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

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

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1997 was a repeat of 1995, with two more customs built. This time a radical "concept style" '57 Chrysler Imperial called the "Imperial Royale" with Acme Customs in Antioch and Gene Winfield teaming up to build a new winner. It won the "Harry Bradley Design Achievement Award" at the Sacramento Autorama in 1997, as well as the "Goodguys Custom d'Elegance of the Year Award." Shown along with the Imperial at the Sacramento Autorama was a chopped '61 Thunderbird named "Firestar" painted candy apple red with gold scallops by Marcos Garcia of the Lucky 7 Custom Shop in Antioch, California. The T-bird was shipped to Europe and Sweden, where it went on an extensive show tour and was then shipped back to America in 2002 to be on display at the memorable "Kustom With a K" display at the world famous Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.

1998 brought two more Cadillac customs. "Marilyn" was a '53 Eldorado Biarritz with a chopped Carson top built by John Aiello. It was painted by Darryl Hollenbeck in a light yellow pearl with golden highlights. The interior was done in a shell white Swedish Elmo leather and gold brocade inserts by Craig Willits Custom Interiors. This Caddy won many awards including "World's Most Beautiful Custom" at the 1998 Sacramento show, as well as First in Class at Oakland, Sacramento, and Portland, and Best Paint and Interior at many of the shows. "Marilyn" was sold to an Australian at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Auction (Christies) in 1999 for $150,000. The second Cadillac that year was a '57 Biarritz that was named "Cool 57." The car was first customized by Gene Winfield for a Hollywood movie producer but was never finished, so John and A&A bought it and took it to the Acme Boys in Antioch. Darryl Hollenbeck painted the Caddy in a House of Kolor candy magenta and Greg Philbrick and Ken Whisler in Pittsburg finished it off with a pearl white interior in Swedish Elmo leather. This Caddy also won its share of awards.

For the 1999 show season, John was back to a Lincoln again with a full-size '58 Continental Mark III named "Cool Cadinental" which was customized at Acme Custom Cars in Antioch. Darryl Hollenbeck painted it in shades of a kustom mixed DuPont Ice Blue Pearl. Bob Divine stitched the handcrafted interior. During the last few years, Air-Ride Technologies suspensions have been a major part of creative customizing, and John was one of the first to install it on his customs. This new Lincoln made its debut at the 50th Grand National Roadster Show in San Francisco and won plenty of awards. This kustom was toured extensively throughout Europe in 2000.

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