List of automotive customizers


      This is a list of automotive customizers effectively worldwide.

      A

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      B

      • Joe Bailon - paint & bodywork (CA), inventor of candy apple paint.[2]
      • George Barris - movie & TV cars (CA), but also collaborated with brother Sam on the Hirohata Merc[3][4]
      • Sam Barris - paint & bodywork (CA), collaborated with brother George on the Hirohata Merc[3][4]
      • Gene Berg - Volkswagen Beetles (CA)
      • Andy Brizio - hot rod builder (CA)
      • Roy Brizio - hot rod builder (CA)
      • Nick Butler - custom car builder (UK)
      • John Buttera -nicknamed "Lil' John"; hot rod builder (WI)
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      C

      • Reeves Callaway - Chevrolet Corvette tuner (CT)
      • Bruce Canepa - exotics and SUVs, best known for making alteration to the Porsche 959 to enable legal street use in the US. (CA)
      • Bob Chandler - trucks, best known for creating the Bigfoot series of monster trucks. (MO)
      • Pete Chapouris - hot rod builder (CA), best known for The California Kid 3-window coupe, featured in the movie, partner with Jim "Jake" Jacobs in Pete and Jake's Hot Rods.
      • Sid Chavers - award winning automotive interior designer (CA)
      • Ron Clark - paint & bodywork (MI), partnered with Bob Kaiser in Clarkaiser Customs[5]
      • Boyd Coddington - hot rod builder (CA), creator of the Boydster
      • Ron "Professor Hammer" Covell - sheet metal fabricator and customizer (CA)
      • Bill Cushenberry - paint & bodywork (KS)[6][7]
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      D

      • Hans Dahlbäck[1] - VW and Audi, noted for his work on a 900 bhp Golf Mk. IV (SWE)
      • Dick Dean - paint and body (CA)
      • Steve Dinan - BMW tuner (CA)
      • Rick Dobbertin[2] - VW customizer
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      E

      • Vic Edelbrock, Sr. - pioneer manufacturer of aftermarket parts and speed equipment (CA)
      • Vic Edelbrock, Jr. - continues the efforts and legacy started by his father in hot rod community and industry (CA)
      • Neil Emory - co-creator of Polynesian with Clayton Jensen[8]
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      F

      • Ken "Posie" Fenical - hot rod builder (PA)[9]
      • Chip Foose - hot rod builder (CA)[10]
      • Bill Frick - builder of Studillacs in the '50s[11]
      • Brad Fanshaw - hot rod builder (CA)
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      G

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      H

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      I

      • Dieter Inzenhofer[3] - Porsche engine tuner, part of a trio that is ANDIAL (CA, originated from Germany)
      • Ed "The Camfather" Iskenderian - an early pioneer in performance cam shafts for drag and dry lakes racing. (CA)
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      J

      • Jim "Jake" Jacobs - customs, partner with Pete Chapouris in Pete and Jake's Hot Rods (CA)
      • Jesse James - hot rod builder, also known as a motorcycle builder and reality show star (CA)
      • Dean Jeffries - movie & TV car builder and pinstiper, credited with the creation of the "crab claw" style flamed paint job[15] (CA)
      • Clayton Jensen - co-creator of Polynesian with Neil Emory[8]
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      K

      • Bob Kaiser - paint & bodywork (MI), partnered with Ron Clark in Clarkaiser Customs[5]
      • Edo Karabegovic - high end European exotics, owner of edo competition (GER)
      • Kousuke Kida, Japanese car tuner, owner of Signal Auto (JPN)
      • Willy Koenig - Italian and German exotics, most famous for his work on Ferraris (GER)
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      M

      • Kourosh Mansory - prestige car bodies (GER, originally from Czech Republic)[16]
      • Dick "Magoo" Megugorac - hot rod builder (CA)[17]
      • Erhard Melcher - Mercedes-Benz engines, co-founder of Mercedes-AMG (GER)
      • Steve Moal - hot rod builder
      • Dean Moon - hot rod builder (CA)
      • Gene Mooneyham - automotive supercharger manufacturer and engine performance pioneer, also builder of the famed "554 Mooneyham & Sharp coupe"[4] race car (CA)
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      N

      • Kazuhiko "Smokey" Nagata - Japanese car tuner (JPN)
      • Akira Nakai - Porsche tuner, owner of Rauh Welt (JPN)
      • Arlen Ness - hot rod builder, also known as a motorcycle builder (CA)
      • "Real Ralph" Newman - pinstriper (CA)
      • Richard Noble - builder and designer of Thrust1, subsequently famous for his "Thrust" land speed record projects (GBR)
      • Ken "Nomuken" Nomura - bodywork and drifting setup, better known outside his native country as a drifting driver (JPN)
      • Simon Norris - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo engines (GBR)
      • Bob Norwood - Ferrari engines (TX)
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      O

      • Jay Ohrberg - known for his work on creating custom vehicles for movie and tv productions
      • Kazuyoshi "Okachan" Okamura - known for his work on Nissan Silvias and 180SXs and owner of Yashio Factory (JPN)
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      P

      • Ed Pink (CA) - engines
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      R

      • Andy Robinson - hot rod builder, better known for his involvement in drag racing (UK)
      • Ed "Big Daddy" Roth - hot rod designer (CA)
      • Alois Ruf - Porsche tuner (GER)
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      S

      • Frank Schonig - hot rod builder (CA)
      • Jamie Shaw - bodywork, owner of Carisma Automotive and star of the British edition of Pimp My Ride (UK)
      • Carroll Shelby - builder, factory designer (TX)
      • Alwin Springer - Porsche engines, part of a trio that is Andial (CA, originated from Germany)
      • Darryl Starbird - hot rod builder (KS & OK)[18]
      • Vittorio Strosek - European bodies (GER)
      • Dave Stuckey - hot rod builder (KS)[18]
      • Bill Summers - hot rod builder, famed for his work on Goldenrod, brother of Bob (CA)
      • Bob Summers - hot rod builder, famed for his work on Goldenrod, brother of Bill (CA)
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      T

      • Hideki Tanabe - Japanese car modifications, founder of Powerhouse Amuse (JPN)
      • Katsunori "Dandy" Tanaka - Japanese car modifications and engine mapper (JPN)[19]
      • Troy Trepanier[20] - hot rod builder (IL)
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      U

      • Takahiro Ueno - bodykit designer, owner of Car Make T&E (JPN)
      • Dave Uyehara - bodywork (CA)
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      W

      • Arnold Wagner - Porsche engines, part of a trio that is Andial (CA, originated from Germany)
      • Larry Watson - custom paint[21]
      • Harry Westergaard - bodywork[22]
      • Joe Wilhelm - paint & bodywork (CA)
      • Gene Winfield - paint & bodywork (CA)[23]


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      X

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      Y

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      References

      1. ^ Rod & Custom, 8/89, p.60.
      2. ^ Ganahl, Pat, "The Candy Man", in Rod & Custom, 7/95, p.81; Street Rodder, 1/85, p.56.
      3. ^ a b Jalopy Journal.
      4. ^ a b Street Rodder, 1/85, p.111.
      5. ^ a b Fetherston, David, "Detroit Dreams", in Rod & Custom, 7/95, p.58.
      6. ^ Worked on the Lincoln Futura (basis of the Batmobile), and designed Hot Wheels cars.
      7. ^ Batmobile site.
      8. ^ a b Hot Rod August 1954; Motor Trend Custom Car Annual 1954; Rod & Custom, 8/89, p.68.
      9. ^ Rod Action, 2/85, p.5.
      10. ^ Bishop, Mike, "The 45th Grand National Roadster Show", in American Rodder, 6/94, p.27.
      11. ^ Kowalke, Ron. Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, 4th Edition (Krause Publications, 1997); Shaw, Wilbur. "Studebaker with a Cadillac Engine" in The Popular Science Monthly, July 1953 (New York, Popular Science Publishing Co.), pp.76, 80, 210, & 212.
      12. ^ Martin, Dick (February 2009). Blackie Gejeian - The Story. Retrieved 1 February 2013. 
      13. ^ http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/features/htup_1103_top_fuel_of_japan/viewall.html
      14. ^ http://www.worldtimeattack.com/index.php/team-top-fuel-with-voltex-confirm-entry/
      15. ^ Hot Rod, August 1998.
      16. ^
        • Jim Mederer - Mazda tuner, co-founder of Racing Beat (CA)
      17. ^ Street Rodder, 12/98, p.206.
      18. ^ a b Street Rodder, 1/85, p.56.
      19. ^ http://speedhunters.com/archive/tags/Dandy+Tanaka/default.aspx
      20. ^ Genevieve Chappell
      21. ^ hotrod.com
      22. ^ Rod & Custom, 8/89, p.55.
      23. ^ Winfield worked with L. David Ash, Dick Dean, George Barris, Matt Jeffries (from "Star Trek"), & did work on Aluminum Model Toys & "RoboCop" Grant, David The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield. Motorbooks, 2008.
      24. ^ Madigan, Tom. Edelbrock: Made in USA, Tehabi Books, 2005.
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      Sources

      • DeWitt, John. Cool cars, high art: the rise of kustom kulture. University Press of Mississippi, 2001.
      • Grant, David The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield. Motorbooks, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7603-2778-4.
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      Last modified on 9 April 2013, at 11:37