John built the Joe Hrudka...
John built the Joe Hrudka '33 Willys for "Mr. Gasket." Again, an incredible, groundbreaking hot rod.
Artist and designer Thom Taylor on Boyd and Lil' John
"I'm usually never at a loss for words, but it's difficult explaining how exciting designing for Boyd was at the beginning of his ascent in the 1970s and 1980s. It felt like we were the leading edge of hot rodding-there just wasn't anything being built close to what we came up with. It was a rush seeing progress on a car or component I designed.
"I was always careful designing changes requiring metal shaping and huge money, thinking they couldn't be done or cost way too much. I was astounded when Boyd told me he was building Vern's coupe as drawn-radical changes and all. After that, whatever I drew was seriously considered, if not actually built. Boyd would show the prospective customer a rendering and out came their wallet. Billet stuff was like the Hope Diamond, especially the wheels-it was like they saw God!
"Boyd was not interested in the wheel business; no market existed, and he wanted to keep them exclusive to his customers. But, as more people saw them, it was inevitable-even at the astounding price of $1,200 a set. It's strange that such hyper hot rod freaks like Boyd and I and the others involved all found each other.
"Lil' John Buttera was a really intense guy. Most times, you knew where you stood with him-but not always. In 1978, I drew a T-shirt design for him with his white roadster. When Boyd Coddington saw John's drawing, he wanted a similar one for a Hot Rods by Boyd logo, but redrawn as his recently finished Silver Bullet roadster. I told him to ask John, and if it was OK with him, it was OK with me. Later, he said John approved, and so Boyd's logo had that drawing.
"Fast forward to April 2007. I'm the Goodguys Del Mar Hot Rod Hero, and John is asked to talk about my contributions at a Saturday gathering. The first thing out of his mouth is, 'You used my drawing for Boyd's logo, didn't you?' He was bothered by it-for 30 years, and I never knew! I don't know whether Boyd didn't ask or John regretted his approval, or who knows? He went on to have very nice things to say, but I was stuck on the drawing. The next day, I talked briefly with Boyd and Jo, and that was it-the last time I ever saw Boyd and Lil' John."
This was John's last project-a...
This was John's last project-a Foose-designed Model A sedan that he and his son, Chris, were working on. John had the frame finished; the metalwork has since been handled by Steve Davis and is currently being worked on by Chris and JR Robinson. John's idea was to build this car with and for Chris as a thank you for all the years of helping with Dad's cars.
Speed shop owner, racer, and car builder "The Rodfather" Andy (Bear) Brizio on Lil' John
"I met John Buttera back in 1970. He had moved from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and I was building T-buckets while he was building Funny Cars. Dan Woods had invited us to come down and attend the Early Times Picnic in Compton. Sue and I went down with kids in tow, and John and Joni were there with their kids. We hit it off right away, and John became interested in building a street rod.
"We did many cross-country trips together, and one in 1974 with our families, and several other friends and families, to the Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota. This trip was with the T sedan he had just built, and I had my yellow '32 roadster. Hot Rod magazine did an article that year (January 1974) and called it the 'Great California Street Rod Civil War.' The North (Andy) versus The South (Lil' John).
"Our friendship continued, and I was fortunate to be able to be on John's pit crew for three years-1982, 1984, and 1987-at Indy. I never thought I would be pushing an Indy car out on the track in preparation for the Indy 500 race. It truly was a memorable moment. I had John build me a beautiful track roadster, of which I was extremely proud, but it just wasn't practical for two people to travel in. So, I stayed with my '32 roadster.
"John wasn't a people person, to say the least, but he was admired and respected by many people in the industry for his craftsmanship. He could make anything and was definitely an influence in the hot rod world, just as he was in the racing world.