By SEMA News Editors
California car customizer and SEMA Hall of Famer Gene Winfield has passed away. He was 97.
A pioneer in custom-car culture, Winfield was born in 1927 and built his first custom car in Modesto, California, before opening Winfield's Custom Shop in Mojave, California, in 1951.
Known for his custom paint jobs, Winfield gained national recognition for his '57 Mercury, the Jade Idol, and the first fully blended paint job.
Winfield also created numerous specialty vehicles for television and feature films, including the "Man from U.N.C.L.E." and "Get Smart" gadget cars, the Galileo shuttlecraft from the original "Star Trek" series and many other notable examples.
Additionally, Winfield received many awards and recognitions, including the Detroit Autorama Builder of the Year, the NHRA's lifetime achievement award, enshrinement in the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame and more.
Winfield was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2022.
For more on Winfield's life and accomplishments, read the SEMA Magazine article showcasing the SEMA Hall of Fame Class of 2022.