Covell Creative Metalworking was founded by Ron Covell, a preeminent authority in metal fabrication based in Freedom, California.

Ron’s journey into automotive excellence began in the early 1960s in Los Gatos, where he spent his high school years building a flathead-powered Model A and a Deuce 5-window coupe. That early passion led him to the collision repair program at San Jose City College, where he hand-shaped an aluminum body for a ‘23 T roadster, which he still owns today.

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His professional growth was shaped by his time working with renowned metal shaper Arnie Roberts. Soon after, he launched a successful business crafting dragster bodies for legendary chassis builder Kent Fuller. After a decade in the drag racing community, Ron moved on to building street rods. His work earned national acclaim with a Tom Daniels-designed track roadster built for Tom Prufer, which became the centerpiece of a high-profile series in Rod & Custom magazine.

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Seeking to bridge the gap between industrial craft and fine art, Ron returned to school in the 1970s. Mentored by Don Potts, Fletcher Benton, and Michael Cooper, he earned a Master’s degree in art, specializing in sculpture, from San Jose State University in 1976. That artistic foundation shaped the career that followed, and his creations twice won the prestigious “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” award at the Grand National Roadster Show. His work on custom cars and motorcycles has been featured in publications worldwide and honored at top shows across the United States, and he is a member of both the Grand National Roadster Show and Darryl Starbird Halls of Fame.

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In 1993, Ron shifted from builder to educator, launching his first metalworking workshop. The overwhelming response sparked a global teaching career, and he has since traveled to nine countries to share his techniques with more than six thousand aspiring makers. He also developed a line of instructional DVDs to reach metalworkers everywhere. Known to many as “Professor Hammer,” Ron has written long-running columns for Modern Rodding, Classic Truck Performance, All Chevy Performance, and the Goodguys Gazette, and has been featured in several online newsletters.

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After a legendary career of more than fifty years building for others, Ron has officially retired from commercial projects. His creative fire remains unchanged. Now focused on consulting, he is also pursuing his own passions and crafting personal projects in his studio, ensuring the Covell legacy of innovation continues well into the future.