Folks Of Interest Frank DeRosa Sr. has passed away

Well known custom builder Frank DeRosa Sr. has passed away at the age of 92. As reported by Frank Jr just now on Facebook.



Will add more details later.

 

Not really HAMB style but in this case one he was well known for.

 

Wow - Sincere sympathy goes out to his Family, friends and fans - last saw him at Billetproof 2012

 

RIP. The man and his shop built some crazy stuff. I'd like to see those posters in Jalopy Joker's post

 

Such a shame, always loved his stuff, so very out there and wild.

Condolences to his family, I know he'll be missed.

 

RIP

 

Sad to see that. I enjoyed seeing his creations over the years.

 

We lose another Kustom legend. Thanks Mr De Rosa, you will be missed. RIP


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Great creator R.I.P. to his Family

 

Wasn’t his daughter on the Hamb a few years back?
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RIP.

Thanks for the nice Kustoms you build.

Hennie

 

And surprisingly none to the old-time customizers that I have ever heard of died of lead poisoning.

 

R.I.P.

 

Condolences to the Derosa Family and Friends on the passing of Frank...Rest in Peace Fellow Artist...You did Wild Things...

https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Frank_De_Rosa

Thanks for sharing the loss to the Custom Community and beyond... @John b...

Regards,
Stogy

Some of Frank's Art he enjoyed Collage or at the very least cut and pasting and well mixing things up a little...









http://frankderosacustoms.blogspot.com/?m=1

RIP Frank Derosa...

Credit to Artist, Photographers, Owners
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He lived the dream to 92! does not get any better than that. Talking shop with George , Sam , Bill and all the others now. Custom car heaven! Larry

 

R.I.P.

 

Built some nice cars his way....have fun upstairs !

 

Godspeed.

 

Very sad. Another irreplaceable "master of lead" gone...pretty soon there will be none.

 

Oh man, sad news. For as many custom shows that I've gone to over the years, I never got to meet Mr. DeRosa. Seems he was never at the shows I was at. I remember seeing the "Golden Piranha" and "The Shark" in Classic and Custom as a 14 year old kid and being blown away!
About 20 years ago, something happened to me that I'll never forget. My friend Matt (that did the interior in my Buick) and I were going to grab a bite to eat one day. We were rolling down Lowell Boulevard up in Westminster when we see this wild chopped sled rolling towards us. We were in Matt's chopped '53 Chevy Bel Air, and as we passed the car the guy driving it looked at us the way we were looking at him. I turned to Matt and at the same time we both said "What the.........?" We turned around and caught up to the car to take a look. The driver of the car pulled over to check something on the car so we pulled up to get a closer look. Turns out we knew the guy driving. Randy had a shop with his brother years ago building customs and lowriders. Turns out that they had gotten wind of "The Shark" being for sale and bought it from somebody down in Texas. The plan was to restore the car to its former 1980s glory, but it never happened. Word got around that the brothers had the car and someone made them an offer they couldn't refuse and they sold it shortly after the day we saw it.
Anyway, I got to look at the Shark up close and personal that day. The paint was lacquer checked badly, but it did still shine and it had way more flake in it than magazine photos ever showed. It was pretty much complete and very restorable. I remember watching as Randy tried to lift the rear trunk to get a screwdriver to do something under the hood. I don't know if the car ever had trunk springs or air rams to lift it up, but what ever was on it no longer worked. It took me and Matt to hold up the trunk while Randy got in it to get to his toolbox. The thing weighed a ton! We stuck around until he got the problem fixed and off he went. I'll never forget how bitchin' that Caddy looked when he was rolling past us, and again as he drove away down Lowell. It is one day that is burned into my memory forever!
Thank you Mr. DeRosa for giving so many of us pleasure in what you built, and inspiration to build things that may be somewhat over the top. You were truly one of a kind! Vaya con Dios!
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed! E

 

Bummer to hear. Growing up as a kid here in Springfield at one time a gentleman here locally owned this car that he had built. It was wild and always a sight to behold when he brought it out.



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. . . R. I. P. . . .

 

I got one of those posters about 25 years ago. Scanner isn`t working. I gave a speech when I was in 8th grade and talked about DeRosa Customs. Always loved his work.

 

Always sad to see of one of that generation go. Rule makers/breakers, pioneers, icons, whatever you prefer to call them, they will be forever known for their creations. Prayers and Condolences for the Family, Friends and Fans.

 

Was never a real fan of his work but sad to see another kustomizer pass on.

 

Frank DeRosa Sr.
June 5, 1927 - January 15, 2020
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Frank's 2010 Long Beach Motorama "Wall Of Legends" Plaque:

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RIP

 

Yes … Regina @DEROSAGIRL Fredenburg used to post on the H.A.M.B.:

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