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KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 208

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Where did the summer go?

It feels like I had just hit send on the July newsletter before I was boarding a plane to Cyprus to spend some much-needed time with the family, trying to get to know them again after a few hectic months, ha!

We had a great week with sunshine, all-inclusive food and drinks, and just enough excitement to keep it interesting. Let’s just say there was a close call with a restricted military zone, some UN soldiers who didn’t appreciate my curiosity, and what might have been the biggest snake I’ve ever seen outside a zoo.

Once back online, I tried to catch up on the mountain of emails and messages that had piled up. My plan was to finally write a few stories I’ve been wanting to do for years, but as I worked my way through all your amazing contributions, I got totally sidetracked. So many of you sent in killer photos, stories, and memories that I just couldn’t ignore.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll get a small taste of what’s cooking, like the newly uncovered photos and info on Leroy Heinrichs and his beautiful customs. And trust me, there’s much more coming. So stay tuned, and thanks for your patience while I work my way through the inbox and get all these incredible stories polished and published.

Catch you next time,
Sondre
Kustomrama Editor

The Eugene Von Arx Special

Every once in a while, a car reemerges that rewrites the story of how this whole thing started. The Eugene Von Arx Special is one of those cars.

Built in 1940 by Bungholers of Hollywood car club member Eugene Von Arx Jr., this custom roadster is an extraordinary blend of land speed ambition and coachbuilt elegance. While most dry lakes racers were stripped bare for speed, the Von Arx Special was designed to be fast and beautiful — a California original in every sense of the word.

It all began with a dream and a family legacy. Eugene’s father, Von Arx Sr., was a classically trained craftsman who had worked for the legendary Walter M. Murphy Company and Don Lee Coach & Body Works in L.A. When his son set his sights on going fast, Sr. shaped the body by hand, adding details like 1937 Chevy headlights, a naval brass grille, and a split DuVall windshield. The chassis? Built by none other than Frank Kurtis, who later became a household name in Indy racing circles.

Power came from a 221-cubic inch Ford flathead V-8, topped with George Riley overhead valve heads, one of just four known sets still in existence. In 1942, just before racing was paused for World War II, the car reached 114.4 MPH at El Mirage.

Then…nothing. For decades, the car vanished from the radar.

Fast-forward to modern day: The Von Arx Special was discovered in a neglected state in Tennessee, still wearing the scars of time. Thankfully, a passionate new caretaker stepped in to bring it back to its original glory, and this August, it’s heading for the auction block in Monterey.

This is more than just a prewar custom. It’s a missing link between dry lakes, hot rods, and the postwar custom movement. And it’s about to make history again.

​Click here for the full story and more photos on Kustomrama.​
​Click here to check out the auction listing.​

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Lost Custom: Leroy Heinrichs' 1947 Plymouth Club Coupe

Before it disappeared, this radical ’47 Plymouth turned heads from San Jose to Monterey. Now, it’s time to bring it back into the spotlight.

Originally restyled by Leroy Heinrichs of the Axle Busters Car Club in San Jose, this unique 1947 Plymouth Club Coupe was a standout of the late-1950s NorCal custom scene. From its shaved trim and frenched headlights to its Candy lacquer finishes and dual canted headlight front end, the car evolved through the hands of two dedicated builders. Last documented at the 1962 San Jose Autorama, it hasn’t been seen in over 60 years, but the hunt is back on.

Tracy Zimmermann, daughter of Leroy’s former fiancée Mazie Neece, is now hoping to track down the car: “My mom was engaged to Leroy when he bought the car,” she told us last month. She remembers stories, photos, and family ties wrapped around this once-stunning custom, and she’s hoping someone out there can help bring the trail back to life.

Leroy’s Plymouth went through several stages of transformation. In its early days, it was nosed, decked, shaved, and dressed with 1952 Ford headlight rims, Dodge bumpers, and a custom grille. After changing hands to Louie Stojanovich in 1957, the car got even wilder. Functional lakes pipes cut through the fenders, a 1954 Chrysler mill with triple carbs, and a stunning Candy Burgundy finish outlined in gold.

Louie showed it at several major West Coast events, then brought it to Gene Winfield for a full front-end makeover with canted quad headlights and a wider grille. The final touch? A fresh coat of Candy Tangerine laid down at Barris Kustoms in North Hollywood.

And then—it vanished.

If you recognize this car, any of its features, or have heard stories about what happened to it after 1962, please reach out to us today. Whether it’s parked in a garage, parted out, or just remembered in an old photo album, every clue helps. Let’s reconnect Tracy with a lost piece of her family’s past, and keep another custom story alive.

​Click for the full story and more great photos on Kustomrama.​

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Kustom Paint in Motion: The Kraze Painter!!

Our friend Rods and Kustoms with Lars has dropped a killer new video, spotlighting three recent customs that made waves at this year’s Coupe Devils Rod & Kustom Bonanza. What ties them together? Each one wears a custom paint job laid down by none other than yours truly (At least the masking)!

From scallops to seaweed flames, these rides echo the spirit of the greats, wrapped up in candy colors and finished off with pinstriped outlines by Richie the Pinstriper.

Thanks for putting this together, Lars. I'm humbled and honored to see the work shared like this.

​Click here to check out the full video and see these kustoms in action, and be sure to subscribe to Lars' YouTube Channel while you're at it!​

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Custom Dreams on the Lot – Joe Burgasser’s Barris-Built Impala for Sale in ’61

Somewhere in Southern California, November 1961. Parked under a “USED CARS” sign, Joe Burgasser’s stunning Danube Blue Pearl 1959 Chevrolet Impala sat gleaming. A full custom creation with Barris Kustoms bodywork, Eddie Martinez upholstery, and futuristic touches like hidden micro switches and an in-car telephone.

And it was for sale. For $1,200.

This month's Photo of the Month, from the incredible Dave Pettner Collection, captures a unique moment in time. A top-tier show car blending into the used lot landscape. With reversed side trim, a custom grille opening crafted from ¾-inch conduit, 1959 Buick taillights, and deep-dish chromed wheels, this Impala was a radical example of tasteful early ’60s custom style.

The grille and rear mods were so tasteful that George Barris documented their construction in Popular Hot Rodding July 1962. The interior was just as lavish, blue and white rolled leather by Martinez, a half wheel, and a special tarp to cover the rear seat area. It was the total package.

According to Dave Pettner, who shot the photo and generously shared it with us, “$1,200 sounded cheap, but a new car was $1,800. I was only making about $200 a month.” That financial contrast reflects a reality many custom car fans faced, where appreciation and aspiration often outweighed ability.

We’re incredibly thankful to Dave for preserving this moment and sharing it with us. Through his lens, we get to glimpse a fleeting chapter in custom history, one where a Barris-built beauty waited on a lot for its next lucky owner.

​Click here to see more and explore Dave Pettner’s incredible photo collection on Kustomrama.​

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This is a Paid Promotion: Promote your car to thousands of enthusiasts for just $100! Click here for more info.​

For Sale: Larry Ernst's 1951 Chevrolet Bel Air - The Bel Air Royal

Built by Barris Kustoms in 1951 for Toledo’s well-dressed Roman Catholic priest Larry Ernst, the Bel Air Royal became an icon almost overnight. It was the first hardtop Chevy Sam Barris ever chopped, and it went on to win Hop Up Magazine's Custom of the Year in 1952.

After disappearing for decades, it was rescued and meticulously restored by custom car historian Burns Berryman, down to the Canadian Meteor grille and dual vacuum antennas. Now, for the first time ever, the Bel Air Royal is up for sale.

It’s offered by the Berryman estate, complete with a full set of original trophies, documentation, and that famous working clock award. This is a car that belongs in a high-end collection or museum.

Asking $150,000 OBO. The car is located in Ortonville, Michigan.

​Click here to read the full story on Kustomrama and see the full ad and more photos.​

August is here, and it’s bringing the heat, the howl, and the heartache. This month’s Kustomrama playlist kicks off with The Delta Bombers 'Howlin', then dives into the rocksteady groove of Phyllis Dillon and Hopeton Lewis. From the raw energy of Rancid’s ‘Fall Back Down’ to the midnight eeriness of Roky Erickson’s ‘It’s a Cold Night for Alligators,’ this mix is equal parts sweat, soul, and strange. Whether you're wrenchin’, cruisin’, or just starin’ at the ceiling fan, this one’s got your soundtrack covered. Click here to give it a spin.​

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Another Custom Mystery Solved: The Story Behind Leroy Heinrichs' 1955 Plymouth

Some customs leave a lasting impression. Others leave behind a mystery. This sharp-looking, scalloped 1955 Plymouth has done both.

Since Joe Crisafulli first shared a photo of the car with us back in 2012, its origin and owner had remained a mystery. Joe couldn’t recall who it belonged to, only that he’d painted it. A couple of years later, we spotted the same car on the cover of Car Speed and Style from June 1958. We thought that would be the final clue, but the magazine didn’t mention the owner’s name.

Then, last month, everything changed.

After Joe sadly passed away, Tracy Zimmermann came across one of the photos of the Plymouth that we had posted on Facebook. To our surprise, she recognized the car. "My mom, Mazie Neece, was engaged to Leroy, and I have these photos from 1957. This is my mom and my cousins as kids, Laura Smith and her little brother, Les. I'm not sure where this was, but mom is clearly next to the Joe Crisafulli-painted Plymouth. Would love to know if this was Leroy's car..."

At the time, Tracy wasn’t 100% sure it was Leroy’s Plymouth. But she reached out to her uncle, John Neece, who confirmed it: "He also said that Leroy's younger brother Eldon was his best friend from about grade school until Eldon died, and that 1955 scalloped Plymouth was definitely Leroy's car. So YAY! Mystery solved! lol"

Thanks to Tracy and her family, this long-standing Kustomrama mystery has finally been put to rest. One more story added to the archive, one more name remembered.

​Click here to see more photos of Leroy Heinrichs’ 1955 Plymouth on Kustomrama.​

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Club Pride: A Rare Look at the Axle Busters of San Jose

While helping us solve the mystery surrounding Leroy Heinrichs’ scalloped 1955 Plymouth, Tracy Zimmermann came across another gem from her family photo album, this fantastic snapshot of two young Axle Busters, proudly repping their club colors.

Pictured here are John Neece and his friend Ray McDonald, proudly wearing their Axle Busters of San Jose jackets, circa early 1960s. John joined the club right around the time he graduated high school, but life had other plans. Work quickly took priority, and as John later put it, he became a “working stiff.” He only made it to one meeting before stepping away.

Though he never got around to building a custom or hot rod of his own while he was a member of the club, John cherished the friendships he made, and the jacket that connected him to the scene. According to Tracy, the tragic passing of fellow club member Eldon Heinrichs in 1962 may have made it even harder for John to stay involved. Quietly, he stepped away from the scene.

But as this photo shows, the bond to the club and its people never left him.

Thanks to Tracy for keeping this piece of San Jose history alive, and for letting us share it with all of you. ​Click here for more info and photos from the club, and feel free to fill us in if you have more info, stories or photos of the club to share.​

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Mailbag Mystery: Was This Wild Firebird Built for The Green Hornet?

Dan Lavely is on a mission to uncover the history of his radically customized 1971 Pontiac Firebird. With a one-off front end and sleek, sculpted body lines, the car looks like something straight out of a movie, and that might not be far from the truth. According to the story passed along with the car, it was allegedly used as a prop or backup vehicle in a production of The Green Hornet. Before Dan took ownership, the car belonged to Kenneth Breaux, who had purchased it from a Robert Single in Tyler, Texas. But beyond that, the trail runs cold.

If you recognize this Firebird or know anything about its history, especially any link to The Green Hornet, we’d love to hear from you. ​Click here for more info and photos on Kustomrama.​

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Mailbag Update: The Cordster Rides Again!

In July, Bruce Papazian sent us a fresh photo that shows the ongoing progress of the Cordster restoration...and things are looking good! The wild custom roadster that Martin S. Papazian built back in the 1950s is slowly but surely coming back to life.

Bruce’s father, Martin, dreamed up the Cordster as a family-friendly Sports Custom, blending parts from a 1936 Cord, a Willys Jeepster, a Studebaker, and even a Cadillac. The result was a one-off creation with sleek lines, smart engineering, and a goal: to go fast in style, with room for the whole family.

Finished in 1953, the Cordster won awards from Medford to Manhattan and made waves in early car shows. But after changing hands over the decades, and vanishing from the Papazian family for years, it was rediscovered outside Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2020, thanks to our story and a tip from James Bear Roderick.

Bruce brought the car back under the Papazian wing and placed it in the capable hands of Doug Pray and the team at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Factory in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Since then, the car has been media blasted, re-engineered, and repainted and is steadily moving toward full restoration.

The recent snapshot Bruce shared shows the Cordster back in its signature two-tone color scheme, now sporting whitewalls and that unmistakable silhouette. Interior and top work are next, and if the past is any guide, this unique piece of American custom car history will once again turn heads when it hits the road.

Stay tuned! This one’s worth the wait.

​Click here for the full story and more photos 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?

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