The 1963 Gene Winfield Strip Star: A Bold Icon of Custom Automotive Art

Crafted Audacity - There’s something captivating about the way certain machines capture the optimism of their era. Long before digital renderings and wind-tunnel perfect forms became the norm, there were builders who sculpted metal with their hands and imagination alone, turning mechanical objects into rolling expressions of possibility. From that spirit emerged the Strip Star, a car that didn’t simply fit into the early-1960s custom culture but helped push its boundaries outward. 

The Strip Star custom car was built on a thoroughly reworked 1948 Ford chassis by Gene Winfield, working alongside designer Ernie Graves for Bob Larivee’s Promotions Inc Show Car Division. (Picture from: RollingArt in Fcebook)

When master craftsman Gene Winfield began shaping this extraordinary vehicle in 1963, he wasn’t just assembling parts—he was creating a statement. Working under the Promotions Inc Show Car Division for Bob Larivee, Winfield partnered with designer Ernie Graves to turn an unconventional idea into a fully functional machine. They envisioned something asymmetrical, something that appeared almost to lean into the future, something that challenged the conventions of American automotive design at the time. The result was a hand-formed aluminum body, offset and flowing, perched on a thoroughly reworked 1948 Ford chassis. It was radical for its day, especially when cars were still largely defined by familiar proportions and balanced lines. 

The Strip Star custom car by Gene Winfield was powered by Ford’s then-new 427 V8, an engine delivering 425 horsepower—serious muscle in any era (Picture from: RollingArt in Fcebook)

Powering this outlier was Ford’s then-new 427 V8, an engine boasting 425 horsepower—serious muscle in any era, but even more so in the early ’60s when the horsepower wars were just heating up. Winfield didn’t simply drop the engine in and call it a day; he married it to thoughtful details like a full-length belly pan, lending the car aerodynamic presence and real performance capability. Before it ever dazzled under show lights, the Strip Star stretched its legs at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching 127 mph. That figure alone confirmed it wasn’t just a showpiece wearing race clothing—it was a machine built with genuine intent. 

The Strip Star custom car combined its powerful engine with thoughtful elements such as a full-length belly pan, giving it both aerodynamic presence and genuine performance capability. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

The character of the car extended far beyond its powertrain. Winfield filled it with quirks and innovations that reflected his unusual combination of artistry and mechanical ingenuity. The steering wheel, for instance, was crafted from aluminum stock and bent back at a startling 90-degree angle—unorthodox, eye-catching, and admittedly a little daunting. An electronically operated tonneau covered the passenger seat, and a remote control could raise or lower the top, start the engine, and even manipulate the passenger windshield. At a time when remote controls were more commonly associated with cutting-edge televisions than automobiles, these features felt almost science fiction.

The Strip Star custom car featured an electronic passenger tonneau and a remote control for the top, engine start, and passenger windshield—technology so advanced for its time that it felt almost sci-fi. (Picture from: Kustorama)

Visually, the Strip Star delivered the drama expected of a competition show car. Winfield coated the exterior in an almost excessive—but undeniably mesmerizing—40 layers of candy tangerine paint over a pearl base, a finish whose depth and luminosity became one of his trademarks. Goodyear Super Sport tires sat on Terra Thrust wheels, which Winfield himself designed and manufactured. Inside, the theme of handcrafted uniqueness continued with black Naugahyde upholstery, foam-padded fiberglass bucket seats, and matching carpet—simple materials elevated through careful execution. 

The Strip Star custom car by Gene Winfield carried its handcrafted spirit inside with black Naugahyde upholstery, foam-padded fiberglass bucket seats, and matching carpet, all refined through careful execution. (Picture from: RollingArt in Fcebook)

All these details made the Strip Star a fixture not just in car shows but in the broader cultural imagination. Its bold look and futuristic aura caught the attention of filmmakers, earning it a cameo in Back to the Future Part II as a vehicle from the imagined world of 2015. That appearance, brief as it was, helped the car transcend the custom scene and land in the collective memory of movie fans who didn’t even realize they were glimpsing a real piece of 1960s craftsmanship. 

The Strip Star custom car by Gene Winfield played a role in the Hollywood sci-fi film Back to the Future Part II, appearing as a vehicle from the imagined world of 2015. (Picture from: BackToTheFuture.Fandom)

What makes the Strip Star so compelling today is the way it bridges eras: it’s unmistakably a product of the early-’60s custom movement, rooted in hands-on fabrication and boundary-pushing creativity, yet it still feels strangely contemporary. Its asymmetry, its experimental features, its blend of performance and spectacle—all resonate with modern notions of bespoke design. Even decades after its creation, the car remained part of Winfield’s personal collection and continued to appear at shows, a testament to its staying power and the affection it inspired. | tVOgIlWO5Sg |

In an era where technology shapes nearly every aspect of automotive design, the Strip Star remains a striking reminder of what emerges when imagination, hands-on craftsmanship, and a refusal to follow convention come together. It radiates the spirit of its era yet slips beyond its boundaries, encouraging anyone who encounters it to picture the future the way the early ’60s once did—bold, adventurous, and molded by human creativity. If you’re curious to explore more of Winfield’s artistry, the Reactor is another remarkable creation worth a look. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KUSTOMRAMA | STORY-CARS | HEMMINGS | BACKTOTHEFUTURE.FANDOM | THINGIES IN FACEBOOK | ROLLING ART IN FACEBOOK ]

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