Custom cars, unlike hot rods or street rods, maintain the overall body shape and style of the original manufacturer body. Custom cars began to gain popularity in the early 1950’s as young drivers began to seek their own special identity in their cars. Special paint and power trains were common as well as chopping and lowering of the body.

Louvers and ducts added to the appearance of the cars. Interior work was a great way to make your car special or custom. Roll and tuck seats plus fur and fuzzy things really set off the inside of the car and allowed the owner to express themselves by having a one of a kind automobile.

As this craze caught on, the car became a platform for the free expression of an entire generation of young people. The car was a fashion statement. It bore the colors and fabrics as well as body modifications that allowed the owner to shout, “look at me” within a modern civilization that encouraged free thought and individual expression.

Today the custom car is still apart of the culture but more as an artist statement and less as a means of transportation. Custom cars fill auto shows around the United States and allow all of us to experience what each owner is expressing. We at AutoSpeak have gathered some classic images of custom cars on this page from car shows and museums around the country. Enjoy them and if you like you are free to download a copy of the larger picture by clicking on the thumbnail provided on this page.