LeRoy Goulart's 1950 Ford Coupe was painted by Gene Winfield

In October 1957 Lanny Ericson met Gene Winfield In Modesto California. He wanted to get Gene to finish the `56 Chevy that he had already started the customizing. The top on the car had been chopped by ...more

Clovis Body shop. Lanny brought it to Gene to straighten out the top and the body work and have some more custom work done.

In January of 1958 Gene started the work. Winfield installed a `57 Chevrolet front bumper and molded the fenders and hood to fit. He also installed a `54 Chevy grille bar and teeth capped on the ends with the parking lights from a `57. The fenders were also molded at the trailing edge around the lakes pipes. The side trim was a combination of Desoto and Chevy. The rear modifications included taillights from a `55 Lincoln (some sources say `56) and a `50 Mercury back window. Chrome reverse wheels were added with a set of Winfield built bullet centers.

The whole car finished in a blend job that Gene called “Violet Fantasy.” It was then upholstered by Tuxedo Auto Upholstery. Under the hood, the radiator, the inner fender panels, the trunk and the area behind the grille were all upholstered.

The `56 was featured on the cover of “Custom Rodder” Magazine in April of 1960. It won first place for best full custom at the Renegades car show in Long Beach. The car beat out the George Barris entry.

(Words by THE235KID)

This is Genes personal ride in the early fifties. It
started out as a -50 Mercury Monteray with sidetrim (-51
Lincoln Lido (baby Lincoln (Merc body) but turned the
...more

other way. Gene bought brand new -51 Merc rear fenders
from the dealership and grafted them on to his -50 Merc
and he added '54 Mercury taillights to it. The grill is
made of -51 Merc option bumperguards cut and welded
togeter. Bullits on the -50 Merc front fender are '53
Merc bumperguards. Headlights are -52-53 Merc rims !
Bullit in the 54 Mercury hubcap seem to be -51 Ford grill
bullits. Front fender flair is -52-54 Ford or Merc and
works nicely togheter with the peaked -51 Merc skirts.
Stock -51 Merc rear bumper. A great 3"x5" chop and
ofcause removed driprail together with a lovely set of 112
Appletons to top it off is an unbeatable recipe for a
truly traditional built custom.

All photos by Geoff Hacker

The car was built from a four door sedan by Brian Wrigth (Brewsir) and was later sold and finished by Gene Winfield. The car was then sold to a new owner in Japan.

A Richard Zocchi custom built by Gene Winfield in 1982 Later the car was sold to John D'Agostino.

Built for Alvin Serpa this '47 Convertible has its top chopped four inches and Hall created a wonderful padded top and pleated and rolled interior.
The front was modified to accept the '47 Oldsmobile ...more

grille, and '49 Mercury front and rear bumpers where narrowed to fit the body. Fenders where molded, headlights frenched, and body dechromed. Taillights are now in bumperguard tips. In the '49 Oackland Roadster show the car appeared in a dark color with white top, later the car was repainted white.