There are famous names in the auto industry and there are names that are synonymous with classic custom car builds and when you combine those and start to make a personal top five it would be almost inconceivable to not have the name Gene Winfield on such a list.

Starting from modest beginnings to his rise to living legend, Gene Winfield has always been as real a person as you will ever know. Personally, I’ve known Gene for close to a decade and he is always quick to remember stories of our adventures and has even signed my race car for good luck, certainly giving me bragging rights at the track.

But it’s what Gene has been doing for more than 65 years that has been his real passion, creating the world’s finest custom cars.  

Whether it’s spraying a unmistakable fade on “Jade Idol,” chopping the top off the “Comet Cyclone Sportster,” or creating some of the coolest movies cars this sci-fi nerd has ever seen, Gene Winfield truly deserves the title of living legend.

Rod Authority goes behind the scenes to capture a glimpse into the mind of a legend. Gene is certainly no stranger to cameras pointed his direction, and as we caught up with him at Detroit Autorama, we had to get the inside scoop about his summer tour – chopping nine roofs in nine different cities across the country.

We joked and reminisced about the past and the future of someone who is not only a gifted craftsman, but also a friend to hot rodders across the globe. Make sure to check out the video above as Gene even revels some secrets of his next build.

If you’re looking for some more fun information about Winfield, check out our shenanigans with him out at Edelbrock, HERE. Stay tuned for more behind the scenes videos right here on Rod Authority!