Garage Style Magazine

magazine

Display until August 2012

Summer 2012

2012 Monterey Cicerone

Four Year Anniversary Issue Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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contents

features

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22

16

Days Gone By, Again

22

The Place to Be

26

Michael Gulett’s Garage with Benefits

30

Private Reserve

34

Dream Come True

special sections 42

Are you a Car Collector or Investor?

44

Automobilia Monterey

80

Garage Meanings

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

departments 6

Publisher’s Note

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Lance’s Column

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Phil’s Column

11

Personal Notes

12

Garage News

36

Barn Finds

50

Personality Profile

36

Treasures and Tar

Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour

Matt Stone

54

Automobilia Outlook

60

Business Profile

64

Artist Profile

The 401K Club

Michael Paul Smith

64 68

Unique Artists

70

Automobile Review

72

Book Reviews

76

Buyer’s Guide

82

Garage Bazaar

Jack Pumphrey Mark Davidson Mark Watts Michael Alan Ross

ICON FJ

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Publisher’s

note Glancing Back, Moving Forward

A

sk anyone who knew me back in the day, and they’ll likely affirm one of my greatest aspirations was to own a magazine. I’d grown up with subscriptions aplenty to magazines focused on cars, homes, and, ahem, men’s interests – hey, they have great columns. Most of the titles are familiar; some of have sadly fallen off the map, some of have lost focus, and some have been experimenting with the online only revolution. But all of them were, and are, inspirations to me. But, to be honest, I never thought about a garage magazine until I was well into my freelancing career working for some of those titles, and that’s a little weird – I grew up around great garages, garages I still have succinct, fond memories of, some old, some newer, some disheveled, some organized with precise intentions. But all of them had their own style, and I think, maybe on a subconscious level, each of them were a small building block of inspiration to me of things to come.

As we produce this, our fourth anniversary issue, it’s hitting me in little doses. Four years of a dream come true; four years of launching a business with little experience; four years of running a magazine and learning limitations I didn’t know I had… so many things. Four years of an exceptionally exciting time that I’m not sure I’d trade for anything.

What an adventure it’s been – thank you for being part of it. Thank you for helping to make it possible.

In those years, we’ve grown well. Slowly, deliberately, cautiously, and steadily, we’ve grown. We’ve grown enough to go from 100 subscribers to a few thousand; we’ve grown enough to gain advertisers trust; we’ve grown enough to attract the attention of three larger publishing houses interested in buying the title. All excellent signs – but, one of the biggest signs of our growth, I think, is our new office. I’m very proud of it, in spite of the fact that we’ve nearly outgrown it. The separation of house and work has been absolutely golden, to say the least. The ability to actually hold a meeting in an office and not at the local coffee shop is wonderful. But, the lack of organization is for the birds. Anyone who’s moved a business before can surely appreciate where I’m going with this – we’re still organizing everything, and we moved into the office in November. Granted this might be a fair time to say we moved bit by bit and it wasn’t really an organized effort, more of a, “What do we need over there today,” kind of approach. And then there was the “Where should I put this,” factor, which is still lingering around in a major way as are all the deadlines that need to be met. But I did manage to find space for a couple of die cast cars, a beautiful Texaco time clock a subscriber and garage owner made for me, and a wonderful Garage Style garage diorama crafted for me by Rick Rader. There are certain standards that need to be maintained, and décor is one of them.

Especially when your business is about Garage Style – can’t wait to have the business in a garage…

Speaking of style, Summer is fast approaching and those special adventures await. August means the joy of Monterey Car Week will be in full force, and we’ll be there again with our Garage Tour, new Garage Lounge sponsored by Via Corsa Guides at Automobilia Monterey, and with the help of our advertisers, we’ll be donating the Caring Crate to the silent auction benefitting the Monterey Rape Crisis Center. Chock full of car-guy goodies, we’re hoping it’ll be the talk of the town!! I hope to see you up there, but if not, please take some time and start thinking about cleaning out the garage and enjoying the cars more, spending time with the family, friends, and all the things the garage helps you celebrate. Sweep out the cobwebs, maybe hang some new lights, get a new floor, set up some sweet cabinets and make the space your own. Schedule a movie night with family and friends; invite some friends over for a waxing party and polish up the cars; bring some kids into the mix. You never know who you’ll inspire.

Enjoy!

Don Weberg Partial Caring Crate contents.

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 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 John Gunnell Iain Curry Steve McCarthy Dr. Rick Rader Bill Nakasone Tom Raymond Mary Wortman Editorial Intern Toni Avery Advertising – Public Relations Cindy Meitle 480.277.1864 | cindy@carprusa.com Advertising Doug Holland 910.398.8307 | douglas@hhpr.biz Tom Boylan 818.384.5914 | tomboylan@sbcglobal.net Carmen Price 714.276.5288 | cprice291@yahoo.com 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 B 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. Garage Style Magazine is property of the Weberg Media Group, INC.

Printed in the United States by American Web Printers

Lance’s

column

Model Behavior By

Lance Lambert

T

he love of old cars hits many people at a very young age and continues to increase as they get older. A lot of the participants in the old car hobby got their start by spilling paint, ruining shirts and inhaling toxic fumes. No, it was not some illegal activity. It was building model cars.

As a boy growing up in Tacoma I, like all of my friends, found various ways to make some spending money.

First it was scouring the neighborhood in search of pop bottles to cash in for two cents each at the local Thriftway. The climb up the economic ladder continued by cutting grass and doing odd jobs in the neighborhood and waiting until I was old enough for the opportunity to, “make some real money.”

Every kid in my neighborhood sought the same financial goal; to get a paper route. This money making method always seemed available to anyone that tried hard enough to be a “paper boy.” I acquired a route in the neighborhood that included 80 homes in a three blockby-four block area. That doesn’t sound like a large area but it took about an hour every day to get the papers, load them in the double bag (one bag in front, one bag in back), fold the papers and toss them onto porches rather than into the bushes. It was a 7-day a week job and anyone with a route was grateful to have this source of income.

At the end of every month the subscribers paid their bills and I was left with about $30 to do with as I pleased. One of the pleasing things done every month was buying one or two model cars. Usually purchased was an AMT “3-in-1” kit for $1.25 because they were excellent quality kits and AMT offered a huge selection of cars. If money was tight I’d settle for a cheaper model of lesser quality that was usually poorly made and required a lot of work to correct the manufacturer’s mistakes. My AMT 1962 Pontiac Gran Prix convertible won a first place award (another model) at the local hobby shop and my 6-cylinder-powered dragster also brought home a first place award of another model. Thankfully the awards were AMT kits and not piles of poorly produced plastic pieces found in the cheaper kits.

What was it about building model cars that was so 8

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

fulfilling? Everything! I loved the solitude of sitting in my room and building a kit while listening to the voices of Elvis and Chuck Berry spill out of my radio, also purchased with paper route earnings. To this day I can remember the specific model car I was working on when an oldies station plays a “Top 40” hit from the late ‘50s or early ‘60s.

My best friend Dale also built model cars and both of us felt we were a much better model builder than the other.

Occasionally we’d sit in one or the other’s bedroom and work on our models together. “Look how good my paint job looks.”

I’d say to Dale. That was usually followed by a remark from him such as, “Why is there glue smeared all over it? Look how the paint on my model shines.” Dale and I are still good friends and I’m still convinced I was a better model builder than him.

Many good things come to an end and eventually building model cars stopped being my favorite pastime. The enjoyment was subdued by turning 16, getting a driver’s license and replacing the little table top cars with full sized cars.

Money saved from my paper route and odd jobs resulted in a bright yellow 1948 Chevrolet being parked in the driveway.

Decades passed and dozens of old cars were purchased and sold. My love of model car building never left me and, thankfully, has emerged from hibernation and is again providing me with hours of pleasure.

There is a small room off of the Lambert garage that Mrs. Lambert and I call the “Car Den” and a friend refers to as, perhaps more accurately, “Lance’s I Love Lance Room.” It is filled with hundreds of automotive books and decorated with old photos, automotive memorabilia, dash plaques and awards from car shows and several small scale diecast cars that cost more to purchase than what I paid for a few full size cars during my teens.

Once again I can be found gluing plastic fenders together while listening to “Come Softly to Me” by the Fleetwoods or mounting the tiny tires on tiny rims while listening to Ray Charles belt out “Hit the Road Jack.” Sitting on a shelf in the den is a recently completed AMT model of 1949 Mercury and on the desk is a partially completed 1940 Willys. The feeling of pleasure felt now is no less than what I felt 50 years ago.

Watch out Dale! I’m back.

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Phil’s

column

Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour

What a Difference a Garage Mahal Makes By

Phil Berg

R

ight after the Detroit auto show in January, I spent two days on the couch recovering from the flu no doubt brought on by car overdose. Among the comforts I believe contributed to quick healing were a couple days of 18-hour marathons of home improvement television on one of the Scripps Network channels, specifically an endless sequence of Man Caves, House Crashers, Yard Crashers, and, of course, Garage Mahal.

The show started in 2009, and is known for converting regular folks’ garages into places like a test kitchen for a chef, a sports lounge, home theater and office, and a home gym, but really caught its stride when former pro-wrestler and reality television host Bill Goldberg started making neglected garages into real car-guy garages.

Fresh off the remodeling by the show of Jay Leno’s home garage in Beverly Hills (not the enormous Big Dog Garage in Burbank), the Car and Driver magazine garage in Ann Arbor, Michigan, got a makeover for the July 18, 2010, tenth episode of season two of the 39-episode Garage Mahal show.

In just two-and-a-half days, the show emptied the clutter of what was basically a storage room at the magazine office, and transformed the place into a working shop and a clean place to stand and pick through one of the new or pre-production cars that carmakers bring to Car and Driver’s offices to let the editors’ test. The Garage Mahal show’s producers spoke to the magazine staff, recalls Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief, “and asked us what we wanted, which was work areas, places to store tools, air and electrical. They worked with us.”

Total bill for the makeover was $53,000 worth of donated products, about $15,000 of which went for Gladiator metal storage cabinets, workbenches and fridge (the Gladiator brand is part of the Whirlpool appliance empire).

“One thing it allows us to do that we couldn’t do before, is that we can bring in chief engineers from the car manufacturers, and put a car up on the lift to point out how they did things,” explains Alterman. “We can get editorial ideas this way. It’s also a great place to do vehicle testing prep, and to weigh the cars.” Previously these duties were done in a parking lot.

So how did the television production company know what the car guys at Car and Driver wanted? “The guys who built it had already done high-end garages,” says Alterman. “[Host] Bill Goldberg is a real car guy, the producer of the show is a car guy. The team really knew how to make a garage.”

The new Car and Driver Garage Mahal features an 80-gallon air compressor hidden in a closet, and it feeds three reels of hoses. Not shown are ’57 Chevy and ’51 Mercury

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

rear clip replica Corbin couches that run $8800 for the pair.

The Bendpak 9000-pound two-post lift is almost $3000, and a priceless, custom-built drop-down iRacing simulator game sits in a large aluminum deck-plate-covered wooden box in the corner. A replica small-block V8 gas grille was also part of the television makeover, and the staff uses it regularly to keep nourished and therefore healthy, lest a car overdose make them vulnerable to the flu, too.

personal

notes

The last issue was great. I didn’t know who Richard Griot was but he’s got a great company. My garage has a long way to go but your magazine and its advertisers have been very inspirational. Thank you for bringing this out!

Sincerely, Josh Harmon Redmond, WA Josh, Thanks for touching base, we’re glad we could introduce you to a great garage personality. Check out our inaugural issue for a Profile on Richard and his company!

ED I’ve been a subscriber for three years now and love every issue, they just seem to get better and better. At first I thought the design and layout to be sparse, almost amateur. But as time has gone on, I’ve grown more fond of the simple design character of Garage Style, thinking it more elegant than so many other magazines I subscribe to. In this day and age of so many things E, it’s a bold thing to sell a magazine, but even more daring to sell a magazine unafraid to print something promoting the subject, not itself. Good job - keep up the good work.

Seron Gunderson Weston, MA Seron, Thank you for the kudos. We’ve often taken criticism for our sparse style, but you nailed it on the head - our goal was to produce an elegant, soft-spoken publication that

would celebrate garages and collections, not itself. We wanted something that might even be relaxing to read, a magazine that would help people unwind and engage their imaginations, not bounce your eye all over the pages.

Hopefully there’ll always be a place for refinement in the E age as well - it’s what we strive for.

ED My wife and I recently settled into our new home in a suburb of Newport Beach known as Corona del Mar, and are very excited to begin making it our own. After the majority of the house is completed, we’ll begin on the garage. A three car garage, it’s very basic, a blank canvas, and something I’m looking forward to digging into. My wife bought all the back issues, and we’re going to subscribe soon - I wanted to say thank you for putting out such a quality effort on a topic matter that might otherwise have gone missed. Your magazine will be instrumental in putting together our garage!

Tom Kapan Newport Beach, CA Tom, We’re practically neighbors in the OC! Congratulations on your new home, we hope you and your family will be very happy in CDM, it’s a terrific place. Each year Big CDM State Beach hosts the Coastline Classic car show, and we’re usually there - if you can, swing in and say hello!

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

Garage

news

Zymol Introduces New Car Care Products Long known for providing the finest car care products in the world, Zymol astonished the industry this year by announcing a new line of products boasting many of the same exceptional qualities of traditional Zymol products but with at a more palatable price point.

Comprised of Spray Detailer, Auto Wash, Cleaner Spray, and Spray Glaze, the new line offers all the benefits of traditional Zymol such as all-natural ingredients, ease of use, exceptional results, and the Zymol philosophy of ‘a little goes a long way.’

Auto Wash uses a formulation of Coconut Bark Soap and natural oils from Sunflower, Coconut, Coco Butter and more to lift dirt and oil, and leave a clean, well-fed, reflective and protected surface behind.

Cleaner Wax is a true wax with cleansing agents, which Zymol claims will help repair minor paint imperfections without the usual petroleum solvents normally found in today’s cleaner-waxes. Containing 12-percent #1 Yellow Carnauba,

and three-percent Bees Wax, Zymol Cleaner Wax also uses Kaolin Clay, Almond Meal, and Shea Nut as some of its ingredients.

Zymol Detailer is a spray wax designed for in-between uses.

Containing Rice Bran Wax, Aloe Vera Extract, Purified Spring Water, Coconut Oil and other natural elements, again, Zymol is banking on the all-natural approach to feeding a shine.

Zymol Spray Glaze is an advanced version of Detailer. Comprised of Carnauba Sap, Triple Purified Spring Water, Avocado oil, and more natural ingredients, the Glaze is designed to provide the protection and deep, lustrous shine of a paste wax without the work. Spray it and wipe it.

Of course, Zymol also boasts glass cleaner, leather cleaner and conditioner, chrome care, vinyl care and tools such as microfiber towels, brushes, and more to provide a complete detailing arsenal.

Nicely, the new Zymol products cost roughly $20. www.zymol.com| 800.999.5563

Two World Premiers for Gumpert at Geneva Having become synonomous for making race cars for the street, the manufacturer introduced the Apollo R, what Gumpert calls, “a purebred race car with the brute thrust of 860-horsepower.” Second to that, Gumpert unveiled a slightly more docile machine, the Apollo Enraged.

“Race cars are not entirely new to us,” said Roland Gumpert. “We competed at the 24-hours at the Nurburgring in a hybrid Apollo in 2008.”

Increased demand, particularly from Asia, has prompted the company to offer a pure race car in addition to the street-legal Apollo and Apollo S models.

“Many of our customers are dirving their Apollo on the racecourse, usually during track days or private events. With the Apollo R, we allow ambitious drivers to participate in Open GT events,” he said.

A number of modifications were made to the Apollo V8 and chassis for the power, however, the end result is a vehicle that is lighter, more powerful, quicker, faster, and more responsive than previous Apollos. The Apollo Enraged offers clients much of the grunt and appearance of an R but with more creature comforts, slightly less power (780-horsepower), and likely a touch less exclusivity. www.gumpert.de 12

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

Shelby American Unveils 1,000-horserpower Muscle Car

At the 1962 New York Auto Show, Shelby American introduced the 289 Cobra; 50-years later, they introduced the Shelby 1000 at the same show.

“The 289 Cobra was considered pretty radical at

the time,” said Carroll Shelby. “For our return 50-years later, I wanted something just as incredible that will show how far we’ve come and were we’re headed for the next 50-years.”

The Shelby 1000 will be offered in street and S/C offroad track models. The street car is 50-state legal and on pump gas generates about 950-horsepower; the S/C model will produce over 1,100-horses. Equipped with a 5.4-liter Ford V8, the entire engine has been overhauled

by Shelby American to accommodate new internals as well as a choice of a Kenne-Bell 3.6-liter supercharger or Whipple 4.0-liter supercharger.

“Carroll modeled the 1000 on the same philosophy as he did in the 1960’s using a balance of hosepower and handling,” said Jonh Luft, president of Shelby American. www.shelbyamerican.com

Hankook Tires to Supply New Concours on California Allen Berg Racing Schools Central Coast Based in Fontana, California, Allen Berg Racing Schools has taught many people how to race, honed the skills of seasoned racers, and served as an enjoyable day of competitive-spirited driving.

In order to keep the cars on the track, Hankook offered their Ventus F200 and Z206 racing tires.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the association,” said Allen Berg, founder and F1 driver. “Our formula cars are very light, very quick machines and we use high-performance treaded tired to give our cars the very best grip available. Our new partnership with Hankook will provide our students an even better feel for what’s happeneing at the other end of the steering wheel while they’re on the track.”

The Ventus tires are some of Hankook’s cutting-edge tires, combining state-of-the-art computational designs with the latest materials, all of which are produced in sophisticated tire plants.

“Hankook is excited to be a sponsor,” said Paul Jho, Hankook motorsports marketing manager. “Programs such as this are part of our ongoing marketing and brand awareness efforts.”

The famous Madonna Inn will host the sixth annual San Luis Obispo Concours d’Elegance June 1-June 3, 2012. Formerly held at Avila Beach, the Concours has long featured exceptional cars, but is now able to accommodate hot rods, motorcycles, bicycles and travel trailers, truly rounding out the fun.

Benefitting Hospice of San Luis Obispo County, the nonprofit founded in 1977 provides free services to those in need. The three-day event will begin with a Friday eventing VIP cocktail reception and Edna Valley experience; Saturday the San Luis Jet Center will host a champagne brunch and tour through the Central Valley wine country and a dinner at Madonna Inn’s Gold Rush Steak House, and Sunday, the Concours will entertain hundreds. www.sanluisobispoconcours.com

Hot Rod Power Tour to Converge at Mid America Motorworks On June 2, 2012 the 18th Annual Hot Rod Power Tour will commence on a 7-day, 1,500-mile journey. Along the route, roughly 4,700 special interest vehicles will join in the tour, and arrive at Mid America Motorworks’ corporate campus on June 5 for an Official Lunch Stop. The visitors will enjoy a unique tour and one-of-a-kind car show while enjoying the opportunity to purchase various items from MAM’s extensive inventory. www.hotrod.com

Dates June 2, 2012 - Detroit, MI - GM Proving Grounds, Milford June 3, 2012 - Muskegon, MI - Downtown Muskegon June 4, 2012 - Champaign, IL - Assembly Hall, University of Illinois June 5, 2012 - Madison, IL - Gateway Motorsports Park June 6, 2012 - Miami, OK - Buffalo Run Casino June 7, 2012 - Stillwater, OK - Kicker Corporate Complex June 8, 2012 - Arlington, TX - Quicktrip Park June 9, 2012 - Arlington, TX Long Haulers Ceremony (Location TBD)

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Garage

features

Days Gone By, Again Serving up memories aplenty Text by

Don Weberg Images by

Booker Preston

The original garage boasts an astonishing number of signs and rare micro cars.

T

he passion started innocently enough – a guy with a dedicated interest in Porsches and VWs goes to work as a mechanic at Bob Smith VWPorsche in Hollywood, California. Through his experience he gains knowledge, reputation, and respect for the brand and for himself. Within time he owns 10 car dealerships and founds Autoland, a new car buying service for credit union members. With the sale of his dealerships and Autoland to a larger corporation, he began working to develop and manage real estate projects in California, Oregon, and Texas. Soon, he’s the proverbial overnight success after a few decades of hard work. One of his rewards – a garage to showcase all of his interests.

“I have a nice house, with a great garage, but as time

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

went on and more things came along, it simply wasn’t enough space,” said Mike Malamut. “So I bought this warehouse, and when it was empty, I thought, ‘Wow, I can go nuts in here,’ and it was only a few months before it was full. So, I bought the place out back and the place next door, and now they’re pretty well filled up too.”

Filled up is an accurate description. Anyone entering the Malamut Vintage Auto Center might be quickly stricken with sensory overload, not even knowing which way to look, freezing in midstride. Cars, mannequins, signs, neon, living rooms, and a full-fledged kitchen out of a mid-century home sales brochure take over the senses. Even the restrooms are done in period motel, with durable banana yellow and seafoam green tiles checkering up the theme. With a few

years of vision and hard work, Mike was able to bring a bulk chunk of his collection under the two roofs, but says there’s still more that can be done – that’s a frightening revelation.

“We were going to have two spaces, this one and the one out back, but when the building next door came on the market it gave us the opportunity to just knock a hole in the wall and have one big space under one roof. So now we use the backyard warehouse for storage and some work,” he said.

Typical of anyone who earned a living working on a particular brand, much of the collection is dominated by VW and Porsche vehicles, particularly VW Busses. Mike has gathered roughly 15 Busses under one roof, one stacked atop the other with lifts, and a total of about 30 VWs. One

of the Busses, bookending the lifts, is linked to a vintage personal trailer before which Mike has assembled a stylish living area, giving a sort of beachy campsite feel.

“The Busses say a lot to me, and recently, they’ve really appreciated in value, something none of us saw coming,” he said. “But, you know, back in my day these were popular in a lot of circles, and I always thought they were classic from the start – utilitarian, purposeful, friendly, versatile, straight forward, efficient, inexpensive; they were way ahead of their time.”

Among the Busses are a selection of Bugs and Ghias as well, many very rare models with rare features that’ll likely never be seen outside of this garage. Porsches join the ranks in the form of 356, 912, and 911, again, most boasting rare features or options, including an ultra rare collection

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Keeping with the Americana theme, Mike has brought together an amazing collection of Bob’s Big Boy, Pep Boys, and Mobil themed pieces. The little vignettes he’s assembled depicting midcentury living areas with modernly styled furniture and early entertainment systems, the VW with the personal camping trailer, the canoes, all the road signs from hotels and gas stations and car makers come together and gently tug at the subconscious to get out there on the road and enjoy an adventure, check into the roadside motel, dine at the highway diner, and enjoy home when you return. Interestingly too, the owner has taken the liberty of recreating a scene from the Petersen Automotive Museum, The American Garage, showing a mid-century two-car garage with a Studebaker station wagon and a Triumph convertible sharing bunk with oodles of trinkets anyone would likely find in a garage from the old Electrolux vacuum to the wooden tennis rackets to the cast iron typewriters to the tube-driven radios on the shelves. By the way, most of the radios work.

Mike Malamut and his quadruped pal, Barney.

“This is my favorite display at the Petersen. I see this and it really takes me back, it’s a surreal feeling of being back at home on a Summer night,” he said.

Interesting too, how touring the collection, you’re given the feeling of get out and travel, but by the end of the tour, you arrive at this little lonely garage and think to yourself, ‘it’s nice to be home.’

For now, Mike is having fun buying more signs and neons, but he says with the exception of a few cars he’s looking for, in particular Japanese classics, he’s good with what he’s got. In the future, he’ll be opening a proper museum just off highway 101 in Calabasas, California, breaking ground on a new building in late 2012 or early 2013. The details are blurry right now to GSM, but we’re betting the end result will be a fabulously assembled museum with vignettes like those assembled at the Petersen, San Simeon, and so many other fine museums celebrating not only the vehicles, but the eras and times in which those vehicles were new and being used. Things we can all be passionate about. GSM

At dusk the attention to lighting and detail emerges.

The Place to Be A haven to work and entertain Text by

Don Weberg Images by

Tom Raymond

H

aving built a comfortable home in the south eastern region of the United States, only one thing really remained outstanding for Hugh – a fabulous garage. ​“You see them everywhere – these wonderful garages – and I decided I needed one too,” he said. “So I got together with the architect and builder and in 10-months we put this together.” ​Like many people, Hugh is the kind of guy who has lots of toys and many ideas about how to display them, but never really had a great central location in which to keep them. So, once all the ducks were in a row with the home he and his wife built, he set out on his “Garage Mahal,” as his daughter called it.

“It was a lot of fun and exciting to dream up and create,” he said. “It was one of those projects of a lifetime where I could really put my dreams on paper.”

Hugh admits that during construction the concept was often

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

a bit cloudy to many of the workers – a high-end garage seemed to be more of an oxymoron and didn’t quite make sense. ​“They had it in their heads that they were building a garage,” he laughs. “I had to push them to give it their best – like they would for a home – and even then, I’m not totally convinced that it was completely clear until the project was finished. But, in the end, it came out great, and that’s what’s important.” ​It’s not the first time a garage owner has had this communicative disorder with designers, architects and builders, and likely won’t be the last. However, with his quiet demeanor, patience of a true sales pro and continual involvement in the construction, the workers at last began to “get it” and bring it to life. ​“I wanted a place that could serve a few purposes, namely light duty work and showroom,” he said. “We split the floor into two sections, with a durable speckled epoxy on one side and a black and white check patterned porcelain floor, designed and

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Michael Gulett’s Garage with Benefits Text By

Cindy Meitle Images By

Club Auto Sport Club Sportiva Dan Gentile

From the road, CAS resembles a car dealership.

M

ichael Gulett resides in the bedroom community of Monte Sereno, situated at the bottom of the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California.

The area is lush with green foliage and upscale homes and in close proximity to Silicon Valley where he spent much of his career in the Semiconductor industry, most recently as a CEO. He’s a car guy with a fetish for European sports cars, emphasis on unique Italian cars with American big block engines. In Michael’s household, his love of cars is matched only by his wife’s love of cats. Lots of cats, and they call the garage home.

“We all have something we’re passionate about. I’ve got my cars and my wife has her cats, and I’d never take that away from her,” shares Michael. “Since I had reached

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Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

car number 5 and the cats pretty much set up shop in our 3-car garage, I started looking for other options for my cars. I needed the basic characteristics of a home garage; covered and dry, safe and secure and plenty of space to work on my cars or maneuver them without harm. Initially, I had plans to keep my commuter car at home, a Bentley Continental GT, and rotate one of my collectibles through now and then so I’d have something fun to take for a spin on the weekends.”

While options were out there, they weren’t very exciting.

Michael didn’t like the idea of renting a standard storage unit for each car. They offered limited space for tool chests or cabinets and virtually no room to safely open a door. Without ample lighting and power resources, he couldn’t break out the orbital polisher or diagnostic equipment if he wanted to and

Rare collectible and juke boxes overlook rare cars.

Private Reserve A real estate investor’s hideaway Text by

Don Weberg Images by

Glenn McLaughlin

M

ost who read this magazine will agree: collecting is fun, but when you can turn a profit on the joy, it’s even more delightful. Often times too, one needn’t sell to know there’s profit to be had – how many times has the story circulated about the sign a guy bought years ago for just a few bucks only to realize years later that similar signs were switching owners for several thousands of dollars? And the entire time the sign has simply been hanging on a wall bringing aesthetic enjoyment to all who see it. Wall Street investing is good, but somehow, collector investing is better – maybe it has something to do with passion.

Take for example the owner of our featured garage in Florida. He’s been collecting for over 45-years, everything from antique church pews and display cases to radiator grilles and mascots to automotive-related paintings and cars themselves.

A real estate broker-investor professionally, he makes no

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excuses for some of the risks he’s taken.

“My favorite car is the Mercedes 280SE cabriolet,” he said. “I bought it brand new and really put my neck out to get it. I didn’t have the money, exactly, but I sold a lot and financed the car and was barely able to make the payments. But, the car helped me get established, people saw the car and knew I was doing well, or going to, so they trusted that I was in for the long haul.”

And was he ever. Today, the 280SE not only has a special place in his heart, but in the garage he completed about twoyears ago to showcase his life’s enthusiasm for all things automobile. Within, the 280SE shares bunk with a 300SL Gull Wing Mercedes-Benz, Duesenbergs, Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Corvettes, Ferraris, Cadillacs, and many more desirable classics. The garage is the stuff of legend: designed by the owner, it’s a two-story, purpose-built, hurricane-proof building

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33

Dream Come True

One of America’s most notable Ferrari fans once never considered owning one Text and Images by

Phil Berg

Partial to Italian cars, the collection boasts a Ferrari transporter.

“I

always wanted Ferraris,” admits Jon Shirley. “But I knew that I could barely afford a Jaguar E-type, much less a Ferrari, so I never really considered owning them.”

This was, of course, before Shirley worked his way up to president of mega-giant Microsoft, before he began trading barely common Ferraris for even more unique models, and before he was able to own, and drive, the very cars that his heroes – Nuvolari, Fangio, Schumacher – had driven.

“My first car was a Sunbeam Alpine; it was a great car, except for the fins on the back. I drove it across the country several times,” he said.

He bought the Alpine roadster after he moved from Boston.

“I was living in Boston, and car insurance for someone under 25 was higher than it cost to take taxis everywhere, and I’d rent a convertible every weekend, and it was still cheaper.”

Today, Jon Shirley has a collection of significant and important Ferraris, but he’s most proud of his P3 Alfa Romeo grand prix car (raced under the management of Enzo Ferrari)

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that whipped more powerful Mercedes and Auto Union grand prix cars at the Nürburgring in 1935. The more important the car in history, the better he likes it. And to house these machines, he’s built an enormous metal building that gives each car enough space for pals to wander and gaze at the cars. It’s not a museum – all of the cars run, and Shirley drives them in vintage racing events and at events he puts on by himself, renting race tracks such as the road course at Phoenix International Raceway for practice runs.

“My interest is in Ferraris, from the time I first rode in one.

I like dual-purpose cars, ones that can be raced, and have a significant racing history, and also be driven to the track on the street or around town for shopping errands. I like a great racing history. That’s why I like the front-engine Ferraris,” he said.

About two dozen cars occupy the center floor of the building. One end of the building has offices, with a mezzanine about them, and the other end houses a workshop, separated by a large system of folding glass frosted doors. This area is

Barn

finds

1949 Willys Panel Delivery A two-owner California original for the magazine Text and Images by

Don Weberg

S

ince getting married, I’d heard the rumors of an old Willys Wagon in the backyard of my wife’s aunt Jo’s home in Hollywood, California, a vehicle that had been in the family since the mid 1950’s and parked since the early 1960’s bought secondhand for some unknown purpose by my wife’s grandfather, August. But, I’d never actually seen it – only heard it was a Willys Wagon, small and brown, sitting at the end of the driveway parked just in front of the garage. Except for a few pre-war vehicles and the Willys Aero, very few Willys products interested me, so the thought of a Willys Wagon just wasn’t lighting my fuse. But then, one night, in a conversation with my mother-in-law, she mentioned that this particular Willys wagon had no windows. I asked what she meant by that, and she explained that the back was solid metal, more like a van. Now – I love wagons, but I’m a Panel Wagon fool, and as it turned out, the rusty little devil long lost in the Hollywood backyard was a Willys Panel Delivery, or Panel Wagon depending on your disposition. I sheepishly didn’t even know Willys produced a Panel Wagon until I’d met this one, and that was part of its’ overall appeal to me – I’d never seen one before.

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At the time, GSM was about a year old. Our daughter Kaitlyn had recently been born, and the last thing we needed was another car, in particular a project. But, it’d always been in the back of my mind that eventually GSM would need a vintage panel truck or pick up to act as the GSM Delivery Truck at shows and events, a little something extra for our booth display. Considering the size and design of the Willys, it was perfect for just that task – after all, GSM crosses all automotive boundaries attending various automotive events ranging from concours to races; we cater to collectors and enthusiasts of hot rods, exotics, muscle cars, foreign cars, domestic cars, and on and on. The GSM Delivery Vehicle would need to be a vehicle to appeal to a lot of audiences, and I thought the Willys might do the trick. It’s small enough to blend in with fans of imported vehicles, classically designed enough to be welcomed by concours and events celebrating classic cars, and American enough to attend any event dominated by domestic vehicles.

Restore it right, and it really would be the perfect vehicle.

With the help of my buddy, Tony Schavone, we trekked Continued on Page 38

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39

Continued on Page 38

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Special

feature

Are you a Car Collector or Investor?

It matters when protecting your loved ones Text By

Jeff Broadus and Ken Gross

Y

ou’ve spent your life building your collection. Now is the time that your passion for collecting should be supported by long term planning. Whether you’d like to pass on your collection to heirs, minimize taxes, or create philanthropic opportunities with maximum impact, Heacock Classic offers some sound advice understanding your options.

Do you know the difference between Legal Tax Avoidance and Illegal Tax Evasion?

“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; He’s not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes. Over and over the courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands. Taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.”

Have you thought about what will become of your collector cars after you die? You should. Ask most car collectors – and we’ve asked many – if they’ve made formal plans to dispose of their vintage cars, motorcycles and ephemera after they pass away, and you’ll find most of them simply haven’t done so. It’s human nature to think we’re immortal, and tough to face the fact that one day, we won’t be around, and our spouses and heirs will be left to dispose of, fight over or even worse, dump our beloved old cars, memorabilia, and motorcycles because they haven’t a clue what to do with them.

And there are potentially crippling tax implications. Lacking a pre-arranged plan, Joe Robbie’s family had to sell his Miami Dolphins football team and their stadium to Wayne Huizenga for a fraction of their value, just to pay the estate taxes. If you think that can’t happen with your car collection, think again.

It’s the rare individual over age 50 who doesn’t have a will today. But collector vehicles, spare parts, auto memorabilia and books are usually lumped into a general paragraph or two about special personal property.

If that’s the state of your will, you’re

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doing yourself and your heirs a huge disservice. After you’ve gone to the trouble of locating, possibly restoring, and certainly caring for your vintage car collection and everything that goes with it, you should create a definitive plan to sell, dispose of, or equitably distribute it after you’re gone. While you’re pondering that, consider what can happen when plans aren’t made in advance.

Enthusiasts still talk about William Fisk “Bill” Harrah, the Nevada casino magnate who assembled more than 1,600 cars for his collection, which included two Bugatti Type 41 La Royales, a huge museum, library, and a restoration facility in Reno.

Harrah, at 66, entered the Mayo Clinic for a complex operation for an existing aneurysm, and died in the hospital after a second operation failed. Bill Harrah had a will, but to the shock of the collector car community, he did not own “his” cars. The collection belonged to the Harrah Corporation. Harrah left no specific provision for their disposal, and his heirs faced a monumental estate tax bill.

In 1980, Holiday Inn Corporation purchased the Harrah properties, including the entire car collection and its assets.

Mead Dixon, Chairman of Harrah’s Corporation, paid off the heirs and disposed of most of the collection. Noted East Coast collector and author, Joel Finn, established a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation and converted as much of the car collection assets to it as Holiday Inn would allow. About 200 of the best cars were retained, along with the library, but hundreds more great cars were sold, dispersed, and what’s now known as the National Automobile Museum, in Reno, NV, struggled for years before it attained financial solvency.

Bill Harrah could have made arrangements in advance to keep the core of his extraordinary collection in a facility that would have been financed by the sale of his casinos. While a few collectors benefited because they were able to acquire some exceptional Harrah cars, the opportunity for the public to see even more of these meticulously restored treasures, under one roof, was lost forever.

Investors and Collectors In an interview many years ago,

2Monterey 0 1 2 Cicerone

By Cindy Meitle

10TH Annual Automobilia Monterey International Expo

A decade ago, Tony Singer identified a need for a marketplace where purveyors of “only original” memorabilia such as automotive art, literature and collectibles could assemble in one place to satisfy the cravings of the most discerning collectors who seek out objects of self-expression that convey a passion for vintage racing, collector cars and more. Over 40 international dealers are represented. Make sure to stop by our Garage Style Magazine Garage Lounge inside the event and say hello!

Location: The Embassy Suites Ballroom 1441 Canyon Del Rey [Route 218], Seaside, CA 93955 Dates and Hours: Tuesday, August 14, 10:00am to 6:00pm Wednesday, August 15, 10:00am to 7:00pm Ticket Price: $15.00 for a one day pass or $20.00 for a two-day pass Contact: www.AutomobiliaMonterey.com | 831.659.5335

The Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours on the Avenue

Presenting multi-marques 1940 through 1973, and Porsche and Ferrari through 1989, this event is held over 18-blocks of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Beautiful cars line the streets on display in a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere that does not command a ticket to enjoy. As many as 100 surrounding shops join in the festivities by decorating storefronts in car-themed fashion as part of the “Concours-in-the-Windows”.

Location: Ocean Avenue, downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea Dates and Hours: Tuesday, August 14, 10:00am to 5:00pm Ticket Price: Free Contact: www.carmelconcours.com | 404.237.2633 44

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

Larry Hedrick/Courtesy of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Edsel B. Ford II and Henry Ford III take a spin in the newly restored 1934 Ford Model 40 Special Speedster, which was unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival

For 21-years now, Gordon McCall has been joining vintage aircraft and automobiles with state-of-the-art corporate aircraft and the latest high-end sports cars. Add music, great people, wine and you have an unsurpassed lifestyles event, featuring local and regional epicurean delights by acclaimed chef Cal Stamenov of Bernardus. Barrett-Jackson makes a debut appearance as a sponsor and we are told they will be promoting a new partnership between the world famous auction company and McCall Motorworks, and Gordon McCall in particular. Barrett-Jackson “Salon” will display multiple cars, meant to wet the appetites of collectors and connnoisseurs as a precursor to a very special event to be held in Scottsdale next January, 2013.

Location: Monterey Jet Center Date and Hours: Wednesday, August 15, 5:00pm to 10:00pm Ticket Price: $295.00 at website through August 14; $325.00 at the Jet Center ticket office.

Contact: www.mccallevents.com

15TH Annual Pebble Beach Tour D’Eelegance

Cars competing in the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance participate in this incredible road tour winding through Pebble Beach, parts of Big Sur, and Carmel. This year expect to see exciting examples of Maharaja Cars, Mercer, FIAT, Saoutchik Coachwork, Sport Custom Cars and German Motorcycles. For those who do not like the intensity of Concours weekend, and

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Personality

profile

Coming full circle Text by

Don Weberg

Images courtesy of

Matt Stone

M

att Stone was born with motor oil as blood. A native Californian, he and much of his family have called Los Angeles home for a number of decades, perhaps where the Stone clan gained its uncanny love and respect for all-things-car.

“I grew up in a family of car fanatics partial to Lincolns and Fords,” Matt said. “Their passion for cars gave me a great foundation upon which to discover other cars and trucks.”

The former executive editor of Motor Trend magazine and editor of Motor Trend Classic, Matt’s earned a reputation for himself as an automotive expert and, more importantly, real life tried-and-true car guy.

“There are a lot of frogs in the car realm, but I think I love them as much as the princesses,” he joked.

Earning his Bachelor’s from Cal Poly Pomona, Matt worked for several years in commercial real estate, managing properties and investments, enjoying photography as a hobby.

Covering an event, he turned the photos and images over to a magazine, and the rest was history – he was freelancing and quite hooked.

“It wasn’t long before I started freelancing full time and left the management company I was working for,” he said. “I really enjoyed property management, but cars are my passion, and when you can work in what you’re passionate about, you’re going to have fun, and that’s where the success is.”

Matt began freelancing in 1990, and spent 15-years at Motor Trend before he decided it was time for a familiar change

– last June, he went rogue, resigned from the Trends, and hung out his shingle once again to become the professional freelancer.

“I had a great run with Motor Trend, I loved the magazine, still do, but it was time to move on,” he said. “Freelancing is a lot of fun – it’s not for everyone, because it’s also a lot of work, and you have to really be organized and depend on yourself.

But, I do enjoy it, and I have the skills, and thanks to my years in the profession, I have a lot of work to do.”

Indeed. In the past several months, Matt’s been continuing his work for SPEED television covering the Barrett-Jackson auctions, writing for various magazines and websites, and is currently working on an as-of-yet untitled book with Preston

“There are a lot of frogs in the car realm, but I think I love them as much as the princesses.”

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53

automobilia

outlook

Scottsdale Automobilia 2012 Text and Images by

Bob Coffman

L

et’s start this story by defining “automobilia.” Automobilia is all the ‘stuff’ that could decorate your garage or man cave, that is associated with automobile, except the automobile. This extends to wall décor and all that great stuff around the garage. Stuff like air compressors, new or old, lubrication dispensers, gas station pumps, racks, et al! Any historic or collectible item that pertains to motor vehicles or your experiences related to such.

A friend came up to me while I was looking at a bunch of automobilia and said, “not only do I remember most of this stuff, I worked at a service station and used half of it.”

During “auction week” in Scottsdale, Arizona the BarrettJackson is the granddaddy of them all. It’s more than a three-ring circus; At Scottsdale in January all kinds it’s more like a dozen ring circus with of Automobilia and Pertoliana sideshows – there’s something for are to be had. everyone. This past January they sold more than $1.13-million dollars worth of automobilia alone. Every day, Tuesday thru Sunday, they auctioned off their consignments in the main auction tent, on the same stage where the cars followed and auctioned into the night. Speed Channel had 40-hours of Barrett-Jackson.

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27th Annual

CONCOURS

Auto Center

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

a Power company

Polishes Waxes Cleaners

Newport Beach

Tins signs are growing in valve and popularity.

On Tuesday, the automobilia offerings took 5-hours to complete. Every other day they offered no reserve automobilia, from 8:45 am - 10 am. You could have won a bid for a Lincoln Continental brochure for as little as $23.00! Maybe you wanted to own a ¾-scale miniature race car, a tribute to a Cobra Daytona Coupe – one of which sold for a cool $40,250.00.

Your kids would love it!

With over 600 items offered and sold, that put the average sale at about $1,800.00. Rory Brinkman, the director of the automobile division of Barrett-Jackson, said the surprise of this year’s auction was that tin signs, as a category, was strongest having caught up with porcelain signs. There are also vendors in the tent, where you can buy neon, porcelain or tin signs from $300-$25,000, tin to neon. These are original restored signs,

as well as NOS neon. Dave’s Nostalgia had about 50 pieces and B-J and said sales were pretty brisk.

At Russo & Steele they had a few vendors and of particular interest was Sparklin Investment Quality Antiques. They offered a 1910 Boyle-Dayton “Lubo” oil fountain. It was one of three ever found. Theirs had six spouts, (the other two had four and eight spouts). It sold for $20,000.00. They also had a 1925 air meter which sold for $6,000.00 and went to Europe.

Bonham’s was the new auction group this year, and had an automobilia event featuring the library of David E. Davis Jr., founder of Automobile Magazine and all around great character.

The automobilia brought $283,565, of which $96,625 was the D.E.D. Jr. library items. Not bad for a first year, and they say that they’ll be back next year. GSM

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

57

ADVERTISE in

GARAGE STYLE MAGAZINE CONTACT CINDY MEITLE 480.277.1864 cindy@carprusa.com

DOUG HOLLAND 910.398.8307 douglas@hhpr.biz

business

profile

The 401K Club A retirement community for car guys Text by

Don Weberg Images by

Booker Preston

One of 401K’s projects is a show stopper – notice the paint.

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“It’s exciting to be trusted with the job of restoring a car to the owner’s vision, but it’s really a complement to our abilities that owners of that caliber of vehicle have been interested in working with us.” he said.

While most of the business of The Club has been locally sourced, Dana has no hesitation helping a client from out of California.

“With the Internet the way it is, communication is easy today.

Further, with insurance and transportation companies actually catering to the restoration industry, there’s little reason to fear an out of state client, or conversely, an out of state shop,” he said.

So, while the little retirement village has turned into a well-oiled business, little else has changed.

The Club still hosts BBQ parking lot shows, open houses, and attends shows regularly to have fun, and constantly invites new people and cars to join them. It only makes sense – after all, it is still a club. GSM Left, LS7 S/C - powered Sting Ray hangs with a Demon; right, 401K does it all.

Artist

profile

Text By

Jeremiah McDaniel

Michael Paul Smith

“S

econd star to the right, then straight on till morning.” With a little help from some fairy dust and those directions you’ll find yourself in Neverland. A magical place where imagination is king and anything is possible. The theory behind Peter Pan is one that many people can identify with. For some, Neverland represents a place for them to escape and live out the great years of their childhood without ever growing up. For others Neverland is a place that they try to recreate to get back to a time when things were simpler and the world had a brighter color. In reality Neverland doesn’t have to be a place that you can only get to by holding the hand of a boy in tights, and flying through the stars all night, it can be an old neighborhood, a baseball diamond, or a favorite park. Visiting these places can evoke strong emotions; the smells, the feelings, the memories, all come back like a shot in the dark.

One look at Michael Paul Smiths photographs is enough to bring the viewer back to their Neverland. And don’t take my

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Images Provided By

The Artist

and photographing of a scene rarely takes more than an hour.

Smith uses simple point and shoot cameras to work with.

“A dear friend of mine actually gave me an incredibly expensive camera which took extraordinary images. But they were too good. To achieve a look and feel of the past, I’ve found that an inexpensive camera with an average lens is the way to go,” said Smith. “Too much information in a photo defeats the retro look of Elgin Park.”

The simplistic approach doesn’t just end when the photo is taken, Smith admits to using Photoshop, but says normally he just uses the program to add the film color to achieve the look. He relies heavily on natural lighting, but for indoor shots he uses everyday 40 or 60 watt bulbs. All of these techniques work together and when they are viewed trick the brain into filling in areas that may be missing, like the distance between the model and the reality.

“You want your mind to try to find where the small reality

ends and the real one begins,” said Smith. “I always enjoy when people ask me; what part of this picture is real?”

For Smith the project and the reaction from his viewers has been a surprise. He reluctantly put his images online, and even then thought of his hobby as something that people would view as quirky or weird. That quirky hobby has touched thousands and that fuels his creativity.

“To this day, I receive numerous emails that are very emotional where the writers use phrases such as: coming home, a place of safety, where I want to be, I am crying as I view these photos,” said Smith.

He attributes the strong reaction to the fact that he doesn’t include people in his pictures.

“This was a deliberate decision on my part to keep the work universal. Any time you can put yourself into a painting, film, photograph or story, it then becomes a mirror for your own life,” said Smith.

There is one character that has found his way into some of his images and that is Robby the Robot. Robby allows Smith to further blend his reality with fantasy, and he says Robby’s role will be increasing in the future.

Robby the Robot, the cars, the ultra realism of Elgin Park have become a big part of Smiths life. The buildings may get packed away, and the cars put back on their shelves, but the thought of Elgin Park is a reality. It’s something that everyone can touch, hold and relate to, a common ground where memories are intermingled. Smith says Elgin Park now has gravity and atmosphere in the world. If a dream world like Elgin Park can take shape and effect so many people, how far fetched is it that Neverland could be just around the corner.

Smith has started using Photoshop to place himself in some of his pictures. Which may just be different directions to finding his Neverland. GSM

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Dedicated to French art and automobiles, the Mullin Automotive Museum is a window into an era of exceptional design and custom craftsmanship.

The dominant artistic styles of Art Deco and Modernism express a fascination with streamlined forms, exotic materials, and their application to fine art and industrial design.

Nothing captures this spirit of exploration, innovation, and invention more than the automobile.

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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Unique

artists

Jack Pumphrey Water Colors aren’t just for kindergarten classes anymore and Jack Pumphrey stands out from the pack with his depictions combining uniquely American locals with a love for metal and rubber. His passion doesn’t stop there, Pumphrey leans on overlooked mediums like pen and ink to create must have works that any enthusiast would be proud to own. www.jackpumphreyarts.com

Mark Davidson Mark Davidson not only takes you back in time with his portrayals of American classic cars, but the scenes he creates transport you back to the time when Detroit was king and the memories those cars helped create make them a part of the family. www.AmericanClassicCarArt.com.

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Automobile

review

ICON FJ

More than a restoration Text by

Don Weberg Images by

ICON 4x4

Three variants of ICON FJ - very original, but NOT.

T

oday, bespoke and custom-tailored are commonplace marketing catch phrases, used by crafty advertising and marketing execs to pique the interest of unsuspecting consumers looking for something outside of the ordinary.

Usually, though, those poor souls duped into purchasing the well-spoken product are left with something far less exclusive than they originally anticipated. It’s a sad sign of the times; however, be it known that there are still individuals out there crafting products of quality and distinction for discerning clientele with the wherewithal to demand such goods. One such chap is Jonathan Ward, founder and boss at ICON in Los Angeles, California.

“We began ICON as a sort of ‘wait a minute’ moment,” said Jonathan. “Too many people were buying SUVs that were really luxury sedans disguised as an SUV. The original idea of an SUV, the rugged go-anywhere anytime vehicle, was so far removed it became something of a joke. People were just driving luxury trucks. ICON brings us back to what an SUV should be, but takes it several steps beyond what the factories offered back in the day.”

ICON offers iterations of the original Toyota FJ LandCruisers, Willys-Jeep CJs, and, recently introduced, Ford Bronco. Arguably the most versatile of their offerings is

the ICON FJ, available in classic short wheelbase, medium wheelbase, long wheelbase, and pick-up versions. When ICON first premiered the FJ it earned rave reviews from both the press and enthusiast circles alike – it was literally new from the ground up, relying only very lightly on original equipment parts, ICON begins by building bodies and chassis from scratch, refitting the interior with custom seats, aluminum appointments, glass, upholstery, entertainment systems, SAT/ NAVs and more.

“Very few people don’t appreciate the original FJ,” said Jonathan. “There’s a purity to them that’s only matched by a few, and when it comes to simple robust durability and reliability, very few vehicles could come close to matching it.”

Taking a product already considered a benchmark in the industry and making it better wasn’t going to be a walk in the park, but ICON felt it had to be done – in order to offer the best why not start with something already really close?

“It wasn’t easy to make it better, but it was fun, and the FJ, along with all ICON vehicles, turned into something our clients not only appreciate, but covet. Some of our vehicles have earned their place not just in the garage or driveway, but in the family,” he said.’

“ICON brings us back to what an SUV should be, but takes it several steps beyond what the factories offered back in the day.”

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Book

reviews

All Flavors of Racing and a Little Cheesecake for Dessert THE WAIT IS OVER! THE REX MAYS BOOK IS HERE! POLE POSITION REX MAYS

The life of America’s most popular race driver and a long look back at American auto racing and life circa 19311949

By Bob Schilling Rex Mays was arguably the greatest race driver of his era, although victory in the Indianapolis 500 eluded him.

For years he held the record for pole positions (4) and laps led by a non winner (266). From his very first race in 1931 until his untimely death in 1949 his electrifying driving style made him a favorite of fans all over the country.

Moreover; Rex Mays was admired by his rivals, although his successes were at their expense. He was a perfect ambassador for the sport and a role model for American youth long before the term “role model” was coined.

Large format hardcover book; 482 pages; many never before published photos; sure to become a collectible.

INSIDE THE PADDOCK: RACING CAR TRANSPORTERS AT WORK

By David Cross and Bjorn Kjer

Transport in international motor sport has always been a major task for all competitors. Whilst modern Formula 1 drivers travel in style, often in private jet planes, their cars and mechanics follow in sophisticated tractor/trailer transporters, but earlier contestants and, in particular those who were not well-to-do, had to use whatever transport was available to them, more often travelling in old vehicles in the dead of night, when roads were quieter.

Overshadowed by the antics of racing drivers and their magnificent steeds, perhaps it is not surprising that there is no treatise dedicated to the racing car transporter. However, transporters are so vital to the start of every race that this omission needed to be rectified and the 550 photographs and other images collected 72

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

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buyer’s

guide

Hot items

for his

Father’s Day List Clingerman Doors

A fine wood garage door not only offers exceptional protection from the elements, it makes a statement about the attention to detail and pride of ownership an owner has regarding his property. Clingerman has been in the business for many years, and offers a variety of styles, designs, functions, and wood types to choose from, including AZEK/Versatex, a synthetic wood that will never crack, warp, or rot, and is impervious to almost every element, yet looks and feels exactly like real wood. Nicely Clingerman offers matching entry doors and real wood swing out carriage doors, which can also be used with a garage door opener. Family owned, their goal isn’t to mass produce, but rather, mass satisfy their customers. Clingerman Doors come with new track hardware and springs, a recommendation especially with wood doors due to their weight. www.wood-garage-doors.com | 814.784.3634

BLT

Having perfected the rollout vinyl floor, BLT recently began producing truly unique floors with images in the vinyl to give Dad’s garage a fantastically personal flair. Imagine giving Dad a hardwood floor of vinyl, or that highend granite-look floor, or the famous black-and-white checkerboard floor for an absolute percentage of the cost of a real hardwood, granite, or tile floor. It can be done! BLT prints a picture of wood or tile or granite or any number of other patterns on a durable substrate, which is affixed to a crystal-clear vinyl top surface – voila – the garage floor is transformed with an amazing floor. Further, the vinyl can be coated to resist even the harshest chemicals, ensuring a long life. www.bltllc.com | 913.894.0403

Zymol

Known the world over for hand crafting some of the finest waxes in the industry, Zymol recently introduced four new products aimed for every enthusiast’s budget. The line is comprised of Auto Wash, Cleaner Wax, Spray Glaze and Detailer, and are available at various retailers for roughly $20 each, or through Zymol’s website. Crafted similarly to traditional Zymol with natural ingredients and high carnauba wax contents, the new products are easy to use and produce tremendous results – exactly what Dad would expect from the Zymol family. www.zymol.com | 800.999.5563

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Moduline

Moduline made a name for themselves crafting aluminum storage solutions for racing trailers, and segued into garages with great success. Currently offering a solution for just about every space, Moduline offers a number of colors, sizes, and ideas to create a truly custom garage. They’ll be happy to work with you to create that great space for Dad, or work with Dad directly. www.modulinecabinets.com | 888.343.4463

Rally Legend

R/C cars are one of life’s little pleasures, and Rally Legend has some superb replicas of famous Fiats and Lancias to the last detail. Sized to 1/10th scale, the fully factory assembled chassis is completely accurate to the original rally cars, the bodies are exceptionally well crafted with beautiful detailing, working lights, the 4wd system is adjustable, lubricated ball bearing differentials offer smooth operation and a long life, and the cars come complete with batteries and chargers. Capable of around 30-40 miles per hour, they’re also not slow, and a hoot to run around. www.rallylegendsrc.com | 425.829.2096

Covercraft

Car enthusiasts are by nature protective of their vehicles. So a custom-made cover from a preeminent manufacturer like Covercraft would really set well with them. Crafting covers for roughly 50-years, Covercraft offers a myriad of choices from colors, fabrics, indoor-outdoor, linings, custom touches, even things for the inside of the car like floor mats, dash protectors, and much more. There’s something for every Dad at Covercraft. www.covercraft.com | 800.4.COVERS

Wall Words

Imagine having a full-scale image of a prized vehicle or caricature or relief mural for a fraction of the cost an artistic painter would charge. Wall Words makes it possible – using a vinyl material, Wall Words custom designs, sizes, colors, and cuts exactly the image you want to be placed on just about any smooth surface. How about some detailing across the face of the garage cabinets, or custom lettering on the wall or an artistic element of some kind?

Maybe something inspirational for the home – a quote in the kitchen, or living room; maybe a family tree growing around a favorite gathering area. It’s one of those very personal gifts that will be forever treasured. www.wall-words.com | 888.422.6685

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Shure

The Space Saver Cabinet is a wonderful addition to any garage. Complete with oversized capacity to meet virtually any storage need, the standard unit includes four adjustable shelves, locking door which is reversible for left or righthand mounting, leg levelers, and is available in 22 powder coat hues. Dad will love the organizational abilities just one cabinet will provide – imagine the potential with two! www.shureusa.com | 800.227.4873

Jake’s Chop Shop

Crafting custom automotive furniture with an edge, Jake’s recently upped production to meet the demands of its clients.

Over the decades, Jake’s has had requests for Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Chevrolets, and many more makes, models and vintages in various colors and fabrics – now, thanks to the increased facility, Jake’s can fulfill just about every request.

Jake’s assures that no classics are harmed in the creation of a sofa; the components used to create the sofas are recycled from vehicles which have already been destroyed. Jake’s sands, primes, wet sands, and paints with the highest-quality paints and clear coats available. Perfect for Pop’s garage, office, or den. www.jakechopshop.com | 480.227.8883

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!

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Garage

meanings

In the Garage with Cindy Meitle

Gordon McCall Founder, Monterey Jet Center Motorworks Revival Co-Founder, The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering Cindy Meitle, GSM: What is your favorite item in your garage and why?

Gordon McCall: Easy, my 1976 Snap-On Bicentennial rolling tool box and tools. Many years ago, I used to make my living working on Ferraris and Porsches. These tools were an obvious integral part of that time in my life, which I am reminded of every time I use a tool today, which is often.

CM: What is one item, car, Automobilia, tool, whatever, that you have always wanted in your garage that you hope to one day acquire and why do you want it so much?

GM: Simple, my Dad. I know it will never happen, but it just doesn’t matter. I lost him when I was a kid, and every time I go into my garage, I think about him, wondering what kind of cars or motorcycles he would be into. Even though he’s not there, he is; which makes my garage that much more special for me. I can’t be the only one who shares these thoughts.

CM: What’s the strangest item in your garage?

How did you acquire it and why does it remain in the garage?

GM: Perhaps not strange, but certainly unusual.

Many years ago, I was able to re-acquire my first “real” bicycle, purchased with lawn cutting money at the age of 12. It’s a Raleigh Grand Prix, that I have hanging from a beam still sporting the rear rack that used to carry my books, bat and mitt, as well as the front friction headlight for Winter riding. That bike was my first sense of independence, which I later sold at age 15 to buy my first motorcycle, which lit the fuse for me tearing apart motors, and ultimately getting into cars. It all started with the Raleigh, and I love being able to see it every day.

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CM: What are you doing most of the time when in your garage?

GM: Listening to music, not answering my phone, tinkering on cars and motorcycles, sorting out my thoughts, coming up with new ones.

CM: Did you spend much time in the garage growing up? What are your memories?

GM: I did. I had, and still do, a pretty sizable collection of Corgi and Matchbox cars in my youth, and the garage is where I created a home base for them. I also enjoyed building model cars and airplanes, and the garage is where I did that as well. At a very early age, taking ownership of the garage was something that went entirely uncontested from my Mother, so naturally, I made the most of it.

CM: What does the garage mean to you, why is it special?

GM: I can go into my garage and noodle around with a car and everything else becomes less important.

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

bazaar

Security Secure It 562.677.3777 secureit@ngcia.com

Tools/Equipment CoverCraft 800.4.covers www.covercraft.com Save-A-Battery 888.819.2190 510.471.6442 www.saveabattery.com Zymol 800.999.5563 www.zymol.com Moduline 888.343.4463 www.modulinecabinets.com Shure Manufacturing Corporation 1.800.227.4873 www.shureusa.com

Furniture/Electronics 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 GT Racer www.gtracertv.com

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Vintage Vehicle Show www.vintagevehicletv.com

Travel/Leisure/Dining

Petroleum Collectibles Monthly www.pcmpublishing.com

Flanagans Restaurant-Pub 831.625.5500 www.flanaganscarmel.com

Autobooks-Aerobooks 818.845.0707 www.autobooks-aerobooks.com Art Era www.arterasigns.com

Automobile Restoration/ Maintance

Custom Auto Service 714.543.2980 www.customautocervice.com

Ultimate Garages www.ultimategarages.net

401K Club 714.993.401K (4015) www.the401kclub.com

Spirit of Speed USA 760.580.8005 France 33.603.461.031 www.spiritofspeed.com

Wheel Smith 800.854.8937 www.thewheelsmith.net

Arte Auto 830.864.5040 www.arteautoauction.com

BLT www.jumbo-floor-tile.com

CBT Lighted Signs 858.536.2927 www.cbtsystems.tb Kit Car Builder 866.Kit.CAR1 www.kitcarclub.com VintageAutoPosters.com www.vintageautoposters.com Wall Words 888.422.6685 www.wallwords.com Rally Legends RC www.rallylegendsrc.com

Flooring

Garage doors Clingerman Doors 814.784.3634 www.cbgaragedoors.com Advertise in the Bazaar! Spaces are just $142 per quarter.

Private Listings 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

Insurance Heacock Classic 800.678.5173 www.heacockclassic.com

Auctions Mecum Auctions 262.275.5050 www.mecum.com

Clothing/Accessories LuxVelocity www.luxvelocity.com

Garage Style Magazine Summer 2012

1940’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.

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