Richard Zocchi was a Northern California native who radically
customized all makes of cars since the age of 16. His gorgeous
eye-catching creations have won countless prestigious awards at all the
major
West Coast car shows based on excellence in design, workmanship
and paint.
In the mid 70s, when custom car creations were virtually at a
standstill, Richard’s awesome “Cool 50” Mercury was one of the primary
vehicles that inspired the resurgence of customizing 50s cars that
continues to this day!
Rich passed away October 20, 2016 but his original designed customs
will continue his legacy. His gorgeous creations graced countless
magazine covers and his passion for this “sport” continued throughout
his entire life. This website showcases a few of his most stunning
creations. All of these cars have new owners except for the 39 Dodge, 56
Lincoln Continental Mark II and Cool 50 Mercury, which are owned by
Cherie Zocchi and currently are not for sale.
1958 Cadillac Coupe De Ville
This was Richard’s last and arguably one of his best luxury customs. Its
eye-catching, jaw dropping beauty truly captures his legendary classic
style!
1968 Dodge Polar
This unique custom 1968 Dodge Polara has the look of a Detroit
concept car from the ’50s and ’60s and won First Place at the 2010 Grand
National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA, as well as at the Sacramento
AutoRama in the same year. It also captured the coveted Gene Winfield
Award at the West Coast Kustoms Car Show in Santa Maria, CA.
The creamy vanilla and butterscotch pearl paint perfectly matches the ultrasuede interior – absolutely beautiful!!
1960 Dodge Pioneer
Nicknamed “Sweet and Low”, this rare car has a beautiful chopped top and
features a 1958 Cadillac Grill and 1959 Buick tail lights. Fender wells
and rocker panels have been lowered and flared. The two-tone light and
medium salmon-colored pearl exterior perfectly matches the ultrasuede
interior. It has a late model 318 engine with all power appointments.
1962 Chrysler 300
This eye-popping beauty is another masterpiece in Richard’s long line of
creations. It debuted at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA
in January 2013 and was awarded the coveted George Barris Kustom
D’Elegance Award, which is his pick for the Best Custom in Show. Master
painter Art Himsl applied PPG toners and pearls which were custom mixed
by Art and then topped with gold pearl. The colors are a soft and medium
orange sherbet.
1959 Buick Invicta
Richard and Cherie after winning Best of Show at Good Guys 2004
This lovely car won Best in Show at the Good Guys in 2004, plus Top Five at Cruizin’ Paso Robles the same year.
A three inch chopped top is among the many body modifications but not
too much for its already radical factory look. Peaches and cream
two-tone pearl paint are easy on the eyes.
1957 Ford Fairlane
The top has been chopped three inches. All body work was performed by John Aiello of Marco’s Lucky 7 Customs of Antioch, CA.
Headlights were frenched two inches with hand-made chrome rings. The
chrome grill was made out of 3/8” aluminum bars, created by Glory
Grills. The front bumper was frenched by extending the pan over the top
of the bumper with the use of round rod. Bumper bolts were flushed.
Wheel wells and rockers were lowered ¾”. All door and trunk handles were eliminated and Unkl Al’s solenoids were installed.
Taillights were frenched three inches with hand-made chrome rings.
Perforated metal was used over red plastic to create the taillights then
capped off with a large bullet. The license plate was frenched into the
body and the gas nozzle was put inot the trunk. The rear bumper pan was
hand-made and the bumper bolts were flushed and the bumper ends were
capped off with a nice clean look. Stainless on doors was re-worked to
eliminate the key hole to create a continuous unbroken line. New gold
anodized inserts were made and installed.
Paint is blue-green PPG mixture by Macos Garcia, owner of Lucky 7
Customs of Antioch, CA. All the edges of the stainless and body were
fogged in (highlighted) a darker shade of the same color.
Bucket seats were used and lowered for hear clearance. Upholstery is
white pearl trimmed with blue-green ultra suede. Plush blue-green
carpets finish off this perfect setting. Work was performed by Bob
Divine of Martinez, CA who also installed a high tech Pioneer stereo
system.
Running gear is a Ford 351 Cleveland. Suspension sits on air bags
Hubcaps were custom made from a 1956 Lincoln Premiere, capped off with a bullet. Tires are Diamondback Classics 195 R-75-15.
1956 Lincoln Premiere
This beautiful custom debuted at the Sacramento Autorama and took
home the prestigious Harry Bradley Award for excellence in design,
workmanship and creativity. It was also well received at the 50th
anniversary of the Grand National Roadster Show and at the Good Guys Get
Together in Pleasanton.
The top was chopped five inches. Upper rear side molding was
hand-built by John Aiello. Rear glass was sunken into trunk to give the
car that smooth flow. Windshield and all glass work was performed by Dan
Mazzoncini of Dan’s Glass, Concord, CA.
Complete hand-built front end was created around a 1958 Cadillac
front bumper. 1956 Olds headlight rims were used again ( a Zocchi
trademark). Makes the car look like it’s moving when standing still. The
hood was extended 2 ½ inches, the corners were rounded and filled to
create the grill opening. The grill was hand-made by John Aiello and
consists of ¼ inch round rod (22 pieces), then chromed. Front wheel
opening were raised one inch to accommodate the bumper.
Rear quarter panels were filled to eliminate continuous body line
from front to back, thus creating the leading edge for the scoop – a
fantastic original design idea. It was then trimmed with three chrome
spears from a 1958 Cadillac. Side moldings remain stock.
Tail light lenses are from a 1954 Packard, extended and shaped.
Bumper was molded and cleaned and a special bracket was made to house
the license plate. Rear trunk cavity was formed with round rod and a
rear grill was made to match the front. All doors and the trunk are
remote with Unkl Al’s entry systems.
All body work was performed by John Aiello of Acme Auto Body, Antioch, CA.
The paint was mixed from Dupont materials – yellow and cream white,
then covered with gold pearl. Paint was applied by Darryl Hollenback,
also of Acme Auto Body. Pinstriping was performed by Art Himsl.
Custom interior consists of four bucket seats with continuous center
console running through the middle in a cream gold vinyl. Headliner was
hand-built, as well as most of what you see on the inside. Work was
performed by Bob Divine Interiors, Martinez, CA.
All chrome and stainless by Sherm’s of Sacramento, CA.
Tires are Coker classic radical whitewalls – 205 R-75-15. Seven inch
Roadster wire sheels were used with T-bird centers capped with a bullet.
The engine is a stock 368 cubic inch, with factory power steering,
power brakes and power windows. Chassis work consists of dropped
spindles by Fat Man, adapted to Granada power disc brakes. The back was
lowered with the use of lowering blocks and re-worked leaf springs.
Frame was C’d and drive shaft tunneled. Monroe air shocks with
compressor were used in rear. All work was performed by Bill and Tom
Fraser of Antioch Muffler, Antioch, CA. The car rides like a dream for
as low as it is (5 inches all the way around).
Pioneer stereo was installed.
Engine was painted by Evan Kohler, Richard’s brother-in-law.
1956 Lincoln Continental
1956 Dodge Royal Lancer
The car premiered at the 2000 Grand National Roadster Show San
Francisco Cow Palace and was awarded the prestigious George Barris
Kustom d’Elegance Award. (Richard Zocchi won this award three times now …
he was the winner of the very first George Barris Kustom D’Elegance
Award in 1992 with his fabulous ‘39 Dodge and again in 1994 with his
chopped yellow pearl ‘51 Olds).
At the Sacramento Autorama the car won the very first Manuel Arteche
Memorial award. At the Good Guys All American Get Together in
Pleasanton, California, it was in the Top Five customs. Finally, at the
West Coast Kustoms Paso Robles 2000 car show, it received the Larry
Watson Nostalgia Pick.
The top was chopped four inches. The rear window was sunk into the
package tray to create the flowing line. The side roof molding was
hand-built. The windshield and all glass work was done by Dan Mazzoncini
of Dan’s Glass, Concord, California.
The upper hood was lengthened 1 inch to create the hood grill and
rear scoop. The centerpiece of the grill opening was sectioned three
inches and the grill cavity was hand-formed. The front grill hood scoop
and rear grill were hand-made of three-sixteenths round rod by John
Aiello. Headlights were extended out four inches to simulate early 50s
Studebaker look. Headlight bezels again used by Zocchi is his trademark
look – ‘56 Olds with the outside lip cut off.
Front and rear bumpers were frenched and extended … all bumper bolts
shaved off to give it a clean appearance. Front and rear wheel wells
were flared. Hand-made rear skirts were added. Rear quarter panels were
extended four inches. One-half inch round rod was used to create cavity
opening on taillights, which were hand-built by Gene Winfield. Side
molding was used from ‘57 Pontiac which was altered on the quarter
panels. Doors and trunk handles were all removed and Unkl Al’s remote
system was used.
Paint was applied by Marcos of Lucky 7 Auto Body, Antioch, CA. PPG
toners of violet and white were used in a custom mix by Marcos with gold
pearl.
The front suspension was re-worked with drop spindles from Fat Man
Fabrications by Bob Madsen. The car was then turned over to bob Westbury
for installation of Air Technology Air Ride System.
The interior was hand-built by Bob Divine Interiors of Martinez,
California. It was done in violet and white to match the dash and
exterior. Pioneer sound system was also installed by Divine.
The engine is a stock 315 Hemi except for a mild cam. The engine was all painted and detailed.
All chrome work and stainless work was done by Sherm’s Plating of
Sacramento, California. The car has radial tires with 2 ¼ inch
whitewalls. Hubcaps were custom made.
1956 Chrysler Windsor
This car has all the right custom touches to accentuate the already
well-designed factory lines and was the winner of many Best of Show
awards in 1996.
The chopped top sets it apart from any other Chrysler, with pearl
paint by Art Himsl. The stunning interior is next to none. This car also
includes air conditioning.
1946 Lincoln Club Coupe
This gorgeous 1946 Lincoln Club Coupe, “Wild Orchid”, made its premier
appearance at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA in January
2011. It won First Place at the Sacramento AutoRama in February
2011. Art Himsl, master painter from Concord, CA, applied two shades of
orchid pearl to this breathtaking fully customized beauty.
1939 Dodge Coupe
This gorgeous creation is arguably one of Richard’s best designed and
built customs. It has won numerous sought-after awards, including the
first George Barris Kustom d’Elegance Award in 1992, as well as Best of
Show in Paso Robles and the Good Guys in the same year.
1962 Pontiac Grand Prix
his car is a clone (except for the 2 1/2 inch chopped top) of Richard
Zocchi’s original Grand Prix that Gene Winfield built for him in 1962.
It features a custom built bullet grill and staggered and frenched
headlights. Tail lights are 62 Chrysler Imperial tail light lenses
turned sideways and mounted on a chrome tube. Original tail lights were
filled and peaked. Engine is a stock 389 with factory 3 x 2s. It runs
and handles like new.
Outstanding orange and white pearl blended paint is absolutely flawless and breathtaking.
1961 Oldsmobile 88
This gorgeous 88 was the top winner at Santa Maria 2008!
The top is chopped three inches using a 1961 Ford Starliner roof with
a 1967 Camaro rear window. The headlights are 1960 Buick and the grill
is 1960 Mercury; the taillights are hidden. The interior has bucket
seats with a handmade console. The car has wire wheels and Cokerwide
whites. It has a Stock 394 engine – it runs and drives like new. The car
has airbags.
1960 Oldsmobile 88
This two-tone chopped candy gold creation captured the World’s Most Beautiful Custom award at the Sacramento AutoRama in 2004!
The car has one-of-a-kind headlights and a handmade bar grill. It has many custom features and runs and drives like new!
1950 Mercuy "cool 50"
The interior is spectacular, and largely custom apart from the dash and
instruments which were pretty much perfect from the factory anyway.
Says the seller: “Most of the interior has been customized to blend
perfectly with the modified exterior except the dash, instrument panel
and steering wheel. There is too much to list for the interior but we
wanted to point out that the overhead console is accented with stainless
and the quarter panel trim teeth from a 1953-54 Mercury.”
