Happy New Year
Reader

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Get ready to start the new year with the
January Edition of the Kustomrama Newsletter
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KUSTOMRAMA NEWSLETTER NO. 213

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Happy New Year, fellow Kustom enthusiasts!

We’re rolling into 2026 with full tanks and big smiles. 2025 was a year of growth and transformation here at Kustomrama, and it’s all thanks to you.

Your ongoing support and encouragement, whether it came through kind messages, donations, or simply sharing our stories, helped keep the wheels turning. Because of you, Kustomrama continues to thrive, making traditional hot rod and custom car history accessible to fans and builders across the globe. We’re truly grateful.

What many might not realize is that 2025 also marked the 20th year of Kustomrama. We had all kinds of plans to celebrate… but life, projects, and paint fumes got in the way. So here we are, already in year 21! I guess that gives us a good four years to plan one heck of a 25th anniversary.

Last year was also one of the most creative we’ve had. Our collaboration with Von Franco on the Kraze Painter design was an absolute blast. We turned that wild artwork into merch, hand-painted sweatshirts, and custom airbrushed trucker caps that sold out quicker than we could restock. It sparked something, and now we’re thrilled to announce a new project in the works with legendary painter Tom Kelly, one of “The Crazy Painters” alongside Ed Roth and Baron. That’s one you don’t want to miss.

2025 also marked a big shift in how we share stories. We finally began digging into our archive of interviews, home movies, and photos to create mini documentaries for YouTube. From early Swedish hot rod footage to Jim Logue’s hydraulic-powered X54 and Art Himsl’s psychedelic van-painting days, it’s been rewarding to watch these stories come to life. In fact, our latest video on Art has already racked up more than 200,000 views, proving there’s still a real appetite for kustom kulture history told straight from the source.

And speaking of traditions… it wouldn’t be January without our annual Top 10 Stories countdown. This year’s list is an emotional ride, topped by the legendary Gene Winfield, who passed away in March at 97. From Von Dutch and Barris Kustoms to the viral comeback of the Golden Sahara and Joar Kristiansen’s homemade LeSabre, 2025 proved just how alive and global this kulture still is.

So without further ado, scroll down to check out the Kustomrama Top 10 Stories of 2025, and revisit the wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful highlights of the year:

Kustomrama Top 10 Stories of 2025

1. Gene Winfield (2)

Topping the 2025 Kustomrama Top 10 List is a name that has become a permanent fixture at the top of our rankings: Gene Winfield. Since we first started publishing this list, Gene has always held a spot near the top, and this year, he returns to number one in a moment that feels both triumphant and deeply emotional.

On March 4, 2025, Gene Winfield passed away at the age of 97, closing a chapter in custom car history that spanned nearly eight decades. From his early days building cars in a chicken coop behind his mother’s house in Modesto to his pioneering fade paint jobs and contributions to movies and television, Gene's creativity and energy helped shape the very foundation of Kustom Kulture. Even in his 90s, Gene could be found painting, chopping, and sharing stories with builders and fans around the globe.

His passing marked the end of an era, reminding us all how vital these pioneers are to our scene. But Gene's legacy, like the fadeaway paint jobs he made famous, will never fade. His work, his teachings, and his unstoppable spirit will continue to inspire generations of builders, painters, and dreamers.

​Click here to explore Gene Winfield’s incredible life and legacy on Kustomrama.​

2. Von Dutch (3)

Holding strong in second place on our 2025 Kustomrama Top 10 List is Von Dutch, the father of modern pinstriping and one of Kustom Kulture’s most enigmatic and enduring icons. Dutch has consistently ranked high on our list since we started it, and for good reason. His unmistakable style, eccentric personality, and rebellious spirit continue to fascinate fans around the world.

From his early days learning sign painting from his father to pioneering the abstract pinstriping craze of the 1950s, Von Dutch left a mark that still shapes the scene today. Whether it was striping motorcycles in a garage in Compton, pulling perfect long lines across a fender, or inventing motorized roller skates in his spare time, Dutch blended raw talent with unapologetic attitude.

Despite the myths and contradictions that surround him, one thing is certain: his art lives on. The continued popularity of Von Dutch on Kustomrama proves that his legacy is more than just pinstriping, it’s a lasting influence on the way we view custom cars, creativity, and culture.

​Click here to explore the fascinating and often wild story of Von Dutch on Kustomrama.​

3. Joar Kristiansen's LeSabre (New)

Sliding into third place on the 2025 Kustomrama Top 10 List is a true underdog, and a surprise to many, including us. Joar Kristiansen’s handmade LeSabre, built in a cold garage in Askim, Norway, back in the 1950s, went viral on Facebook not once, but multiple times in 2025. Although it wasn’t our posts making the rounds, curious enthusiasts kept linking back to Kustomrama’s detailed article, pushing this oddball to the top of the charts.

Joar’s LeSabre is a one-man tribute to Harley Earl’s GM dream car, built from scrap metal, salvaged parts, and raw determination. Using a junkyard 1939 Ford frame and hand-shaped aluminum panels, Joar spent over 2,400 hours crafting his own vision of the future. The result? A low-slung, finned creation that turned heads, broke necks, and, according to Joar, was a little too popular with the ladies.

While the original GM LeSabre ended up preserved at the Heritage Center, Joar’s car reportedly met a more tragic fate, possibly scrapped after years of changing hands. But thanks to the magic of the internet and the passion of readers, his story found new life in 2025, proving that a garage-built dream can still go global, decades after it first hit the streets.

​Click here to read the full story of this incredible Norwegian creation on Kustomrama.​

4. Ed Roth's Road Agent (New)

Claiming the fourth spot on our 2025 Kustomrama Top 10 List is a surprise newcomer: Ed "Big Daddy" Roth’s Road Agent. While Roth is a legend and a household name in Kustom Kulture, it’s the first time this particular bubble top show rod has made our Top 10, proof that times are changing.

With services like ChatGPT and AI-assisted search transforming how people discover and explore history, older and lesser-searched stories are finding fresh audiences. In 2025, the Road Agent became one of those rediscovered gems, generating renewed buzz and interest.

Originally built by Roth using a rear-engine Corvair powertrain and crowned with a futuristic bubble top, the Road Agent stood out even among his wildest creations. In 1996, Mark Moriarity acquired the car and meticulously restored it before it was sold at RM’s Icons of Speed & Style Auction in 2009 for $187,000. Unexpected? Maybe. But the Road Agent's entry into the list is a perfect example of how iconic design, digital curiosity, and timeless cool continue to shape the way we celebrate custom culture.

​Click here to explore the Road Agent on Kustomrama.​

5. Barris Kustoms (Return)

Sliding back into the Top 5 for 2025 is a name synonymous with the golden age of custom cars: Barris Kustoms. After narrowly missing the list last year, it’s a pleasure to see the Kings of Kustom reclaim their place among the most-read stories on Kustomrama.

Founded by George and Sam Barris, Barris Kustoms helped shape post-war American car culture. Their early work on cars like the Ala Kart, Hirohata Merc, and Golden Sahara set the standard for what a custom could be. With imaginative designs, pioneering techniques, and celebrity clientele, the Barris name became legend, both in garages and on TV screens.

What brought them back to the list this year? Likely a mix of nostalgia, renewed media coverage, and deep interest in their most iconic builds, which continue to be referenced by customizers around the world. It’s a reminder that trends may come and go, but true craftsmanship and vision are timeless.

​Click here to explore the full legacy of Barris Kustoms on Kustomrama.​

6. The Golden Sahara (Return)

After missing the list last year, the Golden Sahara comes roaring back into the spotlight in 2025, and with good reason. This legendary Barris Kustoms-built show car, commissioned by Jim Skonzakes and first unveiled at the 1954 Petersen Motorama, has long captivated the imagination of custom car fans with its futuristic lines, gold-dyed aluminum panels, and lavish bubble-top interior.

But 2025 brought a major resurgence in interest: In August, the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum announced it would be closing its doors, and that the Golden Sahara II, lovingly restored by Speakeasy Custom & Classics and unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, would go under the hammer once more. On September 20, 2025, during a live sale in Chicago, the car shattered records, selling for $1,265,000 USD via Mecum Auctions.

This milestone sale likely boosted interest in both the car and its creators, helping not only the Golden Sahara but also Barris Kustoms make strong returns on this year’s list. It’s a fitting tribute to a car that has always been more than just a custom, it’s been a symbol of how far imagination can take a builder.

​Click here for the full story on Kustomrama.​

7. The Tom Winger Photo Collection (New)

2025 marked the debut of The Tom Winger Photo Collection on the Top 10 list, a welcome reminder that sometimes it’s the quiet collectors, not the builders, who preserve the deepest history.

Tom Winger began photographing cars in the early 1970s. What started as a personal hobby soon grew into a vast visual archive of custom cars, muscle machines, street cruisers, and showroom stockers. With an eye for detail and a camera always close by, Tom documented everything from dealer lots to drive-ins and car shows across the country.

This new addition to the Kustomrama Archives quickly caught the attention of readers. Each photo tells a story, not just about the cars, but about the times. From factory-fresh Pontiacs to radical customs, Tom’s shots freeze moments that might have otherwise faded with time.

With much of the collection still unpublished, this is only the beginning. We expect more discoveries, more nostalgia, and more entries to follow in the coming years as we continue unveiling Tom’s incredible photographic legacy.

​Click here to explore the Tom Winger Photo Collection on Kustomrama.​

8. Roland Larsson’s 1932 Ford Roadster (New)

Another welcome newcomer to the list, and one that feels especially close to home for us. In March of 2025, Roland Larsson’s iconic 1932 Ford Roadster was displayed at the Kustomrama stand during the Stockholm Hot Rod Kustom Show. A true crowd favorite, the Swedish-built hot rod was recognized as one of the top 10 cars of the event. Even more remarkable? It was the first time the car had ever been shown publicly.

Built by Roland Larsson of Hammarö, this car is one of the earliest Swedish hot rods on record, and possibly the first channeled one in the country. Inspired by Hot Rod Magazine and U.S. customs of the late 1950s, Roland tore the car down and rebuilt it with bobbed and molded fenders, a chopped windshield, and a fully channeled body. The result was a trendsetting build that set the tone for Scandinavian hot rodding. Incredibly, 65 years later, the car remains almost entirely intact, a testament to the passion of every owner in its long lineage.

Its appearance on this year’s list is well-deserved, and long overdue.

​Click here for the full story on Kustomrama.​

9. Darryl Starbird (7)

Down from #7 last year, but still a bubbletop king in our book.

Darryl Starbird, often dubbed the "King of the Bubbletop", remains one of the most iconic custom car builders in American history. Born in 1933 in Topeka, Kansas, Starbird’s impact spans decades of innovation, style, and storytelling. From humble beginnings, building his first cars with his brother, to launching the Star Kustom Shop in Wichita in 1954, Darryl's story is one of vision and perseverance.

He rose to national prominence after his builds started sweeping awards in the late 1950s, especially with creations like the Predicta, a futuristic, show-stopping dream car that helped cement his legacy. His influence wasn’t limited to builds, Darryl also played a pivotal role as a contributor to magazines like Rod & Custom and Car Craft, bringing Midwest customs to a national stage.

In 1995, he founded the National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame in Oklahoma, a museum that merged with the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in 2021 to further preserve and honor hot rod heritage.

Today, Starbird remains a cornerstone of custom car culture, and his story continues to inspire a new generation of builders, collectors, and fans. A worthy Top 10 regular.

​Click here to explore Darryl Starbird's wild legacy on Kustomrama.​

10. The Jade Idol (Return)

One of the most iconic custom cars of all time, The Jade Idol was Leroy Kemmerer’s daily-driven ’56 Mercury before he handed it over to Gene Winfield in 1958 with a modest budget and full creative freedom. Gene responded by building what would become his breakout car, a radically sectioned masterpiece clad in candy fadeaway paint and packed with futuristic touches like a padded dash with an integrated TV and Edsel push-button speedo hub.

The car was an instant show hit and a defining statement in late-1950s custom culture, winning top honors wherever it toured. After a brutal accident and multiple restorations over the decades, it was faithfully returned to its original glory by Gene Winfield himself in 2018, following its acquisition by collector Tim McMann.

The Jade Idol continues to represent the very pinnacle of creative risk-taking, craftsmanship, and vision in the custom world, a rolling sculpture that still inspires today.

​Click here to explore the legacy of this milestone custom on Kustomrama.​

Thank you again to each and every one of you for being part of Kustomrama as we step into 2026. Your support, encouragement, and shared passion are what make it possible to keep digging deeper into this kulture, telling the stories, preserving the archives, and now even bringing them to life through film. Seeing how strongly you’ve responded to both the written stories and the new documentaries has been incredibly motivating, and it confirms that this history still matters.

As a small thank-you, we also want to remind you that we’re currently running a sale in the Kustomrama Shop. For a limited time, you can enjoy 25% off everything on orders over $50. If you’ve been eyeing something from the shop, now’s a good time to grab it and help support the work we do in the process.

Here’s to another year of uncovering forgotten stories, celebrating legends, supporting new builders, and keeping the wheels turning, both in the archives and out on the road. Thanks for being such an essential part of this journey.

Stay kustom,
Sondre Kvipt
Editor, Kustomrama

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