The Joe Kizis Photo Collection

Dave Schroeder's 1949 Ford Two-Door Sedan of West Haven, Connecticut. The photo was taken at the 1957 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

A photo of Norman Bernier's 1950 Ford "Ranchero" taken at Frank Maratta's 1958 National Auto Review in Hartford, Connecticut. Built by Norman at his Norman Bernier's Autobody in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the car was shown on the East Coast as "the Kustom Kart." Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

A shoebox Ford custom convertible at the 1957 Hartford Autorama. The car is not listed in the Souvenir Program for the show, so chances are it was a late entry. Do anyone recognize this sharp looking Connecticut custom? Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

A channeled 1932 Ford 5-Window coupe at Frank Maratta's 1958 National Auto Review in Hartford, Connecticut. The black hot rod has New York license plates, and a Rickshaws Tokyo car club plaque on the cowl. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Fred Steele's 1932 Ford roadster at the 1957 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Janet and Jack Brown's 1934 Ford truck at the 1958 National Auto Review. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Don Antonelli's 1954 Mercury at the 1957 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Russell Iodice's 1949 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Bert Melody's 1940 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

James Cashel's 1955 Chevrolet at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

David McCue's 1950 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Frank Balzano's 1956 Ford Victoria at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Herbert Gellings' 1951 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Art Guglielmi's 1955 Ford Victoria at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

John Hychko's 1956 Ford Crown Victoria at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

John North's 1957 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

John Petrick's 1956 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Russ Meacham's 1957 Ford Ranchero at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

James Montesanto's 1950 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Peter Guerra's 1954 Oldsmobile at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

David Carlson's 1951 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Robert Zepke's 1950 Ford at the 1958 Hartford Autorama. Photo from the Joe Kizis Collection, courtesy of New England Speed & Custom.

Kustomrama Photo Archive

Joe Kizis was an East Coast car show promoter from Milford, Connecticut. In 1951 he held an indoor car show in Hartford, Connecticut that he promoted as the Hartford Autorama. The show went on to be one of the biggest indoor hot rod and custom car shows on the East Coast scene. Thanks to the crew at New England Speed & Custom Joe Kizis' photo collection has been scanned and saved with Kustomrama.