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The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield
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| List Price: | $40.00 |
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Product Description
Of all the pioneering custom-car builders to come to prominence in the 1950s scene—Harry Westergard, George Barris, and Dean Jeffries, among others—one of the most prolific was a young man from Modesto, California, named Gene Winfield. Cutting his teeth in California’s hopping postwar hot rod scene, Winfield eventually gravitated to the media of custom cars, becoming one of its preeminent purveyors.
For the first time, Winfield’s career is examined in this volume fully illustrated with photography from Gene’s personal archive. Written by longtime Winfield protégé David Grant, The Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield is culled from hours of interviews with Winfield and recounts everything from his early days in Modesto and his emersion in California car culture, to his role in forming the Century Toppers car club, his involvement in dry lakes racing, the formation of Winfield’s Custom Shop in 1955, and the impressive string of vehicles that followed. Cars featured include the 1946 Ford convertible that graced the second issue of Rod & Custom, the 1950 Solar Scene Mercury, and the Ford King T that won the 1963 AMBR award, among dozens of others. Grant also delves into Winfield’s involvement with AMT, movie and TV vehicles for such projects as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #779192 in Books
- Published on: 2008-04-15
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 176 pages
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
Of all of the pioneering custom-car builders to come to prominence in the 1950s--Harry Westergard, George Barris, and Dean Jeffries, among others--one of the most prolific was a young man from Modesto, California, named Gene Winfield. Cutting his teeth in California's hopping postwar hot rod scene, Gene eventually gravitated toward custom cars, becoming one of the medium's preeminent and most-sought-after practitioners. For the first time, Gene's career is examined in this volume fully illustrated with photography from Gene's personal archive. Written by longtime Winfield employee David Grant, The Legendary Hot Rods and Custom Cars of Gene Winfield is culled from hours of interviews with Gene and recounts everything from his early days in Modesto and his first shop in a converted backyard chicken coop, to his role in forming the Century Toppers car club, his involvement in dry lakes and circle-track racing, the formation of Winfield's Custom Shop in 1955, and the impressive string of vehicles that followed. Cars featured include the Ford convertible that graced the second issue of Rod & Custom, the 1950 Solar Scene Mercury Coupe, the 1956 Mercury called Jade Idol, and the Ford King "T" that won the 1963 AMBR award, among dozens of others. Grant also delves into Winfield's involvement with model-maker AMT, movie and TV vehicles for such projects as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart, and reminisces from Winfield's contemporaries.
From the Back Cover
For the first time, the career of Gene Winfield, one of the leading figures in the world of hot rods, customs, and TV and movie cars, is detailed in this illustrated history from longtime Winfield associate David Grant. From Winfield's immersion in California's hopping postwar hot rod and race scenes through the incredible string of award-winning and mind-bending vehicles that followed, no stone is unturned in this exhaustive history. Packed with rarely seen photographs from Winfield's personal archives, The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield is a fitting tribute to one of the true fathers of modern hot rod and custom culture.
About the Author
David Grant learned fabrication and other skills necessary for a career in the custom car business by working in Gene Winfield's shops beginning at the age of 16. Today, he owns the vintage-car restoration shop David Grant, Ltd., and resides in Santa Clarita, California.
Customer Reviews
Great Book about a Great Car Guy!
Gene Winfield has created some of the most memorable cars and is truly one of the great, but largely unsung, heroes of the hot rod and custom worlds. Gene was also unstoppable, winning driver, and a pioneer in drag racing. He has built more cars than anyone...and some of the most famous cars in films. If you have any interest in early drag racing, hot rod building or custom cars you need this book. This book will introduce to you to your new hero. The book is filled with amazing early pictures of the hot rods that roamed the streets and dry lakes and later ones of movie cars and gorgeous customs. His custom cars and movie cars are also found here. The story of a quiet, creative, unassuming car genius who managed to do it all and still today is wielding a torch and a paint gun is fascinating reading. Enjoy!
The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield.
I'm so glad that somebody finally did a book on Gene its long overdue. Gene has done so much for the world of Custom Cars, the movie and TV industry themed cars, model cars, and dry lake racing, I'm glad its finally gotten documented in such a enjoyable book. Its very well written and covers everything he did extremely well. The photos that are in this are great!! I'm so glad he's still so active and able to do what he Love's. I highly reccommend this to anyone who has a passion for Customs and Hot Rods, its well worth it.
Michael R. Hull
