Gene Winfield
By Chris Murphy
Gene Winfield was supposed to be immortal.
Gene Winfield was so special to Modesto and to our cruising and classic car heritage. Over the years we became friends, at shows, at festivals, launching the Modesto Cruise route and even hanging out and saying “yes” when he said he was going to make guitars. I think I got the only one he made, and I’m so happy to have this incredible Winfield creation.
Gene was always going, chopping cars, traveling and doing what he loved until he passed away at 97. He was a regular at the American Graffiti Festival, a Grand Marshal of the Cruise Parade and has a permanent market on the Cruise Route Walk of Fame.
Eugene Winfield graduated from Modesto High in 1945 customizing cars in his mother’s chicken coop on Figaro St. he was all about going fast, founding the Century Toppers car club, only for cars that could go over 100 MPH. He served in the military where he learned how to hammer weld in Japan. His mixing of paint and creative customs caught eyes everywhere and won awards. One of his most famous is the Jade Idol, built in his shop at 451 Tully Modesto. His close friends Pete Hischier and Bart Bartoni were part of his early creations and the produced some of the first custom car shows.
He changed the classic car world in the late 1940s and blazed a trail for many more to follow creating cars for TV and film, including Star Trek and Blade Runner. A few years ago, his famous Reactor visited Modesto.
He will always be remembered here as a Modesto hometown hero and Modesto High Hall of Fame.
Gene, your spirit lives on and you will always be part of our community. Rock on and keep the pedal down.
There will be a memorial for Gene at the Graffiti USA Museum.
