Beautiful custom award sculpted by Mike Etrick of Huntington Beach California.

Kings of Kustoms introduces viewers to the visionaries who have created this uniquely American art form, as America's most acclaimed car customizers share their secrets and put their talents on full display. Each episode will focus on the unique history, designs and techniques of an acclaimed Kustom artist, metal masters who believe they are limited only by their own vision.

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Gene Winfield, a car designer and builder for over 50 years, appeared at the 2011 Syracuse Nationals, in Syracuse, N.Y., during July to select a winner of the second annual Winfield Award, recognizing the car that he believes best represents the world of auto customization. Months prior to the start of the annual show at the New York State Fairgrounds, Winfield painstakingly selected 12 cars from a field of dozens, for final consideration.

Tim Morgan Scranton, PA	George Churilla Scranton, PA	Harvey Bagshaw Mattituck, NY
Scott Jobb LaGrange, IL	Dave Guttman Sellersville, PA	Rick Bennett Sr. Danbury, CT
Larry Hendershott Leroy, NY	Don Russo Honeybrook, PA	Don & Rosemaire Fraioli White Plains, NY
Le Legere Georgetown, MA	George Baldwin Derby, NY	Murry Pfaff Royal Oak, MI

At the show, Gene Winfield narrowed the field to be known as the Select Six.

It’s not every day that you will see something like this. Owned by car designer Murray Pfaff, of Royal Oak, Mich., this car is instantly recognizable as a 1959 Chrysler Imperial. Today, however, it’s an Imperial in name only. What was once a hulking four-door hardtop, is now a roadster about the size of a 1957 Thunderbird. Chosen as one of the Select Six, the Imperial was narrowed eight inches and shortened by 52 inches. Pfaff estimated about 10,000 work hours were put into the car over 42 months.

At first glance this 1959 Ford Thunderbird, owned by Don Russo, of Honeybrook, Pa., might appear stock, but look closely and the car reveals itself to be highly modified in every dimension, including being widened three inches. In the build process the T-Bird received reshaped doors, lowered front fender wheels wells, custom made fender skirts and taillights that are made of the trim spears that used to be on the doors. The custom work continues to the interior where everything was hand formed. The Thunderbird was one of the Select Six cars at the Syracuse Nationals.

Rick Bennett Sr., of Danbury, Ct., brought this 1951 Mercury coupe to the 2011 Syracuse Nationals.  Built by Bennett and his son, Cory, the Mercury sports a long list of custom touches and modifications. The Bennetts got everything right on this car, including the shaving, sectioning, and nosing. Everything inside this car is as nice as the outside, including the brandywine paint on the 400 c.i., Chevy V-8, the same color as the car’s exterior.

The only truck to be included in the Winfield Select Six was this 1948 Chevy pickup custom, owned by Tim Morgan, of Scranton, Pa. Chopped six inches, this truck, finished in bright yellow, appears to be a classic custom but with subtle modern touches, such as recessed bumpers, custom-fabricated inner fenders, suicide doors and rear fenders extended five inches, just to name a few things.

This 1937 Ford Cabriolet, owned by Scott Jobb, of LaGrange, Il., was one of the Select Six cars considered for the Winfield Award. This car, finished in bright amber metallic, is powered by a 350 c.i., Chevrolet V-8 backed up by a Phoenix 700 R4 transmission. There are many handmade pieces on the car, including the roof, instrument panel, grill, and all of the trim. Jobb said the car was a seven-year project.

Len Legere, of Georgetown, MA., brought this highly customized 1971 AMC Javelin to the 2011 Syracuse Nationals, as one of 12 cars selected by legendary car builder and designer Gene Winfield, to be considered as a recipient of the annual Winfield Award. The Javelin has been in the Legere family for 25 years. It’s finished in metal flake hot pink over gold and magenta and has looked like this for 21 of the 25 years Legere has owned it. The paint job was completed 22 years ago by Legere’s then 19-year-old son, Len Legere Jr.

The winner Len LeGere received the
beautiful trophy and a $5,000 check from Meguiar’s.

Read Below for more info on the Winfield Award

THE OFFICIAL CARE CARE PRODUCT FOR
THE SYRACUSE NATIONALS


One car owner at the 2012 Syracuse Nationals will be the recipient of the 3nd
Annual Winfield Award. The prestigious award for automotive excellence will
be presented by master car customizer and builder Gene Winfield.

The winner will receive a beautiful one of a kind award, a personalized comm-
emorative jacket, and $5,000.



Gene is a master of his craft, and world famous for his custom cars and hot rods.
A recipient of the 2001 NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award, he has over 60 years
experience in custom hot rod fabrication, land speed, and oval track racing.
Winfield is one of the key players who started the customizing craze that first
swept through California and then throughout the nation in the '50s and '60s.
Gene's cars have appeared in more than 25 motion pictures.



Winfield's best known custom car, the "Jade Idol," started as a '56 Mercury.
The "Jade Idol" positioned Winfield at the leading edge of auto exotica. This
car took two years to build and received top sweepstakes awards at national
car shows for the next several years.

From the entries Gene will nominate 12 vehicles before the show.
The nominated vehicles will be prominently displayed inside one of the main
buildings at the 13th Annual Syracuse Nationals July 20, 21, 22, 2012. 
If your vehicle is nominated, you will be notified by June 1st, 2012.

On Friday July 20th Gene will then pick six finalists to be known as the
“Select Six”. Each of the six will receive a custom plaque, jacket and $500.

The winner of the Winfield Award will be announced Saturday July 21th
at the Syracuse Nationals dinner dance.  The winner will receive a beautiful
custom sculpted trophy, jacket and $5,000.