Featured Art & Inspiration The Friday Art Show.Dedicated to Gene Winfield

1934 Ford Coupe 5 window custom

Hello,

What makes a custom car? Pinstriping, chopped top, sectioned. fender skirts, taking off fenders, modifying the motor compartment to give a little advantage at the drags, and or all of the items on this list.

The custom cars in the Winfield history had their own style. Some good, some not so good. But they were all modified cars with various custom touches. History will be forever remembered as one giant modification to anything that rolled.

I have liked 34 Ford Coupes since I saw one sitting in my driveway, back in 1957. My brother’s friend had a big ,modified Oldsmobile motor and a LaSalle transmission as well as a nice muffler system that made a rumbling sound. It was a full fender version and as I got to go for rides in it. In my mind, the coupe became my possible future hot rod. In three years, he was ready to sell and sold so fast that when he told me, I was gathering some money, an offer came in fast, and sold quickly.

Ever since then, it was on my radar. But, when we saw the Mooneyham-Sharp coupe in Lakewood and then at the drags in Bakersfield, that idea took over for many years. A cool drag race car, could be modified for the street and the look was timeless.


Jnaki

So, my own version of the 1934 coupe was to make it lightweight enough to support wire wheels in front. But, if it was changed over to run on the street, new mags would take over.

As it sits on a lowered rake, to me, it is pure hot rod with custom pinstriping panel paint highlights and a nice color to enter car shows as well as the local drags. Purely driven is the mode… not just a chrome sled… or hot rod. YRMV

 

This one wasn't built by Gene, but this ride reminds me of his attention to detail and great paint!
Adios Amigo, show them how its done in the next dimension!

​

 

Another humble attempt. Gene, Thanks for All that you gave us!

 

He was an inspiration for many.

 

Gene will be missed. Here's some of custom idea doddles. They're from one of my 20 year old sketch pads.

 

To Gene. Thanks for all your inspiration!
May you rest in eternal peace…

“Never Gonna Fade Away”

(work in progress. No pun intended )

the Jupiter Pod was heavily inspired by Gene as well as the GM Dream Car “Futurama” show cars.

 

I had he good pleasure to tour his shop. Air hose strung everywhere. The man was gracious to ll of us who toured that day.

 

When I was a kid (I'm 45 now), I remember wondering why the cars on the Simpsons looked like real cars and how that was sooooo cool (Snake's Firebird or young Homer's '70 Road Runner for instance),....glad that I now know.

 

Gene next to my old 41 Coupe at Santa Maria WCK around 15 years ago? I didn't have much history on the car and had Gene take a look at it, and thought it looked like one of his early chops. Car is in the Netherlands now.
Gene was always a gentleman!

 

DDouble Take

 

Collaborated on this charity project for the Santa Maria WCK Panel Jam Auction, with my cousin Ruben (Local Visalia Pinstriper) friends Daniel and Reggie (Custom Painters). The idea was to paint the barrel like "The Reactor", and we painted the famous "Jade Idol" to pay tribute to Gene with his autograph on it. Gene liked it so much he worked out a deal with Penny from WCK, and ended up owning it. I noticed in a YouTube interview, I saw it in the background (see thumbnail pic below)

 

Yep, both my design contributions. Season 11 forward they used computer assist. Directors would send me stuff through season 12 when they wanted ‘hands on’ animation and car stuff. lol!

 

My 7 yr old grandson Christian saw me posting on the FAS. He asked if he could draw something for the show. I said sure. He just drew these sketches free handed, and from memory of my cars. My 68 Vette, 56 Nomad, and model A coupe. The second one is us cruising the tasty freeze.

 

Some customs I drew way back when.
In memory of Gene.

Mick

 

Looks like we can all put our tools down and go home now, our replacements are at the door.
Cool work Christian!

 

Oh, I almost forgot… I got approved to share this one. Acrylic on canvas, my first in over a decade, which was my first in several decades… this may become part of the Dreamer Series before all is said and done. Jeff, my client, is a true traditional hot rod guy I met at the Hill Climb in ‘17. This image is based on a true story, only, his ‘59 coupe was firmly planted on all fours…
As a twist, while he experienced this in 2013, at Bonneville, I had almost the same exact event, at said Hot Rod Hill Climb while driving up the Central City, from Idaho Springs, in 2015. My valley view was east towards Denver., not as pretty but, that moon! It inspired the “Full Moon Shot” drawing I’ve also attached

 

Excellent Christian, looks like the art gene is alive and well in the Funkhouser family!
Dan

 

one very great man he will be missed, RIP.

 

RIP Gene,...got nothin new to show but here's a shoebox I think Gene would've liked

 

Gene's 90th Birthday! With my girl!

 

Another craftsman, Ted’s Chevy!

 

from Winfield & Watson 2nd Annual Show.