Duane Steck's 1954 Chevrolet

First version of the Moonglow

The Moonglow at the 2nd annual Long Beach Renegades Car Club Renecade July 4, 1957. Mid 1957 Duane was busy restyling the car, and it received a new grille opening. The rear was also modified slightly before Larry Watson gave it a white enamel paint job with pinstriping. The second version, seen here, never made it to any magazines as far as we know. Shortly after the Renecades show the car was restyled again, and it received a silver metallic nitro lacquer paint job with scallops by Watson. Photo from the George Contaoi Photo Collection.

A trunk shot of Santo Vasques' 1950 Chevrolet Convertible taken at the 1957 Long Beach Renegades Car Club Renecade. The 1956 Packard taillights look right at home on Santo’s Chevrolet. When the Renegades won the 1958 Car Craft Car Club of the Year Award Santo had become President of the club. Duane Steck's Moonglow, Pete Angress' 1952 Ford, and Jud Morgan's 1956 Ford F-100 can be seen behind Vasques' Chevrolet in the photo. Photo from the George Contaoi Photo Collection.

The third version of the Moonglow. Photo by Lowell Helms.

The Moonglow at an indoor car show in 1958. Photo from the George Contaoi Photo Collection.

Photo from the 1958 Renegades Rod & Custom Motorama Souvenir Program.

Fourth version of the Moonglow

The fourth version of the Moonglow as it appeared in Car Craft February 1959

Fifth version of the Moonglow was done in 1959.

As it appeared at the 3rd annual Krankers Motor Revue 1959. Photo by George Contaoi.

Photo by Colin Creitz

Photo by Colin Creitz

Photo by Colin Creitz

Photo by Colin Creitz

Photo by Colin Creitz

Bill Layman's 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Bill's Chevrolet was built as a tribute to the Mooglow. it was completed in 1988.

Graeme Tait's 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air was built as a tribute to the Moonglow.

Gordon Apker's 1954 Chevrolet Convertible was built as a convertible tribute to the Moonglow.

This Moonglow clone from Vancouver, Washington was advertised for sale on Craigslist in March of 2020. Supposedly built in the 1980s, the car was advertised for sale for US $29,900. Click here to check out the Craigslist ad.

1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe owned and restyled by Long Beach Renegades member Duane Steck of Lakewood, California. The car is also known as the Moonglow. The Moonglow was a low budget build, but was classified as a radical kustom due to its top chop. The truth is that the car featured many subtle modifications that enhanced the already good looking lines of the car. The appearance of the car changed several times during the years, but most people favor the first version that was shown on the cover of Car Craft January 1957.

First Version

In late 1955, while the car was still under construction, Duane drove it around in light blue with primer spots. By then the car had been shaved, nosed and decked. The upper part of the grill had been molded, the taillights were frenched. Duane had also modified the car with hooded headlights similar to 1955 Chevrolets. The 55 Chevy style hooded headlights were later replaced by frenched 1952 Ford headlight rims, new taillights were also created from sheet metal and round rods. For the homemade taillight housings, Duane had fit a pair of frenched 1956 Chrysler lenses upside down. Small backup lights from a 1956 Chevrolet were placed in the bumper guards.

In 1956 the first final version of the car debuted. With good help from Duane's friend Ben Cook, owner of a local welding shop, the build took 12 months to complete. Duane and Ben chopped the top of the Chevy 4 1/2 inches. The rear window was made from Plexiglas that Duane and his brother heated in their mothers oven. Duane kept the stock grille, but added extra teeth to it, 15 teeth were used in total. The trim of the car was frenched into the body side and the interior featured plain powder blue panels with white rolls that actually followed the stock Bel Air pattern. The upholstery was stitched by Delbert Crocker of Del's Trim Shop. The first version of the Moonglow was painted in a simple icebox white enamel with powder blue inserts. Earl Schieb laid the white paint on the car. Duane had heard about this kid Larry Watson in Bellflower that pinstriped cars out of his parents driveway. One day he pulled into Larry's driveway, introduced himself and asked if Larry could incorporate these nude ladies into the striping. Duane had brought his own sketches, and wondered if Larry could copy these. Larry didn't know if he could do it, but he took a chance and said yes. He outlined the tracings , and striped around them so that they were less obvious. According to Larry he pinstriped the Moonglow in the first part of 1956. The engine in the Moonglow was a 235. This version of Duane Steck's Chevrolet appeared on the cover of Car Craft January 1957.

Second Version

By mid 1957 Duane was already busy restyling the Moonglow again. For the second version of the car, a new grille opening was made. The rear bumper was lowered, and the exhaust tips were routed through it. Duane also lowered the car, and extended and molded the rear pan in order to make it fit the rear bumper. In the same operation, Duane also removed the bumper guards and moved the license plate away from the bumper. The car was also painted in a white enamel again, before Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style striped it. The second version of the car has according to Rod & Custom magazine never been seen in print.

Third Version

Later on in 1957, not long after the second version of the Moonglow was finished, Duane and Darol Jorgenson stripped the car down and painted it in a silver metallic nitro lacquer. Larry Watson did the scallops in white pearl tipped in candy blue and pinstriped in blue. The car also got "Moonglow" lettered on the rear fenders. For the third version of the car, the driveline was removed, in order to fully paint the car under the hood. The engine was aslo fully chromed by now. This version of the car is seen in Andy Southard's book Custom Cars of the 1950s. The photo is taken at the first annual Renegades Rod & Custom Motorama in 1958. The third version of the Moonglow was also shown at the 9th annual National Roadster Show held February 15-23, 1958. The car was entered in the Full Custom Sedan class, and won the award for best car in its class.

Fourth Version

By early 1959, Duane had removed the exhaust from the bumpers, and Buick Portholes were added to the rear fenders and hood. At that time, the wheel covers were changed and Duane removed the front license plate. The engine sported dual carbs on a Sharp manifold, split exhaust and plenty of chrome.

Fifth Version

In 1959, Duane brought the Moonglow over to Watson's House of Style for a new paint job. Larry painted it candy blue over silver pearl. According to Larry, it was his best candy blue paint-job ever. This version featured small scallops on the spotlights, dashboard and on the new Dodge Lancer wheel covers. Duane had also modified the car with peaked hoods over the headlights. Duane won the Full Custom award at the Krankers Motor Revue 1959 with this version, and later on it made the cover of Custom Cars March 1960.

Where Is It Now?

In the early 60's Duane traded the Moonglow away for a sports car. After that, the Moonglow was last seen by Duane's brother Steve as the car was on its way into a crusher near the L.A. Harbor.

Moonglow Recreations and Tribute Builds

Bill Layman's 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air
Charlie Brewer's 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air
Gordon Apker's 1954 Chevrolet Convertible
Graeme Tait's 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air

Magazine Features

Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car
Car Craft January 1957
Custom Cars September 1957
Rod & Custom November 1957
Custom Cars January 1958
Motor Life February 1958
Car Craft April 1958
Rod & Custom August 1958
Car Craft February 1959
Custom Cars March 1960
Trend Book 197 Custom Cars 1961 Annual
Rod & Custom June 1991