Fantasy Junction

Description

1952 Astra Coupe
s/n WA94173298
Metallic Blue with White and Black Interior

The Astra Coupe is a stunning custom creation first completed in 1952. Built with aluminum panels on a tubular steel frame, the car was fabricated almost completely from the ground up. The workmanship is remarkable, with aluminum panels countersunk and then screwed or riveted to the frame. The hood alone is made of 16 separate pieces of aluminum, all seamlessly welded together. The powerplant is a 303 CID Oldsmobile Kettering V8, while the gearchange was operated by a modified column shifter which Everett adapted to operate as a floor change.

The car was built as a labor of love by a Jay Everett of Gardena, CA, who was just 25 years old when he showed the completed car at the 1953 Peterson Motorama. He was an industrial designer and modeler, and prototyped a number of seminal designs including Eames furniture, Polaroid camera bodies, and the Michelob beer bottle.

Everett kept the car until the late 1950’s, at which point he sold it to a fellow named Dick Hoy, who took the car to George Barris’ legendary shop, where the car was freshened and refinished in Candy Blue. The car passed on to another Southern California hot rod and custom enthusiast named Johnny Morris, who kept the car until 1979, by which time it had sat for a long time. The car’s next owner kept the car until his death in 1990, always in Southern California. His daughter inherited the car and moved it to her home in Washington State, and kept it until 2004, when the cost of storage and the daunting nature of the restoration led her to sell it on. It eventually ended up being restored by J. F. Launier of JF Customs in Osooyos, British Colombia.

The car was completed just in time for the West Coast Customs 2007 Paso Robles show, where it debuted in its freshly restored state, possibly in the finest condition of its life. Today, the car remains in stunning as-restored condition. Thanks to its fascinating story, the Astra has been featured in dozens of magazines (approximately forty!), both from the 50s and since its restoration. The car comes with a file box filled with magazines that have featured it.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608