05/19/2026
Pretty Kool ...
"Lil John" Buterra ... Legendary
Fabricator ...
Jon Buttera grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, far from the traditional hot rod centers of Southern California, yet from an early age he was captivated by the world of performance cars. As a teenager, Jon immersed himself in magazines such as Hot Rod and Speed Age, studying the latest innovations in hot rodding and drag racing. While still in high school, he gained local attention for a hand-built Model A sedan that showcased not only his creativity, but also the remarkable craftsmanship and fabrication talent that would later make him legendary in motorsports.
Determined to turn his passion into a career, Jon worked as a bartender while attending KTI, where he graduated in 1963 with a degree in Mechanical Design. Brief stints at Outboard Marine and Snap-On Tools followed, but corporate structure and bureaucracy did not suit his personality or ambitions. Jon was an innovator by nature and wanted the freedom to create on his own terms.
One of the most important relationships in Jon’s early career was with fellow enthusiast Dennis Rollain. The two had first met in 1956, and Rollain immediately recognized Jon’s extraordinary fabrication abilities. Together they built a 1937 Ford fuel coupe that became competitive almost immediately, finishing runner-up at the Kansas City Nationals in its debut appearance. Although the pair had very different personalities—Rollain calm and reserved, Jon intense and highly driven—they complemented each other perfectly.
In 1963, Jon began constructing his first dragster in his mother’s garage after work hours. Realizing the project required additional help, he contacted Rollain, and together they founded R&B Automotive. Initially both men continued working day jobs while spending nights fabricating roll cages, traction bars, and performance components. Their breakthrough came in September 1964 when they accepted a deposit for their first complete chassis, launching what would become one of drag racing’s most respected chassis-building operations.
By 1965, R&B Automotive had completed both a Junior Fuel dragster and a Top Fuel dragster. To prove their competitiveness, they traveled to California, where the cars performed impressively against the nation’s best competition. Over the next several years, the shop produced altereds, T-bucket roadsters, gassers, Funny Cars, and Top Fuel dragsters. Their reputation grew rapidly after partnering with Ron Pellegrini of Fiberglass LTD, enabling them to leave their day jobs and focus entirely on chassis construction.
Soon, R&B-built cars were being driven by some of the biggest names in drag racing, including Don Schumacher, Arnie Beswick, Tom Hoover, and Marvin Schwartz. Jon also occasionally drove race cars himself, though a terrifying Funny Car crash in 1966 convinced him to focus primarily on design and fabrication rather than driving.
During this period, Jon earned the nickname “Lil John.” While working briefly with a Formula One crew led by John Cannon, Cannon referred to him as “Little John” to distinguish him from other crew members named John. The name stuck permanently and became synonymous with innovation and craftsmanship throughout motorsports.
In 1969, Jon’s career took another major leap forward when he met one of his heroes, Mickey Thompson. Thompson hired Jon to help work on his land-speed car projects, leading Jon to relocate to California. Working alongside renowned chassis expert Pat Foster, Jon contributed to advanced land-speed vehicles, Funny Cars, and numerous innovative performance components.
The following year, Jon opened his own shop, Li'l John's Place. The business quickly became one of the premier chassis builders in drag racing, producing championship-caliber Funny Cars and Top Fuel dragsters for legendary teams and drivers including Don Prudhomme, Tom McEwen, Barry Setzer, and Don Schumacher. Jon’s work earned him multiple Car Craft Magazine All-Star awards for both Funny Car and Top Fuel chassis design.
Despite his success in professional drag racing, Jon never abandoned his love for street rods and custom cars. A close friendship with Gary Baskerville led to numerous creative collaborations that appeared in enthusiast magazines and helped shape the street machine movement of the 1970s and 1980s.
One of Jon’s greatest personal achievements came in 1983 when he fulfilled a lifelong dream by building his own Chevrolet-powered Indianapolis 500 race car. With driver Dennis Firestone behind the wheel, the team completed the race and finished 27th. Jon returned to Indianapolis in 1984 and again in 1987, where his car qualified eighth and earned him the prestigious Clint Brawner Mechanics Award.
After retiring from chassis construction, Jon focused on product design and prototyping for major aftermarket manufacturers. He spent time working with Boyd Coddington, creating innovative wheel designs and billet components, while also contributing to projects for Harley-Davidson and other performance companies. Beyond cars, Jon built motorcycles, earned his pilot’s license in 1978, and even considered designing and constructing his own airplane.
Known for his honesty, uncompromising standards, and extraordinary craftsmanship, Lil John Buttera became one of the most influential and respected fabricators in the history of drag racing and hot rodding. To those who knew him, he truly was one of a kind.@
