If you’ve spent a portion of your life watching Top Gear, Overhaulin’, and browsing the internet in search of cool-looking cars for desktop wallpaper, then you probably stumbled upon the name Gene Winfield.
Winfield was an American car designer, famous for his bold, asymmetrically aesthetic designs. Unfortunately, Gene passed away on March 4th, 2025, at the age of 97. He left behind an incredible legacy, and we can’t help but celebrate it. This is our way of honoring some of his most stunning creations, each one a testament to his skill, vision, and passion.
The ’35 Ford Shop Truck
The Shop Truck is one of Gene’s masterpieces: a wild mix of parts that somehow come together perfectly. It’s so weird that it just works. It featured a beautiful bronze-gold color, 1939 Chevy fenders, and a massive chromed Mercury V8 flathead. It’s unconventional, sure, but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.
According to Hot Rod Magazine, the Shop Truck was sold in 1963 for $1,875. After a few years, the truck found its way into the possession of Gary Hatfield of Hatfield Restorations in Canton, Texas. Determined to bring it back to its former glory, Hatfield and his team undertook a massive effort of stripping the car down to just a shell and rebuilding it from the ground up.
After a massive effort — and even some help from Winfield himself — the Hatfield Restorations team succeeded in their task, and The Shop Truck looked better than ever.
Pacifica Ford Truck
Pacifica is yet another of Gene Winfield’s stunning creations—a true testament to his craftsmanship and eye for detail. In a short interview with Eastwood Company, Winfield mentioned that he built several Pacificas for Ford. The first one had a stock 6-cylinder engine, but the one shown in the interview features a ’92 T-Bird engine and transmission, with the bottom of the car made from stainless steel. As Winfield put it, he went “overboard with the bottom, just to be different.”
And different it is. The Pacifica gleams in a striking blue, with an all-wooden trunk bed and toolboxes built seamlessly into the sides. Step inside, and you’re met with another bold splash of blue: leather seats and chrome details on the dashboard, adding to its unmistakable charm.
The Strip Star
Built in 1963 for Promotions Inc.’s Show Car Division, The Strip Star is one of the most striking cars I’ve ever seen. With its asymmetrical aluminum body, it’s widely regarded as a symbol of automotive innovation and bold design—a true standout in Winfield’s portfolio.
According to Kustomrama, The Strip Star was built on a 1948 Ford chassis and featured an electronically operated tonneau cover over the passenger seat. It rocked one Honda headlight, and under the hood was a mighty 427 Ford engine that pumped out 415 horses.
If the car looks familiar but you can’t quite place it, here’s why: The Strip Star made a subtle yet memorable appearance in Back to the Future Part II. During the hoverboard scene, you can spot it parked by the sidewalk as Marty rides by — just another testament to its timeless, futuristic appeal.
The Reactor
The future arrived early in 1964 when Gene Winfield introduced The Reactor—a car so ahead of its time, it felt like something out of science fiction. Unlike anything seen in that era, it pushed the boundaries of automotive design and engineering, cementing Winfield’s reputation as a true visionary.
According to Auto Evolution, the car was built for “Joe Kizis, an East Coast promoter, who organized the annual Autorama,” and was initially called The Autorama Special.
The spaceship-looking Reactor was built on a Citroen chassis, with its heart and soul being a flat-six Chevy engine with air cooling that brought 180 hp to the front wheels. Its futuristic looks, along with its eye-catching gold-green color, made it very popular, and not long after, it appeared on famous TV series like Batman, Bewitched, and even Star Trek.
I think it’s safe to say that even if Gene Winfield is no longer with us, his creations will stand as a monument for all automotive fans, and a symbol of bravery and forward-thinking to all generations of automotive designers.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.