Rod Authority first caught wind of Brent Rothweiler’s stellar kustom at the 2014 Temecula Rod Run. Amongst droves of beautifully restored muscle-era and pre-60s cars and trucks, Brent’s ’54 Buick Special had a flavor that was undeniable, unforgettable, and masterfully built.

Upon closer inspection we found the badge of renowned builder, Oz Welch of Oz Kustoms adorning the fender panel of Brent’s ’54–this was the one car that had us stopping and staring during the Temecula Rod Run, and we certainly weren’t alone amongst the droves of event attendees flocking and inspecting every detail. From custom Lincoln taillights and a convertible conversion to the pearl white interior and smoothed body–this vehicle embodies the spirit and potential that lies within every kustom project.

It wasn’t until a few months later that we got into contact with Brent. To our joy and distinct pleasure, he was more than willing to get together, talk shop, and let us shoot and film his ’54. With a kustom as finely crafted as his, we knew that we needed to do our part–after some brainstorming the Rod Authority team came up with the perfect setting to compliment the aesthetics of the ’54.

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Much like the rest of the Los Angeles County region, Long Beach, California has a deep-rooted history with kustom kulture and hot rodding. Brent’s ’54 quickly conjures images of the romanticized imaginings of California beaches and the laid back lifestyle often attributed to Southern California. If there was ever a list of vehicles that serve as a beacon of “California-cool”–Brent’s ride nails it ten times out of ten.

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Brent, also a member of Sled Kings car club, felt more than obliged to pull his car onto the sandy shores of Long Beach. What we ended up with was one of the most compelling photo sets and video features to date. It’s not everyday that you get to pull a car as pristine as Brent’s onto the sand. Without a doubt, this kustom is a rolling avatar spreading surreal notions associated with Pacific pleasures.

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Be sure to check out the exclusive video feature above for some moving and detail shots of Brent Rothweiler’s kustom ’54 Buick Special. Below is a Q&A session that we had with Brent. In the interview, he sheds some light on his longtime love affair with vehicles, backstory on the Sled Kings car club, and also offers some advice to the new generation of car enthusiasts getting into the culture.

Q&A With Sled King, Brent Rothweiler

Rod Authority: What do you do for a living?

Brent Rothweiler: “I’m a project manager for a construction firm.”

RA: If we were to ask those close to you, “What’s Brent like at a glance?” What do you think they would say?

Rothweiler: “I’m the type of guy who doesn’t sit still very well. I’m always moving or doing something. I’m either working, in the gym, or in my garage tinkering with some type of project.”

RA: What would you say is your first car-related memory?

Rothweiler: “I have several memories of cars from when I was a kid. Especially the times I shared watching or helping my father with his. My first own experience was when I got my 1972 Chevy pickup at the swap meet when I was 15. It had a built 327 ci motor and I couldn’t wait to get it home to wrench on it.”

RA: What is the most important car-related lesson you’ve learned?

Rothweiler: “I’ve learned that cars take time and patience. One may think you can install something in just minutes–hours later you realize your still thinking of a way to finish it.”

RA: What motivates you to build?

Rothweiler: “A finished product is what motivates me the most–to stand back and look at the outcome of the hard work and sweat you put into projects is priceless. At times, when you’re wrenching it can become tedious. Once you see it complete and enjoy it you’re right back out there looking for that next project.”

RA: Do you have any other automotive passions or interests aside from kustoms?

Rothweiler: “Yes, I’m also into car racing. My pops, uncle, friends, and I have a few cars–Corvettes and Mustangs with roll cages and performance modifications done to them–that we race at the local road course tracks. Some of the spots that we frequent are Fontana Speedway, Willow Springs, and Button Willow. It’s like most sports, you have to have focus and have to practice in order to get good at it as well as maintain consistent lap times–mentally, it drains you turn after turn for 15-20 laps.”

RA: What would you say to someone who has interest in our culture, has no prior exposure, but would like to get their feet wet and hands dirty?

Rothweiler: “I usually tell people to come out to car shows and bring their kids or friends. There’s always someone at the show that has some car or toy that will strike your interest or bring back memories. If you dig it, hang around it more, if not there’s a million other interests in the world to choose from.”

RA: What are some trends within the culture that you’ve noticed?

Rothweiler: “I think the classics are classics, but the young generation wants to see different twists on cars and style now. People these days try to be unique–you see more tattoos, customs, and car clubs–more than ever before in the past. That is having a big influence on the way the new culture is forming.”

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RA: Tell us a little bit about your car club, Sled Kings.

Rothweiler: “My best bud Danny Schmitz and I have been working on cars since we were teens. We’ve busted a lot of knuckles together helping each other on our cars and random projects. We soon realized that we all hung within a small circle of guys and wanted to put together a small-circled club. We weren’t into going out there and joining a big club with meetings, dues, etc. In fact that’s our clubs slogan, “No dues, no meetings, no rules.”

“We figure in today’s busy world, who has time to go to monthly meetings, or who wants to pay to have friends. That’s time and money that can go towards your next car modification. Our crew gets together often for brews and wrenching, or to rally to the local car shows where we know a lot of the other local clubs in order to show our support and see what’s new in the scene.”

RA: Do you see yourself building and collecting cars and trucks well into your older years?

Rothweiler: “That part of my life will never change. I’ll go on to have kids, watch them grow, play sports, and do family activities, but I’ll always have a few kustoms in my garage and in the works. I think passing on skills like knowing the value of hard work, knowing how to wrench, and taking pride in fixing things are important to teach my kids and the future of this country.”

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RA: Are there any other projects that you have in the works right now? If so, tell us a little about them.

Rothweiler: “I’m currently working on a 1953 Chevy five window truck. It’s going to be a full kustom build as well. Currently I have it chopped four-inches and shaved all around. We’ve installed Buick headlights to give it a one-off look, and it’s laying running boards on airbags. Once it’s done it will get a pearl white interior and a kandy paint job. Now I need to move into the drivetrain and interior for some kustom touches so I can tail-drag it around town sooner than later.”

“I’ve also just finish a custom bobber. With that project I went old skool with metal flake paint with tape fades and gold leafing to bring out that retro look. I guess it’s in my nature to be just a little different.”

Be sure to check out the exclusive gallery of Brent’s ’54 presented by Rod Authority below. For further reading, head over to our exclusive model feature, including a photo gallery and video, of Stacey Urzua who shot alongside this Oz-built masterpiece.