Gene Winfield's Legendary Customs
Written by Keith Fudge

Mention the name of Gene Winfield to any certified car nut and you will observe an outburst of excitement and enthusiasm!  Gene has been designing and customizing cars since 1946, and most folks have seen some of his creations without ever realizing it!  Recently, Dennis Gage had the chance to visit with Gene.  They began the day by looking at some of Gene’s current projects.

First up was a 1953 Chevy pickup that was on its way to Japan!  Then there was a Merc lead-sled that was being outfitted with disc brakes.  Gene said that he uses chassis’ from 1977-84 GM cars for these conversions.  Next on the agenda was Gene’s own land-speed car.  “The Thing,” as it was appropriately named, is powered by a flathead V-8 and has a hand-formed aluminum nose.  Gene said that he was soon going to run the car at El Mirage and he hoped to hit a top speed of 141 or better.  There was also another land-speed nearby, and Gene was giving it some attention as well.  This 39 Chevy was the genuine article, and Gene showed Dennis a block of salt that had formed inside the fender to prove it!  The next part of the visit was a special treat.  Laid out on the hood of a sweet custom 1961 Caddy was Gene’s scrapbook that detailed a few of the custom creations he has made for television and the movies.  There was a sketch of the vehicle that was used in the film, The Last Starfighter, and there was a custom 1934 Ford that is called “Bonnie and Clyde.”  Gene said he restored the car and then shot it with an actual machine gun to achieve the desired effect!  Then it was back to the movies as Gene showed Dennis a picture of the car designed for the movie, Bladerunner.  Gene said that he was commissioned to create 25 cars for the film.  Gene said that he also made six cars for Woody Allen’s Sleeper.  He also did cars for the movie series, Back to the Future.  One of the most interesting bits of design that Gene has done was for the television show Star Trek (the original) in which he designed the Klingon warship and the shuttle for the Starship Enterprise!  How cool is that?

Soon, it was back to reality to see some of the finished cars on hand.  Dennis wanted to begin with the car they were standing by:  the Cadillac!  Named “Maybellene,” this cool cruiser features Gene’s signature blended paint scheme and clean lines.  The mirrors pop up out of the doors and the fins are made to be even higher!  There is even a killer stereo system in the trunk, and you won’t believe the steering wheel!  It is made from gold and clear plastic and looks awesome!  Equipped with a Cadillac Northstar engine, Gene said the motor has more than enough power to move this heavy cruiser down the road!  The next vehicles that Gene showed to Dennis truly carry historical significance.  First was his 1965 futuristic creation, The Reactor!  With a hand-formed aluminum body and a Corvair running gear fitted on a Citroen chassis, this car is also a television star as it was the subject of one entire episode of the popular TV show, Bewitched.  Next was The Strip Star, an asymmetrical beauty that defied conventional automotive design.  Half convertible, half coupe, with only one tail light on one side and one headlight on the other, this all aluminum beast was built for speed.  Equipped with a 427 Ford big block, this car made 127 miles per hour at Bonneville!  Well, it simply wouldn’t have been right if one of these classics didn’t have the opportunity to roll once again.  So Gene fired up the Strip Star, and he and Dennis took to the highway.  Unfortunately, the ride didn’t last long, but the thrill was there nonetheless!  We had a great time visiting with Gene and can’t wait to come back soon to see his newest creations.  That’s it from Mojave, California.  So until our next visit, “Honor the timeless classics.  Happy Motoring!”