OVERVIEW:
This pocket-sized, small format magazine was published by Arnold Abramson and his Universal Publishing company. The contents were devoted strictly to custom cars, and there were many illustrations and "how to" tips.   The magazine outlasted Petersen Publishing's Custom Cars primarily because customs were more popular on the East Coast.

The business was located at 1250 Camden Ave S.W., Canton, Ohio, with executive offices in New York.  The first editor was Bern Williams, who did double duty with Rods Illustrated, a sister magazine launched the prior month. Later editors included Al Markovich, Daniel Kane, Larry T. Shaw and Phil Engledrum.

The table of contents, if available, can be seen by clicking on the icon.

PUBLICATION DATA:
Customs Illustrated had multiple years of publisher provided circulation volume data. The reported annualized net paid circulation ranged from 165,000 to 175,000 printed issues.

CONTENT COMPLETENESS
A total of 41 issues was printed from July, 1958 through January, 1967. All cover images are complete.

July 1958
Jul 1958 Vol 1 No 1
Sept September 1958
Sep 1958 Vol 1 No 2
Nov November 1958
Nov 1958 Vol 1 No 3
Mar March 1959
Mar 1959 Vol 2 No 1
Sept September  1959
Sep 1959 Vol 2 No 2
Dec December 1959
Dec 1959 Vol 2 No 3
Mar March 1960
Mar 1960 Vol 3 No 1
May 1960
May 1960 Vol 3 No 2
July 1960
Jul 1960 Vol 3 No 3
Sept September  1960
Sep 1960 Vol 3 No 4
Nov November 1960
Nov 1960 Vol 3 No 5
Jan January 1961
Jan 1961 Vol 3 No 6
Mar March 1961
Mar 1961 Vol 4 No 1
May 1961
May 1961 Vol 4 No 2
July 1961
Jul 1961 Vol 4 No 3
Sept September  1961
Sep 1961 Vol 4 No 4
Nov November 1961
Nov 1961 Vol 4 No 5
Jan January 1962
Jan 1962 Vol 4 No 6
Mar March 1962
Mar 1962 Vol 5 No 1
May 1962
May 1962 Vol 5 No 2
July 1962
Jul 1962 Vol 5 No 3
Sept September  1962
Sep 1962 Vol 5 No 4
Nov November 1962
Nov 1962 Vol 5 No 5
Jan January 1963
Jan 1963 Vol 5 No 6
Mar March 1963
Mar 1963 Vol 6 No 1
May 1963
May 1963 Vol 6 No 2
July 1963
Jul 1963 Vol 6 No 3
Sept September  1963
Sep 1963 Vol 6 No 4
Nov November 1963
Nov 1963 Vol 6 No 5
Vol 7 No 1
Mar March 1964
Mar 1964 Vol 7 No 2
July August Aug 1964
Jul/Aug 1964 Vol 7 No 3
New Large Format
Oct October 1964
Oct 1964 Vol 7 No 4
w/ Rods Illustrated
Dec December 1964
Dec 1964 Vol 7 No 5
Feb February 1965
Feb 1965 Vol 7 No 6
Apr April 1965
Apr 1965 Vol 8 No 1
June 1965
Jun 1965 Vol 8 No 2
Sept September  1965
Sep 1965 Vol 8 No 3
Dec December 1965
Dec 1965 Vol 8 No 4
May 1966
May 1966 Vol 8 No 5
Sept September 1966
Sept 1966 Vol 8 No 6
Jan January 1967
Jan 1967 Vol 9 No 1
Last issue