Introduction
Old School Customs is a heck of a moniker for a book. "Old school" has become one of the most overused (and misused) terms of our time. I suppose that if there really is a collection of "old school" customs and customizers, the people in this book are them. Whatever label you choose, the customizers are the stars in this book. Their custom cars are just the result of their expertly applied talents.
Only 13 customizers are profiled here, not because they were the only deserving ones, but because that's all we had room for. Another half-dozen volumes could be filled with deserving builders, but we had to stop somewhere. Each of our artists-in-metal has an individual chapter. This book is divided into three sections, based on the builders who are profiled in each section. The first section is a group of builders I call "The Pioneers." It includes Bill Hines, Gene Winfield, and Darryl Starbird. Though all of them are legendary builders, they also have completely unique styles. Each one accomplished what he wanted to do, but in his own way. In the world of customs, they are among the Old Masters. One thing about these men that never ceases to amaze young hero-worshippers is their accessibility. Unlike stars in other fields, these gents are fan-friendly and willing to talk about their cars, give advice, have their pictures taken, and sign autographs all day long. Darryl Starbird simply states, "We don't know any better. We have all achieved but never lost that grounding."
"The Lifers" make up the second group. This is a collection of builders somewhat younger than the Pioneers, mostly in their late forties to sixties, but who are like the Pioneers in spirit. If the Pioneers are the first generation, these are the second. Each man cites at least one of the Pioneers as an inspiration. Traditional custom cars are their livelihood and their preference. Some of them have built hot rods or street rods and have even done restorations to keep the shop doors open and put food on the table. There's certainly nothing wrong with that--and they do that with the same skill and standard--but their first love is customs. Oddly enough, none of those Lifers are from California. That wasn't planned, but I'm happy it turned out that way. It's a testimony to the effect the rest of the country has had in custom cars. When you see their cars, it's hard to believe that most of them are not very well known outside their own areas of the country. They each have their following and I'd be proud to have any one of them build me a car. A couple already have. When I hit the Powerball, there shall be more!
"The Pacesetters" are the third group of customizers and it's difficult to describe their talent without sounding like the president of their fan clubs. It's tempting to add the qualifier, "for someone so young," but no qualifier is needed. Brad Masterson, Voodoo Larry Grobe, and Gary Brown are three of the most talented builders I know, but they are young. Read the captions in the book and you'll learn that Bill Hines has a sweatshirt that's at least 10 years older than these three guys!
These three all have "the eye." They understand what made early customs so grand, and they have a healthy respect for those that blazed the trail. That they have quickly gained the respect of the older customizers is a testament to their abilities. As I was interviewing the various Pioneers and Lifers for this book, they would often ask me who else was going to be in it. Every one of them who did so knew the cars of at least one of the Pacesetters, even if he didn't know him personally. These guys are making their marks in the world. Each has his own style but with a reverent eye to the past.
Man, I need that lottery thing to work out!
