California Star: A Unique 1980s Tribute to the Ford Model T

Retro-Futuristic - There are certain cars that go beyond being machines on wheels—they become symbols of creativity, ambition, and the times in which they were born. One of those rare examples is the California Star, a one-off vision that dared to reimagine what the legendary Ford Model T Roadster might look like if it had been reborn for a new generation. What emerged wasn’t a copy of the past but a bold reinterpretation that blurred the lines between hot rod tradition and futuristic innovation. 

The California Star was a one-off creation that boldly reimagined how the legendary Ford Model T Roadster might look if reborn for a new generation. (Picture from: ObscureSupercar in X)

The story began with the idea of building a modern take on the Model T Roadster while still using as many original parts as possible. But once the project was underway, the reality set in: the original components simply didn’t fit with the radical new design direction. The car would be mid-engined, highly advanced for its time, and dressed in a body that nodded to the past while leaning firmly into the future. The project became less about reusing parts and more about carrying forward a spirit of reinvention. 

The California Star was a mid-engined creation, remarkably advanced for its era, with a design that honored the past while boldly embracing the future. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Designer Don Verner and master builder Ron Covell took on the task with relentless dedication. Over 2,400 hours of work stretched from 1981 until the car was finished in 1983. Before laying down a single piece of aluminum, they crafted a full-scale mockup to nail down proportions and details. From there, a custom chrome-moly space frame came to life, engineered to hold two seats in the center and a Chevrolet V6 mounted behind them. The decision to go mid-engine was radical, ensuring excellent balance and weight distribution, more reminiscent of race cars than the hot rods that inspired it. 

The California Star was engineered to feature two seats within its cabin, complemented by a four-spoke steering wheel and a clean, minimalist dashboard layout. (Picture from: Silodrome)

That Chevy V6 was turbocharged and tilted for a lower center of gravity, though no precise performance figures were ever documented. Still, turbocharged versions of the engine were known to push between 200 and 300 horsepower—a remarkable amount of power for such a lightweight creation. To keep it all under control, the build incorporated Porsche 911 steering components, Strange Engineering brake rotors, Wilwood calipers, Spax shocks, and a cleverly hidden pushrod suspension. This wasn’t a backyard project cobbled together from leftovers; it was a meticulous blend of race-inspired engineering and hot rod imagination.

The California Star was powered by a turbocharged Chevy V6 engine capable of producing between 200 and 300 horsepower, an impressive output for such a lightweight creation. (Picture from: Silodrome)

The design itself spoke volumes about the 1980s. From the faux front wing to the tinted wraparound windshield, the California Star looked like something equally at home on the road or in a sci-fi film. The body was entirely hand-formed from aluminum alloy, featuring dramatic side intakes, a subtle rear wing, and doors that sat unusually high due to the chassis layout. Getting in might have been tricky, but the structure delivered superb rigidity. Inside, the tan Connolly leather by Dave Putnam wrapped around twin bucket seats and a center console complete with a stereo system and shifter—reminders that this car was both radical and refined.

The California Star combined Porsche 911 steering parts, Strange Engineering rotors, Wilwood calipers, Spax shocks, and a neatly hidden pushrod suspension to keep everything perfectly in control. (Picture from: Silodrome)

The California Star made its public debut at the Oakland Roadster Show in 1984, competing for the prestigious “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” award. Its presence turned heads immediately. Unlike most entries, it wasn’t based on a production car, and its futuristic styling set it apart from anything else on display. Judges agreed, and it walked away with the top honor, cementing its place as not just a custom car, but a landmark creation that pushed the genre forward. 

The California Star featured a fully hand-formed aluminum alloy body with dramatic side intakes, a subtle rear wing, and unusually high doors shaped by its unique chassis design. (Picture from: ObscureSupercar in X)

From there, the California Star became a piece of hot rod history. It was featured in numerous magazines, celebrated for daring to break conventions while still carrying the DNA of the Model T’s pioneering hot rod spirit. Later, it found its way into private collections, eventually joining the Blackie Gejeian collection in 2014. Remarkably, despite its four-decade history, the odometer shows only about six miles—a testament to how carefully it has been preserved rather than driven. | nF0aa-7OMxU |

Today, looking back at the California Star feels like peering into a time capsule that still looks futuristic. It may have been built in the early ’80s, but its styling and engineering continue to impress in an era where custom cars often struggle to surprise. What Don Verner and Ron Covell created wasn’t just a reimagined Model T; it was a vision of what hot rodding could become when imagination is given complete freedom. The California Star didn’t just win trophies—it left behind an enduring reminder that the best cars aren’t only built to move, they’re built to inspire. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILODROME | MECUM | WEIRDWHEELS IN REDDIT | OBSCURESUPERCAR IN X ]

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