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Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014 1.800.4COVERS
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contents 28
features 22
The Stutz
27
Tales from the Garage
28
Retirement Home
32
Time Collector
36
Greyhound Garage
42
Garages in History
32
special features 27 6
www.GarageStyleMagazine.com
44 Garage Profile
Pat McKinney’s Rockbird’s Nest
50 Insuring the Garage
departments 8
Publisher’s Note
10
Lance’s Column
12
Phil’s Column
14
Garage News
19
Office Profile
55
Barn Finds
56
Auction House Journal
59
Automobilia Outlook
62
Automobile Review
64
Unique Artists
72
Mistress of the Dark
19
Man Caves are In
Car Girl
66
Pagani Huayra
66
Artist Profile
70
Book Reviews
72
Personality Profile
76
Buyer’s Guide
79
Matt’s Column
80
Garage Meanings
82
Garage Bazaar
Ron Pinkerton
Terry Karges
I’m Finally Floored
Bruce Leven
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Publisher’s
note
GSM’s own Garage Creep
I
n the past several weeks, I’ve been working little by little on rearranging the Garage Style Magazine International Headquarters in La Habra, California. It’s not going well, as I simply don’t have enough time to dedicate to getting much further than the day before. But, it is getting there. Slowly. One piece I can’t wait to hang up is a hood that was almost pinstriped by Dean Jeffries. While “almost” doesn’t cut any mustard because it translates to, “He didn’t do it,” I’m not concerned. The story behind the hood is just as interesting as being able to say, “It was almost a Dean Jeffries original.” Dean was looking forward to serving as the Honorary Chairman at the Muckenthaler Car Show in Fullerton, California last year. He was excited to be participating, and he couldn’t wait for the show. The committee asked if they provided a hood, would he pinstripe it at the show for the crowd to see, and later bid on through a silent auction. He was tickled pink to do so, and the committee was too. Auto Perfections, a body shop in La Habra, provided a 1965 Ford Mustang hood, restored it to an amazing standard with lustrous white paint, top and bottom. It was the perfect canvas. Unfortunately, Dean passed away shortly before the show, thus leaving the event with a blank, white hood, polished to a mirror finish, with no ripples, waves, or dings. Maybe it was just me, but there was a sort of loneliness to the hood, almost an eerie aura to the vastness of the white. That big, white piece of sheet metal that was destined to be given a legend’s touch and serve so many causes in one swoop sat dormant in a room at the Muckenthaler Estate. Almost like a dog that lost its master. Fortunately, the committee had a very talented pinstriper, Frank Smika, who took the liberty of striping it as Dean might have done, and then scripted in small letters on the corner of the hood, ‘In memory of Dean Jeffries.’ He did a beautiful job. The hood no longer looked like a forlorn dog, but rather, gained an identity and purpose. The hood went on silent auction, along with a handsome photo memory board created by my wife, Michele, and her sister, Marianne. Through this, the show could honor Dean’s memory, and maybe still raise a couple of bucks for the charity. Sweet effort, but no dice. Including me, only two people bid on the hood, and I took it home. For a year it’s leaned against the wall in the Garage Style office awaiting proper mounting like a painting. Hopefully it’ll be done soon, as I want it off the floor and out of harm’s way. It’ll make great décor, lending even more Garage Style to the office that produces the magazine of that name. Every time we have a visitor, they comment about the hood, how nice it is, and what a great idea, and so on. I expect those comments will increase once it’s on the wall or ceiling, maybe backlit for effect. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded that I got to spend time with Dean at his amazing shop near Universal Studios on more than one occasion, each time, enjoying his zany humor and taking in the nuggets of history surrounding the shop. Regardless of the story behind this hood though, it’s fun realizing that a body panel from a car can be hung and admired as art. What a fabulous way to repurpose an old part. Maybe this weekend, I’ll get out to the junkyard and find a grille or fender that’ll complement the hood. Or, maybe I’ll just let the hood have center stage for a while. Either way, it inspires me to keep moving forward with the task of rearranging the office. How’s your Garage Creep? - Don Weberg
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Garage style
magazine
PERSONALIZED SIGNS
Editor-Publisher Don Weberg Art Director Web Designer – Coordinator Kari McDaniel Business Development Manager Michele Weberg Columinists Lance Lambert Phil Berg Matt Stone Rodney Kemerer Arts Editor Jeremiah McDaniel Contributors Robin DePry Bob Estrada John Gunnell Dr. Rick Rader Bill Nakasone Terry Doran Mary Wortman Ron Lampley Jim McGowen Specialized Photographers Dale Quinio Tim Sutton Bruno Ratensperger Advertising – Public Relations Cindy Meitle 480.277.1864 | cindy@GarageStyleMagazine.com Advertising Doug Holland 910.398.8307 | douglas@hhpr.biz Carmen Price 714.276.5285 | carmen.price1@aol.com
Subscriptions – Address Changes Garage Style Magazine PO Box 92198 Long Beach, CA 90809 GSM@pfsmag.com 888.881.5861 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.
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Lance’s
column
Mistress of the Dark
B
eing the host on the Vintage Vehicle Show for over two decades has provided me with the opportunity to meet some of the most interesting members of the car community. Only one of them had to have police officers and armed security guards to control the crowd of admirers. We had been hired to produce an episode at the Sacramento Autorama. This was a large show that featured the best cars and some biggest names in the car world. We interviewed John D’Agostino, Rick Dore, Bones Noteboom and TV and movie celebrities Candy Clark and Elvira. All was going well until we tried to get the interview with Elvira. Elvira, AKA “Mistress of the Dark,” was signing autographs and displaying her 1958 Thunderbird. She was accompanied by her manager and two security guards. You’d think that this would be enough, but it was not. There was an enormous crowd waiting to get an autographed photo of the Cleavage Queen. The crowd grew so large that two police officers were brought in to control the crowd of approximately 200 fans. It was at this moment that we attempted to get an interview with the beehive-haired beauty. I flashed my press pass, stepped into the display area and approached Elvira to try to schedule an interview. Her manager stopped me and said, “Elvira is not giving any interviews today.” She then sternly requested that I step away from the table where Elvira was signing autographs. I don’t give up easily. I walked to the show producer’s office and asked if someone could assist me in getting an interview with the Mistress of the Dark. Char Cyr, one of the show producers, said “Follow me! Elvira is going to give you an interview!” Char briskly walked across the show floor and up to Elvira’s security fortress. She walked behind Elvira, grabbed her by the arms and said, as she lifted Elvira up from her chair, “You are going to be interviewed by Lance!” Elvira was very surprised but quickly replied, “I expect to be paid extra for this!” Char introduced us and we then walked a few steps to Elvira’s T-Bird. We nestled into the car’s interior as the crew began setting up for the interview. I’ve met many celebrities over the years and I’m usually not too affected by their notoriety. They all seem to be just regular people. For some reason this was not the case with Elvira. She is a very attractive lady and her outfit was very distracting. Yes, her appearance is always “over the top” as part of her persona, but she still looked fantastic to me. Also over the top was the upper portion of her torso. We made small talk while waiting for the producer’s call of “Action!” She noticed my less than subtle glances at her cleavage and said, “It’s all done with tape. That way my dress does not
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totally reveal my boobs.” I was flattered by her frankness and blushed like a 16 year-old. No doubt she was impressed by my response of “Um….huh.” It was time for the interview. I opened with a question and waited for her reply. I then asked another question to which she responded, “Wouldn’t it be better if you put the microphone in front of me when I talk?” Yes, I was so mesmerized by her that I forgot to turn the microphone in her direction when she answered the questions. At this point it was time to start acting like a professional.
Elvira was totally charming, personable and cooperative, despite the difficulty of getting the interview. She was “in character” when the cameras were running, but just her real self, Cassandra Peterson, when they were not. She explained that the 1958 T-Bird we were seated in was customized by the legendary “King of the Kustomizers” George Barris. It was a quirky collection of gothic odds and ends, and a bit worn out from many years of helping to promote Elvira. She told me that there are actually two of the T-Birds, and the “good one” was home in her garage. What impressed me most was her willingness to give me so much of her time. Standing in front of the car was a huge crowd of anxious fans that wanted her autograph, but she gave me her full attention. I attempted twice to end our conversation and twice she put her hand on my arm (Be still my heart!) and said not to leave yet. She wanted to keep chatting, even after the cameras were turned off. The time with the Mistress of the Dark came to an end and I thanked her. As I climbed out of the car, Tim, producer of the Vintage Vehicle Show, asked, “What were you two talking about? You were sitting with her forever!” I made some flip comment about how charming she thought I was, and how I’d likely be hearing from her soon. She must have lost my phone number. - Lance Lambert
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Phil Berg’s Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour
Man Caves Are In
I
n spite of the decline of car use, garages are becoming more necessary for men’s mental health. In the fall of 2012, USA Today reported an increase of homes being built without garages, which reporter Tanya Snyder said, “stands to reason” because of more dense developments built nearer to town centers. People prefer to walk to places, leaving their cars free from mundane errands. The way I see it, a good car is wasted on mere transportation. Driving is best done for a mindexpanding trip, for inspiration, and for dreaming. After all, the late famous garage user Steve Jobs used to pretend his car was a 1940’s fighter plane and pull back on the steering wheel like an elevator stick while driving, according to a girlfriend’s autobiography. My former editor William Jeanes used to say, “God does not deduct from your allotted time on Earth the amount of time spent enjoying a fine car on a beautiful road.” No doubt he meant to add that a rat race commute would speed our individual demise. The housing boom of 2004 had four-car garages almost mandatory in new homes built in California, which was primarily for toys like quad-runners, bulky windsurfing equipment, and baby boomer mid-life man crisis motorcycles. The garage-equipped new home building figure dropped from 92 percent to 87 percent with no car space by 2012, and Snyder concurrently was heralding a return in the popularity of porches, which rose to 66 percent. So while garages are not being built in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, there are opposite trends in the garage remodel
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business. According to Closet Factory, which is this year launching a new line of high-end garage cabinets aimed at the remodeler and car nut, the new trends are solidifying. Garage customers are asking for more modern surfaces. In addition, garage cabinetry is headed toward matching the style of the house. In the South, more traditional styles of cabinets are preferred, while in the Coasts, more modern looks are being requested. These include forgedlook metal cabinet doors and facings, as well as metal laminates and coatings on melamine board. Colors still favor white and off-browns, but extreme cabinet door handles are growing in popularity. Heat-extruded handles that run the full length of the cabinet doors are all the rage. The reason for this, says Closet Factory spokesperson Abigail Krasno is a trend toward making garages dual-purpose as Man Caves. Total garage make-overs are on the rise because of this need. Grief counselor Tom Golden’s 2013 book, “The Way Men Heal” delves into the need for Man Caves as a way specifically for men to process emotions by doing things such as working on a car alone, listening to and reflecting on music, and generally doing all the things we naturally do in a garage. I see this as a positive trend in society, providing a recognized and formal place for men to work out life’s tests. Society, infers Golden, does not react kindly to men sobbing on a front porch. That’s a strong case for the garage. - Phil Berg
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Garage
news
Stay Tuned: “Motor Sports Monterey” Project in the Making The name “Monterey” is internationally synonymous with all phases of motorsports, from auto and motorcycle racing and collecting to record-breaking classic car auctions and the world renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The internationally acclaimed “Monterey Auto Week” which occurs every August draws more than 400,000 collectors, racers, restorers and spectators to the Monterey Peninsula. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca hosts several other high-profile motorsports events throughout the year. In addition, Monterey County is home to many auto enthusiasts in need of the perfect space to house their collections and related services. With all of the automotive activity in the area, there is a distinct lack of secure, high quality space to adequately serve these needs. Local resident and commercial real estate developer Don Orosco, a well-known car collector, restorer and vintage car racer, wanted to extend the benefits of Monterey’s Auto Week into a year-round state of mind. When he’s not restoring an iconic hot rod, racing in America or Europe, or manufacturing speed equipment through his company Monterey Speed and Sport, Don and his two sons, Chris and Patrick, are developing real estate projects. Their portfolio features more than 70 major projects developed during a 40-year time span. Don’s lifelong involvement with motorsports inspired his vision of creating an affordable automotive complex to be developed on the last remaining 100 buildable acres owned by the City of Monterey. His development site near Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is perfectly suited to satisfy the needs of collectors large and small, as well as those of the tradesmen who support all facets of the multi-billion dollar motorsports industry. And so Motor Sports Monterey was born, a project that encompasses storage and restoration facilities for small and midrange collections, machine shops that can generate parts for restoration and race car maintenance, and secure, high-quality
warehouse spaces sized to house world-class, multimillion-dollar, private collections of automobiles. The project also includes a 10,000 square foot automotive event center to host everything from new car introductions to regional, national, and international automotive events. After laying the groundwork with the City of Monterey over a two-year period, securing the exclusive negotiating rights for the development of this acreage, Don and his team expect the project to ramp up over the next twelve months. If you’d like more information about the project, or would like to learn how you could become a part of Motor Sports Monterey, feel free to contact Don directly at dbo@oroscogroup.com or 831.649.0220. Garage Style will provide quarterly updates as plans solidify and the project breaks ground.
Soybean-based Motor Oils Taking Shape The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently certified Biosynthetic Technologies 5W-20 and 5W-30 motor oils. Made from high-oleic soybean oil, the tests verified the new biobased oils meet or exceed the performance characteristics of most high-quality petroleum-based oils currently available. Using a chemical reaction process to convert fatty acid into a new molecule structure called estolide, a key benefit is keeping
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engine surfaces cleaner and reducing wear on bearing surfaces compared to petroleum-based oils. Biosynthetic also worked with Infineum, the additive subsidiary of ExxonMobil and Shell, to field test the oils in taxis operating in Las Vegas. After 150,000 miles of use, the cabs using the biosynthetic oils visibly showed fewer deposits and baked-in varnish than those engines running conventional petroleum motor oils.
Find Automotive Books for your favorite car enthusiast! by author, photographer, broadcaster
Matt Stone McQueen’s Machines, the Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon from Motorbooks Publishing or at Amazon.com
Winning! The Racing Life of Paul Newman also with Preston Lerner, with Foreword by Mario Andretti from Motorbooks Publishing or at Amazon.com
My First Car Motorbooks Publishing or at Amazon.com
Histories Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and rumors coauthored with Preston Lerner Now available from Motorbooks Publishing
Please visit www.MattStoneCars.com
The Ferrari Phenomenon co-authored with Luca dal Monte BullPublishing.com or Amazon.com
Talk all you want: There’s no substitute for action. New products, new ideas, new ways to profit—this is no empty promise. No hollow guarantee. This is the SEMA Show and this is where the action is.
TALK IS CHEAP. Registering for the 2014 SEMA Show is inexpensive.
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Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Office
profile
Car Girl This is how it would look if Martha Stewart was a car nut Text and Images By
Phil Berg
F
or almost 40 years, Denise Sheldon has been collecting all kinds of special car parts, pictures, sculptures, and turning most of them into household necessities and art. She eats, sleeps, dresses and dreams cars, and even works on the sales side of Autoweek magazine in Detroit, where she moved from Southern California when she was 15, about three years after she discovered she was a car nut. “I want to make candlestick holders, I want to make book ends, I want to make knick-knacks out of car parts that I’ve been collecting. I love gears, I love things that move. I watch a lot of DIY, and Home and Garden TV,” says Sheldon. “And I have a lot of friends who have done a lot with cars and houses. This is my passion, it’s not just a hobby, this is my lifestyle.” For 15 years the house was decorated like this, then three years ago she got serious and knocked down a couple of walls to make the open kitchen and dining area, the centerpiece of which is a counter island made from tool cabinets and a dining table made from a ‘60 Pontiac hood. All of the walls of the 2000 square-foot single story ranch home, the kind popular with autoworkers in the heyday of Detroit’s productivity, are covered in paintings, sculptures and shelves full of petrobilia. “I buy pieces at a car show, I frame them and I have to put them up somewhere,” she said. “My dad was into cars when he was young; he had a ‘56 Olds. But the Navy doesn’t afford you that kind of hobby when you’ve got kids to raise and their college. I grew up in California and didn’t move here until 1977. When I was 12 years
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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garage
features
The Stutz
The House that Harry Built and Turner Reinvented Text by
Michelle Arthur Images Courtesy of
The Stuz
T
here are garages, and then there are garages as in 400,000-square feet of space. The Stutz consumes an entire city block in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana and houses more than 200 small to mid-size companies or tenants as well as a restaurant and a jaw-dropping classic car collection. But it didn’t start out that way. When most auto enthusiasts hear the name Harry Stutz, they are reminded of the automobile company he founded in 1911. They recall the Bearcat that placed 11th in the first-ever Indianapolis “500” race. The original factory and headquarters is the Stutz I & II, another factory building of 70,000-square feet south of building one. It’s in the second one where Harry originated his plan for the Bearcat. That beast of a car and the Blackhawk were remarkable racing machines in their day. Then the Stutz innovation became available
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to the public as the factory produced at least 500 cars a year, the number that rings true for the Speedway track. Changing hands along the way, the buildings’ wheels of history turned and turned again – Charles Schwab, Eli Lilly and Company. Then it sat empty for almost a decade. That’s when Indy native Turner Woodard, owner and president of Turner James Investments, and a real estate developer with a knack for adaptive reuses, came to the rescue in 1993. “The biggest factor was that a demolition permit had been approved and if someone didn’t step up to save it, the Stutz would face its demise,” said Woodard. “Once I toured the factory I knew that should not happen.” Beyond the original structures, Woodard’s team now has plans for an 18-story condo project to build up.
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Tales from the garage
“It’s A Duesy…” Text and Photos
by
Rodney Kemerer
S
ometimes Tales From The Garage finds stories that sound and feel like fiction. Imagine going out to your garage and finding a Duesenberg. Now imagine finding two Duesenbergs. Wait, try to imagine your choice of three Duesenbergs. If you were Virginia and Harry Robinson, circa 1930 in Beverly Hills, that was your garage and your life, not fiction but automotive royalty. At the turn of the twentieth century Los Angeles was booming. The population was exploding and the city was rapidly expanding. Many of the early pioneers and visionaries found opportunity in this young city and, at the same time, created personal wealth. Virginia and Harry Robinson were among those pioneers, but they also raised the bar for a standard of grace and elegance in a city on the edge of the wild west. As owners of the famous Robinsons Department store in Beverly Hills, they became the style and tastemakers for many generations of Angelinos. Both Virginia and Harry had exquisite taste and nothing demonstrated that more than their choice of automobiles. After building a wonderful home and planting a soon-to-become world famous garden on fifteen acres, they went “car shopping.” But not very much like you or me. Since they had practically invented luxury shopping in Beverly Hills, they knew how to shop for themselves. In the spring of 1929 the couple purchased a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy bodied disappearing top convertible coupe (Engine No. J-108, Serial No. 2134), complete with reptile skin interior and a white frame and body. Very sporty. In August, feeling the need for more cars, they purchased a 1930 Derham bodied five passenger sedan on a short wheelbase (Engine No. J-171, Serial No. HA-2193). With still more room in their garage, in October they purchased a 1930 Duesenberg Town Car with another Derham body (Engine No. J-114 Serial No. 2137). Now try, for a moment, to imagine the life of that car salesman. One year, three cars with a total 1929 retail price of $44,500.00 or $610,000.00 in today’s dollars. In reality, these were three very different automobiles that were used informally (The Coupe), functionally (The Sedan) and very formally (The Town Car). With the early death of Harry and the Great Depression, the automobiles were eventually sold and two of the three remain today very prized by collectors and enthusiasts. For example, the 1929 Model J Murphy bodied coupe, fully restored, sold at auction in 2013 for $2,365,000.00. Remaining in Beverly Hills today are the Robinsons beautiful home and gardens which are open to the public (www.robinsongardens.org). There you can see the garage that held the cars, including a separate service garage complete with its own grease pit. I suggest a visit. While your significant other is strolling through the stunning Italian Garden or smelling the roses, you can step away into the garage, close your eyes, and smell the heady aroma of automobile history, gasoline, oil, leather, chrome and elegance. GSM
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Town Car
Sedan
Retirement Home One Man’s Vision of the Ultimate Retirement Setting Text by
Bill Nakasone
Images courtesy of the garage owner
T
he term “retirement home” invariably conjures up images of assisted living quarters, cafeteria style meals (I’ll take another tapioca pudding, please), bingo on Tuesday nights, and field trips with your elderly peers to the local mall. When Chris retired three years ago, he envisioned something totally different. He chose a lush 2.5-acre site in the picturesque Willamette Valley of Oregon and constructed his dream setting. Chris was first attracted to the site for three reasons; it was in a beautiful location, it had an existing house that matched his architectural taste and it had the perfect topography to construct a large garage. Chris has been a collector his entire life. However, collectiomania really started taking steam about 15 years ago. In that span of time he managed to collect 25 motorcycles, vintage classic cars, and a stable of contemporary cars. He had been storing this growing collection at a number of locations such as a rented shop building, his Father’s garage, and other locations. When Chris retired from his successful career in battery seperator manufacturing three years ago, he set forth with consolidating his entire collection into a single location and creating the ultimate space. The result is what you see. Chris has a wide swath of interest and his collection is eclectic. What other guy do you know has a Ferrari 599, a Subaru WRX STI, a 1969 Camaro 396 Rally Sport (a two
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Time Collector
Main Street and a train depot under one roof Text By
Don Weberg Images by
Cabell Johnson
G
lenn became a bonafide car enthusiast upon seeing his first Corvette at 13. He was smitten for the sweptback shape and split window design, the hidden headlights, and knockoffs spinning on turbine-styled wheels. It was this car that would make him wonder about others, and embark him on the journey of a lifetime. “I currently have about nine Corvettes, and I really do enjoy them,” said Glenn. “I recently took my ZR-1 to a racetrack in the Carolinas that allows you to drive your personal car and learn the limits of yourself and your own car, and that was eye opening.” Glenn has collected railroad and automobile memorabilia since he was a child, the railroad interests coming from his father and grandfather, both of whom worked in the industry, and brought
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him onboard as well. Glenn continued on in the company manufacturing railroad hardware such as track switches and turnout components. Over time, he’d collected the ubiquitous crossing signs with flashing lights, various auto and oil company signs, and Coca-Cola bits and pieces, and eventually realized it was time to bring them all into one place. “Or, at least bring them nearer my home,” he said. “Prior to the garages, I was keeping cars in storage spots all over town, and at the house, and it was just not a fun way to enjoy the hobby.” As such he built his first 5,000 square foot building, a metal butler building, into which he moved the local depot, which was slated for demolition. “That’s a fun place, it looks like a depot, and it was, but now
Greyhound Garage A refuge for vintage Lincolns Text by
Don Weberg Images by
Dale Quinio
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S
omewhere along California’s Northern Coast, there is a garage, seemingly forgotten in time. Inside, its contents have remained statue still for years, project cars awaiting completion and complete cars awaiting something. A sense of abandon is omnipresent within, a quiet eeriness that you’re alone, but nowhere near by yourself. If these cars and items could talk, the stories they could relay. This is the special garage of Jack, a three-story building containing a massive collection of cars, mostly Lincolns from the 1930’s and prior. It’s one of the largest private gatherings of Lincolns anywhere, roughly 30 in total, among perhaps 30 additional cars of varying makes. Some are Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance winners; others are derelict in condition, but dripping with history and stories. None of them are recently purchased, and have been in the collection for many years, even decades, and some of the cars were bought new by the family, like an early-1950’s Packard convertible which was bought new by the garage owner’s brother, Bill. “I’ve enjoyed all the cars, and I don’t want to sell them,” said garage owner Jack. His dedication is obvious, and the lonely feeling emitted by the garage is mostly imagination, as Jack and his wife, Mona, have hosted many people at the garage, and used a couple of the cars in recent events. Jack’s tools are amazing, and again, have been in his possession for decades. The garage has enough work areas set up that it would be easy to restore a vehicle within. From interior to exterior to mechanical, the tools and space are there, yet the garage still evokes a somewhat mysterious aura around it as all the cars and elements are seemingly frozen in time, tools placed where they were last used, projects awaiting the technician’s return. “Last year we had a couple of cars at Pebble, and that was fun, Jack had a great time,” said Mona. “He still loves his cars, he enjoys spending time with them, but given his age he’s just not able to spend as much time with them as he would like.” The garage is a simple but large structure made of wood with a concrete slab floor on the first and second levels, and wood for the third. Beams and posts are exposed, and while the first and second floors are simple, large expanses for car parking, the third floor can easily be used as an office or even living space as it’s been divided into multiple rooms. Situated on a mountain, the views over the edge of the nearby cliff are astonishing. Outside the garage, a virtual junkyard plays tricks on the imagination – is that a real Fleetwood? Yes. What the devil is that? Did you see that farm equipment over there? A 1969 Eldorado? What’s in the bushes? And the parts and pieces, each one of them likely from decades ago, adds to the allure and again, teases the imagination with stories and ideas. The third floor is a treasure trove of gems – old radios and televisions, magazines galore, books aplenty, games, furniture, and clothing, all placed with not much reason or rhyme, just placed until further notice. Again, there’s a quiet eeriness to the space that any history buff can appreciate. Spend as much time as you want looking at one room on the third floor, and we’re sure you won’t see everything within. The nuggets hiding around are astounding and surprising. “I’ve collected my whole life, and never got rid of much,” laughed Jack. “I still have the first Lincoln I ever bought.” Any of us can appreciate the concept of keeping it all, but Jack takes it to a new level, an art form. When he was younger, and began buying cars, he’d buy a few at a time on occasion, and rent garages around town from people who didn’t own cars. “I had cars everywhere, so I appreciated the thought of a garage that could hold everything,” said Jack. Over time, he crossed paths with the late Otis Chandler and
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Rolls-Royce D e a l e r s h i p I te m s
Many rare items from the 1960s through 2000
R o l l s - R oyc e Au t o m o b i l e s fo r S a l e 1990 Rolls‐Royce Silver Spur Spirit SCAZS02A1LCX33417 Magnolia with Parchment hydes, 68,531 kilometers from new. Clean engine compartment. Tools. Dealer serviced $24,900
1991 Rolls‐Royce Silver Spur SCAZN02D6MCX34534 Magnolia with parchment hydes, full wood package, excellent condi�on. 47,925 miles from new, clean engine compartment. Tools, lambs wool overlays, wood in excellent condi�on. Dealer serviced $29,995 1972 Rolls‐Royce Silver Shadow LRA12244 Long wheel base, shell grey exterior, new paint. Scarlet interior, hydes new, wood in excellent condi�on. 83,560 miles from new, very clean engine compart‐ ment, carpets like new, tool kit, many books and records. Dealer serviced $19,950 1982 Rolls‐Royce Camargue SCAYJ42AXCCX04696 51,200 miles from new, magnolia with cocoa hydes, piped in white, wood in good condi�on, exterior in excellent condi�on. Dealer serviced $42,000
Contact: Steve Contarino, 978-423-3770 or www.rolls-royce-motors.com
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The Garages of the Future at 202 Cloquet Avenue and 263 Michigan Avenue Text By
Rick Rader
Images Provided By
As Credited
I
cons are icons for good reasons. They are instantly recognized as giants, leaders and the epicenters of any given human endeavor. They all meet the criteria of immediate association. Test it out in any bar; and not just any American bar, but test it out in Marrakech or Moscow. Rock and Roll……..instant response will likely be “Elvis Presley” Italian supercar…….instant response will likely be “Ferrari” Computer whiz…….instant response will likely be “Steve Jobs” No doubt these are icons. Okay some guy at the end of the bar may mutter, “James Brown, Pagani Zonda, and Charles Baggage,” but they would be quickly labeled as a misanthrope. Test it with “Futuristic architect” and the instant response will likely be Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright was a proponent of “organic architecture” with a mission to design structures that were in harmony with humanity and its environment. His design for Fallingwater (1935) has been called, “the best all-time work of American architecture.” Wright was no wall flower when it came to an ego almost as dramatic as his designs. “Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change.” Wright was recognized by the American Institute of Architects as, “the greatest American architect of all time.” Wright designed many building types including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, museums and residences. One could only imagine what he could have come up with if he set his sights on designing a, “gas station – repair garage.” In fact he
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Photo courtesy Library of Congress
did design both a service station and a gas station. One he lived to see realized and the other one was finally assembled 55 years after his death. The R.W. Lindholm Service Station was built in 1958 and is still in use, it remains the only service station designed by Wright. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Apparently Wright designed a home for Ray Lindholm in 1952 and learning that Lindholm worked in the oil industry he provided him with a sketch of a futuristic service station. Lindholm built the station which later became a Phillips 66 service station and had an influence in the
GARAGE
profile
Pat McKinney’s Rockbird’s Nest Text By
Matt Stone Images by
Mel Stone
A
merican television in the 1970s was filled with crime drama, everything from Kojak to Hawaii Five-0. Without question, one of the most popular, and long lived, is The Rockford Files, starring the late James Garner. The show began its weekly series run in September, 1974 and ran through July, 1980, airing during prime time on Friday nights. It was wildly popular during its first run six seasons, and went into syndication immediately after its final prime time episode and hasn’t been off the air since. Mr. Garner’s Cherokee Productions produced 122 episodes of The Rockford Files for NBC/Universal. James Garner was already among the world’s most popular actors, and Rockford brought him into millions of homes on a weekly basis, and also increased his international fan base exponentially. Private investigator James S. Rockford was played by James Garner, with the show boasting an interesting and varied cast of regulars and big name guests. So many factors make it great, from crisp, fun, and occasionally brilliant writing to the fact that about half of the show was shot on location, at iconic and interesting Los Angeles area locales; particularly appealing was its Malibu, California home base, that being the parking lot of the Sand Castle restaurant (now renamed the Paradise Cove Café) in an area still called Paradise Cove, where Rockford docked his massive, yet charmingly run down single wide house trailer. The show was a commercial and ratings smash and earned numerous Emmys. While Rockford was by no means a “car based” show, any detective drama worth gum on its shoe features great action, be it the occasional fight scene, a few shots fired, and great cars and a car chase now and again. The latter began with Rockford’s Sierra Gold-colored Pontiac Firebird Esprit with Camel Tan interior. James Garner had often commented about why Rockford doesn’t drive a TransAm, the flashier, more performance-oriented Firebird. Mr. Garner says, “Well, it’s not that he [Rockford] wouldn’t have liked one – it’s much sexier – but I didn’t think he could afford it. The Firebird [Esprit model, used in the show] was…a stripped down version of the TransAm. And I thought it handled better than the TransAm.” The show employed at least three Firebirds per season as is typical for television or movie production. One car is the “beauty” or “hero” car used for on-camera scenes when it needs to look pristine and for close-up shots with the actors. One or another of this automotive cast usually ends up being the “sound” car, equipped with a variety of microphones all around the exterior, and sometimes inside, to pick up road noise, the sounds of the car itself (a rumbling engine or squealing tires) and to aid in recording audio tracks of the actors themselves when inside the
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cars. The third (or fourth) is either usually a back-up, or sometimes dubbed the “damage” car for when the script calls for the star’s car to be wrecked or otherwise damaged. Mr. Garner notes that the Firebirds were largely unmodified, factory equipped cars, with the exception of, “a little suspension stiffening to improve the handling,” for chase scenes. The 400 cubic-inch V-8 engines and three-speed automatic transmissions were otherwise standard production Firebird Esprits with a minimum of accessories. For all but two episodes, Rockford’s Firebird carried California blue and yellow license plate number 853 OKG, which was never
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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MAGIC HAPPENS My daughters Nicol and Dina have been to many car shows with the grandkids over the years. This picture was taken about 12 years ago at one of the car shows. My 3 year old granddaughter Lauren Jones is sitting in our 1932 Ford Petal Car that her dad Chris and I built from a kit. I am in the full size ’32 3 window coupe. Both have license plates “LIL2CPE”. Lauren just received her learners permit and soon will be a “car gal”. 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 to info@garagestylemagazine.com.
Special Section
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Insuring the Garage
Knowing homeowner’s insurance limitations is paramount Text By
GSM Editors Images By
Heacock Classic
G
arages are complicated places to insure. Lets be real - it’s often where power tools and gasoline live side by side. Some contain the family lawn mower, and others could pass for a museum. Some are packed with tools and equipment, and other are more about the leather couches, pool table, and a wellstocked bar. Some garages hold a treasure trove of rare parts, and others are mostly collectibles with a few cars thrown in. Whatever your garage looks like, protecting your garage assets properly starts with the experts at Heacock Classic Insurance. Think about it - we go to great lengths to pamper and improve the condition of our favorite vehicles. We’ll utilize the most reputable shop we can find for repairs, or stock our garages up with the finest tools available to carefully do the job ourselves. Parts? We only use the finest, highly documented, most accurate parts money can buy. Lubricants? My selection is worthy of a Formula One pit crew. Waxes and Cleaners? Ditto. Rain? Never! Rain-X? Bring it
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on. It’s all part of the passion, part of the history, and part of the fun of owning a fine classic automobile – and why should your classic car insurance be any different? We spoke recently with Bob DeKorne, National Accounts manager for Heacock Classic, about protecting your cars and your Garage. GS: What exactly is garage coverage? BDK: Thanks for having me. I’ve been a collector car insurance agent for about 25 years, and have been invited in to see some of the coolest garages and collections in the country, as well as hundreds of more typical, modest shops that house great cars. There is not one single insurance product that can protect everything in your garage. The key to protecting your assets in the garage is to simply utilize several layers of common insurance properly, inventory your collection, and communicate regularly with your carriers.
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A DISPLAY O F TH E WORLD’S M OST EXOTIC CARS, MOTORCYCLES. AIRCRAFT & WATERCRAFT
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RI TZ-CARLTO N O RL A NDO GRA NDE L A K E S D E CE M BE R 5 - 7 201 4
OMNI AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION MARCH 13-14 2015
MIAMI J ANUA RY 3 1 - F E BRUA RY 2 201 5
RENAISSANCE VINOY HOTEL ST. PETERSBURG MARCH 6-8 2015
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W W W . FE S T I V A L S O F S P E E D . C O M 3 5 2 - 3 85 - 9 4 5 0
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Barn
finds
Boat in a Barn Text and Image by
John “Gunner” Gunnell
W
hen we studied art in “New Yawk City” 40 years ago, one of our favorite artists was Wolf Kahn, who painted barns in a dreamy style that blended realism with impressionism. After relocating to a rural area, we discovered that the real purpose of barns is not to serve as props for artists, but to hold things farmers want to keep. They hold tractors, boats that float in warm water fishin’ holes after the cows are milked and old cars, some of which people call “boats” – like a Pontiac Grand Ville. The Grand Ville was Pontiac’s top-of-the-line big car in the mid1970’s when even small cars were big. The convertible and twoand four-door hardtops had a 124-inch wheelbase and the Grand Safari station wagons had a three-inch longer stance. Overall length was 226-inches for the passenger cars and a whopping
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231.3-inches for the Safari wagons. A 455-cid 215-hp V-8 was standard. Gross weight was over two tons. This ‘74 Grand Ville two-door hardtop, with just over 50,000 original miles, was found in a barn in Belgium, Wisconsin. Not everyone loves big boats, but the man who unearthed this one does. He also owns three Grand Ville four-doors. Oddly enough, he does not favor convertibles, but is trying to buy a Grand Safari with an interesting history. In the meantime, his two-door hardtop is being restored. The barn preserved it well and it started and ran smoothly. However, barn pigeon drippings were not kind to the paint on upper body surfaces and a little more rust existed than showed in this “as found” photo. GSM
AUCTION HOUSE JOURNAL Heritage Auctions 29 May 2014 Dallas Original Motor Age Magazine cover art by Clinton Pettee Sold: $5,312 Illustration painting by Tarzan artist Clinton Pettee for the August, 1913 issue of Motor Age, America’s longest-running automotive professional trade magazine. A Pettee cover of the October, 1912 issue of The All-Story magazine featuring the world’s first published image of Tarzan is considered by collectors as the most valuable of all pulp magazines, with a copy recently selling for nearly $60,000. Very good condition, two small tears, measures 19.75-inches x 14.5-inches.
Heritage Auctions 29 May 2014 Dallas Bronze sculpture Fast Company by Stanley Wanlass Sold: $11,125 Fast Company, number 20 of 40 produced, signed and dated 1989. Fast Company is highly detailed, and captures Phil Hill and Ritchie Ginther in a Ferrari 375MM during the 1954 Carrera Panamerica Mexico road race. Mounted on marble, 24-inches in length, excellent condition, created using the lost wax process known as Cire Perdue.
Heritage Auctions 29 May 2014 Dallas 1931 Land Speed Record Setting Napier Campbell Sold: $11,875 Silver model of the Napier Campbell ‘Blue Bird’ originally gifted to project financier Marian Carstairs by driver Captain Sir Malcolm Campbell.
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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automobilia
outlook
From clutter to display Being Steered in the Right Direction Text and Images by
Rick Rader
Y
ears ago I became enamored with radiator mascots and began to collect and display them with an aggressive fever. I went the route of most novice collectors buying everything in sight, overlooking flaws, accepting reproductions and reading the available literature. I accumulated what I would call an “intermediate” collection of approximately a hundred mascots all within the theme depicting human or mythological figures. I found myself in a situation where I was priced out of the market for the ones I wanted and added to the reality that the mascots became scarce at the national auto swap meets; for me the preferred venue rather than the internet for a host of reasons including the human side of the “face to face” encounter. I was content with my
collection and continued to learn about mascots and still add new ones on occasion. But as a “collector” I missed the “building” part of collecting (not hoarding) and decided to identify a new arena, fertile ground. It was at Hershey that I first noticed them as potential collector items. For years I had simply seen them as the functional devices that every car was furnished with. Perhaps it was with an expanded orientation towards “what would be unique to collect that related to the essence of the automobile” that I realized that the “steering wheel” fits the bill. It is the steering wheel after all that serves as the “human – machine interface.” It is the singular part of the car that is truly “hands on.” You spend most of your time (other than in
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Automobile
review
Pagani Huayra Text by
Mark Sternberg Images Courtesy of
Pagani
E
ver since Ferrari brought the word Speciale in to the exotic car vernacular, we’ve been reexamining what that name really implies. A case could be made that the sincerely amazing track-focused 458 is too mass produced and even too derivative to be considered truly ‘special’ in the context of the exotic car world. With that sort of perspective, can any new car with modern assembly methods and restrictive safety regulations be truly ‘special’? If there’s hope at all, it can be found at a small facility just down the road from Ferrari’s headquarters in Modena, Italy. There, a squad of highly qualified technicians creates some of the most unique cars ever made. The Pagani Huayra (Pronounced why-ra) fills a peculiar slot in the hypercar market. Though it’s armed with one of the most powerful engines in the industry, the Huayra was never really designed to become the fastest car in the world. Instead, the new Pagani is really defined by the craftsmanship that went into its construction and design. Precision and relentless attention to detail may not be anything new to the auto industry, but where other manufacturers focus on maximizing performance or minimizing weight at all costs, a Horacio Pagani car blends engineering prowess with style in an intoxicating swagger that has become the brand’s signature. Every component that makes up a Pagani is required to not only serve a function and contribute to the beauty of the car as a whole, but it must also stand on its own when removed as an
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individual piece of art. The parts that result from this ethos can truly amaze; from the flowing carbon fiber body work, to the seat mounting brackets, to every last bespoke titanium bolt which is etched with the company logo. It takes the manufacturer an entire day to carve the Huayra’s badge out of a solid block of aluminum, and five days to create each wheel using the same methods. The exhaust system is made using a mixture of titanium and Inconel components that will leave anyone with engineering aspirations more than a little gobsmacked. Beyond aesthetics, Pagani’s extensive use of carbon fiber, aluminum and titanium give the Huayra an extraordinary dry weight of just under 3,000 lbs. This light weight is part of a recipe for performance that includes active aerodynamics, custom Pirelli tires and a pushrod suspension. As a result, the Huayra is able to corner at 1.5g and has a driving dynamic is more Le Mans Prototype that air conditioning-equipped road car. The Pagani’s blend of performance and panache isn’t available to the budget-minded consumer, sadly. Unique design, extremely limited availability and exotic materials lend to the car’s starting price tag of around $1.3 million. Any sticker shock goes out the window for the lucky few who are able to side a Huayra’s key (which is a carved aluminum scale model of the Huayra itself) into the ignition and bring the car rumbling to life. Sound is a major component of the Pagani experience and
uNIQUE
artists
Joro Joro’s art isn’t traditional in the sense that it painted on a canvas or composed by a photographer, but it conjures up all the history that goes with automobile design back to the beginning. All of Joro’s one-piece, hand-crafted works conjure up the same skill and passion that the great automotive designers relied on. www.jorooriginals.com
Geoffrey Nichols Pop Art is making a comeback. Geoffrey Nichols is using a simple platform, his Iphone, to create colorful, sometimes poignant, images of the world around him. Going to great lengths to get the shot, he proves that you don’t need the latest and greatest to create art. www.geoffreynicholsphotography.com
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Bob Maurer Bob Maurer’s latest project will have you wondering if you’ve stepped into a time warp. His pieces are not vintage advertising, but carefully crafted posters designed to reflect a fictional Metropolis. Step into Maurer’s world and you’ll not only catch a glimpse of some of the finest automobiles to hit the road, but you’ll travel through his psyche. www.BobMaurer.com
Robert Carter There is a golden age for every period and Robert Carter’s works detail what many would call the golden age of automobile racing. His posters are meticulously crafted capturing the essence of what made those periods so great. His images are bright, bold, and detailed in all the right places. www.robertcarterartwork.com
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Artist
profile
Ron Pinkerton Text By
Jeremiah McDaniel Images Courtesy of
Ron Pinkerton
T
he idea of night photography seems counterintuitive. A cameras basic function is when the button is pressed the shutter opens to allow light to flood a sensor or film – but lets face it, who is really shooting film anymore. In addition to the lack of light, composition, the other basic function of photography, is near impossible. A photographer setting out to take photos in the night also has to deal with all of the elements that make up nightmares for kids: long shadows, strange noise, the constant running of an overactive imagination. It’s enough to leave it to the day dwellers, but for photographer Ron Pinkerton night photography is not only his forte, but it’s his muse. Ron didn’t always seek out the weird and abandoned to photograph, he says when he was a kid his parents were in a rock club and they would drag him all over looking at rocks and minerals. When he was ten they bought him his first Instamatic camera and he set out shooting all the mines and minerals their weekend adventures would present. In high school, short on credits, he enrolled in a photo class. It was there that he discovered black and whites, and learned how a photo could tell a story. “I learned about Ansel Adams… I saw how much drama he could get into a picture with the dark sky and the looming mountain,” said Pinkerton. Photography was always in his mind, but things like marriage, kids, and life have a way of intervening. One day, to his surprise, his wife bought him a camera and that was the catalyst that took his photography from occasional to an obsession. “I would always have clothes in my car and on Friday at the end 66
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of the day I would decide if I was going to take pictures or just go home,” said Pinkerton. “I would be out two weekends a month at least.” Those weekend excursions allowed Ron to travel all over the west, finding obscure places to photograph. “It’s just about the ability to follow the light, the opportunity to explore and discover, and the adventure,” said Pinkerton. “It’s about the freedom to drive down the highway until I found something interesting.” It was on one of the those drives that Ron found himself photographing the Nevada Northern Railroad, a sort of living museum in the middle of the desert. The Nevada Northern Railroad gives visitors an opportunity experience historic railroad life. It was in Ely, NV that Pinkerton snapped the cover photo of his book, did I mention that he has books, lots of books filled with amazing photos of all kinds. “I like the drama in the photo, it has so much. There’s the two locomotives, the steam, the textures in the background,” said Pinkerton. “Nevada Northern Railroad is a time warp, it’s a single railroad that has always been right there. I’d like to tell you I planned everything in advance, but a lot of it is luck.” Pinkerton says that he’s drawn to the desert because he’s always had a fascination with western history. “I’ve always had a thing for history, I find the romance and history exciting,” said Pinkerton. “If I had it to do over again I would go get my masters again and teach history, 1849, The Gold Rush, that whole western exciting time.”
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Book
reviews
HURST Equipped Factory Special Muscle Cars, Speed Parts & Legendary Race Cars Reviewed By Bill Nakasone The recently published book entitled “HURST Equipped – Factory Special Muscle Cars, Speed Parts & Legendary Race Cars” will most certainly be regarded as the authoritative source for the all things related this amazing company. More than just a resource of facts and archival photos, this book is the collaborative effort of two very knowledgeable writers (Mark Fletcher and Richard Truesdale) telling story on subject matter that they are absolutely passionate about. Their enthusiasm and zeal is evident throughout each chapter. This story is the chronological tale of George Hurst, the man who rose from a very modest background and into an industry giant in the performance / speed equipment business during the formative and zenith years of the Hot Rod / Muscle Car era. Starting from his home garage, George Hurst performed engine conversions for some of his friends stationed at the nearby Willow Grove Naval Air Force Station. More than just simple conversions, George paid close attention to the myriad of details and sound engineering principles that constitute a quality installation package such as optimizing front to rear weight distribution, setting the engine low enough to improve the center of gravity while still providing ample ground clearance, improving the braking system to be able to handle the additional horsepower, and modifying the suspension to improve cornering ability. Since many of these parts were not commercially available, George designed and made his own parts. George soon earned the reputation for quality engineering and became inundated with work. Despite his early success, George looked beyond his immediate surroundings and saw a need for quality speed parts sold on a national level. He teamed up with Bill Campbell and started the Hurst-Campbell Company. George Hurst and Bill Campbell became a synergistic duo, each having a distinct skill set that complemented one 70
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another. George was idea man and the marketing maestro. Bill was the engineer who applied his magic to both product design and production process. The company became extremely successful with their gear shift linkage conversion which took the standard steering column mounting set up and relocated it on the floor. Their penchant for quality set the standard for the entire industry. The HURST linkage has a cache and brand equity that is still recognized to this day. I found the book extremely captivating on two levels. First, the book does an excellent job of telling history with a detailed description of all of the HURST projects ranging from their speed equipment line, their factory sanctioned builds of modified race cars and street cars (from Dodge, American Motors, Pontiac, Oldsmobile), and their specialty built race cars (HEMI under Glass, The Hairy Oldsmobile, Goldenrod, etc). Second, the book does an exemplary job of describing the personalities, triumphs, defeats, set- backs and acrimony within the HURST organization. This gives the story a depth and reality that weaves a tapestry of human determination, hard work, risk taking and business success juxtaposed to an 18 month prison sentence in Memphis, income tax evasion charges and the suspected suicide of George Hurst in 1986 attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. In the end, this is a story that had to be told. George Hurst represented true American grit, a working class regular guy who had the intelligence, guts and savvy to become a major player in the automotive performance scene. Both a triumph and a tragedy, Shakespeare could not have written a better 20th century story of victory and defeat. As for the legendary HURST products and performance machines, they have already told their story in the annals of muscle car lore and racing history. If you are a real car guy, this is a “must read”. Put this on your bookshelf as soon as possible. This book can be purchased at Car Tech, www.cartechbooks.com.
Personality
profile
Terry Karges
Executive Director Petersen Automotive Museum Text By
Don Weberg Images By
Dale Quinio
R
unning a museum with the traffic, popularity and frequency of the Petersen Automotive Museum takes a lot of patience, drive, focus and organization. Terry Karges has all of the above, and more. An avid racing fan, he’s worked extensively with various racing teams in various eras, and befriended some of the world’s most famous drivers. His office at the Petersen Museum is filled with racing bits and pieces, images and memorabilia from racing’s glory days, and books from influential people in the automotive industry, and the world itself. He worked for Disney, helping drive traffic and organize park rentals, a job he held dearly and remembers fondly. For sure, his work with the people in racing and at Disney have helped him develop a skill set that will come in handy with the Petersen, especially as they embark on their major remodel makeover.
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“I’ve always enjoyed the sales and marketing challenge of driving traffic to a gate,” he said. “Theme parks, museums, race tracks – they all have gates, and the challenge is to get people to come through the gate and enjoy the day. The Petersen offers tremendous experiences, and it’s about to get much better.” The Petersen Museum building, a former department store on the Miracle Mile section of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, will undergo a complete transformation - inside and out. Outside, a striking motif of stainless steel ribbons over bright “Hot Rod” red will lend a truly remarkable scene to Wilshire Boulevard. Backlit so the red is always glowing, it will mark a coming change for the museum district as the area strives to update its image and encourage visitors from around the world to partake in the offerings. Inside, the museum will see more interactive and
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Buyer’s
guide
Holiday Buyer’s Guide That time of year is creeping up on us yet again – it seems like just yesterday we were wrapping up the decorations! Here are a few suggestions for the upcoming season – enjoy!
Parmigiani Fleurier
In 2001, Bugatti partnered with Parmigiani Fleurier to produce striking, limited edition timepieces that would emulate the Bugatti style. As they put it, these are cars reborn in watch form. The relationship and stories between the two brands is astonishing, discovering how Parmigiani Fleurier came to design the timepieces is one of legend. Shown here is the Aerolithe, a recreated mystery. Unveiled in 1935, the Bugatti Aerolithe vanished from the face of the earth, leaving behind it just one photo, a few sketches, and the memory of a futuristically-styled body constructed of magnesium alloy. Highly flammable, the magnesium wouldn’t allow for welding, and the car was built in two longitudinal sections, riveted together using a dorsal seam structure which travelled the length of the vehicle. Parmigiani Fleurier created the Bugatti Aerolithe in 2013, a flyback chronograph which echoes the dorsal seam of the car. www.parmigiani.ch | 305.260.7770
James Garner’s Motoring Life
A fascinating look into the life of James Garner as an auto enthusiast. From the Grand Prix circuit to the rigors of Baja to Corvettes zipping around Riverside, Ontario, and more, James Garner enjoyed motorsports as much as making great movies and television shows. In-depth discussions about The Rockford Files and many of the stunts and vehicles used in the show, and a peek into the background of James Garner himself give an insightful, enjoyable view into the late actor’s life. www.mattstonecars.com
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Covercraft
The Carband is one of those fabulous products that reminds it’s the simplest inventions that are genius. Stretch the fully-breathable Spacer Fabric band around your car or truck, and immediately you’ve established a tough cushion between your cars finish and a potential door ding. Whether you use it in storage or in a parking lot, the Carband surrounds the vehicle with impact-absorbing material helping protect the sides of your car. Designed for indoor or outdoor use, the Carband can be used with or without a cover. www.covercraft.com | 800.426.8377
Stelle Audio Couture
Teaming up with home décor leader, DwellStudio, Stelle Audio Couture recently released two exclusive designs for the Pillar speaker. The DwellStudio for Stelle Audio Pillar is available in a multitude of metallic finishes highlighted by the sleek, circular design of the speaker. The speaker features easy-to-use Bluetooth technology, a 15-hour battery life, and a top-firing speaker system providing 360-degrees of sound. www.dwellstudio.com | www.stelleaudio.com
Dunhill
Long in the business of crafting fine instruments, the Dunhill Sentryman is no exception. Available in a variety of finishes, the Resin over Brass “Shake” Ballpoint is shown here. Called the “Shake” because of the clever mechanism that extends and retracts the Ballpoint with a simple shake of the hand, the Sentryman offers an elegant, understated style that exudes professionalism and sophistication. www.dunhill.com | 212.753.9292
Save-A-Battery
SOLARLINE battery maintainers are perfect for keeping a battery alive without plugging in. Perfect for cars that might be parked for a few days, or even several months, the SOLARLINE is made of heavy-duty industrial grade aluminum and uses amorphous technology to allow charging even on cloudy days. With a view of a window, the SOLARLINE can even be used indoors, and come with a diode regulator to prevent damage to your battery. Available in 5 Watt or 3 Watt, there is a SOLARLINE for everyone’s applications. www.saveabattery.com | 510.471.6442 Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Busted Knuckle Garage
Made in the USA, this commercial-grade stool will bring some style and fun to any room, especially the garage. Standing 30-inches with a 14-inch diameter seat, the swivel seat is well stuffed for comfort. The steel frame is finished with chrome, and the stool boasts a 1,600 pound weight capacity. www.bustedknucklegarage.com
Empire Covers
Enthusiasts need covers, and not just any cover, but examples of high-quality, long-lasting construction and materials. Empire Covers Rust-OleumÂŽ 5L Waterproof Cover comes with five layers (5L) of material, bonded together to ensure all-weather, 100-percent waterproof protection for your car or truck. Three layers of polypropylene material protect a fourth waterproof membrane layer, while the final layer is a soft fleece to pamper your cars finish. Complete with a seven-year warranty, the 5L is also UV resistant and breathable. www.empirecovers.com | 888.872.6855
Talbott Wines
A favorite flavor around here, the Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir is a fabulous gift. Crafted from the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of California, the wine uses half-old vine (planted in 1972) Martini clone Pinot Noir grapes and Dijon clone Pinot Noir grapes (roughly 20-years old). Barrel agred in French oak for 10 months, the flavor is full, with a rich texture, resonating hints of Bing cherry and red plum. www.talbottvineyards.com
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Matt’s
column
I’m Finally Floored!
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early every garage I’ve owned has had a lousy, or at best, very average floor. I once bought a new house that had clean, pristine, uncracked concrete, and I covered it with a giant piece of tight loop commercial carpeting that a contractor friend of mine pulled out of an office building remodel job he was doing. The carpet wasn’t awful, but was difficult to keep clean, absorbed moisture too easily, and stained whenever I spilled a little during an oil change. And the garage floor in my current, built-in-1954 single fam res, was as you’d expect: cracked, and deep stained from the leaking wagons and compacts of long ago previous owners. I kept this battered cement clean, but it was sure ugly in comparison with the rest of the space, which isn’t fancy but nice, with large built-in bookcases, insulation, plenty of doored storage, good lighting, drywall, lots of electrical outlets and decent tool boxes and workbench. Something had to be done. Yet I struggled over what would be the best solution. We’ve all lusted over the immaculate polished and cleared concrete we’ve seen in race shops and top notch carbarns. Or the tile, and even marble, used to floor the garages of the best custom built homes. All great – and all far beyond my need and budget. I seriously considered the shiny gray epoxy coating rolled onto many garage floors; often with some texture or little colored flecks of material intended to give the surface some grip. I’ve known many people who’ve rolled this stuff onto their floors, and everyone seemed to love it the day it went down, but weren’t as happy with it over time. One told me “it’s as slick as ice when it’s wet” and another warned me that car tires can tear it up and that it’ll ultimately lift off the cement. I wanted to do this job once, and only. While recently working a television gig at a major collector car auction, I found the solution, literally and figuratively, right at my feet. Several vendor booths, including our studio stage, were neatly covered in square composite tiles engineered and made by Swisstrax. As our set was sponsored by Craftsman Tools, the tiles were in their corporate red and black motif. A couple of guys from Swisstrax came over to look at the stage and check out how their product was performing for us. The answer was “perfectly” so I asked the guys for a lesson in this stuff. The tiles are about 15-inches square, and snap together much like Legos. If you need to cut or trim it, you do so with a fine tooth hacksaw blade in a jigsaw. Lots of colors available, and they can be mixed and matched in most any fashion. The stuff can handle just about any liquid, and up to 240 degrees temp. It can be recycled, and contains a certain amount of recycled content. If I move, I can take
the floor apart and take it with me. Mop it with warm water and a little Simple Green to clean. Plus the price made sense. I said “sign me up.” I whipped out my VISA card and a few weeks later, several boxes of Swisstrax appeared on my door, along with complete instructions, nice finisher panels for the edges, and such. I elected to go with all black, as the Ribtrax material already has a checkered flag pattern to it and I didn’t want to make the floor vibrate visually, or look overdone. Floor prep was limited to emptying out the entire garage, and a good scrubbing with dish soap, grease remover and hot water. This all may sound like a big plug for Swisstrax, and it is in a sense, because I’m thrilled with the result; please be assured that they didn’t give me this stuff for free just to say nice things about it. If I had a basement, poolroom or other mancave, I’d also Swisstrax it. I’m thinking you may like it too; learn more at www. Swisstrax.com. I’m not saying this is the only solution to this problem, but for goodness sakes: do something with that cruddy garage floor. - Matt Stone
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Garage
meanings
In the Garage with Cindy Meitle
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alcolm’s passion for cars and racing started at Goodwood in England. He joined Maranello Concessionaires UK in 1970, and trained technicians to specialize in the repair and performance of Ferrari cars. He worked for the Ferrari factory, and through a promotional transfer found himself as a technical adviser serving Australia and Asia. Back in the UK, he worked with LeMans Race Cars, and eventually was accepted from 150 applicants to oversee the Mallya Car Collection. He has represented Vijay Mallya for more than 20 years. The collection currently consists of more than 260 cars worldwide, and Malcolm has created the Mallya Collection Private Car Museum in Sausalito, California just north of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. Some would say Malcolm lives a fantasy life, living between San Diego and Sausalito, two incredible oceanside California communities. He is on the road most weekends attending numerous high-profile automotive events throughout the year where he displays vehicles on behalf of Vijay which often win Best in Class and Best of Show awards. Working for Vijay Mallya means Malcolm calls the Collection his garage, a facility filled with vintage Concours posters, models and miniatures, antique gas pumps, commissioned paintings, and many of the world’s finest motorcars. For Malcolm, this is automotive nirvana. What is your favorite item in this garage and why? The D-Type Jaguar. I was born about 1 mile from the Goodwood racetrack in England, and it was the car I saw there as a young boy 60 years ago this year, which started my love for cars and my dream to work in this field. Ironically, I will be at the Goodwood Revival this year with the D-Type and I’m terribly excited. What is one item you have always wanted in your garage that you hope to one day acquire and why do you want it so much? Another car, a Ford GT 40. I restored one many years ago and enjoyed the project so much. I love the design, the way the car was built and what it achieved. What’s the strangest item in this garage? How was it acquired and why does it remain in the garage? The collection of models that show the history of the land speed record cars. I have it laid out showing the speeds obtained. It was for sale at an auction, and at the time we had two cars that had set the land speed record; a 1902 Mors and the 1925/6 Sunbeam. We still have the Sunbeam but the Mors was sold some time back and now lives in Florida. What are you doing most of the time when in the garage? Research. I like to keep up to date with the prices that cars are selling for, as well as looking back into the history of the cars that make up the collection. I sometimes find an item on eBay that will add to the background of the cars.
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Did you spend much time in the garage growing up? What are your memories? I didn’t in the sense of cars. My father was a welder and fabricator, and he was always working on making something such as a gate or a coffee table. Most of my evenings and weekends were spent with my best friend working and helping out on his father’s farm. There was an old Morris car on the farm that had stopped running years before, but we soon had it running and taught ourselves to drive. Give me a quote about the garage, how it makes you feel when you’re in it, and why it’s important to you. The Collection holds so much history and I have lived a blessed life doing what I enjoy. Using the Collection to pass that on and motivate students as well as to raise money for charity gives me a chance to give back.
Garage Style Magazine Fall 2014
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Garage
bazaar
Art/Automobilia/ Collectibles/Media Vintage Concepts “Signs� LLC 412.771.3072 www.vcsigns.com Porcelain License Plates www.BPpanels.com Route 32 Restorations 765.307.7119 www.Route32Restorations.com Genuine Hotrod Hardware 800.575.1932 www.genuinehotrod.com
Auctions
Flooring
Travel/Leisure/Dining
iCollect247.com www.icollect247.com
BLT 913.894.0403 ext. 21 www.bltllc.com
Cafe Stravaganza 831.625.3733
Furniture/Electronics
Flanagans Restaurant-Pub 831.625.5500 www.flanaganscarmel.com
Mecum Auctions 262.275.5050 www.mecum.com Bonhams 415.503.3248 www.bonhams.com Morphy Auctions 1.717.335.3435 morphyauctions.com
Matt Stone www.MattStoneCars.com
Automobile Restoration/ Maintanence
GarageArt.com 800.708.5051 www.garageart.com
Wheelsmith 800.854.8937 951.898.4563 www.thewheelsmith.net
Vintage Vehicle Show www.vintagevehicletv.com Autobooks-Aerobooks 818.845.0707 www.autobooks-aerobooks.com Ultimate Garages www.ultimategarages.net
401k Restorations 714.993.401k www.the401kclub.com Custom Auto Service 714.543.2980 www.customautoservice.com Packards International www.PackardsInternational.com XKS Motorsports 805.594.1585 www.xksmotorsport.com
Can we help you sell it? A picture plus 40-50 words, $90. Advertise your automobilia, petroliana, literature or other related treasures in Private Listings. PrivateListings@garagestylemagazine.com
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PitStop Furniture 866.319.8500 www.intro-techautomotive.com
Tools/Equipment
Custom Auto Sound 1.800.88.TUNES www.custom-autosound.com
CoverCraft 800.4.covers www.covercraft.com
Insurance
Save-A-Battery 888.819.2190 510.471.6442 www.saveabattery.com
Heacock Classic 800.678.5173 www.heacockclassic.com
Museums Mullin Automotive Museum 805.385.5400
www.mullinautomotivemuseum. com
Port-A-Cool 800.695.2942 www.port-a-cool.com Moduline 888.343.4463 www.modulinecabinets.com
Petersen Automotive Museum 323.930.CARS www.petersen.org Simeone Foundation - Automotive Museum 215.365.7233 www.simeonefoundation.org
Security Secure It 562.677.3777 secureit@ngcia.com
Advertise in the Bazaar! Spaces are just $42 per quarter.
CONSIGNMENTS OF AUTOMOBILIA NOW INVITED
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INQUIRIES +1 (415) 503 3248 automobilia.us@bonhams.com
Continuing on our recent successes, Bonhams looks forward to our upcoming Preserving the Automobile: An Auction at the Simeone Foundation on October 6th, the Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction on January 9, 2015, followed by our Scottsdale Motorcars Auction on January 16. All auctions will showcase the world’s premiere automobilia, including rare mascots from the Margolis collection and unique JH Lartigue photograpy amongst others.
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1 RENÉ LALIQUE GLASS MASCOT ‘RENARD’ 1930 Sold for $337,500
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2 RENÉ LALIQUE GLASS MASCOT ‘COMETE’ Sold for $130,000
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3 ORIGINAL 1906 VANDERBILT CUP PENNANT Sold for $10,500 4 “AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE FRANCE GRAND PRIX, DIEPPE, 1912,” by Dexter Brown Sold for $27,000 5 SHELBY AMERICAN FORD GT40 TEAM JACKET Sold for $13,500 6 EX-STEVE MCQUEEN 1970S SEBRING TROPHY Sold for $20,000 5
7 TESTA ROSSA KIDS CAR Sold for $40,500
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8 1920S ALFA ROMEO TOY CAR Sold for $15,000
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bonhams.com/automobilia
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