Friday Morning  October 12, 2012  
Hot Rod Legend and Hero Norm Grabowski passed away this morning.  (Feb. 5, 1933 - Oct. 12, 2012)

Norm spent over 50 years of living in the world of hot rods with a few acting jobs along the way.  He is the guy who built the Kookie Kar used in film and television.  (T bucket used on the show 77 Sunset Strip). The car was owned and driven in the show by the character Kookie who was played by Edd Byrnes. Norm became famous as a result of this car.

Norm appeared in many movies and television shows including movies such as The Towering Inferno (1974), The Cannonball Run (1981), Hooper (1978), Roustabout (1964) and many others.

In addition to being an actor, Grabowski is also known as an award-winning custom car designer. His hot rods and street rods are well known and respected in the industry and command top prices.

Grabowski was also known as a wood carver, and many hot rods and custom cars feature his unique hand-carved skull gearshift knobs.

Norm joins may other Hot Rod legends that have gone on before him. He will be greatly missed.



The family of Norm Grabowski is planning a special Memorial Service in the next few weeks, time, date and location to be announced. To be included in this Memorial to celebrate his life, please send your e-mail, name and phone to [email protected] and you will be contacted with details. This is the only valid e-mail address for Norm. And we’ve been working with Uncle Norm as he has been planning to do The Norm Grabowski Legacy Car Show. We are planning that event for Branson, MO in the Spring. Anyone wishing to take part in the creation or production of the event, please contact us.

If the measure of a man's wealth is by the number of friends and love displayed by others, then Norm left this world a multi-millionaire!

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at
www.hhlohmeyer.com.