Kustomrama Photo Archive

In the Kustomrama Photo Archive you will find traditional hot rod and custom related photos dug out from albums and treasure chests all over the world. So far the archive contains photos from the collections of Bud Unger, Howard Gribble, Dave Jenkins, Jim Arkin, Richard "Korky" Korkes, Joe Crisafulli, Marty McDonough, Bengt Wennergren, Håkan Lindell, Per Arne Knudsen, Joe Brienza, Chuck Quesnel, Joanna Quesnel and Sondre Kvipt. If YOU have any photos to share, mail us at mail@kustomrama.com.

The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection - Chuck Burkart's 1958 Chevrolet Impala
A photo of Chuck Burkart's 1958 Chevrolet Impala taken in the driveway behind Flyers Body Shop were Joe Crisafulli gave the car a flame paint job in 1959. Later on the same year, Joe gave Chuck's Impala a more modern scallop paint job. Both Joe and Chuck were members of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club.
Click here to check out The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - The Kookie T
This photo from The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection shows Norman Grabowski's Kookie T at an indoor car show after Jim Skonzakes had bought it an repainted it white with red flames. The car is displayed next to one of Jim's other famous cars, the radical Golden Sahara custom by Barris.
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Marty McDonough Photo Collection - The Kalivoda-Hamlin Modified T
This photo from The Marty McDonough Photo Collection shows Dick Kalivoda and John Hamlin's 1925 Ford Model T Modified Roadster at the 6th Detroit NHRA Nationals in 1960. Dick bought the car from Ed Norton in the late 1950s, as Ed was going to use the original engine from the car in a dragster. After setting a national record with the car, Dick won money so he could haul the modified to Detroit.
Click here to check out The Marty McDonough Photo Collection

The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection - Nor-Way Custom
This photo from The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection shows a 1960 Ford station wagon driving on to a ferry somewhere in Norway. The car has the Nor-Way Custom logo painted on to the side of the car. Unfortunately, Per Arne can't remember who the car belonged to, or where and when the photo was taken.
Click here to check out The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection

The Richard Korkes Photo Collection - Andy Belusko's 1954 Ford
A photo of Andy Belusko's 1954 Ford that Korky restyled in the mid 1950s. Andy worked at the post office in Whippany, and he was a fellow member of the Free Wheelers of Whippany car club. Korky sold the original engine from his Parisienne custom to Andy, a full race 312 1956 Ford Thunderbird engine that Dick DiBiasse had built.
Click here to check out The Richard Korkes Photo Collection

The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection - The Bettancourt Mercury
This photo from The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection shows Bengt next to Louie Bettancourt's 1949 Mercury during a visit to Barris Kustoms in 1967. Bengt moved to the United States in 1967, and he worked for a while for Brian Chuchua at his Jeep Sales. Bengt took several photos at Barris Kustoms, but as his camera later got stolen, most of those photos are now gone.
Click here to check out The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection

The Bud Unger Photo Collection - 1939 Ford Convertible Custom
This 1939 Ford Convertible was restyled by East Coast customizer Bud Unger for an unknown customer in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Custom modifications included a chopped top, and shortened sidetrim on the hood. The hood was shaved for most of its chrome, and a bumper that had been shaved for bumper guards protected the front of the car. Bud painted the car in a light blue metallic.
Click here to check out The Bud Unger Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - GMC Lowrider
Howard Gribble has hand picked another photo from his enormous collection to share here on Kustomrama. This photo shows a custom painted GMC Lowrider Pick Up at a So Cal indoor car show in the 1970s featuring Cragars, narrow whites and shag carpets in the bed.
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Chuck and Joanna Quesnel Photo Collection
Chuck and Joanna Quesnel were early dry lakes racers. Chuck was a member of the Culver City Screwdrivers. Joanna was a part of the club, but not considered a member as she was a girl. Chuck and Joanna went separate ways later on, and Joanna remarried and got a son named Douglas. Douglas has shared these photos and some memories and stories about Chuck and Joanna with the Kustomrama Photo Archive.
Click here to check out the Chuck and Joanna Quesnel Photo Collection

The Håkan Lindell Photo Collection - Håkan's Studebaker
An under construction photo of Håkan Lindell's 1953 Studebaker taken in the mid 1960s. Håkan bought the Studebaker from his friend and neighbour Hasse Broberg in 1964. At the time he had just moved back to Sweden after living in Ventrua, California for some time. The Studebaker was Håkan's first "Swedish" custom project, and in this photo he is working on a custom grille and opening.
Click here to check out The Håkan LindellPhoto Collection

The Joe Brienza Photo Collection - Joe's First Hot Rod
In 1954 Joe Brienza bought a 1929 Ford Model A Coupe body. The body came with a 1948 Mercury chassis, that Joe decided to mount the body on. In order to make the coupe fit the longer chassis, he extended the hood on the car. Under the hood lured a powerful Cadillac engine, so Joe's first hot rod turned out to be a fun driver, but as Joe didn't like "rat rods", he sold it and bought a 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe instead.
Click here to check out The Joe Brienza Photo Collection

The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection - Joe Crisafulli's 1956 Oldsmobile
A photo of Joe with his Oldsmobile dated July 1957. Joe bought the Oldsmobile in December of 1956. He was 20 years old at the time, and worked as an apprentice at a G.M.C. truck shop. They let him use the torches at the shop to weld the hole in the hood after he had shaved it. He was not allowed to use the paint booth, so he gave the car a shiny black paint job with gold scallops in the family garage.
Click here to check out The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - The Little Coffing
This photo from The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection shows the Lil' Coffin, displayed as the Little Coffin, at an indoor car show after Dave Stuckey of Stuckey Custom had sold the car to Larry Farber. As Dave was running out of money during the build, he decided to sell the car to his good friend Larry Farber. They agreed that Dave would finish the car so Larry could show it.
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Marty McDonough Photo Collection - John North's 1957 Ford - The White Pearl
This photo from The Marty McDonough Photo Collection shows John North's 1957 Ford, The White Pearl, at the 1993 Goodguys Rhinebeck show. According to the note on the deck, it seems like John had been "Rearended by a low flying Studebaker". Luckily the car was fixed up again, and it is today owned by custom car and concept car collector Joe Bortz.
Click here to check out The Marty McDonough Photo Collection

The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection - Per Arne's 1934 Ford
An under-progress photo of Per Arne Knudsen's 1934 Ford Convertible taken at the Viking Custom club garage at Alnabru in Oslo.The garage was located at a property were the city of Oslo parked their retired city-buses. A retired city bus can be seen in the background together with Roar Arnegaard's 1953 Studebaker, a 1946 Ford coupe, and a VW-bus.
Click here to check out The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection

The Richard Korkes Photo Collection - The Sportsman
This photo from the Richard Korkes Photo Collection shows the front of George Pillion's 1955 Chevrolet Convertible. George was also from Whippany, New Jersey, and his custom creation, named "The Sportsman", featured custom bodywork by Korky. The frontal area on George's Chevrolet was heavily restyled featuring two scoops above the grille.
Click here to check out The Richard Korkes Photo Collection

The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection - Monaco 1966
This photo from The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection is taken during a trip to Monaco in 1966. Bengt and his friend Walle drove the car all the way from Sweden, over the alps, in order to catch a boat race in Monaco. On their way over they stopped by Rammstein as well, in order to attend a drag race at the Rammstein Air Base.
Click here to check out The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - 1963 Pontiac Catalina
This photo from The Howard Gribble Photo Collection shows a customized 1963 Pontiac Catalina at a 1970s So Cal indoor car show. Pontiacs were popular to "fix up" according to Howard, though most people preferred the cleaner Grand Prix model. Anyone recognize this Catalina?
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Håkan Lindell Photo Collection - Bengt Wennergren's 1949 Ford
This photo from The Håkan Lindell Photo Collection shows a rare rear-view shot of Bengt Wennergren's 1949 Ford. Bengt bought the car from Leif "Grillkorven" Rose in the early 1960s. Grillkorven had started to customize the car, but parked it when it was halfway done. It stayed untouched for several years until Bengt bought it.
Click here to check out The Håkan LindellPhoto Collection

The Joe Brienza Photo Collection
Joe Brienza, a West Islip, New York hot rodding legend and custom upholsterer is the latest contributor in the Kustomrama Photo Archive. Last week we featured around 100 photos of Joe's '34 Ford, The Brienza Special, from Joe's archive. Now we'll show you the cars he built before and after the '34. First out is a photo of Joe with his first hot rod, a stretched and Cadillac powere 1929 Ford Model A Coupe.
Click here to check out The Joe Brienza Photo Collection

The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection
Joe Crisafulli is the latest contributor in the Kustomrama Photo Archive. Joe is a founding member of the legendary San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club, and a multitalented customizer, painter, pinstriper and artist. In addition to his photos, Joe has also scanned and shared his old scratchbook. First out is some sketches Joe did for Frank Goehring's 1958 Chevrolet Impala.
Click here to check out The Joe Crisafulli Scratchbook and Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - The Forcasta
The second version of the Darryl Starbird built Forcasta show car at an indoor car show in the 1960s. Originally built for Chuck Miller in 1961, the car was owned by Frank Koss when Dave Jenkins took this photo. In addition to the Forcasta, Frank did also own Bill Cushenbery's 1940 Ford Coupe, The El Matador after buying it from AMT.
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Marty McDonough Photo Collection - John North's 1957 Ford - The White Pearl
This photo from The Marty McDonough Photo Collection was taken at a little hot rod and custom show that was held at the NE Horticultural Hall in 1959. The car is John North's 1957 Ford, also known as The White Pearl. Features and modifications included molded side pipes, rear nerf bars, custom taillights, a rolled and pleated upholstery and a scallop and pinstripe paint job.
Click here to check out The Marty McDonough Photo Collection

The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection - Per Arne's 1934 Ford
This is the earliest known photo of Per Arne Knudsen's 1934 Ford Convertible. Taken around 1964 - 1965, it shows the car as it sat while Per Arne tore it down in order to build it up as a hot rod. This was about the same time that Per Arne and Roar Arnegaard established their club Viking Custom.
Click here to check out The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection

The Richard Korkes Photo Collection
Richard "Korky" Korkes is a legendary East Coast cusotmizer born in Whippany, New York. Korky customized his first car at age 17 in 1952. He started a car club called the Free Wheelers of Whippany before he opened up his own custom shop called Korky's Kustom Shop. Korky has shared some photos from his personal collection that we will share in this archive.
Click here to check out The Richard Korkes Photo Collection

The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection
Another photo from Bengt's trip to Italy with friends in 1961 or 1962 has been added to the The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection on Kustomrama. This photo shows some local guys drooling over Bengt Wennergren's 1949 Ford and Lars Erik Ljungkvist's 1932 Ford Roadster. Bengt believes this photo was taken at a gas station in Italy.
Click here to check out The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - The King Orchid
Another photo of the King Orchid has been added to The Howard Gribble Photo Collection. The King Orchid was a 1969 Chevrolet Impala owned by Imperials car club member Art Valadez. Art was the brother of Jesse Valadez, who owned the Gypsy Rose Impala. Both the King Orchid and the Gypsy Rose were painted by Walt Prey.
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Håkan Lindell Photo Collection - Sillarnas DeSoto
Anoter Swedish hot rodder and customizer has shared his photo collection with Kustomrama. Håkan Lindell, was born in Sweden. He moved to Ventura, California at young age, came back to Sweden at age 16, and moved in next door to Hans Broberg. This photo shows Hans Broberg and Kjelle Gustad's 1957 DeSoto as it appeared around 1964/1965.
Click here to check out The Håkan LindellPhoto Collection

The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection - Per Arne's 1934 Ford
Per Arne Knudsen is a Norwegian hot rod pioneer. Per Arne's glowing interest for hot rods was sparked when he found an American hot rod magazine at a newsstand at Koppang station in Østerdalen of Norway in the early 1960s. Per Arne has been kind enough to share some of his old photos and stories with Kustomrama.
Click here to check out The Per Arne Knudsen Photo Collection

The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection - Bengt's Roadster
This photo shows Bengt Wennergren's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster in 1965 or 1966. The car has been rolled out of the Road Knights barn for the first time, and Bengt is taking it to the Osterman Hot Rod Show. As you can see, the headers are chromed and not mis-colored due to the heat. The fenders are not installed yet either.
Click here to check out The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection

The Jim Arkin Photo Collection - Bob Guilbault's 1963 Pontiac Bonneville
Bob Guilbault's 1963 Pontiac Bonneville. Bob was a fellow member of the San Fernando Valley Illusions car club. As Jim remembers, Bob's Bonneville had a flaked roof and lifts on the front. Jim believes the lifts were installed by Dick & Ron's.
Click here to check out The Jim Arkin Photo Collection

The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection
Hasse Broberg and Kjelle Gustad's 1938 Chevrolet Convertible parked in front of Bosse "Gamen" Sandberg's 1959 Ford Thunderbird during a trip to Italy in 1961 or 1962. Hasse and Kjelle's Chevrolet was powered by an Oldsmobile V-8, and Bengt remembers that the car was first customized after an accident.
Click here to check out The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection

The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection
Bengt Wennergren is an early Swedish hot rodder and a drag racing pioneer. Bengt has been into hot rods and customs since the late 1950s. He has been around the world, and he brought a camera. Bengt has shared his collection with Kustomrama, and first out is this photo Bengt took on a trip to Italy in 1961 or 1962.
Click here to check out The Bengt Wennergren Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - The Silver Sapphire
The chopped version of Clarence Catallo's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe at an indoor car show in the 1960s. Restyled by both the Alexander Brothers and Barris Kustoms, the coupe known as the Silver Sapphire and The Little Deuce Coupe is one of the most famous hot rods in the world.
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Marty McDonough Photo Collection - Altered Coupes - NHRA Nationals 1957
This week's featured photo from The Marty McDonough Photo Collection shows two altered coupes at the 1957 NHRA Nationals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to the decoration on the door, the bright red Top Hat altered coupe hauled all the way from Longview, Texas.
Click here to check out The Marty McDonough Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - The King Orchid
The King Orchid at an indoor car show. The King Orchid was a 1969 Chevrolet Impala owned by Imperials car club member Art Valadez. Art was the brother of Jesse Valadez, who owned the Gypsy Rose Impala. Both the King Orchid and the Gypsy Rose were painted by Walt Prey.
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Jim Arkin Photo Collection - Nick Hoogoian's 1965 Chevrolet Malibu
This week's featured photo from The Jim Arkin Photo Collection shows Nick Hoogoian's 1965 Chevrolet Malibu convertible. As so many other San Fernando Valley Illusions cars, Nick's Malibu featured a Joe Andersen paint job and lifts by Dick & Ron's of Huntington Park.
Click here to check out The Jim Arkin Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - Indoor Impala II
Howard Gribble has shared another one of his 1970s indoor car show photos with Kustomrama. We don't have much info on the car, owner or show, so if you have any information to share mail us at mail@kustomrama.com.
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Marty McDonough Photo Collection - The DCB Coupe #2
This week's featured photo from The Marty McDonough Photo Collection shows another photo of legendary Texas drag racer Don C. Breithaupt's 1932 Ford B Altered Champion 5-Window Coupe at the 1959 NHRA Nationals in Detroit, Michigan. This time without a hood...
Click here to check out The Marty McDonough Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - The Trendero
This weeks's photo from The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection shows an engine shot of the Trend Automotive built Trendero at a Detroit Autorama in the 1960s. According to Dave the Trendero was considered a radical concept back in the days. Like a completely finished undercarriage, and most of the guys back then had no idea or fund to do anything like that
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - Indoor Impala II
Another so-far unpublished photo from the Howard Gribble collection. This photo from the 1970s shows an Impala at an indoor show. According to Howard the trophies were LARGE back then. "In fact every car got a "participation" trophy for just entering. And these participation awards could be 2 feet or more tall."
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Marty McDonough Photo Collection - The DCB Coupe
This week's featured photo from The Marty McDonough Photo Collection shows legendary Texas drag racer Don C. Breithaupt's 1932 Ford B Altered Champion 5-Window Coupe at the 1959 NHRA Nationals in Detroit, Michigan. Don's famous coupe is also known as The DCB Coupe.
Click here to check out The Marty McDonough Photo Collection

The Jim Arkin Photo Collection - Sandy Gordon's 1961 Pontiac Bonneville
This week's featured photo from The Jim Arkin Photo Collection shows Sandy Gordon's 1961 Pontiac Bonneville convertible. Sandy's Bonneville featured as so many other Illusions car a Joe Andersen paint job and hydraulics up front by Dick & Ron's.Sandy was a founding member of the Illusions car club, and he was the one that turned Jim Arkin on to Joe Andersen and Dick & Ron's.
Click here to check out The Jim Arkin Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - The Titian Tudor
This week's photo from the The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection shows another great photo of The Titian Tudor outside the Alexander Brothers shop. According to Richard Fuerholze the brothers took the car back to Chicago after this photo was taken to put it back together. Unfortunately the building where they had it collapsed in a storm and the car was destroyed. The brother then lost interest in it, and parts of it were sold off.
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Jim Arkin Photo Collection - Mark Jorgenson's 1960 Chevrolet Impala
Latest contributor in the Kustomrama Photo Archive is Jim Arkin of Los Angeles, California. Jim was a founding member of the San Fernando Valley Illusions car club, and he has shared some of his club photos with Kustomrama. First featured photo from Jim is a photo of Mark Jorgenson's 1960 Chevrolet Impala. Mark's Impala featured a fadeaway pearl blue paint job by Joe Andersen of Joe Andersen's Custom Shop and lifts up front.
Click here to check out The Jim Arkin Photo Collection

The Howard Gribble Photo Collection - Imperials Impala
Latest contributor in the Kustomrama Photo Archive is lowrider and custom historian Howard Gribble. Having an interest for photography and a lack of magazines covering the early lowrider and 1960s custom scene, Howard took his camera to the shows and photographed the cars for his own personal enjoyment. First out is a photo Howard took in the 1970s showing a 1966 Chevrolet Impala belonging to a member of the Imperials car club.
Click here to check out The Howard Gribble Photo Collection

The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection - Alexander Brothers Candy Shoebox
This photo from The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection shows The Mroz Brothers' Candy painted shoebox Ford outside the first Alexander Brothers shop in Detroit, Michigan. The photo is taken in the early 1960s, and Dave believes the quad-headlighted Ford features one of the first Candy attempts by the Alexander Brothers.
Click here to check out The Dave Jenkins Photo Collection

The Kustomrama Photo Collection - The Fageol Supersonic
This weeks' featured photo in the Kustomrama Photo Archive is another rare photo of the Fageol Supersonic, a streamlined dream-car built by Louis Fageol of Kent, Ohio in 1949. The build was originally started by Joel Thorne and Art Sparks at Thorne Engineering Racing Shop in Burbank, California in 1938 as a Land Speed racing car. They abandoned the project, and sold the uncompleted build to Louis Fageol.
Click here to check out the Kustomrama Photo Collection