D'Agostino Kustoms | John D'Agostino Kustom Kars of California

D'Agostino Kustoms
John D'Agostino Kustom Kars of California

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John never got around to doing that because he was building his next big winner at the time, a '40 Merc Coupe called "Stardust" that was customized and painted by Bill Reasoner. The "Jade Idol" was later sold to a guy back East, where it remains today. "Stardust" made its debut at the 1988 Oakland show and went on to win many awards, including "Best of Show" at the Paso Robles Show and the "Sam Barris Memorial Award" at the Sacramento Autorama. It eventually ended up at Harrah's Museum in Reno, Nevada, where it was displayed for a few years before it was sold. It was last seen at the "Men and Machines" exhibition at the Oakland Museum in 1996.

The next D'Agostino winner at Oakland was a a '56 Lincoln built by Winfield and Reasoner called "The Royal Empress." This won the Al Slonaker Award at the 1991 Oakland show and was chosen for the Harry Bradley Design Achievement Award at the Leadsled Spectacular the same year. Bill Abate of New Jersey now owns the Lincoln. In 1993, John debuted the '57 Cadillac Eldorado "Starfire" at the Oakland show. John first took it to Farcello's Kustom Creations in Reno, Nevada, to have it chopped and then Bill Hines finished it in lead before he painted it in the fabulous candy apple red, with crushed diamonds for Mrs. D'Agostino. The interior was done in a pearl white tuck and roll by interior specialist Eddie Martinez of Bellflower, California. The "Starfire" won Best of Show at the 1993 Paso Robles show and chosen by Mattel for the 40th Anniversary Legends signature series of Hot Wheels.

In 1995, John had two new customs built for the show circuit. John Aiello and Darryl Hollenbeck of Sahagon's in Concord built the '57 Lincoln "Royal Emperor," painted in shades of mint green pearl and candy organic green by Hall of Famer Gene Winfield. The car won the "Sam Barris Award" that year and "Best of Show" at the Paso Robles show. The "Royal Emperor" was sent on a Northern European tour the following year garnishing every major custom award. The second custom was a '61 Olds, "Golden Starfire," which was a mildly customized vehicle in the '60s style and painted in a candy pagan gold color by Hollenbeck. The car is now on display at Klassix Auto Museum in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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