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History Petri Terho 1952 Buick Kustom

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by a990hemi, Jun 23, 2026.

  1. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    I recently purchased Petri Terho's 1952 Buick kustom, and am hoping to find more information about this cars origins from Finland where it was kustomized by Petri. This iconic kustom now resides in Wisconsin after I purchased it from a Swede who retired in Florida. What might y'all know about this car?
    FB_IMG_1774699655285.jpg FB_IMG_1774699675300.jpg
     
  2. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    How it currently appears 20260413_133851.jpg 20260413_134510.jpg
     
  3. straykatkustoms
    Joined: Oct 30, 2001
    Posts: 31,542

    straykatkustoms
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Congratulations! One of my favorite Buick Kustoms.
     
  4. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 9,542

    corncobcoupe
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

  5. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 2,681

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    All I know about it is that it's friggin awesome....
     
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  6. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 41,138

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    cool car, I do not know anything about it though
     
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  7. Acres
    Joined: Dec 19, 2021
    Posts: 1,752

    Acres
    Member
    from Sweden

    Ok there it is, been a while since i saw it, a really nice kustom, a swede use to own it and he used it alot....
    Got some photos of it.
     
    Sharpone, 49ratfink and Stogy like this.
  8. ronzmtrwrx
    Joined: Sep 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,898

    ronzmtrwrx
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I do not have any info to add except to say congrats and that thing is super cool looking.
     
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  9. K13
    Joined: May 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,018

    K13
    Member

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  10. downlojoe33
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 1,135

    downlojoe33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That is a super nice Buick. Congrats. Love that chop.
     
  11. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Please post those photos here if you will - thanks
     
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  12. Acres
    Joined: Dec 19, 2021
    Posts: 1,752

    Acres
    Member
    from Sweden

    Only found these, I probably got some more i just have to find them.
    I took all these photos 15 years ago, its a really nice car, im sad i wont se it around anymore but hopefully its found a nice home, back home
    IMG_4140.JPG IMG_4143.JPG IMG_5795.JPG
     
  13. Acres
    Joined: Dec 19, 2021
    Posts: 1,752

    Acres
    Member
    from Sweden

  14. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Wow! This is exactly what I had been hoping to find since these pics are from the era when Swedish Keijo first purchased the car from Petri. I especially like to see the Cadillac sombrero caps on Petri's tire size since the car was delivered to me on giant 7.60-15 tires which are spoiling the tail dragger rake. Thank you so very much!
     
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  15. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,074

    BJR
    Member

    Buick customs are the best.
     
    Sharpone, 49ratfink and firstinsteele like this.
  16. rockabilly53
    Joined: Jun 13, 2009
    Posts: 108

    rockabilly53
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Beautiful car! Also in Wisconsin and Buick friendly, hope to see ya around!
     
  17. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 27,523

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Congratulations you have a lot to be happy about...that's a Beauty!!...across the pond excellence does the ping pong...and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that either...
     
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  18. 63Biscuit
    Joined: Mar 7, 2007
    Posts: 1,141

    63Biscuit
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Hudson, WI

    Looking forward to seeing this at BTT50's next year! Hopefully we could park near each other!
     
    Sharpone, a990hemi and Stogy like this.
  19. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 4,533

    SS327

    What does under the hood and interior look like?
     
  20. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Under the hood is somewhat of a shocker since Petri chose a small block chevy TPI engine n trans from a 1989 Camaro. It features a 700R4 transmission and the 89 Camaro ECM is mounted behind the glovebox door. He needed to meet current Finland emission standards in order to ***le in back in 2007. Keijo, second owner, added a die cast air cleaner ***embly from a 1967 Buick Wildcat in order to hide the TPI tubes.

    View attachment 6750277 View attachment 6750278
     
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  21. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 4,533

    SS327

    The air cleaner is from a Skylark GS. 67 I believe?
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2026
    a990hemi likes this.
  22. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Interior features kustom 2 tone green vinyl tuck n roll throughout and is still fresh and beautiful. Steering wheel is claimed to be from a 1930s era Cadillac and all gauges and switches are functional. Speedometer is calibrated in both mph and kilometers for European travelling. I learned that Keijo drove this kustom throughout Poland, then all of Europe, before returning to his homeland in Sweden.

    20260412_173429.jpg 20260412_173436.jpg 20260412_173511.jpg
     
  23. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 66,111

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Beautiful car, no offence intended but personally I like the top the same color as the car when first built, beautiful car none the less. HRP
     
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  24. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 4,533

    SS327

    That is a Buick anti vibration steering wheel but I don’t know what year. They were optional from the 30s to the 50s.
    Those air cleaners look great polished up by the way.
     
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  25. straykatkustoms
    Joined: Oct 30, 2001
    Posts: 31,542

    straykatkustoms
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Very Kool! Should be a great driver
     
    Sharpone likes this.
  26. Gahrajmahal
    Joined: Oct 14, 2008
    Posts: 653

    Gahrajmahal
    Member

    I love your new custom! I’m not sad it has lost the Swedish lakes pipes though.
     
    skooch and Olboy like this.
  27. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    I was offered a new set of triple cap lake pipes from the Florida seller, I kindly declined them. ;)
     
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  28. C0ra1l1
    Joined: Sep 24, 2010
    Posts: 258

    C0ra1l1
    Member

    Last edited: Jul 6, 2026
  29. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Sharpone likes this.
  30. a990hemi
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 197

    a990hemi
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Please let me know which magazine this is and what year n month this issue is. I'd love to purchase this magazine if anybody here might have one for sale.
     

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