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KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 212

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A New Way to Keep History Alive!

For nearly ten years, we’ve been collecting stories. Interviews. Photos. Home movies. Audio recordings. Long phone calls. Some planned, some spontaneous. Builders, painters, club members, people who were there when hot rodding and customizing took root, evolved, and became a kulture. We weren’t always sure how we’d use it all. At first, the plan was simple: record, don’t forget, preserve it for the future. Instead of writing down what they said, I hit record and listened. Hours turned into hundreds. And somewhere along the line, I realized we weren’t just archiving, we were quietly building something bigger.

Earlier this fall, Mats and Bjørn edited and released a beautiful short film made from home movies by Hasse Broberg, a time capsule from the early days of Swedish hot rodding. Sill Drivers in backyards, racing at Skarpnäck, cruising the streets of Stockholm. It was pure energy. Pure joy. And watching it come to life gave me the push I needed.

Inspired by their work, I finally gathered my own photos, interviews, and videos with Jim Logue, the man behind the Fabulous X54, and started piecing together our first true mini-documentary. If you haven’t seen it yet, click the link here or above this story and give it a watch.​

Jim’s story is incredible. Possibly the world’s first hydraulic-lifted custom car? We first connected in 2017, thanks to Juan A. Lopez. In 2019, we flew out to Long Beach to meet Jim in person and spent an entire day with him, camera rolling, just listening. All that footage has been sitting on a drive, until now. It’s newbie work, so be kind, but I hope it gives you the same feeling it gave me: that this kulture of ours is filled with stories worth telling, worth preserving.

Both of these videos are part of something new we’re testing at Kustomrama. After nearly two decades of running the site, the idea of diving into YouTube Shorts, Reels, TikToks, it’s been intimidating. But let’s face it, printed magazines are disappearing fast, and who knows how long folks will even be reading wikis online? If we want to reach the next generation, we need to be where they are.

That’s why I’m learning the tools. Slowly. And sharing these stories in new ways.

If you like the direction we’re heading in, let us know. These videos take time to make, but I’d love to do more. We have so much material from early pioneers and forgotten legends just waiting to be shared.

And here’s something else: if you have stories, interviews, or recordings of people with a tale to tell, share them with us. Even if it’s just a short video you filmed with your phone. Put someone in front of your iPhone, ask them about their first car, their club days, their best build… and send it our way. Together, we can keep history alive!

Thanks for riding along.
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Best regards
Sondre
Kustomrama Editor

The Dale Fisher Story: Meet the George Barris of Australia

Before the big names and big shows, before "customizing" was even part of the Australian vocabulary, there was Dale Fisher. Born in Gundagai, raised on ambition, and fueled by a love for shaping metal, Fisher became one of Australia’s first true custom car pioneers. They called him the George Barris of Australia, and they weren’t wrong.

By the early 1950s, Fisher had already ditched engineering school dreams to pursue hands-on work with cars in Sydney. His first big break? Converting a Holden sedan into a convertible in a backyard, flipping it on its side to weld rails because jack stands weren’t even an option. No shop, no blueprint, just vision and grit. That car would help kickstart a trend in a country where custom cars were still unheard of.

Over the next three decades, Dale quietly shaped Australian custom history, literally. From his signature convertible conversions to sculpted fins, tube grilles, and leaded seams, his work blended American flair with Aussie ingenuity. He built hundreds of cars, most by hand, often for little more than the love of it. And when plastic bolt-ons came into fashion, Dale stuck to steel, because to him, custom was about craft, not shortcuts.

In 1984, Dale retired after over 30 years of bending metal and building dreams. But his legacy lives on, not just in the cars, but in the culture he helped shape. Thanks to his sons Darryn and Dale, we’ve been lucky to piece together his story and preserve it on Kustomrama.

Dale Fisher may never have had the spotlight like his American peers, but in Australia’s custom history, his torch burns just as bright. ​Click here to discover the full story of a man who shaped cars and a culture, his own way.​

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Update: The Wayne Knudsen Coupe Lives On

A big thank you to Dean Micetich of Dice Magazine for sharing some fresh shots of the legendary Wayne Knudsen coupe as it undergoes a long-awaited resurrection at the Kennedy Brothers Bomb Factory in Pomona.

“Will run it in primer initially and then paint it next year. The frame is already painted Titian red, and all the running gear is painted and chromed,” Dean tells us.

This 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe was originally built by Cluster Busters member Wayne Knudsen of Toledo, Ohio, in the mid-to-late 1950s. With a dramatic chop and channel, the coupe became a local legend for its craftsmanship and stance. Later caretaker Dean Micetich once remarked: “The chop and leadwork is incredible. Definitely not a backyard build.”

Although rumors once tied Bill Hines to the bodywork, a 1957 photo taken at the first Toledo Auto Rama cleared that up: a placard on the cowl credits Maedel’s, a postwar speed shop in Toledo run by Ted Maedel, as the source of the sleek body mods.

After time in the hands of Warren Bookman, then Billy Coates, the coupe faded from the spotlight and sat dormant for decades. In 2023, Dean found the car just 15 minutes from his home and took over as caretaker, determined to restore it properly.

The Kennedy Brothers got to work in 2024, and now, as the car sits in primer, it’s one step closer to returning to the streets looking just as it did in its glory days.

Thanks again to Dean for the update! Keep 'em coming!

​Click here for the full story on the Knudsen Coupe’s return on Kustomrama.​

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CYBER WEEK DEAL - 20% OFF EVERYTHING

Our Cyber Week Sale is live! Now’s the time to grab that tee, cap, or sticker you’ve been eyeing — and save 20% on everything while you’re at it.

Offer valid through December 7 at 11:59 PM (EST). Just hit “Redeem” when you visit the store.

Shop your local Kustomrama store here:

• ​USA Store​
• ​Canada Store​
• ​Australia Store​
• ​Sweden S​
• ​France Store​
• ​Norway Store​
• ​Finland Store​
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The Sill Drivers Story: Hot Rod Life in Stockholm 1957-1964

Step back in time to Stockholm, 1957–1964! This newly restored Super-8 film from the Broberg family archives captures the early days of Swedish hot rodding, when the Sill Drivers were building cars in backyards, racing at Skarpnäck, and cruising the streets of Stockholm.

It’s a rare glimpse into how the Swedish scene began. Pure enthusiasm and raw creativity!

o you recognize any of the people or cars in this movie? Share your memories in the comments. Every story helps us keep history alive.

Thanks to Björn and Mats of the Kustomrama Sweden Division for creating and sharing this gem!

​Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more rare hot rod and custom footage from the Kustomrama archives!​

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Hasse & Kjelle’s 1938 Chevrolet - A Slice of Early Swedish Custom Life

This month's wonderful photo from the Broberg Family Collection feels like a scene frozen from a Swedish coming-of-age film. We’re somewhere outside a small-town bar and cafeteria, and Kjell “Kjelle” Gustad is sitting on the ground repairing an inner tube on the ’38 Chevrolet he built with Hans “Hasse” Broberg. Kids on bicycles hover around him, curious and wide-eyed, and a few locals look on from the doorway. Even at rest, the car is the center of gravity, drawing people in exactly the way an early custom should.

Known among friends as Sillarna (“the herrings”), Hasse and Kjelle bought the ’38 in 1962 and turned it into one of Stockholm’s earliest flame-painted customs. Bo “Gamen” Sandberg and his fiancée, Morris, laid down the first flames, helping establish the car as a familiar sight around Enskedefältet. This photo shows the Chevy not in a show hall, but in real life, being fixed, admired, and used the way these early customs always were. It’s a perfect snapshot of a time when Swedish hot rodding was young, homemade, and deeply rooted in friendship.

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

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Bringing a 1957 Barris Dream to Life

In the 1950s, magazines like Car Craft and Custom Cars invited readers into the minds of the era’s top customizers through their monthly styling sections. Designs that existed only as pencil sketches suddenly felt real, showing what Detroit’s latest offerings could look like in the hands of craftsmen like George Barris.

This month, the Kustomrama Styling Studio picks up that tradition with a fresh twist. Using modern AI tools, we’ve recreated the wild 1957 Barris Custom Shop Restyles Ford’s “Ranchero” concept as a realistic full-color photograph. Originally drawn by Dick Collier for Car Craft’s November ’57 issue, the Ranchero redesign was pure late-’50s imagination: quad lights, sweeping fins, reshaped sheet metal, and a lime-gold paint scheme with darker panel accents and a pearl-white top.

For nearly seven decades, the idea lived only as a sketch. Now, for the first time, you can see it exactly as Barris described it: a futuristic custom that blends Imperial headlights, Studebaker and Nash influences, and full West Coast color styling into one dramatic vision.

We’re excited to bring forgotten concepts like this back to life, and if you enjoy it, we’ve got many more waiting in the archives.

​Click here for more info, photos, and the original 1957 design sketches.​

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Forget the sleigh bells, this December, we’re ridin’ low, fast, and loud. The Kustomrama December 2025 playlist kicks off with Los Plantronics’ desert-drenched ‘El Pende’ before Johnny Kidd & The Pirates hit you where it hurts with ‘Shakin’ All Over.’ Death By Unga Bunga brings that ‘Raw Muscular Power’ you need to push through the cold, while Cock Sparrer wraps it up with ‘Nothing Like You’, a punk-tinged fist to the frost. No holiday cheer here, just high-octane tunes to keep you warm when the streets go quiet. Click here to give it a spin!​

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Help Kelly Find This Rum Runners of Riverside Jacket

Kelly Galeazzi recently shared some rare photos from a 1958 meeting of the Rum Runners of Riverside, a Southern California car club active in the late 1950s. His stepdad, Chuck Davenport, is seen in a couple of the photos, and on the wall behind him hangs the club jacket Kelly has been searching for.

“When he passed away, that was the only thing I wanted,” Kelly told us. “It was light blue, letterman-style, with a rum keg hot rod on the back and his name on the front. I check eBay all the time, but no luck.”

Chuck was a skilled mechanic who later opened C&M Auto Repair in Newport Beach after attending Trade Tech in LA. If you remember this club, or know where one of these jackets might be hiding, please drop us a line at [email protected].

​Click here for more info and photos on Kustomrama.​

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Another Hidden Alexander Bros Gem

We always get excited when previously unknown Alexander Brothers customs resurface, and this one’s a beauty! Big thanks to Carroll Hamilton for sharing this photo and the story of his 1961 Chevrolet Impala, the Elegant Empress.

Originally built in Cincinnati, Carroll took the car to the legendary Alexander Bros shop in Detroit in 1963 for a full Candy Tangerine repaint over gold, dash and steering wheel detailing, and interior color-matching, all documented in a surviving $500 shop estimate.

The Elegant Empress went on to turn heads at indoor shows across the Midwest, sporting clean lines, period accessories, and show-stopping finish work. It even earned a feature in Speed and Custom magazine that same year.

Got an old custom with Alexander Bros history? We’d love to see it.

​Click here for more info and photos of the Elegant Empress on Kustomrama.​

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What Do George Barris, Roger Rabbit, and Back to the Future Have in Common?

The Mt. Hollywood Tunnel, of course!

Thanks to Jason Bickford, we can now add another piece to the puzzle of famous photo locations in custom car history. Nestled in Griffith Park, this simple concrete tunnel served as the backdrop for George Barris' photo shoots in the 1950s, including shots of Bill Busch’s ’49 Mercury and Jerry Reichman’s ’50 Merc.

Not the most famous spot, but definitely a cool one. Its clean lines and neutral tones made it a go-to for letting the curves of a custom shine.

Movie buffs might also recognize it as the entrance to Toontown in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or from Back to the Future Part II and WarGames.

​Click here for more info and photos on Kustomrama.​

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Can You Smell the Fresh Paint in the Air?

Just as we were getting ready to send out this newsletter, a fresh batch of photos rolled into the Kustomrama inbox. Klas Wingren has just laid down two rich coats of black paint on his traditionally restyled 1939 Mercury custom, and it looks absolutely stunning!

This long-term build has been a labor of love, staying true to early custom traditions. Seeing it come together in glossy black is a real treat. Thanks for keeping us updated, Klas! We can’t wait to follow the final phase of this iconic Swedish custom!

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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.

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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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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.

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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!

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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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