Dale Fisher

Dale Fisher, a luminary in the Australian custom car scene, emerged from the small town of Gundagai, New South Wales, to become a pivotal figure in automotive customization. Often likened to George Barris of Australia, Fisher was renowned for his exceptional skill in transforming ordinary vehicles into bespoke masterpieces, making him a household name in Sydney's car culture. His journey, marked by a blend of creativity, precision, and a deep passion for automotive artistry, led him to single-handedly execute more convertible conversions from two and four-door cars than anyone else in the country. This photo, taken in the mid-1950s, shows Dale as he is welding shut the rear doors on Rolly Huyshe's 1948 FX Holden. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A sporty speedster that Dale designed in 1950. Fisher's passion for automobiles was evident from a young age. In the 1940s, he dreamt of becoming a car designer for a major Australian car manufacturer. His aspirations were fueled by the cars he saw on the streets and those featured in magazines and books. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

A caravan that Dale designed in 1950. In 1950, at 16, Fisher relocated to Sydney with hopes of pursuing an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner. However, he soon realized that this path wouldn't lead him to car designing. This realization led him to explore panel beating, where he eventually secured a 5-year apprenticeship with the NRMA. In 1987, Paul Kelly and Jeff Brown did a story on Dale for Super Street Magazine. According to that story, Dale did the round of the few remaining coachbuilding firms before he took the apprenticeship with NRMA. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

One of Dale's design proposals from 1951; A 1948 Ford Four-Door Sedan that has been cut down and transformed into a roadster. The front has been dressed up with hooded headlights and a 1950 Plymouth grille. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

Another one of Dale's design proposals from 1951. This one shows a 1948 Plymouth Four-Door Sedan that has been cut down and made into a Convertible. A Continental Kit gives the car a touch of elegance. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

Dale Fisher's 1932 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster. Originally purchased by Fisher in the early 1950s while he was an NRMA apprentice in Sydney, the Speedster was one of his earliest and most influential cars. Although financial constraints later forced him to sell it, Fisher remained closely connected to the car, and this photograph, taken by Dale himself in 1956, documents a brief reunion when it was loaned back to him for a weekend. The image preserves the Speedster largely as he remembered it, including the distinctive body lines that left a lasting impression on his later custom work. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

Dale's first custom job was a remarkable transformation of a 1948 FX Holden that belonged to his buddy Rolly Huyshe, another apprentice at NRMA. The 1948 FX Holden didn't come as a 2-door model, so Dale welded shut the back doors, strengthened the floor pan, and audaciously chopped off the roof, turning it into a convertible. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Many of the panels Dale used on Rolly's Holden were salvaged from irreparable junk he meticulously repaired. Dale had been designing four-door convertible conversions with a pen and paper for a few years before he could finally try out his concepts in metal and lead. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

"Rolly Huyshe was an apprentice motor mechanic and I was a panel beating apprentice at Car Repairs, the NRMA workshop at that time, and we had a 48/215 in to have a new roof put on it. I was helping the tradesman do it and when he cut the old roof off I started raving on about how I'd like to do it as a convertible," Dale told Super Street Magazine. The 1948 FX Holden didn't come as a 2-door model, and Rolly told Dale that he wanted to build one. He asked if Dale wanted to come out to his place and work on one. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

When this photo was taken, Rolly's Holden was close to paint, and Dale had begun planning the two-tone paint job. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

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After five months of hard work, Rolly's convertible finally made it onto the roads. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

According to Dale, Rolly's Holden turned heads like crazy. It also helped establish Dale's name, and people started bringing their cars to him for custom work like Continental Kits, spats, and body dechroming. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale with his 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster, photographed in Sydney in the late 1950s. In a 2011 letter to Michael Ferguson, Fisher described the Moonlight as having “the most beautiful body,” praising its rear scuttle scoops, dickey seat with its own windscreen, and the distinctive ridge flowing between the seats, details that made a lasting impression on him as a young panel beater and future custom car pioneer. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

As Dale's reputation in Sydney grew, he faced a unique challenge. Despite his increasing fame for customizing others' vehicles, Dale himself did not own a custom car. Recognizing this, he decided to embark on a personal project that would not only serve as a testament to his skills but also fulfill his desire for a custom vehicle of his own. After completing his apprenticeship, Dale saved up and purchased a well-maintained 1956 FJ Holden with 8,000 miles on the clock. Dale's approach to customizing the FJ Holden was methodical and driven by a clear vision. He utilized the resources available to him, working after hours and on weekends at his workplace. Reflecting on this period, Dale told Kelly and Brown: "With the boss's permission, I'd use the workshop after hours to do my own thing. I'd just keep a record of the materials and pay for what I used." This quote from Dale encapsulates the dedication and passion that went into every aspect of the build. This photo shows an early version of the car, after Dale had peaked the headlights and installed a pair of fins for a dramatic flair to the vehicle. This photo shows Dale's wife Yvonne with the car. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

In line with his previous work, Dale eventually converted his 1956 FJ Holden into a convertible. This photo was taken in April of 1958. He had finished his apprenticeship by then and had a few customs under his belt. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A photo of the convertible with the top up, without fender skirts. The rear was dressed up with a molded-in Continental Kit as a nod to the classic American custom style. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A FJ Holden UTE that Dale restyled for a customer. Dale was fond of hooded headlights and two-tone paint jobs. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A rear end shot of the UTE. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Another in-progress Holden custom by Dale. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

According to Darryn, the styles were different in Australia to begin with, as they didn't have the availability of USA iron. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Holden that has been dressed up with one of Dale's two-tone paint jobs, Cadillac-inspired fins and taillights, and a spare tire in the rear deck. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A profile shot of the Holden Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Another, more sophisticated, Holden custom by Dale. This one has received fender skirts and a molded-in Continnental Kit. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Another in-progress Holde custom by Dale. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Hooded headlights and a hood scoop gives this Mopar custom a more aggressive and dramatic appearance. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

The rear of the car received fins. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Shoebox Ford that has received small fins by Dale. Other modifications include a molded-in Continental Kit, dual antennas, and spats that have been dressed up with louvers and stars. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A rear end shot of the Shoebox Ford. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A construction photo of a Packard that Dale customized for a customer. Quad headlights and fins gave the car a modern look. According to Darryn, this was one of the first quad headlight conversions in Australia. "He used Renault Daphne headlights. They are slightly smaller than the standard 5.75 inch. That's all he could get his hands on. He did several quad headlight conversions on our Holdens later." Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Staying true to the brand, Dale grafted on a pair of 1956 Packard taillight-assemblies to the quarter panels of the car. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

All primered up and almost ready for paint. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

The Packard as it appeared after Dale had completed the build. Despite his deep love for custom car building, the reality of the industry in Australia meant that Dale often found himself balancing his dream with the necessities of a more traditional automotive career. Dale always hoped that custom car work could become his full-time occupation. However, the demand for such specialized services was insufficient to sustain this as a standalone career. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

One notable project for Dale began when a customer brought in a brand-new FB straight from the dealership, requesting a twin headlight conversion. This led to more headlight customization jobs for Dale, showcasing his adaptability and the growing demand for his unique skills. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Chrysler that was in for dual headlights and fins. A typical job for Dale in the late 1950s. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A rear end construction shot of the Chrysler. All of the work was in lead and metal. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A 1956 Ford Fairlane custom that has been dressed up with a molded-in and recessed Continental Kit placed horizontally in the deck lid. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Another Ford custom that has been dressed up with one of Dale's molded-in and recessed Continental Kits. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A third Ford that has received one of Dale's laid-down Continental Kits. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Ford that is in the process of receiving another set of taillights. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

One of Dale’s early daily drivers, a large 1938 Buick four-door sedan that reflected his fascination with U.S. styling long before his custom-building career took off. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A 1940 Buick four-door sedan, one of several Buicks Dale owned and drove daily, showcasing his ongoing love for big American cars even outside his custom projects. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1940 Buick four-door sedan after being dressed up with fender skirts, a subtle touch that gave the big sedan a smoother, more streamlined look in true Fisher style. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1939 Oldsmobile, tastefully dressed up with a sun visor and fender skirts, subtle additions that gave the sedan a clean, custom look typical of Dale’s early styling touches. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

This Sunbeam Alpine was one of several stylish convertibles Dale owned over the years, reflecting his appreciation for sleek European design alongside his American custom influences. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Ford Cortina, one of the many everyday cars he owned and maintained over the years. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale’s mildly customized Chrysler Royal, dressed up with a gangster cap, fender skirts, and one of Dale’s signature two-tone paint jobs that gave even his daily drivers a distinctive custom flair. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1950 Pontiac Convertible. Originally an imported four-door car, Dale transformed the car in 1960 by removing the roof during Easter weekend, much to the surprise of his pregnant wife, Yvonne. The mild custom served as Dale’s daily driver and featured a yellow and black two-tone paint job, reflecting his refined and evolving style. The car was later sold to a new owner in Newcastle. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale's Pontiac featured dual exhausts, fender skirts, and a molded-in Continental kit. Lacking access to Cadillac parts in Australia, Dale used 1960s Ford Zephyr taillights to complete the rear styling. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale's Pontiac seen here fitted with his handmade hubcaps featuring four-eared spinner centers engraved “Dale Fisher Customs.” The caps were produced to Dale’s design by Osbournes & Associates in Sydney, a firm known for spinning custom copper and aluminum pieces for caravans and one-off projects. Dale often swapped the unique hubcaps between his custom cars. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1963 Studebaker Lark, the car on which he sold his handmade spinner hubcaps in the 1970s. Years later, a fellow club member revealed that the Studebaker’s later owner had taken the car to the tip, with the caps still fitted. Two were saved, while the other pair was buried with the car. Decades on, Darryn Fisher reunited the rescued caps with the original engraved centers reading “Dale Fisher Customs.” Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1947 Buick, one of his many daily drivers. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Dodge Dart that Dale restyled in the 1960s A bumperless design gave the car a more sporty appearance. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A rear end shot of the Dart. The back bumper was scrapped and replaced by a cleaner looking rolled pan. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A 1956 Dodge Convertible design proposal that Dale drew in 1965. Modifications included a tube bar grille, 1955 Chevrolet headlamp rims and Valiant taillights installed vertically. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

A construction photo of a 1967 HR Holden Utility that Dale built for Gerry Sweeting in the 1960s. Already a two-door, Dale turned the pickup into a convertible. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Darryn recalled watching his dad go up to Sweeting's Holden with a hacksaw and start chopping the roof off. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

The taillights on Sweeting's Holden were turned 90 degrees before a second set was added to give the car a Mustang look. Only the curved section of the light is seen. The rest bends under the car. A second hood and scuttle were added to fill in the cargo area. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Sweeting's Holden featured a handmade folding roof, fender skirts and hood scoops. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A photo of Gerry and his wife Pauline taken the day they came to pick up the car. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Once completed, Sweeting's Holden was featured on the cover of the Australian Custom Rodder magazine.

A photo of Darryn with the Sweeting Holden. "I was raised into the custom car scene," Darryn told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2019. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Dodge Phoenix four-door to two-door convertible conversion by Dale. Dale's prowess is unmatched in Australia. He single-handedly executed more convertible conversions from both two and four-door cars than anyone else in the country. While some shops might have produced similar numbers, they operated with several hands on deck; Dale worked solo. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A Valiant Convertible that Dale designed in 1969. The original rear roof pillar has been kept and turned into a rollbar on this one. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

A mild Valiant custom that Dale built for his oldest son Dale Fisher Jr. According to Darryn, the S-type Valiants were made in Australia. According to Darryn, "Dad had it repainted a deep blue with silver 2-tone flash under the windows." He also made spats, fitted a R series boot lid that had the Continental Kit in it, and changed the oem small tail lights for bigger lights off a later Australian Valiant model. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

When Dale purchased the Valiant, it was a low mileage one-owner car with a bad rear ender. He repaired and restyled it and offered it to Darryn. Darryn had a 1962 Studebaker Lark, so he said no, and his older brother Dale Jr., purchased it. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale's 1948 Oldsmobile and 1947 Buick, two of the American classics he owned later in life. The pair reflected Dale’s enduring passion for late-1940s styling and craftsmanship, long after his custom-building years. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1966 Rambler, photographed in 1975, dressed up with whitewall tires, a subtle nod to his custom roots even on his later daily drivers. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Fisher's 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk in 1978, shown here before its major transformation. The car already wore a padded half-roof and a full continental kit, early hints of the roof-cut that Dale would carry out shortly after. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

A 1977 Ford XC Coupe that Dale transformed into a full open-top cruiser in true Fisher fashion. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

Body by Fisher! In the 1980s Paul Kelly and Jeff Brown did a story about Dale and his customs. The story appeared in Super Street Magazine Issue No. 1, 1987. Today, Fisher is remembered as one of the earliest and most prolific independent customizers in Australia’s postwar automotive history.

Dale's custom-converted Datsun/Nissan 260Z, shown here with the handmade roof mechanism he was developing. Another example of Dale’s willingness to cut, reshape, and rethink anything on wheels, even well into the later years of his custom-building life. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

When was the last time you saw a Toyota with fender skirts and whitewall tires? Even in his later years, Dale kept the custom flame burning bright, restyling this 1992 Toyota Cressida for his wife. She still owned it in 2025. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Dale Jr.’s Mazda 929, a family heirloom that didn’t escape the trademark Dale Fisher treatment. At one point, it even wore fender skirts. Photo from the Dale Fisher Collection.

Dale Fisher's 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk, a car he owned for more than 40 years. In true Fisher fashion, he shocked his local car club by cutting the roof off a low-mileage, excellent-condition GT to create this striking convertible. In 2025, the car was still in Victoria and even appeared in the TV series Jack Irish starring Guy Pearce. Photo from The Dale Fisher Photo Collection.

When Darryn learned to drive, he bought a 1962 Studebaker Lark. In 2023, Darryn had owned the Studebaker for more than four decades. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

While Darryn took cues from the classic 1950s leadsleds, being an aircraft engineer added a unique spin to his customizing style. Aussie styles were a bit different from what was seen in the US, mostly because getting your hands on American cars wasn't that easy. But that never stopped the Fishers. Photo courtesy of Darryn Fisher.

Darryn had two 1962 Studebaker Larks, this example finished in a distinctive two-tone treatment with period accessories and custom touches, a nod to the styling tradition he inherited from his father. From the Dale Fisher Collection.

Darryn Fisher's 1964 Studebaker Lark, a clean and elegant example dressed with wide whitewalls and period accessories, continuing the Fisher family’s long tradition of keeping classic Studebakers on the road. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

Dale meeting George Barris in Sydney, July 2015. When Barris visited Australia for the annual Meguiar's MotorEx, Dale was invited to meet the legendary “King of Kustoms.” The two spent time talking cars and craftsmanship, an unforgettable moment for Dale and his family, who grew up inspired by Barris Kustom creations and the magazines of the 1950s and 60s. This visit came only a few months before Barris passed away. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

In 2025, Dale Fisher's 1954 Studebaker was one of the few surviving Dale Fisher customs. The very car that took his wife to the hospital when their son Dale was born. At the time, the Studebaker had just had its roof cut off, a bold touch typical of Dale’s early custom work. Luckily, the car survived for more than 65 years. From The Dale Fisher Collection.

A custom-converted 1965 Holden Ute. This is a project that Dale carried out in the early 1970s. In 2025, the car was one of the few surviving Fisher-built customs and was recently sold after decades on the road. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

Dale Fisher (born in Gundagai, New South Wales) is widely regarded as one of Australia’s pioneering custom car builders. Active from the 1950s through the 1980s, Fisher became known for his ingenuity in transforming ordinary production cars into highly individualized custom vehicles. Often referred to as “Australia’s George Barris,” Fisher completed more convertible conversions from two- and four-door cars than any other individual in the country, influencing a generation of Australian customizers and automotive enthusiasts.

According to his son, Dale Jr., Fisher approached every custom with the goal of making it look as though it could have rolled out of the factory that way. He spent countless hours perfecting flow, proportions, and engineering details—especially on his convertible conversions, where he ensured the lines were correct and the folding hood mechanisms worked smoothly. Fisher also developed and fabricated many of his own tools, relying on ingenuity and self-made equipment at a time when the resources available to today’s builders simply didn’t exist.

In a letter written to Michael Ferguson in 2011, Fisher also revealed that his passion for “sports cars” and streamlined coachbuilt shapes predated his custom-car career, listing everything from Austin Healeys to supercharged Auburns, Duesenbergs and Packards as dream material that fueled his early imagination.

Early Life and Apprenticeship

Fisher was born in Gundagai, New South Wales, where his fascination with automobiles developed during childhood. In the 1940s, he dreamed of becoming an automotive designer, inspired by the cars he saw on local streets and in magazines.

In 1950, at the age of sixteen, Fisher moved to Sydney to pursue his ambitions. He initially sought a fitter-and-turner apprenticeship but soon realized it would not lead to design work. Determined to work with cars, he turned to panel beating. According to a 1987 Super Street Magazine article by Paul Kelly and Jeff Brown, Fisher visited several of the city’s remaining coachbuilding firms before accepting an apprenticeship with the NRMA (National Roads and Motorists’ Association) . He later recalled that his father hoped he would first “become an engineer” and then move into cars, but Fisher “couldn’t wait,” choosing hands-on panel work over machining repetitive castings.

In his letter to Michael Ferguson, Fisher placed the start of his five-year apprenticeship at the NRMA car repair facility at Pyrmont in 1951, describing it as “the biggest repair shop in the southern hemisphere” at the time. He also recalled living in a boarding house at Haberfield, with his parents were “250 miles away.”

Entry into Custom Car Building

While working at the NRMA, Fisher began experimenting with custom accessories, fender skirts, grilles, and side trims, crafted after hours. These early efforts marked his first steps into custom car building.

The 2011 letter adds a vivid snapshot of Fisher as a young apprentice: on weekend walks along Parramatta Road he studied cars in used-car yards, and at a yard in Ashfield in late 1952 or early 1953 he first spotted a rare Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster, one of the most beautiful bodies he had ever seen.

Fisher singled out details that would later echo in his own custom work: the rear scoops on the scuttle, the dickey seat with its own windscreen, and the “ridge at the back, drawn between the seats,” which he felt foreshadowed the much later Chevrolet Corvette.

Fisher wrote that the Speedster was red-bodied, running red 1939 Chevrolet 16-inch disc wheels in place of the original larger wire wheels, and, crucially, had no folding top or top frame. He borrowed extra money from a school friend to buy it.

He recalled discovering it had a low-ratio differential that made it launch “like a jack rabbit” from traffic lights, something he admits he took advantage of, until he “blew up the diff.” With no spare money to repair it on apprentice wages (while paying rent and paying back the loan), he had to sell the car back to the dealer for about half what he had paid, only two months earlier.

Rolly Huyshe's FJ Holden Convertible

Fisher’s first major custom project came through a friendship with fellow apprentice mechanic Rolly Huyshe. The pair decided to convert a damaged 48-215 (FX) Holden sedan into a convertible, an idea virtually unheard of in Australia at the time.

“We started with only the engine, then we got the subframes, then a bodyshell.” Fisher recalled in 1987. “We welded utility rails underneath and, of course, we didn’t have jack stands or much equipment, we were only kids, so we tipped it on its side, welded on the rails, and tipped it back up again before we cut the roof off.”

During the build, they discovered body flex: the FJ’s subframe skirts were welded to the scuttle, and suspension loads pushed the doors down, so Fisher added a tube along the sill into the fork of the Y-shaped subframe and a triangulated plate and web to stiffen the front and stop the pillars moving.

The result was one of Australia’s earliest Holden convertible conversions. Much of the sheet metal came from scrap, which Fisher painstakingly restored. Though another Sydney panel beater, Barry Cartwright, registered what may have been the first FJ Holden convertible, Fisher’s work helped establish the concept and spread the trend among Sydney enthusiasts. Cartwright’s car reportedly used Vauxhall hood bows, at the time, the only readily available set with near, correct dimensions.

When Rolly’s finished car hit the streets, it drew immediate attention, earning Fisher his first customers for custom work such as dechroming, continental kits, and fender skirts.

The Moonlight Speedster Restoration

By 1957, Fisher had completed his apprenticeship with the NRMA and was working for a new employer in Alexandria. In his 2011 letter, Fisher told Ferguson that while driving to his new employer at Alexandria via Victoria Road, Rozelle, and approaching the Iron Cove bridge, he spotted a 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster in a car yard. "It was RED and in good original condition, but with NO hubcaps. I put £10 deposit on it and drove back to Beecroft to borrow the balance of £110 from my Aunt. I caught a bus back and paid for it, and drove back to my Aunt’s to pick up my A40. I was late for work that day."

Dale recalled that the 1931 differed from the 1932 Speedster in many ways. "It had louvres in the bonnet sides, in place of the opening doors of the ’32. The bumpers were a different profile in cross-section, the headlamps were a shallower profile, the park lamps were on top of the guards, and it had only 1 cross bar between the headlamps, as distinct from the double bars on the 1932. The car did have a chromed mesh grille guard. However the body was identical to that of the 1932 car."

This became Dale's first of many restorations that followed. "My new boss, Allan Berwick, allowed me to use the workshop after hours and on weekends, so long as I reimbursed him for any consumables. After following months I reworked those mechanical items that required it, and stripped the paint and did a few small dents that it had acquired." Charlie Carney, Allan’s partner, a long time experienced painter, helped and guided Dale in repainting it in RED deluxe, "as close to the original color as we could. Apart from the bumpers, the chrome was in excellent condition. I rechromed the bumpers to match the rest."

Dale told Ferguson that at that time, he did not have any contacts to acquire hub caps. "The closest I could find were on the Renault Fregate. They were of similar size and cross-section, and did not have any badge etc in the centre. I bought 6, including the 2 side mount spares. I could not buy white wall tyres in the size of those on the car, so I painted up walls in a new flexible white paint. This worked well. Over time the road wheel tyres did develop small hair-like cracks in this paint, only visible up close, due to the flex in the tyres. had painted the wire wheels silver."

Dale’s Personal FJ Convertible

As Dale's reputation in Sydney grew, he faced a unique challenge. Despite his increasing fame for customizing others' vehicles, Dale himself did not own a custom car. Harvey and Berwick had a contract repairing repossessed cars, and Fisher wrote that one of these deals changed his direction. One day, they brought in a 1956 FJ Holden Special. "It only had slight scratches on the right hand guards, but only about 8,000 miles," he told Ferguson. "The dealer said I could have it for only what was owed on it, which was half what the just released “F.E. Holden Special” cost. This was a chance to buy an almost new car for half price!"

To finance the build, Fisher sold his 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster and his 1951 Austin A40 to a dealer at Mascot. Working nights and weekends at the shop, he carefully documented materials and paid for everything used, a habit typical of his meticulous approach.

He converted the car to a convertible, added peaked headlamps, fins, and a continental kit, and lead-filled the body seams. Completed in 1958, the FJ embodied Fisher’s emerging aesthetic: a blend of American influence with restrained Australian practicality. After completing the build, Fisher sold it to a dealer at Tempe in 1958 for £1,400—“more than the cost of a new Holden then,” as he put it in his 2011 letter.

The Plymouth and The Pontiac

After completing his work on the FJ Holden, Dale didn't rest on his laurels. His next project was a 1950 Plymouth, a vehicle that, in its original form, was far from what Dale envisioned. True to his nature, Dale transformed this stock car into a custom, and it underwent significant modifications under Dale's skilled hands. He nosed the car, seamlessly leaded the seams, and added hand-made side trims and hubcaps, showcasing his attention to detail and craftsmanship. One of the standout features Dale intended for the Plymouth was a set of Cadillac taillights. However, due to their scarcity in Australia, he had to improvise. Dale's solution was both creative and elegant: he used Zephyr fins, crafted the extensions and surrounds by hand, and fitted them to the Plymouth. The result was a car that, while not featuring the coveted Cadillac lights, exuded a unique and classy charm.

After completing the build, the Plymouth made way for an imported 1950 Pontiac. This car received a series of mild custom touches, reflecting Dale's evolving style. It served as his daily driver until a bold decision in Easter 1960. Dale, driven by his passion, removed the roof of the Pontiac, surprising his pregnant wife, Yvonne. The Pontiac, now roofless, was not exactly the ideal family car, especially with a hospital visit looming. The Pontiac was later adorned with a striking two-tone trim and paint job in yellow and black. This customization further enhanced its appeal, and by the following year, it found a new owner in Newcastle.

Expanding Demand and Influence

By the early 1960s, Fisher had become a sought-after craftsman. The popularity of continental kits, fins, and twin-headlight conversions kept him busy after hours. One memorable customer brought him a brand-new FB Holden directly from the dealership for a twin-headlight conversion, a testament to Fisher’s growing reputation in Sydney’s custom scene.

Castle Hill Auto Repairs and the HD Convertible

Fisher later joined Castle Hill Auto Repairs, where he undertook an ambitious project to convert a wrecked HD Holden wagon into a bright yellow HD convertible. Although the car’s condition was poor, Fisher accepted the challenge. The donor was a flattened wreck retrieved from the base of a cliff at Galston Gorge, with no commercially salvageable panels. The resulting car was featured in Wheels magazine, which mistakenly credited Castle Hill Auto Repairs for Fisher’s earlier custom work. Despite the mix-up, Fisher later acknowledged the misunderstanding as fair given his employment there at the time. The HD convertible was last seen in Sydney in 1970 before being sold to a new owner in Wagga Wagga.

Gerry Sweeting's HR Holden Utility

Among Fisher’s most memorable builds of the 1960s was Gerry Sweeting's HR Holden Utility, radically reworked into a roadster. Using a hacksaw, Fisher removed the roof, rotated the taillights for a Mustang-like look, added a handmade folding roof, and fabricated bonnet scoops. Originally finished in metallic green, the car later changed colors under successive owners but remains a known showpiece and a testament to Fisher’s craftsmanship. A similar HR ute conversion was completed in 1972.

Transition to Teaching and Blacktown Shop

Fisher began teaching part-time at Granville Technical College in 1974, sharing his panel-beating and shaping expertise with apprentices. Two years later, in 1976, he opened his own body shop in Blacktown, focusing on smash repairs but continuing to take on custom work. At Granville, he led pre-apprentices into custom techniques, demonstrating factory-style wheel-arch flares (rather than add-on “blisters”) on projects like a black HQ Premier, and emphasized lead-wiped welds and file-finished metal with no filler.

Technique and Style

Fisher preferred traditional steel construction over the fiberglass add-ons that became fashionable in the 1970s. He frequently built steel replicas of fiberglass panels for customers who insisted on metal. His most notable late-career custom was an XC Falcon two-door convertible, complete with lakes pipes, front air dam, and rear wing, reportedly the first of its kind in Australia.

Fisher critiqued mass-produced plastic bolt-ons as flimsy and look-alike, arguing that true customizing meant one-off parts and individual character. Even his tube-bar grilles were never identical, he varied bevels, added oval end plates or domes, brazed bolts to give hex-ended tubes for extra sparkle, and even incorporated gear teeth to play with light and form. He also linked changing tastes to economics and easy credit: bulk-made parts were cheap and widely available, encouraging fashion over individuality.

Retirement and Reflections

Fisher retired at the end of 1984, closing his Blacktown shop after more than three decades of work. In his 1987 Super Street Magazine interview, he estimated having built or modified several hundred cars: “It’s hard to say; it’d be in the hundreds. My books stopped at two hundred and eighty-something, but that was years ago. I stopped keeping records because there didn’t seem to be any point.”

Reflecting on his career, Fisher expressed some disappointment that custom work in Australia never became a viable full-time occupation: “When I was younger, all I wanted to do was make custom cars, every day from dawn to dark. I think I’ve always been disappointed that there wasn’t enough custom work to make it a full-time business. When I was sixteen, I wanted to be a coachbuilder, something like George Barris, but perhaps not so way-out and exotic: not really bizarre customs, but quality and class bodies, more like the Clenet or Excalibur, not in fibreglass, but in that style.”

Fisher remained modest about his achievements, noting that while American builders had resources and markets for experimental work, Australian customizers worked with limited means and little commercial support.

Family and Influence

In 2019, Fisher’s son Darryn Fisher told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that growing up with his father meant being surrounded by cars and tools: “I was raised into the custom car scene.” For Darryn, cars weren't just a mode of transport. They were a way of life. His dad, Dale, was knee-deep in the custom car game from the 1950s until he hung up his tools. Darryn's first car? A 1962 Studebaker Lark he's had for over four decades. And while he took cues from the classic 1950s leadsleds, being an aircraft engineer added a unique spin to his customizing style. Aussie styles were a bit different from what was seen in the US, mostly because getting your hands on American cars wasn't that easy. But that never stopped the Fishers!

Legacy

Fisher’s career spanned the formative decades of Australian custom car culture. His mastery of steel shaping, convertible engineering, and subtle design blended European craftsmanship with American style, helping to define the nation’s unique custom aesthetic. Though he often worked alone and out of modest facilities, his cars, ranging from Holden sedans to American imports, set enduring standards of quality and imagination.

Today, Fisher is remembered as one of the earliest and most prolific independent customizers in Australia’s postwar automotive history.

Dale Fisher's Cars

Dale Fisher's 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster
Dale Fisher's 1932 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster
Dale Fisher's 1956 FJ Holden Special
Dale Fisher's 1950 Plymouth
Dale Fisher's 1950 Pontiac
Dale Fisher's 1954 Studebaker
Dale Fisher's 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk
Dale Fisher's 1963 Studebaker Lark

Cars Restyled by Dale Fisher

Rolly Huyshe's 1948 FX Holden