-64 but also highlights the grassroots passion that helped ignite a lasting custom culture in Sweden. Click here to explore the rare SHOW-64 footage on Kustomrama's YouTube channel and experience a piece of history brought back to life!​

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Bill Carr and the Aztec – A Kustom Reunion

Some stories in custom car history feel like they were written for the big screen, and this month's Photo of the Month is one of them.

Captured in front of Barry Mazza’s house, this rare image shows Bill Carr standing next to the fully restored Aztec, the wild 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible that Barris Kustoms transformed into a rolling masterpiece. The photo is from the Ray Soff Collection, and it beautifully brings things full circle, reuniting the car with the man who imagined it all.

Built in the late 1950s by George Barris and Bill DeCarr, the Aztec was crafted to be one of the most radical kustoms of its era. Extended fins, Lucite taillights, scooped skirts, pancaked hood, Mercury headlights, and a Corvette engine—the list of mods is as long as its legacy.

But the story didn’t end there. After being seized (twice!) by the FBI, the Aztec disappeared into obscurity until Barry Mazza and Bob Nitti became its caretakers. Barry painstakingly brought it back to its former glory, and today, the Aztec is once again a head-turning icon.

Want to dive deeper into this kustom king’s journey, from show stardom to FBI seizures and back again? Click here to explore the full story of the Aztec on Kustomrama.​

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Alright, folks, it’s time to rev up your engines and get ready for the Kustomrama May 2025 Playlist! We’re kickin’ things off with The Dragtones' ‘Insane,’ a track that’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping, followed by Bobby Byrd’s soulful ‘If You Got A Love You Better.’ Then, cruise into classics like The Rolling Stones’ ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ and The Hives' ‘Enough Is Enough’ – all part of this high-energy ride! Hit play, turn it up, and let the good times roll with Kustomrama!​

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The Crestline Connection – Tracing a Lost Norwegian Custom

A while back, we ran a photo of a mildly customized, 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria in the Kustomrama Newsletter, asking our readers if anyone could help us trace its origin. Now, thanks to Cato Harlem, we’ve got another important piece of this puzzle.

But first. Recently, Morten came across another great photo of the car from his time with it. The image shows the custom chrome trim from a 1956 Ford, along with a distinctive roof strip that Morten believes came from a Crown Victoria. You can even see the early signs of a planned flip front end. Morten also recalled purchasing a pair of Mercury headlights after seeing a similar mod on a car in Oslo. He later sold the Crestline to someone from Mortensrud and never saw it again.

That is, until Cato Harlem got in touch. Cato shared recent photos of a car he bought in Trysil in 2020, which he believes is Morten’s old ride. Key features match up: the custom interior, glass roof, and signs of its old two-tone paint job, yellow below the trim and red above. The car still had traces of an electrically operated trunk lid. Records show it was first registered in Norway on May 5, 1953, with documented ownership in Oslo going back decades. Another little piece of the custom car puzzle has come together, and that’s exactly the kind of stuff we love around here.

​Click here to check out recent photos of Morten’s Crestline and its story as we know it on Kustomrama.​

And if you know anything else about this old Norwegian custom, don’t hesitate to reach out. The hunt continues!

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Fresh Flames in South America – Pietro Dal Mas' 1949 Mercury

One of our very own, Kustomrama Designer Pietro Dal Mas, just sent over fresh photos of his wicked 1949 Mercury, now sporting a killer flame job he laid down earlier this year. Inspired by Jimmy Hervatin’s 1951 Ford F1 pickup Lit Up, Pietro decided it was time to put his personal stamp on the Merc, and the result speaks for itself. Could this be the coolest 1949-51 Mercury custom cruising around South America?

Pietro’s Mercury story goes back to 2002, when he bought the car from his grandfather in Porto Alegre, Brazil. What started with simple touches grew into a full-blown traditional custom build over the years. Chopped, shaved, dropped, and eventually given a heart transplant with a Chevy small-block, Pietro’s goal was always clear: a home-built 1950s-style custom, done with his own hands.

The bold flames he added in early 2025 not only gave the car a new identity but also marked a personal milestone. "I thought it needed some art on it and make it more like mine, not just another cool black Merc on the corner," Pietro told us.

​Click here to check out more photos and the story of Pietro’s Mercury on Kustomrama, and stay tuned, because we’re working on a full Featured Story that will dive deeper into this awesome South American custom!​

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The Alabama Shoebox Resurfaces

After featuring a haunting photo from Ray Soff in our previous Kustomrama Newsletter, showing what he believed to be a long-lost custom Ford once owned by a friend in Alabama, we’re excited to share an update. Since publishing the story, new information and photos have come to light, thanks to our amazing community.

Worsdel Pearson reached out and sent us three recent photos of the same mysterious Shoebox custom, now sitting under the trees, rusting but unmistakably full of character. Chopped top, extended quarters, and a continental kit still intact.

Nick Kozlik also chimed in, letting us know, “Last I saw it, it was here in Alabama, being stored outside, uncovered.” That was about five years ago.

We still don’t know the whole story behind this car, but this brings us one step closer. Do you recognize it? Maybe you know who built it—or where it might be headed next?

​Click here to see all the photos and join the discussion in the Kustomrama Supporter Community. Let's keep the trail warm and history alive.

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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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