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autoevolution's Custom Builds Month

Sometimes confused with coachbuilt vehicles, custom builds are the essence of personal creativity in the quest of individuality for some people. For others, they are simply not worth it or as seen as an insult to the engineers and designers that created the original vehicle. 

No matter which side of the fence you’re on, there’s no denying that custom cars and bikes will always have a special place in the gearheads’ world.  

The consensus is that the custom culture, which was soon to be spelled ‘Kustom’ thanks to a certain George Barris, was birthed after World War II, when people started modifying stock pre-war cars to their liking.  

The first so-called ‘gow jobs’ evolved into hot rods, with four different 'gow job' cars evolved into hot rods, which then got separated into four rather disctinct lineages: street rods, street machines, restomods and the peculiar-looking rat rods.  

Over the years, the custom build movement has changed to also encompass cars that are specially made by American or European tuners, with the Japanese jumping on board as well.  

The motorcycle industry wasn’t left aside either, with a variety of aftermarket shops now specializing in creating literal works of art on wheels.  

Despite the controversy spawning from such creations, which are mostly based on mass-produced vehicles but take the styling and/or performance to new distinctive heights, there is a huge market and even larger fans base nowadays for tailored means of transportation. 

The entire month of July we’ll strive to bring you the most interesting examples of custom builds on autoevolution, whether on four or only two wheels, as we celebrate this flamboyant automotive sub-culture.

Editor's note: This special feature by autoevolution was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.
1951 Chevrolet Thriftmaster Fiddy-One Is How Advanced-Design Should Have Looked
1951 Chevrolet Thriftmaster Fiddy-One Is How Advanced-Design Should Have Looked

2 Jul 2020, 13:24 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / 1951 Chevrolet Thriftmaster Fiddy-One is a custom build based on an Advanced-Design pickup, is going under the hammer online

 
Low Riding 1960 Ford Galaxie Starliner Looks Sharp as a Needle
Low Riding 1960 Ford Galaxie Starliner Looks Sharp as a Needle

2 Jul 2020, 12:07 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Winner of several awards about a decade ago, this 1960 Ford Galaxie can now be had with full documentation for under $100,000

 
Meet Sin City Hustler, the Elephant-Sized Monster Truck That Is World’s Longest
Meet Sin City Hustler, the Elephant-Sized Monster Truck That Is World’s Longest

2 Jul 2020, 09:16 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / Brad and Jen Campbell of Big Toyz Racing set out to build a monster truck unlike any other, securing a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2016

 
This Custom 1970 Chevy Camaro Has a Big Block Engine That Looks You in the Eye
This Custom 1970 Chevy Camaro Has a Big Block Engine That Looks You in the Eye

2 Jul 2020, 08:38 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / 1970 Chevy Camaro Pro Street with a big block engine is a racer that’s never been raced. And now, it can actually be yours to drive

 
This 1970 Chevrolet Nova Coupe Has Become a Monster with a Big Block Engine
This 1970 Chevrolet Nova Coupe Has Become a Monster with a Big Block Engine

2 Jul 2020, 08:10 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / A ’70 Nova that’s now being sold online comes with a restomod package that also includes a big block Chevy engine developing 400 horsepower

 
Chopped 1947 Divco Milk Truck Restomodded With Tiki Masks and Totems
Chopped 1947 Divco Milk Truck Restomodded With Tiki Masks and Totems

1 Jul 2020, 17:06 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Probably the coolest truck you'll see this week, the 1947 Divco in the photo gallery is listed for sale with a 5.9-liter V8 and a rather funky interior

 
White-Framed 1992 BMW R100 R Is Not Something That Crosses Your Screen Everyday
White-Framed 1992 BMW R100 R Is Not Something That Crosses Your Screen Everyday

1 Jul 2020, 15:23 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / White 1992 BMW R100 R is the work of Paris-based Blitz Motorcycles, was designed this way as a one-off for an unnamed customer

 
Shaved 1961 Ford F-100 Is a Rare Flaming Bird
Shaved 1961 Ford F-100 Is a Rare Flaming Bird

1 Jul 2020, 13:22 UTC · By: Daniel Patrascu / Shaved 1961 Ford F-100 in Sunset Orange and Dark Silver with overlapping and cascading flames is selling for under $50,000

 
Buick Grand National "Hellcat Hero" Sounds Like Sweet Blasphemy
Buick Grand National "Hellcat Hero" Sounds Like Sweet Blasphemy

1 Jul 2020, 12:58 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / Ladies and gentlemen hot rodders, we are probably looking at the first Buick Grand National to receive a Hellcat engine swap and it's dyno time!

 
Custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Proves There’s No Replacement for Displacement
Custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Proves There’s No Replacement for Displacement

1 Jul 2020, 13:31 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / ’69 Camaro restomod uses the ZZ572/620 Deluxe big block crate engine to produce a maximum power of around 620 horsepower

 
The Final Score Custom Lowrider, a Divisive Piece of Rolling Art
The Final Score Custom Lowrider, a Divisive Piece of Rolling Art

1 Jul 2020, 12:28 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / Named Lowrider of the Year for three consecutive years, Chris Roark’s custom Impala continues to divide public opinion, remains an incontestable piece of art

 
Dodge Challenger "Mean Green" Looks Like a Whole Lot of HEMI
Dodge Challenger "Mean Green" Looks Like a Whole Lot of HEMI

1 Jul 2020, 11:04 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / The build that now sits on our screens shows that you can enjoy a custom muscle car without having to send the budget through the roof

 
Custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Looks Like a SEMA-Ready Monster with 606 HP
Custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Looks Like a SEMA-Ready Monster with 606 HP

1 Jul 2020, 07:53 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / This ’69 Camaro RS restomod comes with truly unique upgrades, including not only a big block engine, but also really cool custom red interior

 
Mazda Miata "Drift Bomb" Is a Tiny Tire Slayer
Mazda Miata "Drift Bomb" Is a Tiny Tire Slayer

30 Jun 2020, 20:57 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / Perhaps the Miata we have here doesn't seem like a tastefully restrained build, but what if we told you this is pro drifter Daito Saito's toy?

 
Dodge Charger SRT8 "Blue Bee" Is Bad to the Bone
Dodge Charger SRT8 "Blue Bee" Is Bad to the Bone

30 Jun 2020, 19:50 UTC · By: Andrei Tutu / It looks like we're dealing with a Dodge Charger Super Bee edition, one that has been given multiple aftermarket makeovers

 
Le Mansory Is a Shocking Full-Carbon Ford GT Retro Makeover
Le Mansory Is a Shocking Full-Carbon Ford GT Retro Makeover

30 Jun 2020, 17:40 UTC · By: Mihnea Radu / Mansory, currently celebrating 30 years of existence, also tried to implement this retro look to the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ earlier

 
"Swedish Smurf" C4 Corvette Looks Like a 1980s JDM Special
"Swedish Smurf" C4 Corvette Looks Like a 1980s JDM Special

30 Jun 2020, 16:59 UTC · By: Mihnea Radu / This is the most '80s custom car we've ever seen, blending a C4 Corvette with JDM tuning and maybe a hint of Testarossa.

 
Aroldis Chapman’s Custom, Bulletproof 6-Wheel Jeep Is an Absolute Monster
Aroldis Chapman’s Custom, Bulletproof 6-Wheel Jeep Is an Absolute Monster

30 Jun 2020, 04:35 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / The New York Yankees closer asked South Florida Jeeps in Ft. Lauderdale to customize his ride, and they delivered for $150,000

 
Bigfoot #5: The Tallest, Widest and Heaviest Monster Truck That Ever Was
Bigfoot #5: The Tallest, Widest and Heaviest Monster Truck That Ever Was

29 Jun 2020, 22:00 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / Created by Bob Chandler and introduced in 1986, number 5 was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002 and has remained unbeatable