Pleasanton, CA - J.F. Launier's 1955 Chrysler phantom station wagon "Revolution" was crowned the Goodguys West Coast Custom of the Year award at the 26th All American Get-Together in Pleasanton. For Launier, winning the award was yet another notch in the belt of his relatively young customizing career. At just 32 years of age, Launier's design and fabrication skills have caught the attention of the entire hot rodding industry. The '51 Kaiser he debuted in 2006 was named as a finalist for the Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year but his new custom wagon has clearly established the Osoyoos, British Columbia builder as one of the industry's brightest young stars.
Working out of his five-man "JF Customs" shop in British Columbia, Launier estimates he has over eleven thousand hours into the Chrysler. For starters, Chrysler never made a 1955 two door station wagon in 1955. So he made his own starting with a '55 Chrysler coupe. The rear lid and posts were grafted onto the car from a donor 1955 four-door wagon. To give you an idea of the amount of welding he did, the entire car is "double skinned" with inner and outer metal skins on all surfaces. He also hand fabricated an entire underbelly from aluminum making it appear as a unibody.
Additional body redesigns/mods include a 2-inch chop, rear quarters which have been shortened 8 inches, a laid back windshield (15 degrees), handmade wooden headliner and rear deck area. A full custom metal interior is featured inside. The incredible looking grille, steering wheel and taillights were fabbed by Curtis Speed Equipment out of aluminum. The finished metal masterpiece was sprayed with DuPont Hot Hues "Revolution" yellow.
The chassis was designed and custom fabricated by Launier using Art Morrison rails. The wheels are Foose custom designed 24-inch rears and 22-inch fronts over Baer brakes wrapped with Pirelli rubber.
After sleeping four hours per night for the last six months, Launier finished the project in time for the Detroit Autorama earlier this moth where it was named a "great 8" finalist for the Ridler award. "I've been a bride's maid so many times I thought I might never win a major award," he said after being named the winner today in Pleasanton. "You have no idea how much this means to me and our family."
The additional finalists for the 2008 Goodguys West Coast Custom of the Year included Bruno Gianoncelli, Perth Australia (50 Mercury), Matt Beckdolt, Roseville, CA ('54 Chevy), Rodger Stevens, Bakersfield, CA ('57 Buick Caballero) and Richard Zocchi, Walnut Creek, CA 1961 Oldsmobile.
The Goodguys West Coast Custom of the Year award is open to custom cars 1936 through 1964 vintage and is awarded at the Goodguys All American Get-Together each spring in Pleasanton. The award is designed to honor an exceptional custom car of all styles and genres (from traditional to modern). For the big win, Launier took home the winner's check of $1,000, received a hand cast pewter award, will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Goodguys Gazette and will make an appearance at the season-ending 11th Southwest Nationals, November 14-16 in Scottsdale, AZ.