Garage Style Magazine Issue 16

magazine

Guy Fieri Garage Spring 2012

Richard Griot at Home

Bat Cave Garage

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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contents

features

18

18

Griot’s Garage

22

Garaging with Guy Fieri

28

Harry’s Petrolmobilia Shrine

32

Close and Personal

36

Garages in History

22

28 4

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

departments 6

Publisher’s Note

8

Lance’s Column

10

Phil’s Column

11

Personal Notes

12

Garage News

14

Office Profile

40

Barn Finds

44

Personality Profile

48

Automobilia Outlook

60

Business Profile

14

Treasures and Tar

Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour

Buddy Pepp

60

Jag Man Jon

64

64

Artist Profile

68

Unique Artists

70

Automobile Review

72

Book Reviews

80

Buyer’s Guide

82

Garage Bazaar

Joe Pepitone

Michael Irvine Sheridon Davies Tom Sachse Tony Simmonds

Rolls-Royce Speedsters

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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Publisher’s

note

On the Clock

T

here are no shortages of joy to being the founder-editor-publisher of Garage Style Magazine, but one of my favorites is chatting with and getting to know you guys, the readers. The stories you all have, the experiences you share, the garages you’ve created (or are creating) are amazing, and I devour them all – I can’t wait for the next time we chat! The creation of GSM is one of my proudest achievements, and it means the world to me that you all enjoy it – however, some seem to enjoy it maybe more than others, and it’s often downright humbling.

Joe Mascolo connected with me a while back, emailing images of both his and his father’s garages, and they were both amazing spaces. We posted his letter and an image of his garage in the Personal Notes section of issue 13 which generated a response letter from Belgium, which we printed in issue 14. I immediately told Joe that I’d like to feature both garages, and he was quite excited. Not knowing who to turn to for images in New England, I contacted Wayne Carini to discover a great photographer who would be sensitive to GSM’s otherwise fragile finances, and he introduced me to Bruno Ratensperger whose outstanding work initially intimidated me; I thought for sure he’d be way out of price for GSM. As it turned out, Bruno was intrigued by the work, the magazine, and, I think, seeing the garages. Bruno and Joe got together and, I understand, had a great day, and Bruno delivered fascinating images of both Joe’s and his father’s places.

Normally, this is the end of the story – but, as it turns out, Joe is a bit of a tinkerer and knows I have a soft spot for petroliana and automobilia (who doesn’t?) and made me my very own Mobil Oil Time Clock.

Literally made it from an old discarded time clock – he pulled it all apart, repainted it, put a new clock motor in, rewired it, and decorated it in Mobil fashion. To say it humbled me is a bit of an understatement – in an Email he wrote that his wife said I would love it, and she was right. He sent a note with the clock that we’ve placed in the Personal Notes section for you to read.

In late October, we moved GSM out of our home office into a real live office, in a building with rent and everything. The Mobil Clock was one of the very first items to move into the space, and currently sits atop the document organizer with a tiny Eifel Tower and wooden turtle, both given to me by my Mom, one because I love the Tower, the other because I have a thing for turtles. Another story for another time.

Anyway, it’s truly one of my most prized possessions and I treasure it – the few people who’ve been to the office are fascinated by the Clock, and it’s usually the first thing I point out to people as they come in. Let them know, we’re on the clock.

All I can say is – thank you, Joe. You’re one in a million.

All the best, Don Weberg Editor-Publisher

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Garage style

magazine

Editor-Publisher Don Weberg Art Director Web Designer – Coordinator Kari McDaniel Business Development Manager Michele Weberg Columinists Lance Lambert Phil Berg Arts Editor Jeremiah McDaniel Lead Photographer Dr. Booker Preston Contributors Ned Lawler Kate Lawler John Gunnell Dennis Wilkes Iain Curry Steve McCarthy Cobb Ware Dr. Rick Rader Bill Nakasone Terry Doran Editorial Intern Toni Avery Advertising – Public Relations Cindy Meitle 480.277.1864 | cindy@carprusa.com Advertising Doug Holland 910.398.8307 | douglas@hhpr.biz Subscriptions – Address Changes GSM P.O. Box 18479 Anaheim, CA 92817 800.999.9718 Garage Style Magazine is Published Quarterly by Weberg Media Group, Inc. 271 W. Imperial Hwy. Suite G La Habra, CA 90631 www.garagestylemagazine.com Not responsible for undelivered issues due to late change of address.

Not responsible for issues delivered damaged.

All rights reserved by Garage Style Magazine, Inc. Printed in the United States by American Web Printers

Lance’s

column

Treasures and Tar By

Lance Lambert

I

grew up in Tacoma, WA in a lower middle class neighborhood in a lower middle class house. I had no concept of middle or any class when I was young, so for me it was just where I lived. It was a largemiddle sized four bedroom house built sometime in the 1920’s. The home offered security, warmth and treasures; security because of my family, warmth because the furnace worked, and treasurers because of what was in the garage.

The garage was not off limits to me; it was a place that I could linger in as long as I didn’t mess up the various piles of my dad’s junk. There were boxes of used mason jars, bags of rusty nails, piles of various lengths of angle iron, filthy canvas tarps, empty gallon glass bottles, bars of lead, cast iron kettles to melt the led in, a huge block of hardened tar and many other castoffs and surplus items that my dad scrounged.

He considered himself an expert handyman and utilized the garage loot for various projects. The rest of the family considered him an expert at incompletion. He was always starting a project at home that he never finished. The basement laundry room was never finished; the upstairs bathroom had a hole in the floor that was eventually going to be a laundry chute but remained a hole in the floor. The family room was never completed, the patio was never completed and the house remained half repainted throughout my childhood.

The garage’s treasures brought me unending pleasures.

The glass bottles, when filled with water, were great fun to use as targets for my BB gun. The lead bars always fascinated me with their incredible weight and the angle iron was used by my brother Jay to make the framework for a great backyard fort.

One of the best items in the garage was the block of tar.

I’d use one of the large nails to knock off small pieces and then chew them. Yes, chew the tar. It actually tasted good if the piece was very small. Kids, don’t try this at home, or in your garage either.

Another use of the garage was for the meetings of the “Back Ally Boys”; a group of friends that rode our bikes all through the neighborhood via the alleys. There was always something great happening in the gravel covered alleys; someone changing the oil in their car and pouring the old oil into the alley’s dirt, a local teenager, aka my brother Jay, siphoning gas from a neighbor’s car, children jumping off of a garage roof onto a pile of mattresses and other activities worthy of only being done in an alley.

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Jay and his ‘39 Ford.

Something really exciting began happening as I approached my teenage years; my brother acquired a 1939 Ford coupe, parked it in the garage and began altering it in an effort to make it a real hot rod. One necessary change was a new paint job.

One of the garage’s treasures was a couple gallons of surplus army green paint. It took no time at all to turn the Ford’s exterior into something that would make any veteran proud. No hot rods in Tacoma were painted U.S. Army green and my brother’s application of the surplus paint assured that this color choice would remain a rarity.

Danger was also an irresistible charm of the garage.

The roof consisted of rotting timbers covered with sheets of disintegrating tar paper. Walking across the flat roof provided the opportunity to improve my balance as a result of trying to not step through the roof. Sitting on the edge of the roof was the perfect place to use my slingshot to shoot marbles into the walkway below.

The years passed and the garage continued it’s decent into disrepair. More holes opened in the roof, the garage door collapsed and, finally, we used the garage only for storage of items waiting to be hauled to the dump.

A recent drive past the house revealed a bare concrete pad where the garage once stood. The memories of the garage still linger, especially when I smell hot tar.

Phil’s

column

Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour Old Versus New Garages By

Phil Berg

A

bout half-a-foot shorter than a Smart fourtwo, with a two-cylinder half-liter engine, the Ligier Nova and other microcars’ top speed is about 25 mph, can be driven by unlicensed youths, and can park on untraveled pieces of sidewalk next to the crowded streets of Rome. Rome is a city that’s downright hostile to large, classic cars, primarily because the city was built long before cars existed. That means the streets meander and angle sharply, and city blocks are odd-shaped polygons that aren’t easy to partition into even lanes and consistent parking spaces. Buildings sometimes intrude on the pavement, and bigger roads are impossible because dig sites usually unearth priceless artifacts and treasures, resulting in excavation delays of years, or even decades.

But while cars suffer, buildings get the opposite treatment in Rome. It is commonplace to find large stone buildings 300 years old that are fully occupied with modern businesses and apartments. Inside are expertly installed ceramic and marble tiles, finished with deep-gloss glazes and polishes. Plasterover-stone walls are thick enough you can’t hear a chainsaw in the adjacent rooms, and nothing in an entire building can be scratched or dented by your thumbnail no matter how hard you press it into the walls and floors.

The masonry garage of jewelry expert and American car aficionado Nicola Bulgari in downtown Rome is smack in the middle of this longevity favored urban environment. The building, with many split levels and odd nooks, used to be an auto service agency at one point, but likely could have been a porcelain refractory shop in the 19th century or a glass factory in the 18th century. As a private garage for Bulgari’s 50 or so classic cars in Italy – one of three the 70-year-old passionate driver has in that country – there is a sense that the building will last far longer than the cars inside it, even though the prewar Buicks and Packards and Pierce-Arrows are restored to near-timeless condition. So the cars in Bulgari’s Rome garage appear as youngsters, secure in an ageless home.

A quarter of the way around the globe from Rome, in Las

Vegas, Art Goldstrom toils passionately to restore, customize and preserve 1932 Ford coupes and 1957 Chevys as well as about 150 other cars in a hidden garage complex within sight of the world’s largest casinos. Goldstrom, a Nevada native, is able to spend all of his time caring for his cars after having spent 50 years running a trucking and demolition company in sin city. And the key word here is demolition. He estimates that every new outsized giant casino-resort built in the past, present and likely the future in Las Vegas has a lifespan of just 30 years. The impossibly supported Luxor pyramid may be gone half a dozen years from now; the magical 4,000room Excalibur is past mandatory retirement. Goldstrom is 77, yet will likely outlive many of the massive steel-and-glass structures in his hometown.

New garages made with softwood two-by-fours that dent under pressure of your thumbnail, fragile paper-covered gypsum board, cardboard-thin asphalt roofing shingles, and vinyl windows with thinly glued glazing just don’t seem to impart the security that you might want for a 70-year-old car. Our cars, then, are likely to outlast many of their new American garages. That’s just one more consideration to make when deciding to build new, or to repurpose an old masonry structure.

The building, with many split levels and odd nooks, used to be an auto service agency at one point, but likely could have been a porcelain refractory shop in the 19th century or a glass factory in the 18th century.

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

personal

notes

can stop by Fallbrook on your way up or down. Thanks for the info on the wheel company in Vista as well.

See you soon, Mike Mike, Good to hear from you, hope we can hang out soon and see how your new garage is coming along.

ED

This clock works. Even though it makes some noise, it keeps good time. I like to use them only for display. Maybe you can put it on a shelf or hang it on a wall. However you display it, I’m sure it will look good anywhere. All you will have to do is move the cable from the back to the bottom if you hang it. I just never trust older electronics. I have done a few gas station theme time clocks and I use them only for display, but they all work as this one does. If you open the clock up you will find a box of new ribbon inside.

Also you will see I labeled inside the clock, “Stan’s Mobil Gas,” in honor of my grandfather, who always dreamed of opening a gas station in the early 1950’s. I think that’s the reason I have such a passion for this stuff! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this clock as much as I had the pleasure and enjoyment of making it for you!

All the best, your friend, Joe Joe, The clock looks fantastic in the new Garage Style Magazine Office. We can’t thank you enough for the kind gift - this is over the top!

ED I have recently become a subscriber to your great publication.

I received my first issue as a handout to exhibitors at Amelia Island last year and used several ideas found in articles to complete my garage, office and guest apartment. The project was started in 2005 and finally finished last week with an untimely holdup during the course of completion. (an oak tree decided let loose and fall on the office portion 3 months ago). I do have photos if you would like to take a look but did not want to forward without your knowing first. I think it came out real well, you might agree after you see them.

Sincerely, Tom Shelton Tom, Thanks for sharing the pictures of your garage. Those oak trees always cause a ruckus! We will look forward to featuring your garage more extensively soon.

ED Jen and I got the mag last week! It was cool to see Ron’s garage featured in it. I assume he is a subscriber as well.

Anytime you are down in the San Diego area call me and you

Just wanted to say “Hello” and that I enjoyed reading a copy of your magazine I picked up at SEMA last week.

BUT.......

I also wanted to call to your attention to a mistake in the article “Garages in History” by Rick Rader, it was stated on page 49, that Smokey Yunick died in 2009, when in fact Smokey died on May 9th, 2001.

As a casual note I did come across a couple of copy errors missed in proofreading text. Right off don’t remember which stories, but they jumped off the page when reading.

Again, I enjoyed the featured stories, and the style and look of your magazine. Just thought you might want to know about the incorrect information printed about Smokey and that some copy errors slipped through. (Hey, that’s one way to know if anyone is reading) <grin>.

Thanks for your time, George George, Great job in catching the mistakes. Hope you continue to enjoy the magazine.

ED This is just to update you about my new toy: the Volvo P-1800 that I have just added to my collection, Simon Templar’s car!

Hope everything is ok and also hope we will finally meet in your next trip to South Florida!

Best regards, Sergio Goldvarg Sergio, Great to hear from you again, and terrific car! It’s funny - I never knew Templar had a P-1800 until a few years ago... when I was growing up, Templar (actually his son) used an XJS, and yet it seems that no one remembers that car!

I wonder what Templar’s garage looked like...

ED

Please send letters to: info@garagestylemagazine.com or Personal Notes C/O GSM PO Box 812 La Habra, CA 90633-0812

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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Garage

news

2012 Dana Point Concours d’Elegance to Honor Car Hobbyist Bruce Meyer Known as an ambassador to the collector car hobby, Bruce Meyer will participate in many of the activities held June 23-24, 2012 at the Dana Point Concours, and be inducted as the 30th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance Automotive Icon.

“Bruce is a world class automotive historian and renowned collector,” said Jeff Spellens, president of the 2012 Dana Point Concours. “He’s a person of honor and integrity, and for his accomplishments Bruce has done it the right way, with style and compassion. Having such a knowledgeable and celebrated automotive aficionado participate in our Concours will help us give people a new understanding and appreciation for the collector car and vintage motorcycle hobbies.”

Meyer has received numerous awards for his hard work and dedication to the hobby, including the Meguiar’s Award for the Car Hobby’s Person of the Year, Petersen Automotive Museum Automotive Icon Award, and the City of Hope Car Collector of the Year, to name a few. He’s on the board of the Mullin Museum, the Nethercutt Collection, the LeMay Museum, and the Petersen Museum, the latter of which he is the founding chairman and founder of the Checkered Flag 200.

“Highly respected in the collector car world, Bruce is a renowned automobile enthusiast with impressive vehicles in his collection ranging from Duesenbergs to Dragsters, Cobras to Corvettes and Bentleys to Bugattis,” added Spellens. “His expertise and passion for the hobby will be a wonderful addition to our 30th anniversary theme: ‘Legends of Le Mans: Racing in the ‘60s’.”

San Marino Motor Car Classic Enters Second Year, June 8-10

Student Redesigns GSM Cover for Class Project

Having enjoyed a successful first year with more than 200 cars in attendance, the San Marino Motor Car Classic is readying for another exciting year, June 8 - 10, 2012 at Lacy Park in San Marino, California. Expecting upwards of 240 cars, the event has scheduled various activities outside of the show itself: Friday – Welcome dinner and cocktail reception at the Annandale Golf Club near the Rose Bowl.

Saturday – Architectural Driving Tour through historic Pasadena and San Marino, ending at the Huntington Library for lunch and museum access.

Saturday – Special gala benefiting the Petersen Automotive Museum at the private Flying-A-Car. Sunday – The San Marino Motor Car Classic at Lacy Park begins at 9am. At 4:30, an informal Afterglow Mexican Fiesta will be held at The Mill, just a few blocks from Lacy Park.

Not the first time Lacy Park has hosted an automotive event, the park held the Grand Classic of the Southern California Region of the Classic Car Club of America, many of whose members attend the Motor Classic. www.sanmarinomotorclassic.com

Amanda Yarmolich, a bonafide car gal used Garage Style Magazine as a class project while studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The assignment allowed her to select a magazine from a pile, and she chose GSM. “I knew I could twist it to my own interests,” she said. “That, of course, led me to redesign it with a Kustom Kulture edge and add in an Ed “Big Daddy” Roth story and a couple other twists to the original content.”

While an actual magazine has not yet been designed to these kustom standards, the GSM design team is wondering if we’ve overlooked a design concept in our original layouts!

Keep up the good work, Amanda! www.ayarmolich.com

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Sean Murphy Wins GUNK Serious Solutions Challenge Grand Prize At the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, GUNK and SkillsUSA, a nonprofit partnership of industry, students and teachers working to ensure America has a skilled workforce, announced Sean Murphy of Tennessee Technology Center at Athens as the Grand Prize Winner of the Serious Solutions Challenge. Murphy will receive a $3,500 scholarship and $5,000 to support the automotive department at Tennessee Technology Center at Athens.

“I can’t believe I won the GUNK Serious Solutions Challenge,” said Murphy. “I studied really hard and wanted to win, but I didn’t know who I was up against or how hard the questions would be.

I’m happy that I was prepared, and grateful that my instructor, Lewis Turpin, was able to help me study for the challenge.

The five finalists were chosen based on their video entries, demonstrating their “auto-motivation,” or what drives them to pursue a career in the automotive industry, and each will receive a $3,500 scholarship toward their automotive technical education. The five finalists and their automotive teachers also received all-expense paid trips to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas to compete in the GUNK Serious Solutions Challenge.

The five finalists were: Robert Hollingsworth, Tennessee Technology Automotive Program (Nashville, TN) Keith Rose, Brigham Young University Idaho (Rexburg, ID) Sean Murphy, Tennessee Technology Center Athens (Athens, TN) Jonah Castillo, Pueblo Community College (Pueblo, CO) James Watson, Okefenokee Technical College (Waycross, GA)

“We were so proud and excited to bring these students and their instructors to SEMA to compete in the GUNK Serious Solutions Challenge,” said Marshal Livingstone, GUNK brand category manager at RSC Chemical Solutions. “They are all deserving students who worked hard to get here, but Sean really fought for the win. He’s a perfect example of a bright, young student who is willing to do whatever it takes to become a professional in the automotive industry.”

Video entries, which the students submitted throughout the summer, were judged by representatives of RSC and SkillsUSA. Video entries can be viewed on the GUNK Serious Solutions Challenge YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/ GunkSSC2011.

Collector Studio of Toronto Hosts Fantastic Items Morry Barmak of Collector Studio is forever teasing us with his fabulous acquisitions for sale, and this lot is no different. He recently came across an ultra rare 1930’s Alfa Romeo dealer sign that was used in Italy. Measuring out to 33-inches in diameter, and weighing 15-pounds, it features an enamel-bakedon-steel finish and is in fine condition with a fabulous patina. Morry also unearthed two 1980’s Ferrari Cavallino Rampante bronze sculptures, one 63-inches tall and weighing

about 100-pounds, the other 36-inches tall, weighing in at about 33-pounds. Used at the Ferrari factory during the 1980’s and ’90s before being switched for the modern Plexiglas illuminated signs, they’re sure to make automobilia collectors of any scale envious.

At some point, GSM would like to take a trek to Canada to visit Morry and his shop, maybe make a profile of it. Then again, it might be dangerous – the inventory is simply too tempting.

Visit GarageStyleMagazine.com for more news

• GSM Moves into New Office After building the magazine from scratch to internationally distributed quarterly, Garage Style Magazine and the Weberg Media Group relocated from its’ original home office digs to a new office building.

• SEMA Show Hosts Garage Products, Manufacturers The 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show proved that the garage industry is alive and well.

Attempting to see everything the SEMA Show has to offer is

nearly impossible, • Las Vegas Museum Expands to 25,000-square feet Having just opened in 2011, Hot Rod City will be expanding to accommodate the collection of Michael Dezer.

• Mid America Motorworks, Midwest Autosavers Makeover Meyers Manx During the Mid America Motorworks Funfest for Air-Cooled VW 2011, an interesting challenge was raised – could eight people complete a Meyers Manx makeover in two days?

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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Ohio Technical College Awards $325,000 in Scholarships High school students competing in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Championship at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show were awarded a total of $325,000 by Ohio Technical College.

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is a timed competition among invited automotive tech teams from local high schools to tear down and reassemble high performance 350-cid Chevy engines. Teams consist of five students and an instructor/coach, and the top 10 teams competed for scholarship prizes during the Showdown at SEMA event.

“These young students get better and better each year, shaving minutes off the clock while successfully disassembling and reassembling the Chevy engine,” said Tom King, vice president of enrollment management/technical training at OTC. “We are proud to partner with Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and to promote our joint mission of cultivating the next generation of automotive talent.”

First place went to Team Moroso from Loara High School in Anaheim, California., who averaged 21:08 minutes. Each team member won a $10,000 Ohio Technical College scholarship.

Second place - Team Painless Performance from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Each won $9,000 OTC scholarships. Third place - Team Comp Cams from East Ridge High School #1 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each received $8,000 OTC scholarships.

Fourth place - Team ARP from East Ridge High School #2 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each won $7,000 OTC scholarships.

Fifth place - Team Fel-Pro from Joliet Central High School in Joliet, Illinois. Each earned $6,000 in OTC scholarships.

Sixth place - Team Motive Gear from Belvidere North High School in Belvidere, Illinois. Each won $5,000 scholarships from OTC. Seventh place - Team Royal Purple from Burton Center for Arts and Technology in Salem, Virginia. Each received $5,000 OTC scholarships. Eighth place - Team Hawk Performance from Elkhart Area Career Center #1 in Elkhart, Indiana. Each won $5,000 OTC scholarships.

Ninth place -TeamAutometer from ElkhartArea Career Center #2 in Elkhart, Indiana. Each received $5,000 in scholarships from OTC. Tenth place - Team K&N from North Orange County ROP in Anaheim, California. Each received $5,000 OTC scholarships.

The winners can use their scholarship prizes to attend Ohio Technical College, where students learn a wide array

of technician skills in automotive, collision repair, high performance and racing, welding and diesel, or OTC’s branch campus the PowerSport Institute, where students train to service the motorcycles and other power sport vehicles of all major manufacturers. This is the third year OTC has sponsored the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow showdown at SEMA. For more information about Hot Rodders of Tomorrow, visit www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com.

Ohio Technical College (OTC) is an accredited private, proprietary technical school dedicated to providing premier technical training in the world of modern mechanics by pursuing industry alliances, providing outstanding training equipment and focusing on the needs of individual students.

An Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) college, OTC and its PowerSport Institute branch campus encompass nearly 800,000 sq. feet of classroom and workshop space. OTC offers technician training programs in Automotive, Diesel, Auto-Diesel, Collision Repair, Classic Car Restoration, High Performance and Racing, Welding and PowerSport Technology as well as specialization in BMW, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Custom Bike Building, Custom Paint and Graphics, and Power Generator Systems. Motorcycle technician training is provided through the PowerSport Institute, a branch campus of OTC in North Randall, Ohio. For more information, call 800.322.7000 ext. 163; or visit www. ohiotech.edu and www.psi-now.com.

Mid America Motorworks, Midwest Autosavers Makeover Meyers Manx During the Mid America Motorworks Funfest for AirCooled VW 2011, an interesting challenge was raised – could eight people complete a Meyers Manx makeover in two days? The crew from dunebuggyarchives.com was on target to completion when a storm ended their quest.

Midwest Autosavers’ Dr. Darby Milnor has taken over the task, and the Buggy will soon be complete. During Funfest, Bruce Meyers was on hand to authenticate the

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Manx as an original, 1969 Buggy.

“We really hoped to finish the makeover ourselves after Funfest, but several other projects have been demanding our time,” said Josh Yager, Extreme Makeover coordinator and VW Merchant at Mid America Motorworks. “We know the Manx is in great hands with Dr. Darby and we can’t wait to have it complete and show-ready for 2012.”

2011 SEMA Hosts Garage Products, Manufacturers

GSM Moves into New Office

After building the magazine from scratch to internationally distributed quarterly, Garage Style Magazine and the Weberg Media Group relocated from its’ original home office digs to a new office building. Still in the city of La Habra, California, the magazine now has a little extra space to stretch out and not interfere with the family operations in the home.

“We’re extremely excited about this move,” said Don Weberg, founder of Garage Style Magazine. “Our ability to move from the home to a devoted space shows our growth and solidity, and we’re very proud and humbled by that.”

Measuring out at just over matchbox size, the new office provides working space for design, advertising, editorial and special projects to meet and work on various goals. Thus far, the space has worked out very well for everyone who works with GSM. “It’s terrific to separate private life and the business life,” said Don. “This company grew up in a home atmosphere, and was slowly taking more and more space, squeezing the family out. We’re looking forward to building a better magazine from the new office.”

The Weberg Media Group would eventually like to purchase a unique property to call home, and has its eyes on a few buildings around SoCal, but for the time being the matchbox (ironically labeled Unit G) will serve well. Issue 16 was fully assembled from the new space, and the company is having fun decorating with items from GarageArt.com and gifts from friends and subscribers.

The 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show proved that the garage industry is alive and well.

Attempting to see everything the SEMA Show has to offer is nearly impossible, but GSM made the best of it, taking time to visit with advertisers from around the globe, discuss business and editorial ideas with companies currently and potentially working with GSM, and catch up with some old friends.

Las Vegas Museum Expands Facility Having just opened in 2011, Hot Rod City will be expanding to accommodate the collection of Michael Dezer. Sporting over 600 vehicles, the collection is a satellite location from the 200,000-square foot facility in Florida. Some of the cars are ‘star cars’ like the “Beverly Hillbillies” Jalopy, the Mercedes used in the film “The Hangover,” a “Back to the Future” DeLorean, a KITT car from the TV show “Knight Rider,” and more. GSM hopes to bring you more on this collection very soon!

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office

profile

Purpose built dental office gives reason to smile. The diner motif is pure American Graffiti.

Doctor Dave’s Dental Diner Merging Passion with Profession Text by

Bill Nakasone

Images Courtesy of

Dr. David Myers

W

hile cruising down the boulevard in the small town of Conway, Arkansas you can’t help but notice what appears to be a 1950’s diner. The building has every architectural cue of 1950’s Americana, from the overhead awning to the fluorescent lighting, even the color palette of the building captures the vibe of that time period. Parked in front is a custom 1951 Mercury that has all of the ingredients of 1950’s cool; a chopped top, slammed suspension, frenched headlights, twin spotlights, fender skirts, spinner hubcaps, nosed and decked hood, gangster white wall tires and a killer metallic green paint job. You pull into the parking lot expecting to have a car hop in roller skates greet you and take your order, but instead the business sign says, “Orthodontics, David J. Myers, DDS MS.” You ask yourself, “Have I been punked or am I in the Twilight Zone?”

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

The fun actually begins when you walk into the building: Your name appears on the marquee of the small town movie theater within the endodontic building; Next door is Watson’s Custom Paint Shop that offers flames, scallops and pin striping services; Just on the other side is Fairmont’s Malt Shop and you just might start salivating at the thought of an ice cream soda or a hot fudge sundae. The reception area is a 1947 Mercury woody. There are two couches, one a 1956 Oldsmobile, the other a 1959 Cadillac. Inside Watson’s Paint Shop is a ’59 Cadillac custom, with the signature scallop paint job that made Larry Watson famous. Just over a few buildings is the SINCLAIR gas station. Welcome to small town Americana – you have entered into the office of Dr. Dave’s Dental Diner.

Dave Myers has been an orthodontist for eighteen years.

Four years ago, Dave decided he wanted to re-locate his

Left, Olds trunk provides ample room for two; top right, examination area is open, full of eye candy and custom paintwork; bottom right, ‘59 Cad reception area is very original. Custom paint by Ron Meyers.

private practice to a location that would merge his hobby (custom cars) with his working environment, and had the idea to recreate his office into a place that personified his cherished memories of yesteryear while bringing the “Happy Days” spirit and fun to his patients. Dave found an ideal site with the proper location, appropriate zoning and ample room for parking.

After a comprehensive evaluation of the existing building, his architect advised him to “remove and replace it” rather than go through the more expensive process of rehabilitation. Dave complied with his architect’s advice and created a purpose built orthodontist office “custom tailored” to his specific requirements. The entire process of site acquisition, building design, interior design, exterior design and actual construction was time consuming and labor intensive. Just one year ago, the project came to completion and Dave began practicing out of this building.

Dave played an active role throughout the entire planning and construction process. All of the car parts used on the furniture (’59 Cadillac, ’47 Mercury and ’56 Oldsmobile) came from Dave’s personal car parts stash. The design of the items also emanated out of Dave’s creative vision. The World War II

fighter plane themed model on the wall has braces attached to the mouth, a whimsical touch that Dave insisted on having.

Even the diamond plate on his dental bench was a detail item that Dave specified. The gas pump was personally refurbished

by Dave and a friend. The sage green and ivory hue of the SINCLAIR pump is so reminiscent of the time period. Dave called in Ron Myers, his pin striper of choice, from Tulsa, Oklahoma to perform final paint detailing on his custom furniture.

The inspiration for this 1950’s themed mini city came right out of Dave’s childhood. Fairmont’s Malt Shop is a direct copy of his favorite ice cream parlor from his home town. The SINCLAIR gas station is a copy of the station that used to be near his grandparent’s house (Dave knew he was near the house of Grandma and Grandpa when he saw the SINCLAIR Dino). The custom cars are inspired by all those years of reading Rod & Custom, Hot Rod and Car Craft. All of these things left a mental imprint on Dave that he has so successfully captured in his recreated small town Americana city.

The patients just love the facility. The younger teenagers enjoy experiencing the 1950’s environment that their parents

“It makes me feel good. I think that happiness is contagious. I have a great time every day, and I think my patients feel the same.”

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Top, Sinclair Station beyond reception lends to ‘50s town; left, front reception area is Woody-rific; right, the movie marquee welcomes patients.

and grandparents fondly remember, and the adults like reliving the times of their teen years. Just about every age demographic finds it fun. Dr. Dave really enjoys going to work each day (in his custom 1951 Mercury) and pulling into the parking lot.

“It makes me feel good. I think that happiness is contagious.

I have a great time every day, and I think my patients feel the same,” said Dave.

As satisfied as he may be, he’s contemplating a few new ideas, one of them being to dress his dental assistants in car hop attire, the other, to serve chocolate malts to those patients who have demonstrated proper dental hygiene. Knowing Dave’s demonstrated ability to follow through on his dreams, this may very well come to fruition – and that’s something Rod Serling would smile about. GSM To see more images of Dr. Dave’s Office visit www. garagestylemagazine.com.

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Back yard mechanics to world famous car builders and traditional hot rods to multi million dollar classics are all featured on “The Vintage Vehicle Show”. Lance Lambert, the show’s producer and host, has been taking you on four wheeled adventures since 1993 and “The Vintage Vehicle Show”, broadcast nationally and internationally, can be enjoyed every week on your TV and computer screens.

Check your local listings for times and topics, or log on to www.vintagevehicletv.com

Garage

features

Griot’s Garage Richard’s Private Place Text and Images by

Bill Nakasone Welcome to Griot’s Real Garage.

R

Cover Image By

David Bell

ichard Griot is universally known as the Founder and CEO of Griot’s Garage, an extremely successful company specializing in car care and “garage lifestyle” products for the automotive enthusiast. His company slogan is “Have fun in your garage,” and nobody exemplifies that mantra better than Richard Griot himself. He can usually be found in one of four places; his Indianapolis-based manufacturing facility, his retail store in Tacoma, Washington, at road racing tracks throughout the United States (driving his impressive collection of vintage racing cars), or in his own home garage. While any of those spots might be enviable, Richard’s personal garage is arguably the place that he uses to find refuge and solace from the demands of an enjoyable but demanding business world.

The first thing that you notice about Richard’s residence is that it is a garage with an attached house, as opposed to a house with an attached garage. Driving that point home, the footprint of the garage space is inordinately large relative to the footprint of the entire house. This is not to imply that his residence is lacking in either architectural balance or aesthetic appeal. It merely means that he has managed to build a personal residence that mirrors his automotive priorities without the detriment of compromise. The space is allocated as 1,000-square feet of living space (kitchen, bathroom, living

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room, bedrooms), 1,000-square feet of basement “man cave” (bar, pool table, big screen TV), and 2,500-square feet of garage space.

It is important to understand Richard Griot’s background to fully comprehend the magnitude and detail of his personal compound. From childhood throughout his teens, Richard’s father allowed him free reign of the family’s garage in Southern California. As a child, he used this space to build model cars, work on his bicycle, assemble gas powered go karts, and to perform other cool hobbies. In his teen years, he then advanced to other endeavors within the family garage such as painting cars, doing tune ups, performing engine rebuilds, and other automotive related projects. Some of his fondest memories of youth are associated with his time spent in the garage and served as the very inspiration behind “Griot’s Garage.” The slogan of “Have fun in your garage” originates from Richard Griot’s cherished memories of the past, which he has managed to parlay into a creative business model.

When Richard was eleven years old, his family took a one year trip around the world (Europe and Africa, crossing the Sahara Desert, through the Congo and East Africa before dropping down to Cape Town, South Africa). Traveling in a Volkswagen Westphalia Camper, the Griot family was forced

Richard’s personal garage is arguably the place that he uses to find refuge and solace from the demands of an enjoyable but demanding business world. to become resourceful at living in a confined space. It is here where Richard became appreciative and cognizant of the importance of quality tools. Simple instruments of function such as a sharp knife, tire irons, a compass, adjustable wrenches, a flashlight, etc were all heavily relied upon as tools of survival.

The Sahara desert had plenty of carcasses that never made the trip, most likely due to overlooking this fact. This awareness and appreciation for function formed Richard’s never ending quest for quality in his selection of tools. This explains why each item sold in the Griot catalog is personally field tested

by Richard himself for quality assurance before it is allowed to be sold to the public. With the Griot family of four (Mom, Dad, sister and Richard) crammed into a Volkswagen bus, Richard also learned the importance of proper organization and storage. Every tool, utensil and essential item for survival was stored in a specific location. Items of similar function were grouped together based on logic of purpose and easy access.

This same level of organization and proper indexing is evident throughout his personal garage.

The garage is best described from five different perspectives; floor, lighting, storage, permanently mounted equipment, and other spaces. The floor consists of 2’ x 2’ black and white epoxy and granite floor tiles arranged in checkerboard

pattern. Durable and elegant, the floor has the rich look of a showroom befitting a Rolls-Royce or Bentley dealership. Close inspection of the floor tiles reveal an interesting touch. The black tiles are sprinkled with subtle flecks of white: the white tiles are sprinkled with subtle flecks of black. This lends an architectural richness to the floor especially when highlighted by the black grout. The lighting is superb. The overhead sodium halide lights are logistically placed to maximize illumination in critical areas. For instance, the overhead fixtures just above the work bench are excellent for focusing maximum lighting on the workspace. Likewise, the floor has upshot lighting to illuminate the chassis and suspension when a vehicle is elevated on the lift. The six upshot sodium halide lights are pool lights modified for his garage floor application. The remaining lights that hang from the ceiling provide a “white light” – a hue which most closely replicates sunlight. In addition to his installed lighting, Richard has enabled sunlight to enter the garage through large windows that face the beautiful lake adjacent to the property.

There are multiple storage bins throughout the garage.

For items that are large and bulky (such as seats, engines, transmissions, wheels, etc) Richard has wood cabinets with square steel tubing frames attached to the walls in an overhead location. For storage of hand tools, power tools,

9,000 lb car lift, overhead storage bins, and ceiling mounted air / water hoses.

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Top Left, Pneumatic door openers, wall mounted vacuum hose outlets and air hoses; Top Middle, wash tub for parts (note Ferrari tile); A real Bugatti vice (as in Ettore Bugatti); Bottom Left,Basement “man cave” – poker table with overhead scale racing track lamp.

parts and hardware there are steel cabinets in varying sizes and dimensions to accommodate these pieces. The commonly used items and tools are within easy reach (from knee to chest height). Less commonly accessed tools and parts are placed at higher levels. These cabinets are extremely strong and are absolutely smooth in operation with their steel roller bearing drawer slide mechanisms. Richard is so fond of these cabinets that he has also installed them in his home kitchen. His work benches are covered with either stainless steel sheet or wood butcher block (depending on the duty application).

The garage has a 9,000-pound capacity hydraulic lift for servicing and repairing cars. In typical Griot attention to detail, the concrete slab thickness was increased at the mountingattachment point of the hydraulic lift to insure proper support and safety. There is also a 1,000-pound capacity overhead crane for handling engine transplants and servicing. The garage has power roll up doors which have a unique feature: they are quiet. Rather than hearing that irritating noise of a conventional power roll up door, the pneumatically operated doors are smooth and quiet and have just a soft whisper of sound. Off in a separate room, other permanently mounted equipment consist of a washer / dryer for uniforms and rags, a parts washer, a bead blaster, a band saw, a grinding wheel and a wash-rinse tub for cleaning larger items.

The inside of his residence is equally impressive. The downstairs basement serves as an automotive “man cave” with a pool table, a bar, a large screen television and a poker 24

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Top Right, Steel storage cabinets, epoxy/granite floor tiles, and Ferrari neon sign; Middle Right, engine turned range hood, Ferrari emblem on center tile of backsplash, kitchen drawers are same units as installed in garage but painted white to match décor.

Bottom Right, stainless steel and wood counter tops mounted on steel cabinets.

table. Just above the poker table and the pool table are overhead light fixtures with scale replica oval race tracks and cars. The first floor kitchen is restaurant grade quality with top end commercial appliances. The metal kitchen cabinets are the same type used in his garage (but painted white to match the kitchen décor). The tile backsplash of the stove contains a genuine metal Ferrari prancing horse emblem affixed to the center focal tile. The range hood is a custom made stainless steel unit that has been “engine turned” in dedication to Ettore Bugatti.

When asked what he likes most about the garage, he replies, “Lots of light, there is a beautiful view of the lake, and I find it relaxing to be in. It’s functional, it’s organized and it’s an enjoyable place to get immersed in an automotive project.”

Richard is a true car guy. Formerly a mechanic and driver for the Jim Russell School of Racing, he does know his way around both the mechanicals of a car as well as the twisty turns of a road racing course.

Richard Griot’s personal garage represents the culmination of both his life experiences as well as his life aspirations.

Richard has managed to merge his fond memories with his lessons in life and transform them into an incredibly successful business model, “Griot’s Garage.” His personal garage space is the tangible manifestation of that dream. Although the demands of the business world consume the majority of his schedule, he still creates the time to “Have fun in his garage.”

GSM

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Garaging with Guy Fieri Accomplished Chef is a Car Guy at Heart Text by

Don Weberg Images by

Booker Preston

Guy Fieri loves cars as much as food and cooking.

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P

retty much everyone knows Guy Fieri. Host of the uber popular Food Network series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Guy’s bleached-out, spiked-up blond hair, rocker-biker style, and outgoing personality have won hearts around the globe. It’s obvious he loves to entertain, loves food and loves machinery – specifically muscle cars and massive trucks. It only fits that he would have an amazing space for his collection of American iron that reflects his on-the-edge style and passion for the kitchen.

“This is a great place to hang out,” he said. “We built it a couple of years ago and designed it to wear a lot of hats. We’ve got a gym, a place to park the cars, and an office to host meetings, and it all overlooks the pool and backyard. What more could I want?”

Spending an exorbitant amount of time on the road leads to a yearning for home, so Guy has worked hard with his wife, Lori, and two children to create a very comfortable space where everyone can relax, unwind, and enjoy company. As such the

backyard boasts a major pool, BBQ, patio, pool house, and tons of space. The garage only complements and rounds out the entire compound.

The garage is designed and built as a rectangular box, stretching lengthwise into the backyard. An oversized two-car garage is closest to the street, several yards from an imposing wooden gate keeping onlookers and curiosity seekers at bay. The two-car garage has been radically transformed into a lounge-gym situation, a confusing merger of uses until it’s realized how easily the gym can give way to the lounge, or the lounge to the gym. Decorated and established by DIY Networks Garage Mahal, television show, the space was painted bright yellow with a white ceiling, hardwired for major electronics and appliances, boasts 15foot custom cabinets painted with Guy’s signature Joe Leonard tattoo art, wall-to-wall snap-together rubberized tile flooring, fully functional bar and cooking space emblazoned by the grille from an early ’70s Chevrolet truck with functional headlights, complete entertainment system, The garage is adjacent a pool, and amazing outdoor kitchen.

“We built it a couple of years ago and designed it to wear a lot of hats. We’ve got a gym, a place to park the cars, and an office to host meetings, and it all overlooks the pool and backyard. What more could I want?”

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Top, colorful, the art is by a tatoo artist, the Chevelle hoods are real and lift to reveal entertainment and bar accoutrements. Below, the black and white tiles are busy, and make a back splash.

and a few thousand pounds of real auto parts including two hoods from Chevrolet Chevelles complete with racing stripes acting as covers for twin 42-inch Panasonic flat screen televisions.

At the press of a button the hoods swing up and out of the way, or down as a clever cover.

“This is a fun place, we can do a lot of partying just in this garage, but it segues right out to the patio, so it’s great,” said Guy. “The hoods aren’t just décor, they’re security, really, covering the TVs, and it’s so easy to do, anyone could do it and it looks fantastic.”

Adjacent to the gym-lounge garage is the office garage – a place where Guy and his crew can hold court and discuss contracts, bookings, shows, upcoming deadlines for books, or any

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number of business needs. It’s also a bit of a sanctuary for Guy to display his memorabilia such as signed footballs, pictures, family mementos, and odds-nends that give him a kick.

“Yea, not sure there’s really much interesting in here to photograph, but hey, it’s here, and it’s a good place for me,” he said.

Next to the office is the car park garage. A space for five cars, here he keeps a replica of the Triple-D (Diner’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives) Camaro, a Chevelle, Corvette, Cobra, and a really wicked 2011 Camaro convertible in what seems to be Guy’s favorite color, blinding yellow, that’s been massaged over with an exhaust, handling kit, rims and tires, and a supercharger.

“This thing puts out close to

600-horsepower, it’s absolutely insane, and the newest edition to the fleet, so we’re having a ton of fun with it,” he said. “I’m really impressed with this car, the build quality of it is awesome, it’s rock solid in spite of having no roof!”

Here, Guy has elected to use all black Stanley Vidmar cabinets and benches with butcher block maple tops, with backsplashes of highly-polished diamond plate steel, a black and white ceramic tile floor that matches twin black and white tile walls, and atop one wall is a custom neon of Guy’s signature. While the floor is the most popular color choice in garage flooring, it’s the tile backsplash that made us realize Guy can’t keep the kitchen out of his garage.

“I don’t get to spend as much time as I’d like to in here, but I spend as much as I can, and it’s great,” he said. “The entire set up is perfect for me, the family, the work, entertaining – it’s amazing, I’m really fortunate.” GSM

Right, upon the yellow wall are unique and sports imagery; below, Diamond plate half walls; windows overlooking the pool.

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Harry’s

Petrolmobilia Shrine

Petroliana Dominates a Rural Garage Text and Images by

Bill Nakasone

H

arry’s garage is nestled in a cozy wooded area of the country with a commanding view of the lush valley below; grazing the property is a wild Buck that has become Harry’s frequent visitor and friend. The scenery and serenity of the location takes me back to an earlier and simpler time. The A-frame, three-stall wooden garage has an old-school feel to it, and a TEXACO sign attached above the doors. The overall ambience has put me into a time machine and transported me back to the 1950’s rural America.

When Harry was 10-years old, his favorite past time was “hanging out” at the local neighborhood Mobil gas station.

He soon befriended the owner/operator by helping out with the work to be done. Before long, Harry was changing tires, performing oil changes, and attending to customers at the fuel island. This childhood experience at the gas station lead to a life-long fascination and appreciation of petroleum-based memorabilia (petrolmobilia or petroliana).

His desire for petrolmobilia never waned, but the active state of collecting remained dormant for most of his life. Tenyears ago Harry bought his first classic car, a pristine 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air. This new prized possession sparked the desire to decorate his garage with petroleum-themed items, and his appetite was voracious. He soon began collection petroleum globes, and has now amassed over 90 specimens (80 of which are genuine issue, 10 are reproduction). He sees them as artifacts of art and he proudly displays them along the walls of his garage.

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The collection is not just limited to petroleum globes though; He also has vintage thermometers all of which are totally original and in mint condition. Also displayed on his walls are “tin plate” petroleum signs that used to be affixed to

Situated in a rural area, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peaceful and easily transports you to an early time.

the actual gasoline pump. In typical Harry fashion, these tin plate logo signs are all genuine issue. There are also large petroleum signs of yesteryear with majority of them being of the old style Porcelain finish. Other items of interest include

a collection of petroleum logo cigarette lighters, tin license plate toppers, vintage oil cans, and vintage map holders (with period correct maps in the sleeves). The obsession doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end here. Harry has a fine collection of Service Station vintage Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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“Reproduction items are not investment grade items; However, if they give the buyer enjoyment, that’s fine with me. Most of my collection is original issue, but there are a few reproduction pieces.” equipment such as gasoline pumps, a tire air inflator machine, an oil dispensing tank, a shop rag waste container and racks to hold and display one-quart cans of oil.

In a strange twist of changing priorities, Harry started collecting additional vintage vehicles to complement his now massive collection of petrolmobilia. Just three years after acquiring his 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air, Harry purchased a beautifully restored navy blue 1949 Oldsmobile Coupe – Model 76. The garage needed more cars to balance the huge quantity of petrolmobilia. Just two years ago, Harry also purchased a 1930 Ford Model-A 5-window coupe. Each of these great vehicles represent the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s, the same time period span of his petrolmobilia collection.

Although Harry has a deep appreciation and preference for genuine vintage artifacts, he is open- minded about reproduction petrolmobilia.

“Reproduction items are not investment grade items; However, if they give the buyer enjoyment, that’s fine with me. Most of my collection is original issue, but there are a few reproduction pieces,” he said. “Do whatever makes you happy.”

Harry is enamored with his collection and has no monetary profit motive for his hobby. The pure excitement of collecting has turned this garage into “Harry’s Petrolmobilia Shrine.”

“Nothing is for sale in this collection, I don’t even want to trade anything for something else,” he said.

The garage is sacred space for Harry. More than just a

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Finished walls, varied floors, seating areas make for a good garage, but the expanse of Petroliana makes it awesome.

“Nothing is for sale in this collection, I don’t even want to trade anything for something else.” storage area for his prized possessions, Harry retreats to his garage for entertaining friends, solitary introspection and to immerse himself in the enjoyment of his collection. The garage is plumbed for natural gas heating and Harry maintains the temperature at a comfortable level all year long (24-hours per day), and if additional heat is needed during the winter months, an auxiliary heater is ready for action right next to his comfort chairs. To boot, a full sound system plays ’50s and ’60s music while he fiddles in the garage. No wonder the ambiance is so entrancing – with this view, the music, the climate control, the view and Buck the visitor, what more could one want? GSM

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Close and Personal

A Look at the Zen Spot of Lance Lambert Text and Images by

Bill Nakasone

Lance Lambert in his happy place. Collecting his entire life has led to an amazing space.

L

ance Lambert is the creator and host of the Vintage Vehicle Show, a weekly television series dedicated to the car hobby.

Broadcast throughout 27 countries around the world and aired on 83 stations within the United States, the Vintage Vehicle Show is the personification of the American automobile culture.

The show is arguably one of the first automobile themed TV shows (celebrating its 18th anniversary in Summer of 2011) with over 415 episodes to its credit. This type of lasting power is

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rare in an industry whose product life span averages less than one season. The soul behind the show is Lance Lambert. Best described as the Piers Morgan of the automotive talk shows, Lance manages to pull off the delicate balance of branding the show with his own persona while simultaneously allowing the guest to take center stage. His laid back style and sense of humor provide a safe and comfortable environment for the guest (which is the magical chemistry of the show).

Left, even the garage gets a little Christmas cheer at Lance’s; right, vintage gas pumps front original signs, ads.

Lance lives in a nice house with a scenic view of the Puget Sound. However, Lance chose this particular house for its garage space (fortunately, his wife admired the architecture, the view and the prestigious surroundings). Seventeen years ago, Lance remodeled the garage of his former residence only to find that it had a smaller footprint than before (due to the enlarged footings required by the City building code). This prompted Lance to find a new house that had a garage with the requisite three-car capacity, as well as a privacy room.

Once he moved into the new house, Lance began immediately transforming it into his personal automotive space.

Lance is a real car guy. When asked when he first got interested in automobiles, his response is, “When I came out of the womb.” His garage reflects his lifelong passion for cars, and is a virtual treasure trove of automobilia. Sitting in the corner of the garage are two gas pumps. The significance of the Signal gasoline pump goes back to age 12 when Lance worked at a Signal gas station doing odd jobs and clean up.

The compensation reward for his services was being able to pump gas for customers. Lance considered this both a privilege and an honor (plus the cool factor for a 12-year old was enormous). At age 15, Lance and his five friends started a car club in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington and named it the Steeds Car Club. His club jacket, his club sign and his club plaque are all proudly displayed on the select sections

of his wall. The signage and neon that cover the walls of the garage are impressive. Lance has been collecting this stuff for virtually his entire life, long before it had the antique and monetary value that it has today.

“A lot of this stuff was given to me. People would call when they were clearing out their garage and offer it to me for free if I would remove it,” he said. “A lot of it I bought cheaply at swap meets and garage sales. Sometimes stuff was just on the side of the road waiting for trash removal.”

The antiquity and variety of the signage is eclectic and entertaining – a Renault 4CV & Dauphine Sales Sign circa 1960, a Jimmy Clanton concert poster, a Jan & Dean concert poster, a Studebaker service sign, for example. Lance’s favorite local musical band of his era was the Wailers of which multiple posters of the group are hung about in various locations. One of the nicest displays in Lance’s garage is his collection of car club plaques. These are the old molten metal, sand cast plaques that were the rage of the ’50s and ’60s car clubs. Hanging from the ceiling is a model of an old bi-wing airplane. This model was built in 1930 by Lance’s favorite uncle and is the old balsa wood frame and wing skeleton covered with dope impregnated cloth (you have to be pretty old to remember this stuff). Lance still finds a sentimental connection to his uncle whenever he looks at the plane. Lance’s garage has also been the stage set for 24 television commercials for Action Auto Parts as well as a

“A lot of this stuff was given to me. People would call when they were clearing out their garage and offer it to me for free if I would remove it.”

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comedy routine by actor / comedian Kenny Boynton which was broadcast on MTV. Lance is a multidimensional person. He has a musical background (he plays the flute and saxophone, and does vocals) and spent years doing improvisational comedy. It was through his involvement with the arts and entertainment that he had a chance encounter with Tim Stansbury, the current producer of the Vintage Vehicle Show. Back in the late ’80s, Tim Stansbury was producing an improvisational comedy show for public access television entitled Call Us Now. He had heard about Lance and asked him to be a regular on the show. This show went on for 135 episodes and was later featured on Comedy Central. Right after Call Us Now ended in the summer of 1993, Lance and Tim collaborated on the first Vintage Vehicle Show. At that time, Lance managed a successful real estate appraisal firm, however, his true passion was classic cars. Over time, his efforts morphed from managing his real estate appraisal firm to managing the creative side of

Above, hot rod and unique bottles with a mini pump make great eye candy; below, don’t miss the car in the sign noise.

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the Vintage Vehicle Show.

The rest is history. Lance now dedicates 100-percent of his time divided between The Vintage Vehicle Show and managing his classic car appraisal service.

Lance finds reason to be in his garage on a daily basis. More than merely a garage, it is a collection of his lifetime memories and achievements. He finds Zen – like solace in his created space. When his wife is gone, Lance will set up a cot and sleep in the garage. He will turn off the main lights and relax in the ambience created by the glow of the neon signs. The garage is an interesting mix of Ying and Yang. The walls and ceiling are covered with signs, posters, and neon that serve to both stimulate as well as relax. Various things are arranged in such a way that is both orderly yet random. The collection on the walls is eclectic and yet all things seem to work well with one another. When asked to define the significance of his garage, Lance responds, “It is the place where I find my deepest clarity of thought and where I want to be when I take my last breath.”

GSM

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Garages

in history

The Bat Cave Garage Gotham City Text By

Dr.Rick Rader

Images Courtesy of

D.C. Comics, NothingButBatman.com

Exposing the 1,000 secrets of the Batcave, Circa 1948.

G

rowing up in the ’50s as a devout reader of both Superman and Batman comics I was presented with my first test of allegiance. Both were superheroes; both could leap buildings, subdue criminals and rescue citizens from disasters; but they did it differently. Superman has actual super-powers – he could fly, “bend steel in his bare hands,” see through buildings and move planets. Batman could achieve virtually anything, but he lacked the innate actual super powers of Superman. Batman’s performance and abilities were dependent on “stuff.” He relied on weapons, physics, mechanics, gadgets, devices, assistive technology and contraptions to fortify his problem solving. The full armamentarium of these “fortifiers” had to be handy and at the ready. Some things he could carry on his “utility belt” and other “larger” pieces like the Batmobile, the BatCycle, the BatBoat and the BatPlane had to be stored, maintained and ready to roll. The Garage in the Bat Cave did the trick. My fascination with mechanical gadgets aligned my allegiance with Batman.

It’s hard to differentiate the Bat Cave from the Bat Garage, as they are not firmly distinguishable with a lot of co-mingled

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space. According to “Comicvine,” a depository for comic history, “The Bat Cave is Batman’s command center for his war against the criminal underworld of Gotham City. The cave is large enough to contain full size facilities such as a crime lab, laboratories, gymnasium, a training facility, a library, a garage, docks, and a hanger for airplanes,” (not unlike several of the featured mega-garages in GSM). There is also a museum for all the incarnations of his Batmobile and other vehicles and a subway rocket inside the Batcave.”

No garage fit for a Batman would be complete without its secret entrances and exits. Behind a grandfather clock is an entrance that is activated by turning the hands of the clock to 10:47 (the time that his parents were murdered). The Batmobile can slip out of the garage by using a door camouflaged as a waterfall.

The Bat Cave and Bat Garage evolved over time as did Batman himself. Early on, Batman had a secret lab in Wayne Manor and also used an old barn to garage the Batmobile and the Batplane. The earliest appearance of a dedicated underground secret garage complex is found in Batman #12 Continued on Page 38

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Blueprints of the best-known Batmobile.

Bat Cave is known not only to Batman but to several of his allies from the Justice League and the Outsiders.” The adage is if you know Batman’s identity, you know the location of the Bat Cave.

A visit to the Bat Garage would reveal a vast array of specialized vehicles including the famous Batmobile. The Batmobile is never seen being serviced in the garage, but it’s always “turn key.” The animated series in the 1990’s alluded to the belief that Batman had a fleet of “regular cars” in the event that the Batmobile would be too conspicuous for a given mission (hard to blend in to the normal Friday night traffic flow in Gotham in the Batmobile). None of these typical cars have been depicted in the comic books. Stable mates of the Batmobile include an array of motorcycles, air and watercraft such as the Bat-Wing, a single occupant supersonic jet, and the Subway rocket. The garage has been powered by both a hydroelectric generator and a nuclear reactor.

Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May, 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940. It was first advertised in early April, 1940, one month after the first appearance of his new sidekick, Robin, the Boy Wonder. Though the Batman comic book was initially launched as a quarterly publication, it later became a bimonthly series thought the late 1950’s, after which it became a monthly publication and has remained so since. The series has reached issue #701.

Of course the Batman franchise has gone beyond the comic books into radio programs, blockbuster movies, television series, video games and virtually every aspect of pop culture.

It is accepted that the recent interest in the “taking back” of the garage as a special place to indulge your passions (in our case cars and everything that revolves around them) has been dubbed, “The Man Cave”; an obvious inspiration from the “Bat Cave.” We have not been able to confirm the belief that the Bat Library contains a complete bound set of Garage Style Magazines, but we believe that Bruce Wayne is a subscriber.

Whether your garage houses a Nash Metropolitan, a Fairthorpe Electron or a DeSoto Firesweep there’s a little bit of the Bat Cave and its antecedent, the Bat Garage, in all of us.

Tune in next time – same Garage Time, same Garage Place…

(August-September, 1942) where Batman and Robin are about to fly off in the Batplane in pursuit of the Joker. Here we are provided with a set of subterranean blueprints indicating all the unique features of the garage complex. At this time the garage was clearly a man-made structure housing both the Batplane and the Batmobile. It wasn’t until eighteen months later (Detective Comics #83, January 1944) in the story, “Accidentally on Purpose,” that writer Don Cameron conjured up the name “Batcave” and its’ appearance changed from a garage into a natural cavern.

The Batcave (which morphed from the Batgarage) was used as a hangar, garage, workshop and laboratory. One interesting feature of the “cave-garage” complex is the Trophy Room (again not unlike sections of some of the GSM featured garages) showcasing symbols of his, “thousand-and-one victories over crime!”

Of course, the Batman genre was not limited to the comic books. As early as 1943 in the first movie serial (“Batman and Robin”) we find Batman sitting in a room, with a giant bat sign in the background. When Robin appears on the screen the room is revealed to be a cave. During that episode both of them refer to “the Bat’s cave.” Thus the “cave” in the movie serials might have provided the impetus for the transformation of the garage into a cave for the comic book audience.

Batman aficionados will quickly point to Batman #48 (August-September, 1948) with the memorable cover, “In this issue exposing The 1,000 Secrets of the Batcave,” providing a cross section of the facility.

What makes studying the features and facets of the Bat Cave/Garage so difficult is that each artist was given the latitude of drawing the layout differently. There were no mandates for continuity or consistency. The same exercise of variation can be attributed to the physical appearance differences of Batman through the decades.

Some interesting “facts” about the Bat Cave include its’ supposed use as part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War to assist escaped slaves. The 18th century frontier hero Tomahawk once discovered a gargantuan bat inside what can be assumed will become the Bat Cave. And according to comic historians, “Wayne himself rediscovered the caves as a boy when he fell through a dilapidated well on his estate, but he did not consider the cave as a potential base of operations until he rediscovered it yet again when he returned to Gotham to become the caped crusader. The location of the Subteranian blueprints of the Batcave, circa 1942.

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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barn

finds

1956 Bentley S1 A Freestone and Webb Original Text by

Don Weberg Images by

Gary Wales and the Author

G

ary Wales has a knack for old Bentley’s and Double-Rs finding him. Having been a participant in a number of treasure hunts, Gary still loves the discovery, but this one actually left him in a bit of a stooper.

“I was astonished,” he said about the discovery. “A gentleman I’d had business dealings with before had the car, and had passed away. His daughters, unaware of the special nature of the car, pushed it out of the garage and let it set for several years, exposed to the elements and human silliness.

When it became available, I couldn’t get to it fast enough.”

The Bentley in question is an ultra rare 1956 S1by Freestone and Webb, one of five ever built. Distinguished by special rear fins and front end, an aluminum body, and various subtle appointments, Wales had known of the car for some time and was eager to become its next caretaker.

“It’s a beautiful car, to me, but I know a lot of Bentley people don’t like it because of the fins. It was almost a nod

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

to the American fascination to flamboyant styling, and these English cars were never about that kind of flash,” he said.

“These were very expensive cars in their day, and it took a special person to be able to acquire it, you didn’t just walk in and order one – it was like the factory had to know you. On top of that, people often wouldn’t justify the exorbitant cost – as if Bentleys weren’t pricey enough, these Freestone and Webb cars were almost double in price.”

Gary was ecstatic to find the car in such original condition, noting that nothing had ever been done to the car. The cross bars upon the frame were still in place, normally tossed out by mechanics who didn’t want to deal with removal and reinstallation of the bars, the aluminum body had only minor damages inflicted upon it, the bolts everywhere upon the car were seemingly untouched, the mufflers were original, the shocks and springs were still wrapped in their leather casings, and, despite the outwardly drawn appearance of the car, it

“It’s a beautiful car, to me, but I know a lot of Bentley people don’t like it because of the fins.”

was in remarkable condition with less than 100,000-miles of use.

“It had lived along the 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach, a very prestigious area that would have been a natural stomping ground for a car like this. The car blessedly retained the grille badges from it’s’ tenure there, and the original black plates,” he said. “The car is an absolute time capsule.”

According to Wales, the car was sold originally off the

Earl’s Court Show circuit in 1955 in England, and at some point shipped to Pebble Beach, subsequently sold to Wales’ business acquaintance, and then to Wales himself.

“Pretty straightforward car life,” he said.

Despite Wales’ reputation for restoring and redesigning Bentleys and Rolls-Royce cars, he has since sold this car to a new owner who, we’re told, will likely restore it to its former splendor. GSM

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PERSONALITY Personality

profile

Buddy Pepp at home with a mint ‘57 Ranchero and High Boy.

48 Garage Style Magazine Winter 2011

Buddy Pepp Exceptional Leadership and Vision for the Petersen Automotive Museum Text by

Bill Nakasone Images by

Booker Preston and Staff

I

n June of 2010, Buddy Pepp was appointed Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. The Petersen Museum Board of Directors were unanimous in their high regard for Buddy Pepp, citing his business acumen, management style, automotive enthusiasm and reverence for the car hobby as the combination of qualities that made him the obvious choice for this coveted position. Beyond his requisite skills, knowledge and abilities, anyone who meets Buddy immediately senses his warmth and graciousness. He was definitely the right person to represent the Petersen Museum.

Buddy’s first encounter with the Petersen Museum actually began 19-years ago in 1993, prior to the inaugural opening of the museum in 1994. He was an early member of the esteemed Checkered Flag 200 (actually member #10 of what now consists of 460 members). Back in 1993, the Checkered Flag 200 consisted of the movers and shakers of the car hobby world that helped catapult the Petersen Museum from a conceptual idea into a reality. The founding fathers of the Petersen Museum have watched Buddy’s commitment and dedication to the museum ever since. When the previous Executive Director, Dick Messer, retired in June of 2010,

the Board immediately contacted Buddy and requested his consideration of the position.

Buddy has been an avid car enthusiast his entire life. He currently owns an impressive collection of hot rods (’32 Ford Highboy, ’32 Ford 5-window coupe, ’32 Ford 3-window coupe, ’34 Ford, ’40 Ford Coupe), classic Americana (’62 Vette), and European Sports Cars (Iso Grifo and Ferrari). He has built an eight car garage at his home in Beverly Hills, California that reflects the same attention to detail and presentation ambience that is at the Petersen Museum (although on a much smaller scale). One visit to Buddy’s garage and you immediately know he is a real “car guy.”

Buddy had a proven track record in the business world prior to assuming the position of Executive Director of the Petersen. Just after graduating college, Buddy was co-founder of a manufacturing enterprise specializing in fire equipment.

He later expanded his product line to include marine products.

Both ventures proved to be extremely successful, and after presiding over his company for forty years, Buddy made the decision to sell his business in the latter part of 2008.

He stayed on with the company for the next year to provide

Formerly a department store, the Pete is a must see in Los Angeles.

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

49

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guidance to the new owner and to pass on his tribal knowledge, but by the end of 2009, Buddy was transitioning into retirement mode.

Once retired, it didn’t take long before the allure of challenge and business opportunity began to knock on his door. While going through the process of figuring out his next step, serendipity intervened with the offer from the Petersen Museum.

“It was a fantastic opportunity.

It combined business, the love of the automobile and a world class museum - an absolutely unbelievable combination,” he said.

Buddy has both a tactical and a strategic plan for the Petersen Museum. When asked what he thinks Original mural on the garage wall at is the most challenging short term his home depicts historic Los Angeles, goal for the museum he responded, “We want to make major renovations to the architectural character of this fabulous 300,000-square foot space. We want a world of fifteen. There are just so many things we need to explore class facility that mirrors the quality of our world class cars and refine.” and exhibits. We have the right people aboard to make this Buddy is only the third executive director in the Petersen’s happen.” eighteen years, and although his predecessors have left him In terms of long range planning and future goals, Buddy big shoes to fill, I have no doubt that Buddy is more than up responded with, “I want to help the Board make some definitive to the task. He has all of the right stuff; a highly developed decisions relative to the expansion of the Museum. This could business sense, a passion for the entire car hobby, diplomacy, include such things as a Library, a theater and innovative leadership, demonstrated loyalty and commitment to the exhibit space. The Board of Directors has made a commitment Museum and a burning desire for new challenges.

Ladies and gentleman, welcome Buddy Pepp! GSM to expand its’ size from its’ current seven member count to that

finds

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1957 Maserati 450-S 路 Owned by Tom Hoffelter 路 Photo by Gerry Maceda

TICKETS & INFORMATION

www.DesertConcours.com 760.766.1777 The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance is a non-profit organization.

At the Weston Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage, California in the Heart of the Palm Springs Valley

VINTAGE RACES VINTAGE CAR AUCTION EVENTS FEBRUARY 16-26, 2012

automobilia

outlook

Cars, Collecting and Coca-Cola Even NFL Pro Bowl QB is in on the action; Upcoming auction puts some of the biggest and best Coke signs up for bid Text and Images by

Gary Metz

A

s long as men and women have been on the road in automobiles, there has been an affinity between cars and CocaCola. Driving down a town or city street in 1910 and seeing a Coke banner in the window of a local soda fountain or a sign along the sidewalk out front accomplished one big thing for this iconic American brand – it pulled drivers off the road and put the product in their hands. So began a long romance between CocaCola and the driving public, a relationship which thrives to this day.

One major reason for the continuous success of the Coke brand has been the saturation and penetration of its advertising over the years. The 1920’s and ’30s saw a significant jump in the company’s effort to incorporate itself into every facet of a budding and mobile consumer society. Those decades brought signs to the edges of roads at gas stations that both promoted Coca-Cola and simultaneously informed the driver of the price of gasoline. Once in the station the driver could saunter over to the Coke cooler, lift the lid and help himself to an ice-cold Coke on that sunny afternoon.

The ’40s saw a war again and Coke used roadside billboards and cardboard posters to continue to sell product while building patriotic pride and, through classic graphics depicting all that was warm and fuzzy and romantic about American life, continued to embed the brand into the consumer’s consciousness.

With the ’50s came recovery from war and renewed optimism. The die had been cast and the relationship cemented.

Many collectors of oil, gas and automotive memorabilia have found themselves naturally drawn to collect Coca-Colarelated artifacts as well. One is Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. Rich is a friend of mine who’s been collecting classic cars and Coke memorabilia

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

for years. He has a decked-out garage and gas-station replica near his home in Minneapolis, which is where he keeps his cars – a ’40 Ford, a ’58 Chevy and a Shelby Mustang from the ’60s, just to name a few.

“You might call it a man cave,” he says. “It’s where I have guests over and throw parties.”

Like many classic car collectors, Gannon sees Coca-Cola memorabilia as part of Americana.

“It’s an icon brand. And when you think about brands like Chevy and CocaCola, you think about America,” he states.

When it comes to Coke memorabilia, “I collect a little bit of everything but I focus on the signs,” he says.

The bigger, the better. And he wants them with lots of vibrant colors. His prized possession is a Coke triangle sign.

“It’s rare. There were only a couple hundred made. It has seven different colors and is made of metal and porcelain. It’s worth about $12,000 to $15,000.”

While the former NFL star doesn’t buy these items as investments, he and I agree on one thing: they hold their value, and then some.

“I enjoy it. I don’t sell it a lot, but you never lose money on it,” he states. “If I buy a new Mercedes or Corvette, I’m going to lose money. But with classic cars and classic Coke memorabilia, you’re never going to get hurt.”

The chance to see and buy some of the biggest and best Coca-Cola signs – or any type of Coke memorabilia for that matter – is coming up this spring at an auction held by the Schmidt Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. My job has been a delight. I’ve been combing through the Schmidt collection, which includes some 80,000 items, in order to select 700 that will go in the auction March 24 and 25, 2012, at the Elizabethtown museum.

“It’s an icon brand. And when you think about brands like Chevy and Coca-Cola, you think about America.”

As a collector since the ’70s and a full-time dealer in antique advertising art, I have hand-selected and cataloged the coming auction’s offerings and I can testify that they span every price range, time period, and category of collecting.

And there is plenty for a car collector to love.

My reaction is effusive when asked about examples of interesting items that will be featured and that might complement a Garage Style reader’s collection.

Among the many offerings, lot #1 features a 1930’s two-sided diecut porcelain triangle sign – similar to Rich Gannon’s – estimated to fetch between $6,000 and $9,000 due to its high condition and relative rarity (pictured right). The same sign might only realize $500 to $1,500 if found with heavy wear and large chips. Such is the disparity found in today’s market.

Whether it’s cars, coins, art, furnishings or signs, the condition and provenance of items have always been a huge factor in determining ultimate value. As collections mature and advance, high condition and rarity, along with graphic appeal and any special “wow” factor are what generate excitement and competition for the goods being sold. And the Schmidt Museum’s offerings of great material are plentiful in the March sale.

Lot 77 is another outstanding offering. It’s a late 1930’s, rare, and monumental outdoor Coca-Cola neon and porcelain sign with integrated clock. It once adorned the Piqua, Ohio bottling plant and carries a pre-sale estimate of $15,000 to $30,000. At 7-feet x 14-feet, it definitely boasts the “wow” factor.

Lot 79 is a circa 1954 roadside billboard whose multiple sheets have been mounted on a continuous linen roll. $1,000 to $2,000 may buy it due to its 20- x 9-foot size, and the space restrictions found in the display areas of many folks.

Just one of the many tin and porcelain signs to sell in March is a classic sidewalk sign in porcelain with a silhouette of a soda fountain tap and glass flanking each side of the large circle. The piece is complete with a bottom courtesy panel identifying the merchant and a suspension pole with exterior light kit above the sign. In high condition, the scarce sign is projected to sell for between $4,000 and $7,000.

There is certainly a historic connection between antique autos and the world’s favorite cola. Just ask my friend Chris Koch. He owns the Auto-Stalgia, Inc., museum in Palm Coast, Florida.

“Coke and old cars are meant to be enjoyed together,” he wrote in a recent E-mail.

Auto-Stalgia displays cars ranging from 1913 to 1966, and he adorns the place with approximately 1,000 signs from the same time period.

“Our guests enjoy the old Coke stuff.

People love to see it because it reminds them of their childhood.”

Chris has been to a number of my auctions and is always looking to add one more sign to his museum. He calls himself a certified “sign-a-holic” and says he doesn’t want to stop.

A myriad of wonderfully preserved embossed tin, porcelain, and cardboard signs and posters will be offered at the March auction. Two different varieties of gas today signs are to be sold, and amazingly well-preserved tin and porcelain sidewalk signs of every size and variety, including many with original neon adornment, will find new owners. Lighted and neon clocks and 1950’s classic button and disc signs of assorted sizes are also among the 700 lots. Cardboard posters and soda fountain festoons, door bars and vending machines galore all provide rich evidence that this is not your average auction.

The Schmidt family, which ran CocaCola bottling operations in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, spent 40 years scouring the country collecting some of the best advertising art the world has ever seen. For 30 years, they shared these items with the public at their museum just off Interstate 65 in Elizabethtown, the same town as the Cameron Crowe movie of the same name. Last spring, they announced the closing of the museum with a dispersal of all its contents and very generously announced that all proceeds would go into a charitable foundation the family is setting up.

Larry Schmidt, who’s overseeing the dispersal, says it’s time to let others have the opportunity to enjoy and own these rare pieces that are a part of American culture. Indeed.

About the author: Gary Metz is a collector of Coca-Cola memorabilia, a dealer in antique advertising art, a consultant and a former auction-house owner in partnership with Morphy Auctions. He is working with the Schmidt Museum of CocaCola Memorabilia to help disperse its collection, which is the largest privately owned collection of Coke memorabilia in the world with some 80,000 items.

On March 24 and 25, 2012, the museum will hold its second auction, which will include 700 items. Proceeds will go to a charitable foundation.

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

53

Other items of interest to garage enthusiasts: This soda fountain was part of the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. It became a part of the Schmidt museum in 1976. The soda fountain will be sold in the next auction.

It’s valued between $75,000 and $125,000.

The lights blink randomly on this large outdoor sign that once was atop a building in Ashville, North Carolina. It’s valued at $10,000$20,000.

From the 1940’s, this large neon and porcelain sign is approximately 5’ tall and hung on the side of the store above the sidewalk.

Barns typically served as roadside billboards.

This one came from Marietta, Georgia and was painted in 1920’s or ’30s. It measures 7 ½’ tall by 16’ wide and is valued at $15,000.

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

This soda fountain was made by the American Soda Fountain Co.Lippincott, c. 1880’s-’90s. It has a beveled mirror as part of the mahogany back bar. The counter is marble with alabaster columns and silver spigots. It’s estimated value is $12,500-$25,000.

The 17th Annual

Amelia Island Concours dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Elegance March 9-11, 2012 The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach

Honoring

Vic Elford Featuring

Ferrari GTO, Shelby Cobra, and Custom Coachwork Cadillacs Benefitting

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida For Advance Tickets & Event Information, visit:

www.ameliaconcours.org Photo by Dave Wendt

l a i c pe outlook S

automobilia

The Phenomenon that is Automobilia Monterey

T

en years ago, Tony Singer had a great idea. He had been selling his vintage posters at events throughout the year including those held during the famous Monterey Car Week that attract hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts from around the world.

“I realized there wasn’t an event in the United States that truly focused on the very inner circles of automotive collectibles,” said Singer.

Months later, Automobilia Monterey was born. The event launched at the Seaside Embassy Suites Hotel on the Monterey Peninsula of California, and charged a small entry fee to help benefit Singer’s charity of choice. A decade later, Automobilia Monterey is stronger than ever and has morphed into one of the most unique events in the world.

“Every other exhibition of automobilia is done in conjunction with a larger show. It is no different with RetroMobile in Paris or Techno-Classica in Essen. At each of these venues you need to search out the specialty automobilia vendors within a very large space,” said Singer. “Automobilia Monterey is a ‘pure play’ in that dealers are in one dedicated hall, not diluted by other exhibits and events. This is a truly unique event in that regard and is clearly embraced by the collector world as year after year we have increased attendance and business! Lastly, 56

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Rare scarves and ladies accessories are truly unique and fun; below, AM hosts oodles of rare original signs, posters, and collectibles.

Originals are the call of the day at AM.

“I realized there wasn’t an event in the United States that truly focused on the very inner circles of automotive collectibles.” there is a silent auction of items donated by the vendors that fully benefits The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center.”

The event is intentionally held early in the week to allow collectors to shop to their hearts content, uninterrupted, and enjoy the rest of the week, which now includes world class car auctions, historic races and the granddaddy of them all, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Singer’s Automobilia Monterey event remains extremely focused on rare, original collectibles.

“Rather than compete for market share and conflict with existing events held later in the week, I chose to position Automobilia Monterey ahead of the rest,” notes Singer. “The buzz you notice immediately when walking into the event is incredible and not unlike a reunion for collectors, vendors and car owners catching up with one another. The excitement with which these individuals communicate about their latest finds is contagious.”

There are typically 45 vendors in the room, expert purveyors of original signed event posters, collectible rallye badges, limited-edition car models and miniatures and next to impossible-to-find automotive literature and manuals. All conveniently within the confines of a hotel ballroom. There are even a few vendors selling exceptionally rare items such as brass-era head lamps. Shoppers take their time, and are not in a hurry to go elsewhere. Vendors search the world over for the inventory they bring to sell at Automobilia Monterey, and serious collectors wait all year to discover the goods. Vendors enjoy giving elaborations about the items for sale and learning about items they should be on the lookout for to have on hand the next year.

Tony has identified and implemented a creative way to maximize the shopping experience at Automobilia Monterey.

“Several years back, I brought in an onsite service that will pack and safely ship customer purchases for a small fee

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Exceptionally rare bages, tools, and equipment are in abundance.

so they don’t have to worry about keeping valuable items in a vehicle or leaving them in a hotel room unattended, freeing them to enjoy the week’s events, shopping and sightseeing,” shares Singer.

This is an event not to be missed for the Automobilia, Petroliana and motoring collectibles aficionado. The parking lot itself is a must-see, filled with rare sports cars and exotics owned by hotel guests who are in town for 10 days of car nirvana. Noted car collector and all-around-car-guy Martin Swig says of Automobilia Monterey, “Tony Singer’s Automobilia is a delicious mini-Retromobile, where you find all the good stuff, and charming vendors.”

Event Dates: Tuesday & Wednesday, August 14 & 15, 2012.

One-day entry is $15; $20 for both days Proceeds benefit the Monterey Rape Crisis Center More on www.automobiliamonterey.com 58

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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profile

Healey, Leaper, pumps and old garage lend a unique feel.

Jag Man Jon A Quiet Restoration Shop Renews Old Cats Text and Images by

Toni Avery

I

n a quiet neighborhood in SoCal’s San Fernando Valley resides a well-known restoration expert, Jon Pollock of Jon Pollock Restoration. In this quiet unsuspecting neighborhood, Jon restores Jaguar’s for a variety of clientele, among them are celebrities such as Nicolas Cage, Eddie Van Halen, and even Jeffrey Jones, the Principal from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, who Jon’s wife noticed immediately and observed in total surprise, “Hey, isn’t that the guy from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?!” Jon not only caters to celebrities, but also to people who just want the most beautiful restoration on their Jaguar, or sometimes in special cases, other exotics.

When one thinks of how their passion or career really started, most say they had to push through tedious jobs and start with something they didn’t like. But for Jon, he just

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

Jon and his son ponder a P1800 Volvo.

Don’t touch a thing - Jon knows where it all is.

happened to fall into his career and passion unbeknownst to him.

“It was a complete fluke,” he said. “I got a menial job at a Hot Rod dealer on Van Nuys Boulevard, and basically I was wiping cars down, so this was a totally unskilled job.

After working there for a few months they put me in the parts department, and they realized I was mechanically inclined so all of the sudden I was a mechanic. And at that point I moved on to bigger and better things, I was a parts manager and service manager. One day an employee walked up to me and said, ‘How would you like to get involved in this deal and restore this car for me?’ and I got involved in that and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.”

You might still be wondering how it is Jon became interested in restoring Jaguars. According to Jon, it was another fluke where the Hot Rod dealer he was working for moved to Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood and became a Jaguar British Leyland dealership. He became comfortable and acquainted with the legacy known as Jaguar, and fell into his life long career and passion.

Jon’s facility is one of vast garage space where he works on all of his projects. He utilizes them depending on what part of the restoration process a car is in. One project in particular he is currently working is in the garage where he does “the dirty work” and this project is not for a celebrity or a client at all but for someone very close to his heart, his son. Jon and his son are working on a Volvo P1800, but according to Jon he

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

65

Top, one of the steel structures provides a home for finished cars, more tools, and display; below, badges, emblems, plates, hooks, and die cast display is easy and fun.

is, “trying to get my son involved in it, it’s not easy, but actually he’s starting to get interested. From zero interest to now he’s got that much interest,” he says as he positions his pointer finger about a quarter inch above his thumb.

When Jon thinks back to his favorite restoration project it didn’t take him long to think Italian.

“The Mura SV I did for Nicholas Cage was really nice; it was very satisfying. It is a complicated car to restore and we did a frame up restoration on it, I would have to say that was one of my best ones.”

Like any craftsman of a beautiful work of art, Jon has his favorite part of the restoration process.

“When everything is all clean, the frame is all detailed, the parts are all chromed, and the car is painted, the final assembly,” he said. “It’s like assembling Lego’s, it’s great.”

To Jon the finished product is something he loves most, when he can stand back and look at the beautiful car made beautiful by his very own hands.

For those of us who have our Jaguars restored to show and win awards, Jon could well be the perfect person for the job.

He not only has a fondness for Jaguars, but he is what some would call a walking encyclopedia on Jaguars (specifically XK and E-type) in respect to the changes made almost monthly on the cars. Now that doesn’t mean just color changes or slight interior changes, but down to every nut and bolt on the car. For those who want originality for their Jaguar show car, Jon is one of the best to turn to. Not only does he restore cars to pristine condition, but some of his clients cars have won awards, which makes Jon love what he does even more.

When you think about restoring your Jaguar the big name businesses come to mind but what some people forget is what happens behind the scenes in a small business like Jon’s. Not only does he give his clients cars the personal care they deserve but he also has something that sets him

“When everything is all clean, the frame is all detailed, the parts are all chromed, and the car is painted, the final assembly. It’s like assembling Lego’s, it’s great.”

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Tired Jags await with a Maserati as P1800 in garage slowly comes together.

apart from bigger companies: “When I’m doing a restoration it’s going to have Jon Pollock’s name on it, so I take a lot more pride in doing it.”

Jon’s passion for cars doesn’t stop at Jaguars; He is also the proud owner of a Lamborghini Mura, which he is slowly restoring. His office, where he does most of his paperwork and phone calls, houses a vast collection of Jaguar trinkets

and collectibles as well as some special awards won for his personal cars. And, lucky enough for Jon, his hobby is his job. He laughed at the notion of free time and the fact that he would be restoring cars even if it wasn’t his job. But like most people Jon has other hobbies: spending time with his family, and even playing the piano. For Jon, life could not be more fulfilling. GSM

Artist

profile

Joe Pepitone Text By

Jeremiah McDaniel Images

Provided by Artist

S

omeone once said, “those who can’t, teach,” and while I have no clue if that’s bad or good for the teachers out there, I think it means one thing, if you’re bad at something chances are you’re good at something else. Artists are often very good at one thing and that thing sets them apart from others, unless of course your name is Leonardo Di Vinci who was stellar at just about everything. It may take years to hone in on the skill they excel at, or the ah-ha moment could come quickly. For Joe Pepitone, or as he likes to be called Joe Pep, the realization of what he was good at didn’t come like a bolt of lightning in the night, it came in the form of a 1954 salmon colored, oil burning, Pontiac Chieftain.

The young Pep bought the car for $100 with the hope of restoring it to its onetime greatness.

Armed with his dad’s woodworking tools and the determination only a glassy eyed teenager can have, he dove in.

“The car use to be burnt orange, it listed to one side, and the vacuum powered windshield wipers would stop wiping when you pushed on the gas,“ says Pep. “My friends use to call it the Lois Lane car.”

The title is appropriate considering the line of work Pep decided to follow, but that choice didn’t come until after six months of trying his hand a being a mechanic. He describes his attempts in a comical manner, like when he tried to remove the bumper, and it fell pinning him under the car. He says the only way he got out was because his dad came home from work and helped lift it off of him. Despite all of the setbacks, Pep loved the car, but one day his dad gave him an ultimatum; continue restoring the car or go to art school.

“I chose art school,” he says. “I would much rather get my hands dirty drawing a car then working on one, but I tip my hat to those guys who do it.”

Art school wasn’t a recognition of failure, if anything the experience only deepened Pep’s love of cars. His schooling

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and his passion for drawing led him to Archie Comics, where he moved up through the ranks to finally becoming Art Director.

During that time his love for cars never ceased, but it did take a back burner to, kids, a mortgage, bills, and life. It wasn’t until a friend of Pep’s, who owned a body shop, called him in 2004 and asked if he could draw a customer’s car. This is when the lightning struck out of the dark.

“My wife asked me if I could even draw a car, and I said ‘Ya I’ll give it a good wack,’” he recalls. “When I gave it to the customer he just went bananas, and it all spread from there through word of mouth. When people really started taking notice I couldn’t believe it, I thought there must be another Joe Pepitone out there and they’re just confusing us.”

Pep uses a technique to design his prints that is similar to the one he uses to draw the graphic novels for Archie Comics.

He draws in Adobe Illustrator using pictures of the car as a reference, reiterating the fact that everything is freehand.

“There is no cut and paste. Some of the old school guys don’t like drawing this way, but it takes the same amount of time and effort as say a pen and paper. I just spent an hour the other day on a door handle because you have to get it right.”

Pep is meticulous with his work, whether it’s for a comic or a client’s car, everything has to be exact. In addition to drawing the car, he also designs all the all the typography used for the piece. If you find yourself drawn into his works like a comic fiend looking at an Action Comics No. 1, it’s because they share similarities, and how could they not, they were drawn by a man who drew comics for more than 20 years. One of the defining features of all his pieces are the colors.

“I like brighter colors then what are traditionally used, you have all these colors coming at you and I want to make sure they pop,” says Pep. He also uses the colors to set apart the main character of his pieces, the car, from the background.

“The car is the star of the show, and the background is secondary, if the colors are off it takes away from the car.”

All of his pieces are printed on archival paper, which he says will last a hundred years.

Pep has since retired from Archie Comics, but like most things in his life’s trajectory, that has opened other doors for him. He can now devote more time to his passion and less time to the need to fulfill life’s chores. Pep fills his time helping shows like the Garden State Concours d’Elegance, or designing commission work for the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut or private buyers. His life has been filled with successes, but in a way he owes all that he has to that one failure so many years ago, which in a way makes that too a success. GSM

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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Unique

artists

Michael Irvine Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said the devil is in the detail and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what you get with a Michael Irvine piece. Not the devil, the detail. His use of reflection, imagination and color create a whimsical world of fact and fiction that any car lover can enjoy. www.michaelirvine.com

Sheridon Davies Sheridon Davies paints a period of time when cars themselves were works of art. Combining the blatant beauty of automobiles with the natural beauty of the Mediterranean you can almost taste the faint hint of salt in the air. www.sheridondavies.com

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Tom Sachse Tom Sachse gets back to the basics of automobile art, portraying whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important, the car. By focusing on the beauty found in many car designs he brings to life the simple, understated elegance of mans love for machine.

901-937-9988 | tsachse@bellsouth.net

Tony Simmonds Automobile racing is fast paced and chaotic, but at itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core its is graceful and elegant. Tony Simmondsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; depictions of the world of racing captures the grace, elegance, chaos and beauty like a snapshot in time, drawing the viewer in and giving them a front seat to the action. www.tonysimmonds.co.uk

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Automobile

review

GM07 and GRO63 are two of a kind, hand made twins.

Rolls-Royce Speedsters Boat Tails that Never Were Text by

Toni Avery Images by

Ron Avery and the Author

G

ary Wales of Woodland Hills, California, gives the term ‘one of a kind’ a whole new meaning. Well known for his world class restorations and unique recreations, Wales traditionally concentrates on Bentley and Rolls-Royce vehicles. His most recent project, though, is the largest of scale so far, and is arguably the most exciting, a pair of His and Hers Rolls-Royce Boat Tail Speedsters. These black beauties are not only one of a kind (two of a kind?), but the restoration process itself was unique.

“They deserve to be done. They were both derelicts and the chassis would have probably been broken for parts,” said Gary.

These Speedsters were originally born in 1937 affixed with four door bodies; GMO 7 was recommissioned as an ambulance in 1939, in the midst of the London air raids, until it was no longer needed, while GRO 63 made its’ way to Puerto Rico where termites made a meal of the stately car. They were found in 1980, and Wales said that they were beyond repair as original cars; but, he was able to restore their chassis as originally delivered to the coach builders by the RR factory. Perhaps nothing is too far gone for Wales; he completely restored these cars and gave them life, but more so, he designed and built entirely new bodies for the orphaned

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Early Spirit of Ecstasy glistens in renewal.

a sportier look), the bodies of the cars chassis. Normally for a pair of were constructed by Wales to his own cars the process would take original and unique design utilizing years at least, but not in the alloy coupled with composite materials hands of Wales. These two in the boat tail. This modification alone Speedsters were completed in lessened the weight by a whopping seven months, with tremendous 2,500-pounds, again, aiding the effort, completed by the second handling, performance and looks. To week in August, just in time for accentuate what Wales considers the the Historic Monterey Car week. most recognized radiator shell on the Not only were the cars driven planet, twin hinges were incorporated from Southern California to on the hood to match the shape of the Monterey for the festivities, but radiator, which in the end gave it a they were invited to join in the more balanced and refined look.

Pasadena Art Center College “These are the only matched set of of Design’s Monterey Run, a Rolls-Royce Speedsters competitive rally of reliability, which is an like these in the world,” honor to say the least. But, like any old Gary said. “When you’ve car, restored or not, its hard to say if one seen these, you have will complete the journey, let alone two. seen them all.”

“One of them quit about 75-miles Wales admits to outside of L.A., and it was just running readying them for sale rough,” Wales said. “We didn’t at some point, but is understand why, so we put it on a flat enjoying them in the bed and shipped it home.” meantime. Upon their They later learned there was sale, however, he’ll be nothing at all wrong with the car, except donating 10-percent to the for a loose Marchal headlight that was LAX USO. literally ready to fall off. Wales believes Built for the couple that if the car had gone another mile, with a passion and it would have fallen off, and that would desire to own a unique have been the end for the beautiful light, and that in the supernatural method that Top, cabin is exquisite and cozy; center, RR plant is and wonderful creation rolling sculpture, only, resurrected old cars are privy to, smoothe and powerful; center and bottom, attention to of the Twin Rolls-Royce the Speedster decided against losing detail and craftsmanship are remarkable.

Speedsters will complete the light by concluding its’ any collection, and set it journey early – for upon the infinitely apart from others with ease.

Marchal’s repair, the car ran These cars have been a sensation where faultlessly. ever they go, and for sure that sizzle will But even one car resonate through the owners to come. short, Wales’ success didn’t Thus far, the Twins have been diminish. Everywhere the car presented at five shows, and have taken went people were slack jawed. top honors each time. One of Wales’ But, what amazes people most prized awards is the People’s most is the fact that these cars Choice Award given at the Art Center are driven, not trucked. Wales’ College of Design Auto Show. take on this: “This is what “This award signifies to me that they’re there for; the purpose these are the cars the people want to of a car is to drive.” take home, these cars spoke to them and During the seven month won their hearts,” said Wales. restoration, these cars By the time you read were not just given some new parts and maybe a this, the Speedsters will have new paint job, but everything was restored to ‘as attended Pebble Beach for hot new’ condition, and was only replaced if absolutely rods, the Oakland Roadster necessary. The entire engine, transmission, and Show. Wales hopes that these firewall were moved 18-inches to the rear, resulting two will bring in, “a new genre in changes to the mounting brackets, linkages, and for hotrods.” chassis as well, lending to a better handling car, and After all, aren’t these RR a more pleasing look overall.

Speedsters hot rods with a The white metal bearings and rods were foreign accent? replaced with modern ones for more reliability and “The thing about my cars is higher RPM’s, the exhaust was custom built (high that no matter who owns them, volume manifold) and 4-inch pipe with an integrated muffler system for a great sound, the hand brake was moved they are always my car. They’ll always be my creations, and to the outside of the bodywork (providing more legroom and that, to me, is what makes the whole shebang so special.” GSM

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Book

reviews

The Bugattis of Jean De Dobbeleer Charles Fawcett

Jean De Dobbeleer, born in 1918 in Belgium was the son of a foundry owner. He survived World War II and, after his father died he sold the family foundry and opened an auto dealership in Brussels. This not only gave him a means to support his family, it gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion, Bugattis!

He scoured Europe, buying Bugattis that had survived the war, some well preserved, some little more than derelicts.

He restored, repaired and even re-created these cars and sold them to enthusiasts all over the world. Many came to the US via Gene Cesari and Lyman Greenlee.

De Dobbeleer died at the age of 56, leaving a legacy of Bugattis that might have been used as scrap metal after World War II had he not intervened. The pictures in this book were taken at his facilities in Brussels in the period 1957-1961, and they serve as witness to a special time and place.

This is the first time most of these pictures have been made available to the public and they elegantly portray a lost chapter in the history of Bugatti.

Elva: The Cars, the People, the History János Wimpffen

MOTOR PRESS GUILD WINNER – BOOK OF THE YEAR 2011 The story of Elva is one of ingenuity, romance, ambition, chalk lines on the floor, hacksaws, files, and panel beating. It reminds us that today’s Computer Aided Design techniques, wind tunnel testing, telemetry reports, and big business motor racing were born in a much simpler but no less effective setting. Indeed, strands of thought initiated by people such as Frank Nichols, the founder of Elva, still prevail in the design, execution, and sales of racing cars today.

Elva: The Cars, The People, The History vividly describes how a few people working with their ideas, their hands, and only basic

tools, created a marque that played an important role in mid-century motor racing. Significantly, the book includes exhaustive appendices of more than 2,000 people who have competed in Elvas and more than 13,000 records of Elva racing results spanning seven decades.

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About the Author An internationally recognized expert on the history of sports-car racing, János Wimpffen is the author of the encyclopedic Time and Two Seats, as well as four previous photographic histories: Open Roads and Front Engines, Winged Sports Cars and Enduring Innovation, Spyders and Silhouettes, and Monocoques and Ground Effects. A motorsports enthusiast for nearly fifty years, János also writes on current sports-car racing and conducts research on historic vehicles.

Motorcycle Drag Racing: A History John Stein

There is a line in a Lovin’ Spoonful song that says, “It’s like trying to tell a stranger about rock ‘n roll.” Motorcycle drag racing is a bit like that. To those who follow it, the sport makes perfect sense. To those who don’t, it makes none at all. This book is for both.

At 244 pages and nearly 3 pounds, this book is quite large. With so much to explore, it had to be. Organized motorcycle drag racing began nearly 60 years ago, and an incredible amount has happened since then.

While much of the change has involved the machinery – and the book discusses it in great detail – it is the people that make the sport so fascinating. And in the book, more than 500 of them are discussed.

In the words of former Cycle editor, Cook Neilson, “Stein gives dimension and warmth to the people who built and rode these bikes, some of whom are still banging their heads against the quarter-mile reality. Clem Johnson. Sonny Routt. Boris Murray. John Gregory. Leo Payne. Byron Hines. Joe Smith. Dozens more. Geniuses all, innovators all. John Stein has done them – bikes and men – proud.”

Porshe 935: Moby and the Warhorse Gang The award winning PORSCHE 935 - Moby and the Warhorse Gang, the story of the 935 as seen through the eyes of the highly successful Porsche shop Garretson Enterprises. The 935s they prepared won Sebring 3 times in a row, the Daytona 24, the IMSA Championship, and the World Endurance Driver’s Championship.

Made with the cooperation of the Porsche Archive, and co-written by team member/Porsche guru Bruce Anderson, the production has been digitally re-mastered for release on DVD. Porsche fans will appreciate the almost 4 hours of this well-produced video!

Using a movie-within-a-movie format, it combines footage from back in the day with recent elements, such as a reunion of the Garretson team, a test day at Sears Point/Infineon, a dyno run, and culminates in the reuniting of John Fitzpatrick with his 1980 IMSA championship car at the 1998 Monterey Historics. Also: driver feedback on how to drive the 935 in the dry and in the wet, the team’s approach to preparation, and the volunteer aspect that contributed so much to the team’s success

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THE BOYS OF BONNEVILLE Racing on a Ribbon of Salt

Boys of Bonneville: Racing on a Ribbon of Salt is about an America that has all but disappeared, when lucrative business deals were cemented by a handshake and state of the art automobiles were designed on the backs of envelopes. It tells the story of an unsung hero and self-made man, David Abbott Jenkins, who, with almost superhuman stamina and boyish charm, set out to single-handedly break every existing land speed record on his beloved Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. More than a century later, many of “Ab’s” records remain unbroken and the legacy lives on in his custom car. Looking like something Batman would have owned, the story comes full circle when Ab’s son Marv, restores the 12-cylinder, 4800-pound “Mormon Meteor” to its glory days for a ceremonial lap on the salt.

The film features pristine archival footage of Ab, Marv, and their races, as well as recently shot HD interviews with a stellar list of car and racing aficionados (including Jay Leno and Col. Andy Green, the current land speed holder). The car resides in Salt Lake City’s Price Museum of Speed (www.pricemuseumofspeed.org) and will be visiting select cities as part of its Film Festival tour.

Boys of Bonneville is that rare animal: an exhilarating film about an unknown American hero which leaves its audience cheering to the rafters and grabbing for their cell phones demanding to know “who is this guy and where can I see this car?”

Behind LE MANS The Film in Photographs Michael Keyser

Everyone’s favorite racing movie!

8 1/2” x 11” - 196 pages 192 Duotone Black & White Images

All these and many more are available at:

Autobooks-Aerobooks 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91505 818-845-0707 www.autobooks-aerobooks.com

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Ultimate Pebble Beach Car Week Estate in Tehama

Love Pebble Beach Car Week? Always wanted a place of your own right in the middle of all the action? Check out this stunning American craftsman style designed by Lyn Scott and Fletcher + Hardoin set on 12.9 acres of rolling meadows in the very exclusive gated community of Tehama. If the incredible attention to detail, artisan quality craftsmanship, soaring ceilings and the tranquil setting doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grab your attention, maybe the latest in cutting edge technology combined with a 1500 square foot temperature controlled collector car garage will push this estate to the top of your list.

Visit www.25805ViaMalpaso.com for more information about this property and Tehama.

Price withheld

Monterey Peninsula Home Team Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012 831.626.2277

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www.MontereyPeninsulaHomeTeam.com

Coto de Caza, Orange County, California Motorcar Aficionado's Compound

Located at the base of the iconic, picturesque Saddleback Mountains, this world class gated community boasts an equestrian facility of a past Olympic venue, a private club with two championship golf courses and a new tennis and sports club. It is but a short ride to the sandy beaches of Laguna Beach and the deep water harbor of Newport Beach. The walled two acre compound consists of a traditional style 9,500sf six bedroom Manor and an 8,000sf gallery carriage house that can showcase a classic car collection of 20 automobiles. It has a full restoration area, catering facility, BBQ area, and a bocce ball and sports court. Whether your interest is motocars or other art forms, this gallery beckons any connoisseur of life's luxuries.

Offered for $6,500,000.

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Patti Callaghan 949.702.1880

patti.callaghan@coastsothebysrealty.com

381 Forest Avenue Laguna Beach, CA 92651

MAGIC HAPPENS A reader recently sent us this image of a young lady sitting shotgun in a vintage Morgan and writes: "...she and her father came over to me at a car show and asked if the car was actually called a Morgan. I said that yes, it was, and they explained that she really liked the car and that it was funny because her name is Morgan!"

Garage Style Magazine and SEMA encourage you to take a kid to a car show! Share the passion and enjoy time with one another in a great setting!!

Send us your youth-related car show stories and an image on info@garagestylemagazine.com!

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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buyer’s

guide

European Style with American Muscle

By Mike Gulett

Publisher Don has a soft spot for cars like Iso, Facel Vega, Dual Ghia, Jensen, and Monteverdi, so when Mike Gulett’s “European Style with American Muscle” hit the scenes, he was smitten. Author Mike Gulett is a collector and enthusiast, owning a Bizzarrini, Iso and Porsche, and uses his new book to illustrate the pantheon of amazing yet lesser known vehicles designed and maybe built in Europe but propelled by American drive trains. He discusses the early relationships between AC and Ford via Shelby, touches on the use of a Chrysler Hemi in a Trident, and other lesser known hybrids. Gulett maintains a fun blog at MyCarQuest.com and discusses Concours events, cars and more – considering all the events he takes his Isos to, it’s no wonder it’s so informative. We look forward to seeing him this year at The Quail. www.mycarquest.com

Carnology The Car Guy’s Board Game The ultimate game for car guys, Carnology will have you and your buddies smiling for hours.

The game quizzes your car knowledge from the 1900’s to 2012 – can you spot a 1966 Corvette from 100-yards away? Can you identify the car the bumper came from? Looking at the grille do you know the year of the Ford? The first player to reach the checkered flag is the winner! The game uses a board, a Carnology die, 6 metal car tokens, 9 car categories, 525 car pictures and 1 set of rules – it doesn’t get much more straightforward than that. The game was developed by a car guy who loved travels with his father as they’d spend hours cruising the highways trying to identify various makes, models, and years of cars as they passed by. www.carnology.com

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Spindizzies

By Eric Zausner

The American car culture lately has been experiencing a resurgence of Spindizzies or Tether Cars, which had their boom days between the 1930’s and 1950’s. Eric Zausner has assembled an absolutely fascinating book on the subject. Packed with images from days gone by when these little dynamo racecars buzzed along tracks around the country at 100-miles per hour, blueprints, advertisements, and pictures of new and original cars, the book will make even an unknowing person a Spindizzy fan in short order.

Published by the E-Z Spindizzy Collection of San Francisco, California, the hardbound book details the history of the Spindizzy, the differences between Tether and Track cars, the differences between the various models of importance, the places where tracks once were, and profiles cars of collections now, among other discussions. It will easily have any motoring enthusiast entranced for hours. Long and heavy, the book was meant to be placed on a desk or workbench or table and enjoyed in a leisurely fashion – and who wouldn’t love that?

925.899.3411 | dizzybook@gmail.com

The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz, The Jewish Engineer Behind Hitler's Volkswagen

By Paul Schilperoord

The astonishing biography of Josef Ganz, a Jewish designer from Frankfurt, who in May 1931 created a revolutionary small car: the Maikäfer (German for “May bug”). Seven years later, Hitler introduced the Volkswagen. The Nazis not only “took” the concept of Ganz’s family car but their production model even ended up bearing the same nickname. The Beetle incorporated many of the features of Ganz’s original Maikäfer, yet until recently Ganz received no recognition for his pioneering work. The Nazis did all they could to keep the Jewish godfather of the German compact car out of the history books. Now Paul Schilperoord sets the record straight.

Josef Ganz was hunted by the Nazis, even beyond Germany’s borders, and narrowly escaped assassination. He was imprisoned by the Gestapo until an influential friend with connections to Göring helped secure his release.

Soon afterward, he was forced to flee Germany, while Porsche, using many of his groundbreaking ideas, created the Volkswagen for Hitler. After the war, Ganz moved to Australia, where he died in 1967.

Paul Schilperoord is a European journalist, science and technology writer, and car expert. He was born in The Hague, Netherlands, and currently lives in Florence.

Please see more great Holiday Buyer’s Guide items on www.garagestylemagazine.com.

(212) 712-2665 | www.rvpp.com

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

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Garage

bazaar

Security Secure It 562.677.3777 secureit@ngcia.com

Tools/Equipment

Art Era www.arterasigns.com Ultimate Garages www.ultimategarages.net Spirit of Speed USA 760.580.8005 France 33.603.461.031 www.spiritofspeed.com

Save-A-Battery 888.819.2190 510.471.6442 www.saveabattery.com

Arte Auto 830.864.5040 www.arteautoauction.com

Zymol 800.999.5563 www.zymol.com

CBT Lighted Signs 858.536.2927 www.cbtsystems.tb

Moduline 888.343.4463 www.modulinecabinets.com

Kit Car Builder 866.Kit.CAR1 www.kitcarclub.com

Furniture/Electronics

VintageAutoPosters.com www.vintageautoposters.com

PitStop Furniture 866.319.8500 www.intro-techautomotive.com

Museums Mullin Automotive Museum 805.385.5400 www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com Petersen Automotive Museum 323.930.CARS www.petersen.org

Art/Automobilia/ Collectibles/Media GarageArt.com 800.708.5051 www.garageart.com

Heacock Classic 800.678.5173 www.heacockclassic.com

Auctions Mecum Auctions 262.275.5050 www.mecum.com

Clothing/Accessories

Vintage Vehicle Show www.vintagevehicletv.com

Travel/Leisure/Dining

Petroleum Collectibles Monthly www.pcmpublishing.com

Flanagans Restaurant-Pub 831.625.5500 www.flanaganscarmel.com

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012

CoverCraft 800.4.covers www.covercraft.com

Flooring BLT www.jumbo-floor-tile.com

Garage doors Clingerman Doors 814.784.3634 www.cbgaragedoors.com Advertise in the Bazaar! Spaces are just $42 per quarter.

Private Listings

Insurance

LuxVelocity www.luxvelocity.com

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Custom Auto Service 714.543.2980 www.customautocervice.com

Wall Words 888.422.6685 www.wallwords.com

GT Racer www.gtracertv.com

Autobooks-Aerobooks 2900 W. Magnolia Burbank, CA 818.845.0707 www.autobooks-aerobooks.com

Automobile Restoration/ Maintance

1940â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Neon sign made by Arkansas Neon.

Porcelain sheet metal all original. Sign had wings originally but missing when found. Wings fabricated as original and added. Neon replace with all modern components. $10,000 Free delivery within 50 mile radius of Yorba Linda, CA. Contact Jim Gilliland (714)701-0771.

Can we help you sell it?

Contact GSM to advertise your automobilia, petroliana, literature or other related treasures in our new Private Listings. $40-$100 depending on size.

PrivateListings@garagestylemagazine.com

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2012