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KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 207

Summertime is here, and this year it's come with a little extra burn.

June turned out to be busier than ever. Instead of sitting behind the screen, I’ve been out getting my hands dirty, wrenching on cars, custom fabricating merch, and helping host the 15th Annual Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza in Blaker with my brothers in the Coupe Devils. It was one for the books.

As you read this, I’ve swapped Norway for Cyprus, spending some needed vacation time with Nina and the kids. So, this month’s newsletter is a little lighter on fresh stories, but heavier on good vibes. Below you’ll find a handpicked photo recap that sums up the past month in true Kustomrama fashion! Custom cars, chrome, community, good friends, and a lot of passion.

Scroll on and enjoy the ride.

Have I mentioned we’re in the middle of redoing the basement at home? Well, we are, and while it’s exciting, it also means I had to pack up over a decade’s worth of treasures: magazines, memorabilia, parts, records, books, and more. Every single item that somehow found its way down there now needs a new home. Luckily, I’ve got a storage space in Bø, Telemark (about three hours from Oslo), and that’s where the first big load went as June got rolling. Plans for the future include a low-key, but genuine traditional hot rod and kustom museum in that building. A special place for special guys and gals like you and me. I already have some special items for that place lined up, and there are more to come, so stay tuned.

While I was in Bø, the stars aligned! After a long wait, my local upholsterer, Dimitrijs Timofejevs, had finally finished the headliner for the Kustomrama Dream Truck. We jumped at the chance to get it installed. That metallic bronze and white combo really pops against the green paint, don’t you think?

What do you think? Not too shabby, right? It’s been over 10 years since we first rolled out the Dream Truck, but getting the headliner finally installed gave me a real boost. That bronze and white combo came out even better than I hoped. Next up is a matching tarp for the bed. There are a million ways to do it. If you’ve got a tip or favorite setup, I’d love to hear from you!

Back in Oslo, I turned my garage into a pop-up Kraze Painter Paint Shop, cranking out a batch of one-off sweatshirts for our little stand at the Coupe Devils Bonanza Show. Brad Masterson once showed me the ropes, so I mixed some of his tricks with my own flavor. In one long day, 21 limited-edition sweaters were born, each one inspired by the wild legacy of Ed Roth, Dean Jeffries, Von Dutch, and, of course, Von Franco, who drew the badass Kraze Painter design we used.

Three fresh Kraze Painter sweatshirts! Once I had the base fades sprayed, I packed them up and drove to Tønsberg, where my buddy Jan Ove at Jarlsberg Yrkesklær was standing by to screen the Von Franco design on top. Fingers crossed they’d come out as cool as they looked in my head!

On June 19, I dropped by Henrik Frantzen’s garage to pick up leftover merch and banners he’d brought from Sweden earlier in the year. Found him and a younger Sondre (not me!) wrenching on “The Creature,” a flamed Plymouth that I helped lay seaweed flames on for my buddy Tom some years ago. It is now proudly owned and driven by Henrik and his girlfriend. Sondre’s hydraulically-lifted and channeled Chevy sat "nearby", and before I knew it, I’d agreed to help him lay down some fresh scallops, in time for Bonanza. Why not! He is a young kid with the right interest. Of course, I would love to help him out.

Early Sunday morning, I hit the road for Båstad, about an hour outside Oslo, to get started on Sondre’s Chevy. Armed with tape, sketches, and a full cup of coffee, I began masking up some late '50s-style scallops. Sondre told me to go wild and do whatever I wanted. Gotta love that kind of trust!

I wanted these scallops to be wild! A full-blown mix of Ed Roth attitude, Larry Watson class, Bob Heinrichs finesse, and a dash of Joe Crisafulli flair. With a few printouts for inspiration and a fresh roll of tape, the trunk became my canvas. Go big or go home, right?

Here's a fun little fact: Before Sondre took over this tough Chevy, it was just an abandoned project. My old friend Ole Kristian brought it back to life. Ole and I go way back. We met in high school, scalloped his '65 Cadillac together, and later co-founded the Coupe Devils Car Club with my brother Kjetil.

Things escalated quickly. With scallops laid out and masked, it was time to bring the Chevy to life, or at least give it some wild new skin. I’m not sure we nailed a masterpiece, but we sure made a proper mess of the garage. If nothing else, we nailed the 1950s “just wing it” spirit.

Sondre and Henrik are trying to cover up the black areas... which sounds easy, until you learn that the black paint started peeling off with the masking tape. Yep. Total nightmare. We had to carefully mask along the thin outlines instead, like doing brain surgery with duct tape. Lesson learned: Never trust mystery paint.

With the first scallops revealed, things were starting to take shape. The silver laid down nicely, and the lines flowed just like I'd pictured them in my head—wild, weird, and full of attitude.

One of my favorite details on this job, these crusty-looking pinstripe outlines. They look like they've been sitting out in the sun and rain for decades, but they’re fresh outta the booth. A happy little accident turned into pure gold, giving the car a worn-in look that fits it perfectly.

Here’s a side shot that tells the story of a design balancing act. I started masking the rear and got a little carried away. Five or six hours later, I realized I had created a monster. To carry that theme through the whole car would’ve taken another full day. So, I backed off, simplified the rear, tackled the front, and eventually found a flow that felt just right.

Here’s a look at the back of the car, where you’ll find one of my signature stars. Bob Heinrichs “introduced” me to them when I recreated the wild design on the Kustomrama Dream Truck. Since then, I’ve dropped them into other paint jobs, including Marius’ Shoebox Ford. For this build, I placed one on each rear fender and one up front on the hood. A little nod to tradition, with a twist.

Late Monday night, just days before the Bonanza, this was the scene. No heads on the engine. Transmission shot. The clock was ticking. Sondre gave it his all, burning the midnight oil trying to get the car ready, but time wasn’t on his side this round. It didn’t make the show, but it sure earned its name: **Kraze Shit**. That’s how it goes sometimes. Shake it off. On to the next one.

Wednesday after work, I rolled out to Bø to do some maintenance on the Ranchero. Worked remotely Thursday, then hit the road for Blaker and the Bonanza Show. It's normally a 50-minute hop from Oslo, but from Bø? More like 4+ hours. Happy life, right? Luckily, fellow Coupe Devils member Jon had my back and picked up the new merch in Tønsberg before I even got there. Legends help legends.

Nighttime at the Bonanza Show. We rolled into Blaker on Thursday, got everything set up, and the weekend that followed reminded us why we do this. They say the scene is shrinking, but this year proved otherwise. More cars. More people. More stories. And a whole lot of heart under the trees and string lights. Be sure to check out the great video from the show further down in this email.

Introducing The Kraze Painter sweatshirts… or what’s left of them! These babies sold like hotcakes. Didn’t even have time to hang ’em up before folks were pulling them off the rack. In just a few minutes, all 21 custom-made sweatshirts were gone. Huge thanks to everyone who grabbed one! You rock. I promise you, there will be more made one day, but they won't look like the Original 21! That's a promise.

Here’s a closer look at the Kraze Painter sweatshirts in action—and yeah, I’m stoked about how they turned out. Bold, weird, wild, and just the right amount of wrong. Von Franco killed it with the artwork, and the airbrushed finish gave each one its own flavor. Proud to see these out in the wild already. Thanks again to everyone who snagged one!

Proof’s in the pudding! These Kraze Painter sweatshirts weren’t just a hit with the fellas. Even the ladies got in on the action. Each one had its own color vibe, and this pink fade turned out killer. Big thanks again to everyone who picked one up. You made our day, and helped keep Kustom history alive in the coolest way possible.

Picking a winner wasn’t easy, but in the end, Marius and his Kraze Painted Shoebox Ford took home the top prize! With bold flames and killer details, this kustom turned heads all weekend. Might’ve been a touch of bias in the vote count, but hey, it’s about time the trophy stayed in Norway instead of heading to Sweden or Finland! Big congrats to Marius—you earned it. The killer, hand-fabricated award is the handiwork of my brother Kjetil.

After packing up, Olav and I hit the road back to Telemark Sunday night. The drive was pure joy! Norwegian summer, winding roads, and a fleet that looked straight out of a dream. The Ranchero limped along on 7 cylinders for a while, but Olav worked his magic and got it purring again.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped make June one wild and unforgettable ride. Time to rest, recharge, and cook up something fresh for August.

See you all in Kustomland!

Sondre Kvipt
Editor, Kustomrama

Remembering the Legends

Joe Crisafulli (1936 - 2025)

Only hours after I had laid down a scallop paint job to honor Joe Crisafulli and his bold, beautiful approach to custom design, we received the heartbreaking news from his grandson, Curtis McGann: Joe had passed away on June 25, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Joe was more than just a custom painter; he was a storyteller with a spray gun, a quiet innovator whose work spoke volumes. A true San Jose original, Joe came up in the 1950s, forming the San Jose Rod and Wheelers with five friends in 1954. In those early days, if you wanted to join the club and hang the plaque, you needed more than just a car; you needed something done to it. And Joe had just that: a ’47 Ford with ’49 Lincoln taillights and a shaved deck lid. It wasn’t just transportation. It was a canvas.

Joe's story began in garages, gas stations, and backyard shops around San Jose. He got his start at Flyer Tabata’s body shop, learning the craft from the ground up. From there, he moved through the ranks, painting scallops and flames in borrowed bays, on lube racks, and even in a chicken coop behind his house in Almaden. He built his first shop, J&J Auto Painting, in his dad’s garage using a compressor made from a refrigerator pump and a hot water tank. He couldn’t afford a proper booth, so he made one. He didn’t have high-end tools, but he had vision and determination.

Joe’s paint jobs caught attention. Bold scallops, innovative color fades, and striking combinations that set cars apart at shows and on the street. He painted Tony Alvez’s Cadillac on a lube rack at a Flying A gas station. The car went on to win awards at the Oakland Roadster Show. He turned out a fresh custom almost every two weeks while working at Flyer’s Body Shop. In 1957, he laid down scallops on Jerry DeVito’s Ford, later known as The Maze, for the first time. It was a warm-up for the radical second version, famously painted by Bob Heinrichs, but Joe's hand was part of its origin story.

Over the years, Joe moved through shops. River Body Shop, Wirth’s Body Shop, and eventually back to Flyer’s new operation, always painting, always creating. He didn’t chase fame. He built customs because he loved it, because it made people stop, stare, and smile.

I first connected with Joe in 2011 when he reached out to me with a treasure trove of photos, drawings, and stories. We exchanged countless emails over the years. Joe became one of my go-to guys, an important contributor to Kustomrama and a mentor to me and my brother Olav when we recreated The Maze as The Kustomrama Dream Truck. His insights were invaluable, and his encouragement meant the world.

Joe’s legacy lives on in the pages of Kustomrama, in the cars he painted, and most powerfully, through his grandson, Curtis. Their bond went far beyond family. As Curtis told me, “The relationship I had with my grandfather was not just an average family grandson-to-grandfather relationship, but more of two souls becoming one... I not only lost my grandfather, but I lost my hero, my idol, my motivation, my self-worth, my happiness, and most of all, my identity.” Curtis is now carrying that legacy forward, running his own custom paint and body shop, just as Joe would have wanted. Joe will also be greatly missed by his wife, Gidget Crisafulli, whom he stayed married to for 63 years.

Joe Crisafulli didn’t just customize cars. He helped shape a culture. His work may have started in the shadows of San Jose garages, but its impact has echoed across generations and around the world.

Thank you, Joe, for the paint, the stories, the friendship, and the inspiration. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

Click here to read Joe’s full bio on Kustomrama.

Click here to support the fundraiser to help bring Joe home to San Jose for his final resting place.

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Have You Seen This:

Rumbled Photos Presents: Fresh Video Coverage From the 15th Annual Coupe Devils Bonanza

I haven’t had time to go through all my own photos from the Bonanza Show yet, but luckily, Rumbled Photos came to the rescue. This shot is a still from their killer Bonanza video on YouTube. If you’re wondering what the fuzz is all about, or why you should already start planning a trip to Norway for the last weekend of June next year, click here to go check it out. You won’t regret it.

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Order yours: US - Europe - Sweden - Norway - Worldwide

Photo of the Month

Norway’s First Drag Race – It All Started in Fyresdal

In 1978, a group of young Norwegians packed into a 1970 Dodge Coronet and set off for Fyresdal. Their cargo? Ludvig Bjørnstad’s dragster Headache. Their destination? History.

Captured by Terje Saethre, this unassuming photo marks the journey to what would become a milestone in Norwegian automotive culture: First Go!, the very first official drag race ever held on Norwegian soil.

Held at the small airstrip deep in the forested mountains of Fyresdal, the event wasn’t just about horsepower, it was about making a statement. American cars, hot rods, drag bikes, and homebuilt customs roared down the runway in a scene that echoed Pomona and Bakersfield more than rural Telemark. And somehow, against all odds, it worked.

For me, this one hits especially close to home. I grew up in Fyresdal, high up in the mountains, surrounded by trees, lakes, and a whole lot of nothing when it came to hot rod culture. As far as I know, me and my brothers were the first to build traditional rods and customs in the village. Yet decades before, that same quiet valley had already played host to something incredible. The roots were there all along, we just had to dig deep enough to find them.

Click here to see more and explore more of the story of First Go! and Fyresdal’s surprising place in Norway’s drag racing history.

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Kustomrama Playlist

Cruisin’ season is in full swing, and the Kustomrama July 2025 playlist is here to keep your wheels turnin’ and your spirits high. From the Latin surf heat of ‘La Pata el Pato’ to the rock steady sway of ‘Bang Bang Rock Steady’ and the cool country glide of ‘Going up the Country,’ this mix is a melting pot of rhythm and rebellion. Whether you're coastin' down a country road or just dreamin' in the driveway, this soundtrack was made for summer snapshots and midnight rides. Click here to hit play and take the long way home.

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Kustomrama Newsletter No. 207

Hey
Reader

KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 207

Remembering the Legends

Joe Crisafulli (1936 - 2025)

Have You Seen This:

Rumbled Photos Presents: Fresh Video Coverage From the 15th Annual Coupe Devils Bonanza

Photo of the Month

Norway’s First Drag Race – It All Started in Fyresdal

Kustomrama Playlist

Did you enjoy this newsletter?

How much is our automotive heritage worth to you Reader?

What is Kustomrama?

What is the Kustomrama Newsletter?

Please Help Us Spread the Word!

What is the Kustomrama Member Community?

What is the Kustomrama Marketplace?

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

Thanks for helping us keeping history alive

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 206

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 205

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 204

Kustomrama

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 207

HeyReader

KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 207

Remembering the Legends

Joe Crisafulli (1936 - 2025)

Have You Seen This:

Rumbled Photos Presents: Fresh Video Coverage From the 15th Annual Coupe Devils Bonanza

Photo of the Month

Norway’s First Drag Race – It All Started in Fyresdal

Kustomrama Playlist

Did you enjoy this newsletter?

How much is our automotive heritage worth to you Reader?

What is Kustomrama?

What is the Kustomrama Newsletter?

Please Help Us Spread the Word!

What is the Kustomrama Member Community?

What is the Kustomrama Marketplace?

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

Thanks for helping us keeping history alive

Kustomrama

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 206

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 205

Kustomrama Newsletter No. 204

Hey
Reader