Parked for decades, former show truck is returned to its original glory.
Featured One
A pioneer of car customizing, Gene Winfield is a legend in the automotive world. Among his many builds, his 1935 Ford Pickup proved to be 'the one that got away.' Reworked in the late 1950s with help from Rick Lefelt, the modified truck appeared in the October 1961 issue of Custom Rodder, where it was dubbed the 'Bronze Coated Beauty.'
Photos courtesy of Driving Line.
Custom Classes
Winfield holds rank with the world's best customizers including the likes of George Barris and Larry Watson. He opened his first shop in Modesto, California around 1946, and his second in 1951, after serving in the U.S. Army. Still in business today, Winfield's Custom Shop is now located in Mojave, California, where he still offers classes in metal working.
Show Kar
The Bronze Coated Beauty was built as a shop truck and a way to promote Winfield's services. According to Kustorama, the online encyclopedia dedicated to traditional hot rod and custom cars, the bronze truck was first shown in March 1960, at the Kustom Kar Kapades in Monterey, California. More than just a show truck, Winfield regularly drove it to events.
Signature Fame
In the same year, the Bronze Coated Beauty was also entered in the third annual Renegades Rod & Custom Motorama. The truck was often used to tow Winfield's spectacular 'Jade Idol,' the two-door hardtop custom 1956 Mercury that was his claim to fame. Wearing the Winfield signature fade paint job, the Jade Idol propelled him to national recognition as a custom car builder.
Blue Iteration
Before the 1963 show season, Winfield painted the Bronze Coated Beauty with forty coats of candy blue and the dash was pinstriped by the legendary Tommy 'The Greek' Hrones. Fitted with a Corvette engine and wire wheels, the second iteration of the truck was called 'TwiceNice.' Soon after the show circuit wrapped, it was advertised for sale in Hot Rod magazine for $1,875.
Barn Flood
The truck eventually sold in 1965 but was involved in a minor collision soon after. Repaired, it was then sold to Don Epling of Mist, Oregon. Epling parked the once-Bronze Beauty in a barn, where it remained until 2006. After a flood, it was moved outside. In 2008, Gary Hatfield of Hatfield Restorations spotted the 1935 Ford sitting in the elements and made arrangements for its purchase.
Color Samples
With the sale complete, the truck was trailered to Hatfield Restorations in Canton, Texas. With plans to restore the truck to its original configuration, the Hatfield team stripped the old blue paint and set about perfecting the bronze color. Hatfield explains, “The color was matched from samples on one of the shock absorbers that had been originally painted by Gene Winfield.”
Nice Job
It took eight months of work to bring the Bronze Beauty back to its former glory. Once complete, it was displayed at the 61st Grand National Roadster Show in January 2010. At the show, Winfield autographed the dash and commented that the truck had never been that good when he had it, but he was delighted that Hatfield's had done such a nice job.
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