Author: Ken Gross

Ken Gross is a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Chief Class Judge and a founding member of the International Chief Judges’ Advisory Group (ICJAG). He served as Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, and his 15 critically acclaimed auto exhibitions have drawn record crowds at major fine-art museums nationwide. The author of 25 books, Ken has been contributing to SCM for more than three decades.

1933 Ford 5-Window Custom Coupe

1951 Cadillac V8 engine with three carburetors GM 700R4 automatic transmission More than 60 years of documented history 1955 Ford Rotunda Custom Show Sweepstakes winner 1955, 1956 and 1957 Detroit Autorama award winner Awarded 32 trophies in 21 shows beginning in 1955 10 Best of Show Awards Built by Oliver […]

1932 Ford Tudor Street Rod

Less than 2,000 miles on a frame-off restoration 426-ci Hemi V8, headers and dual exhaust 700R4 automatic transmission Solid front axle/independent rear suspension 4-wheel disc brakes Custom two-tone red and beige paint with accent striping  

1929 Ford Boyd Coddington “Alumatub”

Called the “Alumatub,” this hand-crafted Boyd Coddington creation was built on the popular “American Hot Rod” TV series on the Discovery Channel. It has a hand-formed all-aluminum body by Marcel Delay on a specially constructed Coddington aluminum frame and chassis. It’s powered by an aluminum 350-ci Chevy engine, with Barry […]

1954 Chevrolet 210 Custom Hard top

Built on the hit TV show “Monster Garage,” this car was chopped and sectioned by Gene Winfield, Dick Dean and Bill Hines with frame and running gear by Fat Jack. The interior features a handmade skull in the dash by Norm Grabowski. The dash and headers were done by Jesse […]

1932 Ford Miller Automotive Roadster

This Highboy not only looks the part, it is the part. Built by Miller Automotive, of Chino, CA, it was timed at 142.97 mph at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats on August 21, 1954. Powered by the venerable flathead, with Offenhauser aluminum heads, three 2-barrel Stromberg carburetors, a Harman and Collins […]

Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

1960 Mercury Colony Park “the Lizard King”

533-ci big-block Ford V8, (estimated) 450 hp, modified for E85 fuel FAST ECU fuel injection, Edelbrock intake manifold Ford C6 3-speed automatic transmission, disc brakes Air Ride Technologies 4-link suspension Built by Boyd Coddington and Hot Rods by Boyd Featured on “American Hot Rod” TV Series Boyd Coddington teamed up […]

1932 Ford Model 18 Edsel Ford Speedster

1932 Ford Model 18 Edsel Ford Speedster

The first of three one-off custom speedsters built for Edsel Ford Designed by E.T. “Bob” Gregorie and constructed by Ford Aircraft Division Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance major award winner A highly significant landmark of Ford history and design Offered for the first time in over 70 years

1950 Buick Custom “Truly Rare”

1950 Buick “hard-top” coupe 350-hp, 364-ci Chrysler Hemi V8 Six Stromberg carburetors 3-speed manual transmission, drum brakes Popular Customs cover car 1965 Built by Gene Howard Chopped, channeled and hard-topped “Truly Rare” was built around a 1950 Buick. The body was channeled six inches and rides on a frame fabricated […]

1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe

650-hp, 427-ci SOHC “Cammer” V8 with two 4-bbl carburetors Rod & Custom cover car in January 1998 Built by an all-star cast of hot rod greats: Art Chrisman, Steve Davis, Pete Eastwood, Ron Mangus, Stan Betz and Bob Kennedy Chosen as one of “The 75 Most Significant ’32 Fords” Beautifully […]

1955 Ford Custom “Beatnik Bubbletop”

Fresno Autorama Sweepstakes Award, 2005 “Top 5 Customs” at Paso Robles, 2005 “Outstanding Custom,” Grand National Roadster Show, 2006 George Barris Kustom d’Elegance Award, 2006 $20,000 prize, Darryl Starbird’s National Rod and Custom Show, 2006 First Place, “Hand-built Custom,” Detroit Autorama, 2006 For this extensive, four-year project, Gary “Chopit” Fioto […]