Gene Winfield, a legend in the American custom car industry, passed on March 4, 2025, at the age of 97, after a brief battle with cancer. His pioneering work on hot rods, custom cars, and Hollywood movie vehicles, particularly his innovative metalwork methods and signature ‘blended paint’ fade techniques, significantly shaped the industry. His impact on the automotive world is one to be appreciated and remembered.
Above: The Jade Idol started as a 1956 Mercury Montclair before undergoing a complete transformation by Winfield. It displayed his signature fade paint job and sleek, futuristic styling. (Photo – Kustomrama)
Winfield’s influence on the custom car scene is undeniable, with numerous iconic custom cars to his name. The list includes notable builds such as the Jade Idol, Reactor, and Strip Star.
His work extended beyond personal projects, as he also contributed to the automotive world through his involvement in TV and film, working on vehicles such as the Blade Runner ‘Spinner’ cars, the Star Trek Shuttlecraft, and vehicles for shows like Batman and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. Even in his 90s, Winfield remained active in the industry, traveling, teaching, and inspiring new generations of builders.
Above: Built in the 1960s as a futuristic concept vehicle, the Reactor was known for its low-slung, space-age design, advanced features, and appearances in multiple TV shows. (Photo – Wikipedia)
The Jade Idol is one of his most famous custom car creations. It is a beautifully modified 1956 Mercury that displays his signature blended paint fade technique and smooth, futuristic styling. Created in the late 1950s for a customer (LeRoy Kemmerer), the car became an instant masterpiece in the custom car world.
In the 1960s, Winfield’s Reactor was another famous custom car built as a futuristic concept vehicle. The car was known for its low-slung, space-age design, advanced features, and appearances in multiple TV shows. The Reactor is a prime example of Winfield’s ability to push the boundaries of custom car design. It still exists today and occasionally appears at car shows and exhibitions.
Above: The Strip Star was a hit on the show circuit and is considered one of Winfield’s most futuristic and innovative designs. It represents his ability to push the boundaries of traditional hot rodding into space-age styling. (Photo – Peterson Automotive Museum)
Winfield’s Strip Star is a radical, futuristic custom show car built in the 1960s. It was one of Winfield’s most extreme designs, blending elements of hot rods, streamliners, and sci-fi aesthetics into a single, eye-catching vehicle.
Above: Winfield implemented his hallmark touches, including a chopped roof, shaved door handles, and a custom grille on a 1958 Chrysler. The car’s standout feature is its “Golden Sunrise” paint. (Photo – Gene Winfield Collection)
Gene Winfield’s ‘Spinner’ cars from Blade Runner (1982) are some of film history’s most iconic sci-fi vehicles. These futuristic flying cars were designed and built by Winfield for director Ridley Scott, helping to define the gritty, cyberpunk aesthetic of the movie.
Above: The Golden Sunrise Chrysler received an updated front-end treatment and another custom paint job with scallop highlights. (Photo – Gene Winfield Collection)
While Winfield was best known for his custom Mercurys, Fords, and show cars, he also worked on some Mopars. Most notable was the 1958 Chrysler “Golden Sunrise.”
Winfield implemented his hallmark touches, including a chopped roof, shaved door handles, and a custom grille. However, the car’s standout feature is its “Golden Sunrise” paint, which consists of a bewitching blend of gold and orange colorings applied in Winfield’s ever-popular fade method.
Above Left: The Chrysler XNR concept car, designed by Virgil Exner, had styling elements aligned with Winfield’s futuristic approach. (Photo – RM Sotheby’s) Above Right: While not directly built by Winfield, the Plymouth Atomic Punk Bubbletop extreme custom was heavily inspired by his work. It featured his signature blended paint fade, bubble canopy, and a futuristic, hot rod look. (Photo – b!INE)
Winfield’s influence and paint work were also found on the 1960 Plymouth XNR. The XNR concept car, designed by Virgil Exner, had styling elements that aligned with Winfield’s futuristic approach. Some sources suggest Winfield may have contributed to prototype painting techniques like those used in his customs.
Another Mopar was the 1964 Plymouth Atomic Punk Bubbletop, inspired by Winfield. While not directly built by Winfield, this extreme custom bubbletop car was heavily inspired by his work. It featured his signature blended paint fade, bubble canopy, and a futuristic, hot rod look.
Above: Winfield built the Star Trek Shuttlecraft Galileo for the original series in the 1960s. This iconic sci-fi vehicle was used in multiple episodes and became one of the most recognizable non-starship designs in Star Trek history. (Photo – The New Yorker)
Yet another Mopar was the Dodge Tradesman Van that Winfield modified into a Shuttlecraft for Star Trek, proving that even Mopar platforms could be turned into something unique.
Winfield chopped more tops on Mercurys than anyone in the custom car business. All hot rodders will greatly miss him, but his nearly eight-decades-long body of work will continue to reverberate well into the future. RIP – Gene Winfield
