The Cut Outs of Long Beach Photo Collection

A photo of Chuck Bell with his 1932 Ford roadster. Scan courtesy of Kustomrama, provided by Dick Gonzales.

A flyer for the 5th Semi Annual Cut Outs of Long Beach Poker Run Dance, held March 28, 1957. Scan courtesy of Kustomrama, provided by Dick Gonzales.

Another photo from the 1957 Crash Helmet Magazine photo shoot, taken in front of Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury, Dick Gonzales' 1955 Studebaker Speedster and Gary Thorton's Pickup truck. Clubs represented in the photo include members from the Cut Outs, Sportsmen of So Cal and Challengers of So Cal. Photo courtesy of the Cut-Outs of Long Beach, provided by Dick Gonzales.

A group of Cut Outs cars at an outdoor car show in 1956. Photo courtesy of the Cut-Outs of Long Beach, provided by Dick Gonzales.

A photo showing a lineup of Cut Outs club cars taken in 1957. From left to right we can see an Oldsmobile, Gary Thorton's Pickup truck, the "Strawberries and Cream" version of Dick Gonzales' 1955 Studebaker Speedster and Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury. Photo courtesy of the Cut-Outs of Long Beach, provided by Dick Gonzales.

A Crash Helmet Magazine group shot of some Cut Outs members taken in 1957. The members in the photo are, from left to right Ron Dulin and Dick Gonzales. The two gentlemen in the center are un-identified, while Glenn and Gary Thorton sits on the right side. The guys are posing in front of Ron Dulin's 1956 Plymouth Fury, the "Strawberries and Cream" version of Dick Gonzales' 1955 Studebaker Speedster and Gary Thorton's Pickup truck. Photo courtesy of the Cut-Outs of Long Beach, provided by Dick Gonzales.

Kustomrama Photo Archive

The Cut Outs was a car club out of Long Beach, California. The club was organized April 16, 1941, and it is one of the oldest car clubs in the Long Beach area. The Cut Outs were well organized and had a constitution, by-laws, and oath of membership. In order to become a member of the club you had to own a car that was up to car show standards. This meant that it had to have enough modifications and be up to such condition that it was acceptable at an exhibit by the sponsors of a car show. The car also had to be acceptable to the club membership in order to be worthy of representing the Cut Outs and carry the club plaque. Other qualifications included the passing of safety check, being over 16 years of age, holding a valid California driver's license, and having adequate insurance on the car. Also important was attendance at the weekly meetings held every Sunday evening in their own club house, payments of due ($1.00 per week), and purchase of the club jacket. As a member you had to abide certain rules or expulsion from the club could result. For instance, any member caught dragging on public streets or highways could be suspended. Drinking at car shows or at club meetings was also prohibited by an article it the Cut Outs' by-laws. On top of these restrictions to membership, the club reserved the right to fine any member for speeding, racing, or dragging. Ticket could not exceed $1.00 per mile-per-hour violation, and any person getting such a ticket would automatically have his jacket and plaque suspended for a period of 21 days. Up until 1958 The Cut Outs was a member of the Associated Car Clubs of Long Beach. In Rod & Custom November 1958 the club is presented, at that time the club counted 24 active members, with an average age of 20. Long time member Dick Gonzales has provided Kustomrama scans from the Cut-Outs scrapbook that we will post up on this page.

Further Reading

Cut Outs of Long Beach