Question : Who was a KOA member ? What was your membership number ? Who was a life time member ? Let's hear some KOA history.
There is a huge thread about the people and the cars of KOA https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/what-ever-happened-to.1016572/
@Moriarity He would know or probably know. If he doesn't, the odds are very small anyone else would know. But you never know, could be a west coast old timer here / out there somewhere.
Yup, started by Barris and I think it evolved from the Kustoms of Los Angeles club. I do know that it was revived by someone in the midwest in the 80's probably intended to be direct competition to Jerry Titus and the KKOA. I remember one time maybe 15 years ago I was in Indiana and saw an advertisement for a KOA show that weekend. I went out of curiosity and was extremely disappointed at the turnout (maybe 20 cars?) Not sure if it is still in business today https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Kustoms_of_America
Surprised Moriarty didn't know that KOA has been gone for a long time (the revival one, not the Barris one). Founded by 2 men, one died not too far after starting the club, and the other didn't keep it going for too long after that.
A lot of hall of fame customizers belonged to it. Bo Huff , Larry Watson , the Alexander bro's , Gene Winfield , Norm Gabrowski , John D'agostino , etc..... Looking for some past members to chim in here.... Some still have to be around.
I didn't belong to the original KOA, just have some Barris memorabilia. Like Mark said the original was an offshoot of the Kustoms of Los Angeles club that Barris started for guys that had Barris built cars. I have an original jacket from that club. I was a member of the later KOA (have a membership card and some newsletters) but I was never active in it. Mick
Kemp's were and still are the Koolest.....Gotta get one someday...Windfield glass one would be awesome...
The KOA club was an offshoot of the original Barris club...the second iteration was started by a man by the name of Barry David in the early '90s it ran for a year or so before B. David couldn't keep it going so Jim Hibbs of Tennessee and Paul Spillman of Kentucky allegedly bought it from B. David...The KOA club "magazine" was entitled Styleline and produced in an 8" x 10" format until late 2000. It was then downsized by Jim Hibbs after that and it finally ended sometime in the 2000's when Jim Hibbs passed away. Paul Spillman passed away some time before that...Another guy ( I don't recall his name) took over and "ran" the club from somewhere in the Midwest. I think it finally died after that... R-
I remember that Barry David was the original KKOA chaplain and he owned the Jim Seaton Barris built 55 chev and had it at the first KKOA leadsled show in 81
Phil Sauers the former owner of my 51 Merc joined KOA in the mid 50s.He said it cost 2 dollars. The sticker is still on the windshield today but pretty beat up!
here is a good article on Rik Hovings site, he says that the club disappeared in about 1959 https://www.customcarchronicle.com/cc-builders/barris-kustom-shop/the-original-kustoms-of-america/
My number was 0885303sc, and expired on Sept 1 1986. Not sure what that meant but it was a gift from Bob Larivee Sr. so maybe that's why the goofy number. I never got an issue of "Styline" magazine but I've included a copy of their Newsletter "The Kustomizer" with a list of the officers. That's about all I had to do with it. Mick
I was a member of KOA in 1998. Member #1150. There were a few other members in this area. We did not have an active club. I have a full year of the "STYLELINE " magazine.
I know of a guy who was a state director in the 2000s Don't try the phone number. He doesn't have it anymore.
I attended several of there events double dates at Muncie IN Richmand IN & an event at Hamilton OH. seems like the Hamilton run Linda Vaughn Gene Winfield & Bill Hines there. it wasn't real crowded Linda was signing autographs but there was no one around she walked over & talked to my wife & I for awhile.photo of styline magazine & with my car in it
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