My Car Quest

March 19, 2024

Hot Rods Go Streamline Moderne

by Wallace Wyss –

Photographs by Richard Bartholomew –

Rick Dore is taking custom cars way beyond where they have ever gone before. Unusual among rod shops they custom design the car for the customer if need be. Dore’s fortunes changed mightily when James Hetfield a musician (lead singer and guitarists for Metallica) showed up who liked classic car styling of the prewar era (streamline Moderne) but wanted modern power trains.

Rick Dore Custom Cars

Dore has the talent to design them and has worked with the greats in hot rodding in SoCal, including Marcel’s custom bodywork and Art Morrison for chassis.

Rick Dore Custom Cars

Rick Dore Custom Cars

Rick became better known in the ‘90s but now is thriving in California, having moved from Glendale, Arizona. Dore’s original focus was American roadsters and then through 1960s cars. On TV, he is the co-host, with Chuck Palumbo, of the Discovery Channel show Lords of the Car Hoards, which debuted in 2014. James Hetfield has said “When it comes to building a Kustom car, Rick Dore is in a league of his own.”

Rick Dore Custom Cars

A salute from this car historian, who also likes prewar French streamline moderne, to Dore and Hetfield for showing us to what heights custom cars can aspire to.

Rick Dore Custom Cars

Most of these photos were shot at the recent Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance in Beverly Hills.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

Wallace Wyss

 
 
 
 
THE AUTHOR/ARTIST: Wallace Wyss is the author of 18 car books. As an artist, he specializes in postwar sports cars or prewar Streamline Moderne. A list of his works is available from mendoart7@gmail.com

 
 
 

THE PHOTOGRAPHER: Richard Bartholomew is an artist and photographer based in Southern California. He is open to interesting consignments and can be reached at zeroagenow@aol.com

Rick Dore

Rick Dore

Rick Dore

 

 

Summary
Hot Rods Go Streamline Moderne
Article Name
Hot Rods Go Streamline Moderne
Description
Rick Dore’s fortunes changed mightily when James Hetfield, a musician co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for Metallica, showed up who liked classic car styling of the prewar era (streamline Moderne) but wanted modern power trains.
Author

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