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DARRYL STARBIRD: A FAMILY AFFAIR & THE BUBBLE TOP BOOK !
DARRYL STARBIRD: DRIVING THE PREDICTA !
DARRYL STARBIRD: PRODUCING CAR SHOWS !
DARRYL STARBIRD: THE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM !
GEORGE BARRIS: THE SAM BARRIS MERC !
GEORGE BARRIS: THE
GEORGE BARRIS: THE STORY OF
GEORGE BARRIS/JOHN D'AGOSTINO: OLD SCHOOL/NEW SCHOOL !
GEORGE BARRIS & JOHN D'AGOSTINO IN SWEDEN !
GEORGE BARRIS:LARRY ERNST BELAIR/SHOP FIRE !
SPENCE MURRAY: BEGINNINGS !
GENE WINFIELD: ORIGINS/FIRST SHOP !
BLACKIE GEJEIAN: EARLY HISTORY, NASCAR, AND, THE GNRS !
BLACKIE GEJEIAN: THE
DICK
DICK MAGOO: HIS PERSONAL RIDES & THE  CHOPPED '49 MERC !
POSIE:  NEW DESIGNS & SCOTT KILLEEN PHOTOGRAPHY !
POSIE ON RODS, CUSTOMS & SAWING  A CAR IN HALF !
POSIES: TEAMWORK, TECHNOLOGY, & EARLY INFLUENCES !
POSIES
POSIES: EARLY CARS & SUPER SLIDE SPRINGS
NORM GRABOWSKI: THE ORIGIN OF THE KOOKIE CAR !
JOHN D'AGOSTINO: HIS '40 CADILLAC & THE
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NORM GRABOWSKI: THE
JOHN D'AGOSTINO BUILDS:
JOHN D'AGOSTINO CREATES
FRANK LIVINGSTON: BEGINNINGS / FIRST CARS
BO HUFF: ON UTAH, HIS MUSEUM, AND 60'S CARS !
BO HUFF: NEW PROJECTS & GENO'S '49 MERC !
STEVE STANFORD: NEW IDEAS & WORKING WITH THE CLIENT !
STEVE STANFORD: CREATING A STYLE, HEROES, & THE HOF !
STEVE STANFORD: DOUBLE-PLAY !
STEVE STANFORD: BILLY GIBBONS'
CHUCK MILLER'S CARS: THE FUTURE & THE PAST !
CHUCK MILLER: FAVORITES !
CHUCK MILLER: DETROIT AUTORAMA !
STEVE FRISBIE: BUILDING THE
JIMMIE VAUGHAN: ON NORWAY, GARY HOWARD &  HIS '51 CHEVY !
JIMMIE VAUGHAN: ON GARY HOWARD & HIS '61 CADDY !
BO HUFF: THE SAM BARRIS CLONE !
GARY HOWARD: BUILDING THE HOT ROD CADDY !
LEE PRATT'S FABULOUS '41 BUICK !
M. K. JOHN: PUBLISHED ART & MOTORCYCLES !
M.K. JOHN: BEGINNINGS/MAG.FEATURES !
ELDEN TITUS: THE ROCKET CAR !
ELDEN TITUS:
MARK MORIARITY & THE CAR CRAFT
MARK MORIARITY: SAVING SAVELESKY'S '55 BEL AIR !
JOHN KOUW: BUILDING DRIVERS/THE FUTURE IS NOW !
LOU CALASIBETTA: THE A BROTHERS & THE GOLDEN INDIAN !
LOU CALASIBETTA: THE EARLY YEARS, AND THAT HISTORIC GARAGE !
DENNIS McPHAIL: DOING DESIGNS FOR ED
JEFF MYERS:  THE BEATNIKS CLUB & ITS MEMBERS !
DINO & THUNDERFLITE !
BRAD MASTERSON ON BILL HINES & SLINGIN' LEAD !
BRAD MASTERSON: CKD RIVIERA PROJECT CAR !
FRITZ SCHENCK: EARLY YEARS, EARLY CARS !
FRITZ SCHENCK'S COOL CARS !
ORIGINS: THE KUSTOM KEMPS OF AMERICA
JERRY TITUS: FAMILY VALUES & KUSTOMS !
JERRY WEESNER/JONNIE KING: CRUSIN' !
WEESNER  & THE MOVIE STAR !
JERRY WEESNER'S PHOTO-OP TIPS !
ALAN MAYES & BO HUFF: THE
ALAN MAYES: PUBLISHING CKD/OSR
PAUL LeMAT: HIS FAVORITE FILMS !
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THE RICK NELSON TRIBUTE PAGE
THE DON FERRARA TRIBUTE PAGE
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THE DICK DEAN TRIBUTE PAGE
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THE DICK DEAN TRIBUTE PAGE


             DICK DEAN: "KING OF CHOPS" !             

                                            

                                             Dick Dean earlier this year at the Hall of Fame luncheon at the Grand National Roadster Show.

                                   Dick "King Of Chops" Dean (1933-2008)

 
SPECIAL NOTE:  During my trip to the KKOA 28th Anniversary Lead Sled Spectacular in Salina, Kansas, I wanted record some of the  Rod & Custom Industry Legends sharing their thoughts and memories of DICK DEAN...plus, contribute some of my own personal memories of Dick.

THESE ARE Rare, Personal Insights About This Industry Legend:

On the Sunday morning that they were preparing to leave for a Special Tribute & Car Cruise in honor of Dick that was held in California on August 2nd, 2008, GEORGE BARRIS, JOHN D'AGOSTINO, DARRYL STARBIRD, and I reminisced about Dick, his sense of humour, and his importance to the Industry.   

I hope you enjoy these Special Interviews, and that they give you further insight into one of the Rod & Custom Industries Premier, and sometimes, unsung heroes:  DICK DEAN.     JK

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Another one of Rod & Customs' Legendary Heroes, DICK DEAN, passed away July 10, 2008.  He was 75.

Dick was originally from Wyandotte, Michigan.  He had his own shop in Michigan, and, after George Barris saw some of Dick's work at the Detroit Autorama, George told Dick that If he ever  moved to California he'd have a job.  Which is just what Dick did...and George, being a man of his word,  hired him on the spot.

If you've ever watched TV and seen The Batmobile,The Bat Boat, The Monkeemobile, The Green Hornet's "Black Beauty", The Munster's Coach, The Dragula Car (from that same show), or the Beverly Hillbilles Car, you've seen the work of Dick Dean.
 
Dick also did work on the "Flintstones" Cars for that movie, AND, did the remote control Ford Broncos in "Jurassic Park", plus, cars for the "Power Rangers".
 
Dick worked with Barris & Dean Jefferies on many of those above projects, later went out on his own, and became known as "The King Of Chops" as he chopped the tops on more 49-51 Mercurys, and various other cars, than anyone alive: probably OVER 1,400 at last count.   (Dick told me he once chopped the tops on  '53 Studebaker's in one week ! )
 
He worked on other TV-Movie  Cars, built cars for the stars in Hollywood, built  "clones" of some of his original cars for private customers, was hired by Malcolm Bricklin to be in charge of building the short-lived Bricklin automobile,  created and built his own "dune buggy-type car "The Shalako" that he sold either as a kit or a "turn key" car, built some fantastic  custom Mercs for Noel Blanc, Mel's son, and was one of the best story tellers you'd ever want to  know.
 
During the 80's & 90's Dick, and his son, did much work also for the Hard Rock Cafe Chain.  Putting  together some fantastic displays, car wall hangings (with REAL cars), etc.
 
Dick was a pilot in Korea during the Korean Conflict,  and piloted his own early-aviation type planes in later years as a hobby.  He also built & flew many motorized large-scale model airplanes.
 
                                    
 
Dick and I met at and became friends at Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Hall of Fame when I drove "The Invicta" down there for Induction Ceremonies in  the Spring of 2001.
 
We kept in contact for a number of years, and Dick was on the top of my list to Interview for my "Hall of Fame Legends" Series and was even mentioned in my Demo for the show.  But, Dick retired, had some health problems the last few years and didn't travel outside of his home area in California (and, even in good health, wouldn't travel on commercial airplanes after 9/11). 
 
Sadly, this will haunt me for some time to come, as Dick was one of my personal Heroes who became a friend. 
 
 I hope to be in touch with  Dick's son, Keith, who is carrying on in his father's profession, for some pix I'll use here on this Tribute Page.
 
But, nothing can EVER take the place of a one-on-one, face-to-face conversation with DICK DEAN himself.
 
I know.  I've been there.
 
RIP, my friend, and I thank you  for the kindess & friendship that you showed me.    JK
 
       
     
(Above left & right:  Yes, Dick worked on BOTH  the "Batmobile" AND the "Monkeemobile" !  In fact, he later made clones of many of these that he originally helped build !)
           
                 
(Above left: the model kit of the "Surf Woody" that Dick worked on with George Barris; Above right:  the "Shalako" Dick's own Dune Buggy creation that was available as a turnkey OR kit car. )
                                                                                             
                                                                                                
                                        
 
(Above: a '59 Cadillac Woodie, one of the many cars that he and his son, Keith, did for the Hard Rock Cafe chain. )         
 
 
 
(Some photos on this page courtesy of Rod & Custom Magazine & Street Rodder Magazine)
 
NOTE: For some interesting info on Dick, see Eric Geisert's  Street Rodder tribute: http://www.streetrodderweb.com/hotnews/0808sr_dick_dean_passes_away/index.html
 
Also, an earlier story written by Calvin Mauldin in Rod & Custom, just  before Dick was Inducted into Starbird's National Rod & Custom Hall Of  Fame: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/thehistoryof/dick_dean_history/index.html