Fageol Pataray: The 1952 Custom Roadster Born from a Supersonic Legacy

Supersonic Legacy - Innovation in the automotive world has always thrived at the edges—where experimentation meets imagination and where discarded parts are given a second life. In the early 1950s, when America was obsessed with chrome, speed, and optimism, one extraordinary machine emerged from unlikely beginnings. That car was the Fageol Pataray, a singular custom roadster born not from a corporate design studio, but from resourcefulness, family legacy, and the bold creativity of a young enthusiast determined to make his mark. 

The 1952 Fageol Pataray Rodster, a singular custom roadster born not from a corporate design studio, but from resourcefulness, family legacy, and the bold creativity of a young enthusiast determined to make his mark. (Picture from: Hemmings)

The story of the Pataray is inseparable from the Fageol family, a name associated with buses and commercial vehicles rather than flashy show cars. Lou Fageol had previously created the striking Fageol Supersonic, a streamlined coupe designed to promote his company’s propane-powered buses. Its sleek, futuristic body caught attention—so much so that in 1952, Hudson Motorcar Company requested the Supersonic’s body to mount on a Hornet chassis for promotional use. Once the Supersonic’s body was removed, what remained was an unusual rolling chassis—a Lincoln frame paired with a Packard rear axle—quietly stored on the Fageol family farm in Ravenna, Ohio. What looked like leftover hardware to some became a canvas of possibility to others. 

The 1952 Fageol Pataray Roadster was adorned with a dramatic long-nosed design that felt equally like a raw hot rod and a finely crafted rolling sculpture, blending aggression with artistic flair. (Picture from: JalopyJournal)

That opportunity was seized by Ray Fageol, Lou’s son and a student at Kent State University at the time. With his father’s blessing, Ray set out to design and build an entirely new body for the abandoned chassis. He enlisted skilled metal craftsmen Frankie Stoer, who shaped aluminum components, and Dave Rankin, who worked with steel. Together, they crafted a dramatic long-nosed roadster that felt equal parts hot rod and rolling sculpture. The design blended elements from multiple sources: a Chevrolet grille and front fenders, rear quarters and taillights from an Oldsmobile 88, and even a tapered tail section salvaged from a crashed 1946 Indy Special. Rather than hiding these varied origins, the Pataray embraced them, forming a cohesive yet daring automotive collage. 

The 1952 Fageol Pataray Roadster blended components from various sources, including a Chevrolet grille and front fenders, Oldsmobile 88 rear quarters and taillights, and a tapered tail from a crashed 1946 Indy Special. (Picture from: JalopyJournal)

Visually, the Pataray was impossible to ignore. Its extended nose gave it an aggressive, forward-thrusting stance, while the sculpted rear tapered elegantly, hinting at speed even when parked. The engine hood, reportedly fashioned from a steel tank cut in half, added to its handcrafted character. Inside, the cockpit retained unexpected touches, including a bus seat and a Miller Ford racing speedometer—details that spoke to both its utilitarian roots and performance ambitions. The exterior was finished in a bold blue and yellow two-tone paint scheme, amplifying its show-stopping presence. Under the hood sat a 300-horsepower Fageol inline-six bus engine, an unconventional choice that reinforced the car’s identity: part industrial powerhouse, part custom dream machine. 

The 1952 Fageol Pataray Roadster featured a distinctive rear design highlighted by a gracefully tapered tail section salvaged from a crashed 1946 Indy Special, giving the car a dramatic and race-inspired finish. (Picture from: JalopyJournal)

Recognition came quickly. In May 1953, the Pataray appeared on the cover of Mechanics Illustrated, introducing it to a national audience fascinated by innovation and custom car culture. It was also displayed at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a remarkable achievement for a vehicle built from repurposed parts and personal passion. The name “Pataray” itself blended Ray’s name with that of his wife, Pats, giving the car a personal dimension that went beyond metal and horsepower. Yet life moved forward. After the birth of his son, Ray relocated to the West Coast and sold the car, setting the stage for a long and unpredictable journey. | 2ryA09BDBpU |

Decades later, the Pataray resurfaced in the 1990s under the ownership of San Diego dealer Don Tonyto. In a twist that feels almost cinematic, Ray unexpectedly encountered his old creation at a dealership but was unable to reclaim it before it was stolen. Following Tonyto’s tragic death in 2000, the car was eventually tracked down in a Palm Springs warehouse by a private investigator and acquired by its current owner. Today, the Fageol Pataray stands not merely as a rare custom roadster, but as a living chapter of American automotive history—an artifact of postwar ingenuity, youthful ambition, and the enduring belief that something extraordinary can rise from what others leave behind. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SPORTSCARDIGEST | CONCEPTCARZ | SUPERCARS.NET | JALOPYJOURNAL | HEMMINGS ]

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