Welcome to Johnston Customs Official Website for "Fab Guru" Darell Johnston

Darell Johnston Recommends Steele Rubber Products for all your weather stripping needs.

Darell Johnston recommends SEM auto paint products.

Darell Johnston recommends Color Horizons Custom Finishes.

Darell Johnston recommends Meguiar's Car Care products.

"When Your Hands Demand the BEST." Grant Steering Wheels.

Currently in production: 1989 Pontiac Firebird

Visit Often to see updates on Darell's latest custom ride! To view his work in person, be sure to catch him at various auto shows nationwide. Thanks for visiting and be sure to pay a visit to our sponsors listed on the left side of each page. Click on the logos to go directly to their websites.

You might recognize Darell from his regular appearances at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Autorama in Detroit, or on the popular SPEED Network television show "Hot Rod TV." He has also been featured on DIY's "Celebrity Rides" as well as a North Carolina favorite, "Fuel TV."

FOCUSED. Bio of a Car Guy.

Upon witnessing a "day in the life", Darell Johnston seems to be a very serious, quiet and unwavering sort. His daunting height at six foot six inches as well as an intense stare under a furrowed brow and his quiet demeanor add to this impression. That image, however, reflects only a visual reality of the actual man who encompasses immeasurable talent and a keen interest in community and industry. Outside the shop are the social and home life that reflect his unwavering ability to overcome hardship, his love for his wife and children, and the ambition that drives his passion for custom car builds, first class fabrication and an absolutely amazing attention to detail. He's a really nice guy, too.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Darell grew up hanging out in his father's auto body shop and his grandfather’s upholstery business. His dad's work was featured in several automotive publications for his paint and body work. His grandfather had several large sewing machines and was known for his careful stitches and conscientious perfectionism. It was those early influences that lead to Darell’s unequivocally focused approach to the mechanical, welding, body work, painting, fabrication and interior aesthetics of a project car.

Darell received his first car from his father at the young age of 13, a 1957 Chevy Belaire. Once Darell had a taste of car ownership, and the thrill of how it would feel to complete his first project, his desire to re-build cars from the ground up was ignited.

He enlisted into the Marine Corps at age 17 after graduating from high school early, but a severe ankle injury ended his military career early. The injury resulted in surgery and months of rehabilitation and physical therapy. He spent nearly a year in a wheel chair while allowing his ankle to become strong enough to walk. Darell enrolled at Ranken Technical College and completed their program in Advanced Automotive Technology for which he has been recognized (and is immortalized by a plaque on their solid marble walls) as one of their 100 Outstanding Graduates in Ranken’s 100 Year History. He apprenticed under the direction of Ray Williams of Ray’s Corvettes in St. Louis, touring the nation’s most notable auto shows. While Darell worked for Ray, he was sent to Bob Bondurant’s School for High Performance Driving where he learned the rules of road racing. Ray sponsored Darell and he became a race car driver for the NHRA. He later served as a NASCAR Crew Chief for Bedrock Racing, Driver Carl Webster.

After a few thrilling years traveling and racing, Darell met his wife Shiela and began his life as a family man. Darell and Shiela have had five children together: two daughters, three sons. Darell spent these early years enjoying a comfortable career at a successful Jeep Dodge dealership as a lead tech and shop foreman, installing lift kits on jeeps and doing other custom work. During this time, another life-altering event, the birth of second son Ryan, forced Darell to take a career break and help care for his other children while Shiela spent many months in and out of St. Louis Children’s Hospital holding vigil over their very weak and fragile little boy. Ryan was born early and with severe feeding and breathing issues that did not fully resolve until he was three years old. As Ryan recovered, Darell decided to make a career out of his number one passion: custom cars.

Darell's resume includes exhaustive training and employment in every aspect of the automotive industry. He has been involved in racing from Sprint Cup NASCAR, ARCA REMAX, USAC, NHRA, and Winston West NASCAR. He has also helped build wicked rides for Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony of Van Halen Fame; Bud Brutsman – the producer of Overhaulin’ and a Bullitt clone for Steve McQueen’s son Chad McQueen. Darell has immersed himself in the exclusive world of movie car rebuilds, one-off customizations and mind-bending deadlines.

In 2007, Darell and his work were featured on Speed Networks’ Hot Rod TV, as well as TLC’s Overhaulin’. In 2008 Celebrity Rides debuted on DIY network featuring the Bullitt rebuild. In 2009, he was featured for his work on a popular East Coast television program called Fuel TV. Darell’s work has also been featured in several popular automotive journals and publications. He has worked feverishly establishing his image and reputation among builders of a higher caliber by participating in numerous nationwide car shows and delivering incredible techniques and talent proving to his many product sponsors that he is worthy of their support and will never disappoint. While displaying his work or fronting for a sponsor at shows like Autorama and SEMA, Darell has spent time getting together with his many friends and associates in the automotive aftermarket and creating a niche for himself that he intends to occupy for many, many years to come.

Johnston Customs, located in the heart of Race City USA near Mooresville, North Carolina, offers first quality builds that honor the craftsmanship of his dad and grandfather as well as the constant support he has received from his wife, children, extended family, friends and fans alike, not to mention his happy clients. The cars that roll out of this shop reflect Darell’s reputation as a talented artisan... a “Fabrication Guru”.

BIOGRAPHY