Rod Authority has the opportunity, luxury, and privilege of operating in one of the nation’s epicenters for Kustom Kulture, hot rods, and classic cars in general–Southern California is a mecca and one of the many automotive melting pots that dot the US.

Over the past few months we’ve been running into the beautiful cars showcased by Fellas SoCal, a local car club that is redefining aesthetic and making their mark in car culture with some truly stand out rides. From last year’s Ventura Nationals to Bo Huff Rockabilly Extravaganza Rod Authority never shies away from snapping a few shots of the Fellas pantheon proudly on display at these events.

Finally, we got the chance to peg one of the Fellas down, Eric Connor, owner and operator of SoCal Suspension. His kustom 1950 Chevy Deluxe aka “Lucky Deluxe” is a heavy hitter flaunting master framework and exterior bliss. Check out Eric’s creation below and learn more about the owner, his business, and his build.

No Guts, No Glory–Creating A Masterpiece From The Inside-Out

Eric Connor is a man whose profession, drive to achieve perfection, and approach to building make his creations solid contenders on and off the show circuit. Whether Lucky Deluxe is registered into an event or spotted cruising in San Diego, California it never fails to catch the attention of enthusiasts and bystanders alike.

Being the operator of a shop dedicated solely to suspension systems Eric’s method of building is certainly outside the scope of typical.

Rod Authority: What is your biggest influence when it comes to building?

Eric Connor: I gravitate towards builders who are stance/suspension related. People such as Delmo of Delmo Speed & Kustom in Burbank, California and Stone Fabrication for example.

Since I am a fabricator and run a suspension shop I relate more to the bare bones of the car. As a builder I consider myself the opposite from most kustomizers who happen to be bodymen and painters. For me, I work from the guts of the car to the outside versus the other way around.

This statement and the interview in its entirety gave Rod Authority some deep insight into the nature of how kustomization has evolved since the inception of the movement during the mid-twentieth century.

Trim swaps, paint jobs, and roof chops are being succeeded by an era of stance. With the breakthrough of custom chassis and the, only very recent, application of air suspension on commercial vehicles this has paved the way for more extreme modifications to the framework of a car. When you look at the evolution of kustomization what originally started out as a hobby dedicated to drivetrain swaps and exterior flare has gone on to include heavily modifying a frame’s composition to accommodate a stance that kustom kulture’s forefathers could only dream of.

Eric Connor and those like him are a special breed of kustomizers who have honed their fabrication skills to execute some truly unique frame off restorations. The end result is a kustom that is truly special–one that blends the very best of classic aesthetics with modern suspension systems. This allows for the extreme look that edgy builders of the golden age imagined with the functionality and adaptability required of cars that are nailed to the ground in style.

SoCal Suspension–Masters Of Stance

RA: Eric, what is your occupation and your title?

Eric: I’m the owner and operator at SoCal suspension. What’s special about my company is that we are the only business in Southern California dedicated solely to suspension needs. This pretty much makes us the authority on that side of cars in this region. Of course there are a lot of business that handle different aspects but specializing in an area makes us the best–every issue and problem related to suspension is something we’ve mastered.

Over the last 16 years I think I’ve become really good at it and all my employees are the best of the best. We get every year, make, and model coming into the shop so when I say we’re the best I mean it–whether it’s a ’36 Ford or a brand new Silverado we’ve had years to hone our craft.

Whether it’s lift kits, lowering kits, air suspension, or wheel alignment you’re looking for Eric and his crew at SoCal suspension are the go-to guys in this region. Being a family operation SoCal Suspension is an enterprise with a foundation built on the quality of its work, relationships created through longterm and returning business, and downright pride in creating something better than its competitors.

Be sure to check out SoCal Suspension’s homepage for more information on the company and stay tuned for a shop tour in the future!

RA: What’s your fondest car related memory?

Eric: I think my fondest memory is going to car shows and getting introduced to the kustom scene with my dad, but what makes that more impactful is doing the same exact thing with my five year old son. Seeing it come full circle is something very special.

RA: What would you say to someone who has an interest in this car culture but has no prior experience, what can they do to get their feet wet and hands dirty?

Eric: First, hang out in the scene, ask a lot of advice from a lot of different people. Talk to anybody you can meet, but don’t just talk to a few guys. Talk to as many people as you can. Take everybody’s advice, condense it, and mix several with your own. Don’t try to imitate or duplicate–the key is to take facets of what you learn, mix it with your own tastes, and that’s how you’ll set yourself apart as an individual.

Eric is a builder whose fuel is composed primarily of pride and letting your quality of work speak for itself, he says, “Follow your eye and your tastes, if you follow what you think and what your heart wants who cares what everyone else’s opinion is. Building and standing behind your work is what gains respect.”

In any hobby the approval of our peers is a natural desire, but to stand by your tastes and to be your biggest supporter is often times the hard learned quality that sets an individual free, untethers them from the expectations of others, and truly allows creativity to flow unbarred. History is an indicator of this truth as some of the most iconic builds and moments outside the scope of the automotive world have been immortalized, not due to the support of the majority, but from the tenacity of the individual to believe in what they’ve created despite a lack of support from the masses.

At any rate, any interview that causes Rod Authority to break into philosophical meanderings is a good one. There is an unmatched level of pride, sense of identity, and abundance of creativity required to function in the habitat of kustom kulture and Eric Connor is an individual who definitely has no problems surviving in this wilderness.

Lucky Deluxe–Eric Connor’s Heavy Hitting Kustom ’50

For all this talk about Eric’s skill when it comes to a car’s framework and suspension make no mistake that Lucky Deluxe isn’t a work of art both inside and out. From the “shop secret” techniques Eric uses to work the frame in order to achieve Lucky Deluxe’s stunning stance to the pristine flaked roof that have won this car many titles, Lucky Deluxe is a kustom that will go down in the annals of iconic builds.

Eric came across his 1950 Deluxe by way of a Craigslist ad from Upland, California. The original cost of the car was $4,000. In a whopping 7 months Eric turned the ’50 from a stock looking ride to the kustom work of rolling art that it is today. “It was the fastest I’ve ever turned around a car, but that came from many late nights. I don’t think I’ll be doing it again, just to spare the wife,” joked Eric.

Eric’s favorite aspect of the car is, of course, its signature stance and how it lays perfectly flush with the ground. The chop of the roof is second. In terms of the most stressful aspect of Lucky Deluxe’s build Eric says that the paint process definitely took the cake. “Not being able to control the build process stresses me out and during paint it was out of my hands. I’ve got to be involved in the build and consider myself a control freak.”

For some authentic flavor Lucky Deluxe rolls on the original 15-inch steelies wrapped in 670 Firestone Bias Ply with prominent 3 1/2-inch white walls.

The Chassis features air suspension on all four corners and mustang 2 style front suspension with tubular a-arms. The rear is a work of art all its own. It features a 4-link with a notched frame, deletion of the quarter wheel wells and trunk floor to accommodate ride height, and an accuair air management system complete with copper lines to give the setup a rugged look.

The body of Lucky Deluxe has been smoothed in kustom fashion–nosed and decked to give it a streamline feel as well as extended rear fenders to give the car some serious road prowess. The roof is chopped 4 1/2 inches which is modest enough to make it easily street-able but still noticeable enough to give the roofline some aggressive flow. Eric and the rest of his buddies from Fellas CC handled the chop while his buddy Nick Battaglia at Loose Cannon Customs handled the shave work.

Lucky Deluxe received some new skin with the two-tone paint job. The bottom half is a dark gunmetal grey which happens to be a factory color off a Lexus IS F. It looks right at home on this domestic ’50 and Lucky Deluxe definitely flaunts it well. The roof, which has been the subject of attention at many shows, was also performed by Nick Battaglia of Loose Cannon Customs and is a silver base flake with a green candy top coat from House of Kolor.

Inside, the original front bench was used but the rails were cut down 1 1/2-inches. In the rear, Eric used the seat from a ’76 Camaro which he said fit perfectly like they were meant to be there. Lindy’s Auto Upholstery performed the classy diamond stitching on the benches and door panels. The center gauge is the original, heating and a/c are original, but Eric did drop an Alpine in the glove for some updated tunes.

Moving to Lucky Deluxe’s drivetrain Eric stayed genuine to Chevy’s tried and true 350 that was pulled out of a ’97 Chevy Silverado. The 350 is mated to a 4L60E transmission. Bore and stroke are stock on the block but a mild cam was added. The engine still features the stock Vortec heads for some dynamic flow while an Edelbrock intake manifold feeds it. A Holley 650cfm sits atop the Edelbrock. Custom headers were fabricated and to round out the rear portion of the drivetrain, the rearend was pulled from an ’85 El Camino.

Eric’s amazing work speaks for itself and during the end of our interview he had confirmed that the car had in fact been sold. “It didn’t hit me until the new owner drove it away,” says Eric, “It’s ok, I’ve already got plans for what I’m going to do next.”

Getting the chance to speak with Eric was a pleasure and Rod Authority is confident that his next project will be nothing short of stellar. Keep a look out for Eric and the rest of the Fellas because they’re producing some serious against-the-grain builds. If you’re ever in Southern California or are local to the area head on down to SoCal Suspension and get your ride to sit its best and to handle everything you throw at it from behind the wheel.

Be sure to check out Rod Authority’s exclusive gallery of Eric Connor’s kustom 1950 Chevy Deluxe aka Lucky Deluxe below!