Eugene Von Arx Sr.

The Eugene Von Arx Special of California. Built in 1940 by Bungholers of Hollywood member Eugene Von Arx Jr., the Eugene Von Arx Special is a rare prewar custom roadster that fused dry lakes performance with high-end coachbuilding. Designed and hand-formed by Eugene's father, an alum of the Walter M. Murphy Company and Don Lee Coachworks, the body featured Art Deco styling, 1937 Chevrolet and 1937 Oldsmobile lighting, and a split Duvall windshield. The chassis was crafted by Frank Kurtis using twin 1939 Chevrolet frames, and the car was powered by a rare Riley OHV-equipped Ford flathead V8. It recorded a 114.4 MPH run at El Mirage in May 1942. In August 2025, this early piece of California hot rod history returned to the spotlight, offered at Mecum's Monterey Auction.

Eugene Von Arx Sr. was a classically trained American coachbuilder based in Southern California. He began his career at the prestigious Walter M. Murphy Company in Pasadena before continuing his craft at Don Lee Coach & Body Works in Los Angeles, an operation that absorbed Earl Automobile Works, the company founded by Harley Earl's father. In 1940, Von Arx Sr. designed and hand-built the body for the Von Arx Special, a one-off dry lakes roadster created for his son, Eugene Von Arx Jr. Blending streamlined Art Deco styling with performance-minded details, the car stands as a rare example of prewar coachbuilding applied to hot rod racing. Von Arx Sr.'s craftsmanship, evident in the car’s flowing fenders, custom grille, and tailored proportions, remains a testament to the early fusion of elegance and speed that helped shape California’s custom car culture.

Cars Built by Eugene Von Arx Sr.

The Eugene Von Arx Special