Kustom Kulture is an all-encompassing term used to describe the artwork, the vehicles, the hairstyles, and the fashions of those who drove and built custom cars and motorcycles in the United States of America from the 1950s through today. In the early days of hotrodding, many fashions and styles developed. Over time, each of these distinct styles of customizing have blended and reshaped our everyday life. Artists such as Von Dutch, race car builders such as "Big Daddy" Ed Roth, hot rod and low rider customizers such as the Barris Brothers , along with numerous tattoo artists, automobile painters, and television shows such as Happy Days, have all helped to form what is known as Kustom Kulture.

Kustom Kulture is usually identified with the greasers of the 1950s, the drag racers of the 1960s, and the low riders of the 1970s. Each separate culture has added their own fashions, their own ideas of what is cool, of what is acceptable, and what is not. Everything from wild striped paintjobs, to choptop Mercurys, to custom Harley-Davidson and Triumph Motorcycles, to metalflake and black primer paintjobs, along with music, cartoons, and monster movies have had an impact on what defines anyone and anything who is part of this automobile subculture.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Kustom Kulture had taken on a rebirth of the old styles. Each style is distinct, and each has their place in American automobile history. Many styles that would not have been acceptable in one place now have come together in large shows. Many vehicles with styling from completely different eras can be found parked next to each other with no hostilities or qualms about the differences.

See also

• Robert Williams (artist)
• Raggare

External links

• Ratfink
• Von Dutch
• Juxtapoz
• Big Daddy Roth Online