1948

The Speed Shop was an automotive performance parts store in Flint, Michigan, that played a crucial role in the development of the hot rodding scene in the Midwest during the mid-20th century. Opened in 1948 by hot rodding pioneer Bill Waddill, The Speed Shop became a popular destination for car enthusiasts and a vital resource for specialized automotive parts. Photo from The Fred Thomas Photo Collection.

George Barris' Track Roadster. George built the channeled roadster, that sported one of his first flame paint jobs, in 1948.

Buddy Hinman's 1927 Chevrolet Roadster of Rome, New York. Having an urge for a radically lowered car, the Buddy and his brother took the springs off their OHV engined Chevrolet and U-bolted the axles to the frame in 1948.

Dick Courtney's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster, of Fullerton, California, was built in 1948

Fred Larsen's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster of Culver City, California. Built in 1948, the car was driven on the streets in addition to being raced on the dry lakes and drag strips. After building the car, Fred became a member of the Culver City Screwdrivers.

Bill Kelly's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Warminster, Pennsylvania. The first version of the coupe was built in 1948.

This version of Bob McGee's 1932 Ford Roadster, of Huntington Park, California was completed in 1948

Eugene Wentworth's 1932 Ford Roadster of West Peabody, Massachusetts was built in 1948.

Monte Monroe's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe was built by Monte Monroe of Montebello, California. The first version of the car was completed in 1948, featuring a gorgeous purple color mixed by Gil Ayala of Gil's Auto Body Works.

Nelson Morris' 1932 Ford Roadster was built during the first ever Hot Rod Exposition held in 1948. The car was a giveaway car, and it was given to show visitor Nelson Morris of the Long Beach Dolphins car club.

Charlie Grantham's 1935 Ford Pick Up of San Bernardino, California. Charlie was a member of the SCTA Road Runner car club, and he restyled the truck himself in the late 1940s and the early 1950s. This photo shows the truck as it appeared in 1948.

Jack Calori's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe was completed in 1948

Ray Giovannoni's 1936 Ford Roadster of Washington, D.C. Ray's roadster was restyled by Bud Unger, and the build was completed around 1947/1948.

Arthur Lellis' 1939 Ford Convertible

Dick Bair's 1939 Ford Convertible Sedan, of Akron, Ohio was completed in 1948.

Bob Creasman's 1940 Ford coupe of Los Angeles, California. Bob began restyling the car late in 1943, making it the first 1940 Ford coupe to be channeled, and the second to be chopped in the Los Angeles area. The work was done in conjunction with the Brand Brothers Body Shop in Los Angeles. In 1948 the car received fadeaway fenders.

Fred Cain's 1940 Ford coupe of Wilmington, Massachusetts. Fred's coupe was originally restyled in 1948.

Ralph Jilek's 1940 Ford Convertible was restyled by Valley Custom Shop for Ralph Jilek of North Hollywood, California in 1948

Al Andril's 1940 Mercury Coupe of Maywood, California. Al's Merc was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948 at their Compton Avenue shop.

Harold Ohanesian's 1940 Mercury Convertible Sedan as it appeared in 1948. This version was restyled by Harry Westergard and Less Crane sometime between 1945 and 1948.

Johnny Zaro's 1940 Mercury Coupe of Maywood, California. Johnny's Merc was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948 at their Compton Avenue shop.

Sam Barris' 1940 Mercury convertible as it appeared in 1948. The Merc was Sam's daily driver, and an in-progress custom. This photo was taken before the door handles were shaved, while it ran blackwall tires.

Frank Kurtis' 1941 Buick, The Kurtis Buick Special, was built by Frank Kurtis between 1946 and 1948

Al Lauer's 1941 Cadillac Convertible was restyled by Harry Westergard for Al Lauer of Sacramento, California in 1948

The first version of George Janich's 1941 Ford Business Coupe, of Long Beach, California was restyled by Sam Barris of Barris Kustoms between 1946 and 1948.

John Vara's 1941 Ford Convertible was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948. John sold the car to Johnny Zaro of Maywood, California before the build was completed.

Bob Kierstead's 1941 Mercury Convertible, of Inglewood, California was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948

Charles Kemp's 1941 Plymouth Convertible was restyled by Al Twitchell in 1948

Albrecht Goertz' 1948 Studebaker Business Coupe of New York. Albrecht's Studebaker was designed and restyled in 1948.

Valley Custom Shop was established by Neil Emory and his brother in law Clayton Jensen in Burbank, California in 1948.

A 1948 Culver City Screwdrivers group photo. Photo from The Bill Boren Photo Collection.

A Jimmy Summers Fender Extensions ad from 1948.

A Burns ad from 1948.

A Sharp Speed Equipment ad from 1948.

A So-Cal Speed Shop ad from 1948.

A Stylized Emblem ad from 1948.

The Hinsværk Special was built in full publicity at Fram Motor Kompani in Oslo. The foreman of the shop, Asbjørn Langnes, had a past as a racecar driver, winning the race at Leangenbanen in 1935, and he and the management were very involved and interested in the build. As April became May, seven or eight men worked around the clock at Fram Motor Kompani, rushing to get the car ready for the 1948 racing season. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.

A Tucker Campini Gas Turbine Car design proposal dated March 3, 1948.

<-- 1947 - 1940s - 1949 -->

1948 was an important year in the hot rod and custom car history.

The Birth of Hot Rod Magazine

1948 was the year the first ever annual Hot Rod Exposition was held at the National Guard Armory in Los Angeles, California. The show was organized by Wally Parks and the SCTA. It was promoted by Robert E. Petersen, and the very first Hot Rod Magazine was created as the program for the show, selling ads to whoever wanted to display as a vendor and hawking copies on the steps outside the Armory. The show featured the best designed and engineered cars belonging to members of the SCTA.

Barris Kustoms Wins Top Honors

George Barris attended the Hot Rod Exposition show with his newly customized 1941 Buick. He won top honors at the show and put Barris Kustoms on the map. After winning the show, George and his brother Sam moved their shop to larger premises at 7674 Compton Avenue.

Valley Customs is Born

1948 was also the year Neil Emory and his brother in law Clayton Jensen opened up their body shop Valley Custom in Burbank, California.

Dick Bertolucci

Further up north, in Sacramento, California, Dick Bertolucci started doing kustom work in his dad's garage in 1948. He was about 18 years at the time.

Honest Charley Speed Shop is Born

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Charley Card opened up an automotive, performance, and custom accessories shop named Honest Charley Speed Shop in 1948. Charley's unique combination of automotive, performance, and custom accessories and worldwide distribution of the notably humorous Honest Charley catalogs served to establish Honest Charley Speed Shop as one of the most recognized names in the Automotive Aftermarket. Honest Charley Speed Shop was also one of the first advertisers featured in Hot Rod Magazine, and his company was one of the first speed shops with coast-to-coast distribution.

The Speed Shop is Born

The Speed Shop was an automotive performance parts store in Flint, Michigan, that played a crucial role in the development of the hot rodding scene in the Midwest during the mid-20th century. Opened in 1948 by hot rodding pioneer Bill Waddill, The Speed Shop became a popular destination for car enthusiasts and a vital resource for specialized automotive parts.

Hot Rods Built or Completed in 1948

George Barris' Track Roadster
Buddy Hinman's 1927 Chevrolet Roadster
Dick Courtney's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster
Fred Larsen's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster
Bill Kelly's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Bob McGee's 1932 Ford Roadster
Eugene Wentworth's 1932 Ford Roadster
Monte Monroe's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Nelson Morris' 1932 Ford Roadster

Custom Cars Built or Completed in 1948

Jack Calori's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Ray Giovannoni's 1936 Ford Roadster
Arthur Lellis' 1939 Ford Convertible
Dick Bair's 1939 Ford Convertible Sedan
Fred Cain's 1940 Ford Coupe
Ralph Jilek's 1940 Ford Convertible
Al Andril's 1940 Mercury Coupe
Johnny Zaro's 1940 Mercury Coupe
Harold Ohanesian's 1940 Mercury Convertible Sedan
George Janich's 1941 Ford Business Coupe
Frank Kurtis' 1941 Buick - The Kurtis Buick Special
Al Lauer's 1941 Cadillac Convertible
John Vara's 1941 Ford Convertible
Bob Kierstead's 1941 Mercury Convertible
Charles Kemp's 1941 Plymouth Convertible
Albrecht Goertz's 1948 Studebaker Business Coupe

Custom, Body and Paint Shops Established in 1948

Shanklin's Custom Shop
Valley Custom Shop

Hot Rod and Custom Car Shows of 1948

Hot Rod Exposition

Hot Rod and Custom Car Clubs Founded in 1948

Gear Grinders of Flint

Hot Rod and Custom Car Shows Formed in 1948

Long Beach Cavaliers
Satan's Angels

Racing and Hot Rod Association Founded in 1948

Bell Timing Association
Nebraska Hot Rod Racing Association

Automotive, Performance, and Custom Accessory Shops Founded in 1948

Honest Charley Speed Shop
The Speed Shop