Van Nationals Pins and Buttons
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Description: During the custom van boom of the 1970s, Los Angeles stood at the center of the West Coast scene, but talented builders were making their mark throughout Southern California. One of the lesser-known outfits was Nighthawk Custom Shop, which operated from an unassuming warehouse just north of San Diego International Airport along Pacific Highway. While many competing shops aggressively promoted themselves through magazine ads and national van shows, Nighthawk kept a remarkably low profile, letting its craftsmanship speak for itself. The shop built a number of award-winning street vans during its roughly decade-long run, yet little remains of its legacy today beyond some faded spare tire covers and a few well-worn T-shirts.
