Forged: Public Typography in Automotive Repair

FORGED Public Typography in Automotive Repair

FORGED Public Typography in Automotive Repair

Written, Photographed and Designed by Jennifer Beck

LIST OF SERVICES [provided by this book] 1 2 3 4 5

START YOUR ENGINES

An Introduction to Auto Repair Typography

AN INDUSTRY BRAND

Making a Typographic Impression

FIX IT RIGHT UP

Tools of Typography in the Garage

THE GOOD OL’ DAYS

Iconic Car and Sign Typography

THE FINISH LINE

Acknowledgements, References and Index

4 – 11

12 – 39

40 – 73

74 – 125

126 – 134

1

An Introduction to Auto Repair Typography

START YOUR ENGINES

5 5

A

uto Repair has been an industry since the

motor vehicle became mass produced and available to the public in the early 20th century. Over the years, vehicles have developed in iconic fashion and built their place in the typographic world. The shops that repair, the parts that replace, the machines that fix and the tools that restore these beloved cars—classics to economy vehicles, junkers to luxury rides— have been a constant and quiet partner in their typographic success. There is a history to automotive repair; one of quality, tradition, pride‌ and typographic style.

This book directs its headlights toward the public typography commonly found in locally owned, mom-and-pop auto repair shops in Lawrence, KS. Each garage generally contains the same core components: a first typographic impression, a garage filled with tools and machines and cars that need fixing. But a closer look into the mirror reveals that automotive repair typography is deeply rooted in nostalgia.

7

“THIS IS AMERICANA. THIS IS THE HISTORY OF AMERICA IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.” – Kim Eldred, KC Classic Auto

// MORE THAN A JOB Some mechanics, like Tim Copp from KC Classic Auto, collect memoribilia from the auto industry.

This photo is one an example of hundreds of antiques he has in his personal garage.

9

AUTO REPAIR SHOPS [featured in this book] Garber Automotive Lawrence, KS

Vantuyl Auto Center Lawrence, KS

Dale and Ron’s Auto Service Lawrence, KS

Pearson Collision Repair Lawrence, KS

KC Classic Repair Kansas City, KS

Western Auto (Now Western Auto Lofts) Kansas City, MO

11

2

Making a Typographic Impression

AN INDUSTRY BRAND 13

// SIGNS OF GLASS From the 20s through the 70s, the automotive industry had screen printed lettering made with shaved glass to make it reective. The door on KC Classic Auto is a faded example of this type of sign, which stopped being produced after it proved to peel and ake from being outside in the weather.

F

or each auto repair shop, the

signs placed outside the garage establish the brand and the quality of work they provide.It’s their first impression.

Every shop shows off its paint job in different ways. Branding in general is an opportunity to visually explain who they are and what they can do. Locally owned repair shops are often family owned, generationally proud, and self-branded— allowing for typographic variation to include handmade or well-crafted signage, vintage typographic references, and occasionally, inconsistent brand rhetoric. Consider this a garage’s way of saying, “It’s nice to meet you. This is who we are, this is what we do. Oh, and by the way, we’ve been doing this for a long time.”

15

// PROOF OF QUALITY AND TRADITION The iconic Western Auto sign that lights the Kansas City skyline still hangs proudly above the Western Auto Lofts as an historical site.

Although the building is no longer the headquarters for automotive parts and services, it still remains a strong example of 1920’s typography in the auto industry.

MEET THE GARAGES [automotive branding] The sign out front the shop is there for a reason.

Like many businesses, it lets the customer know he’s in the right place, that Ol’ Reliable might just keep on trucking one more day if she’s taken to the right shop, and if the customer’s lucky, the shop might display a thing or two about typography in the auto world. Don’t be so surprised.

Many mechanics and shop-owners rev their engines when it comes to typography. Their knowledge is drawn from experiences, memories, and stories spanning from their youth until today. Auto repair and automotive car collecting is often a family trade and as Kim Eldred, president of KC Classic Auto describes, it’s a hobby out of hand. All the signage and cars we consider “classic” today were simply a part of most mechanics’ childhoods. Many worked on the family car, say a ’57 Chevy, and now it’s what they do and surround themselves with every day.

17

// AROUND THE WORLD

Cars from KC Classic Auto are sold internationally, with less than 10% of sales actually happening in Kansas City. It’s a dollar for every mile of travel, so an international purchase can tack on an extra $3,500 for shipping expenses.

KC Classic Auto

KC CLASSIC AUTO has been a Kansas City favorite for 28 years. In 1986, Dick Grubber took a $20 pre-formed used sign, a can of krylon paint, and KC Classic Auto Display was born.

The shop began with consignments, but soon became internationally known as the place to find restored vintage cars from the 40s through the 80s. Grubber passed away in ‘96, leaving the KC Classic Auto keys to his fellow car collector, co-worker and friend, Kim Eldred.

The shop is also a museum. For $1, anyone can witness over 400 items of auto memorabilia, ranging from signs to toys, that fill the inside of the garage alongside the cars on displa .

“It’s a piece of history as you walk through it,” Eldred says. “It’s Rolling Art, as we like to call it.”

19

“I PERSONALLY LIKE THE 20S AND 30S STYLE OF SIGNS. THE GRAPHICS AND THE PORCELINE WAS A LOT THICKER – MORE UNIQUE THAN TODAY.” – Tim Copp, KC Classic Auto

Meet an Auto Type Pro TIM COPP IS A “SIGN GUY” AND CAN IDENTIFY THE ERA FROM WHICH MOST AUTOMOTIVE SIGNS ORIGINATE. ON TOP OF WORKING AT KC CLASSIC AUTO, HE COLLECTS AUTO MEMORIBILIA. CALL IT A GIFT. CALL IT A PASSION. REGARDLESS, IT’S WHAT HE GREW UP WITH. IT’S WHAT HE TRAVELS THOUSANDS OF MILES TO COLLECT. IT’S WHAT HE KNOWS.

21

Pearson Collision Repair

PEARSON COLLISION REPAIR was founded in 1981 by Mike Pearson and his wife. The family-oriented business has been providing collision repair for the Lawrence, Kansas community ever since. 30-plus years, a few kids, and many repaired cars later, the shop has truly become a place of family and pride.

Ryan Pearson, one of Mike’s sons, explains how much family is involded in the business: “It’s my mom and dad, my aunt (dad’s sister) and me. And actually, my brother-in-law also works here.

We pretty much only have two people that aren’t family. It’s an interesting dynamic, certainly.”

Pearson is an auto collision repair shop, which structurally and aesthetically restores cars after an accident. It’s very uncommon to find a shop that does body work and mechanical repair in the same environment. Why? “Don’t mix grease and paint,” is an industry phrase. Aesthetic body repair involves painting the exterior of the car, and grease doesn’t fit well into that process.

23

// CUSTOM MADE Pearson Collision Repair is proud of the sign that hangs above the family owned business. Mike Pearson, owner of the collision repair center, made and painted the sign himself. Before opening Pearson, he had worked for a sign making company in town.

25

// POP TO AUTO Coca-Cola Bottling Company used to occupy the present location of Pearson Collision Repair. The original Coca-Cola signs were unfortunately stolen before the Pearsons bought the building, but the ghosts of where they used to hang can still be seen if you go around back.

27

Garber Automotive

MICHAEL GARBER OPENED FOR BUSINESS in March of 2003. Unlike a lot of mechanics, Garber didn’t grow up in a family rich in auto repair tradition, but he had a passion and knack for mechanical repair and business from a young age. His influence is creating a new auto repair tradition in the family: Garber’s 9 year-old son says that he wants to come and be the boss.

When Garber began branding his business, he knew that he wanted brand recognition. Most designers in the Lawrence area want to charge $2,000 to $10,000 to create a logo, but he found a firm in Topeka willing to design a brand identity for less. It worked out perfectly. GA was was the simplest form for brand recognition and Garber was able to brand a business well within his budget.

29

// BUILDINGS OF INDUSTRY

It is very common for auto repair shops to open business in a building that was used in the auto industry previously.

The years of grease are nearly impossible to remove and not worth the rennovation. Garber Automotive now resides where Dave Willey Automotive used to be before it closed.

The old sign, however, is still sitting in the back lot.

31

31

Dale and Ron’s Auto Service

DALE AND RON’S AUTO SERVICE started in the garage of Dale Bellinger in 1971. A year later, Dale and Ron moved to the location where the business still resides today. The shop specializes in general mechanical repair for both domestic and foreign vehicles.

Rick Bellinger started his 40-year career at his father’s shop by helping with cleanup work as a kid. Today, Rick is the only name running the business, but because the shop has been a part of the Lawrence community for so long, the original name still hangs proudly above the garage. He bought the business from Dale 22 years ago, then the other half from Ron in 2002.

// SLAP A

BRAND ON IT Back in the day, companies such as Skelly and Standard used to produce everyday items such as kites, gum, etc. to hand out as freebies to kids at gas stations. Today, this isn’t as common. Some shops, such as Dale and Ron’s, do find different ways to display and promote their brand.

33

All I need is an oil change…

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUTO SHOPS. HERE’S THE MAIN DIFFERENCES: AUTO REPAIR– THE MOST COMMON AND GENERAL TYPE OF GARAGE THAT DOES ANY MECHANICAL CAR MAITENENCE .

AUTO BODY– REPAIRS VEHICLES AFTER A WRECK THAT HAS DAMAGED THE AETHETICS OF THE EXTERIOR. THIS CAN INCLUDE STRUCTURAL REPAIR AND MATCHING PAINT JOBS. AUTO COLLISION– SAME AS AUTO BODY. AUTO RESTORATION– ONLY REPAIRS CARS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. AUTO DEALER– SPECIALIZES IN A SPECIFIC CAR COMPANY’S REPAIR. MOST CAR OWNERS GO TO THEIR DEALER FOR YEARLY CAR MAITENANCE.

In the auto world, a variety of shops specializing in general vehicle upkeep, aesthetic collision repair after an automobile accident or restoration of old cars are no longer in service. Most shops are not all-encompassing…

The signs and call-outs that one sees when first rolling up to a shop can help identify the type of shop and the services it provides.

It is very rare for a single mechanic to be able to do every form of mechanical, collision and restorative repair.

Shops choose to specialize because each area of repair requires a different set of tools and knowledge to go with it. Rather than trying to fix every automotive problem in one facility, mechanics can be more efficient by focusing on a specific set of issues.

35

Vantuyl Motors

EVEN THOUGH VANTUYL MOTORS is no longer open for business, the shop and the community it has built over the years still keep the garage doors open. Many mechanics will still continue to work past retirement because they love it. It’s more than just a job, it’s a way of life.

Jim Vantuyl at one point owned two locations. One was a general auto repair shop that was called Vantuyl Auto Center.

He also owned the lot across the street, which was an additional part of the business that sold used cars under the name Vantuyl Motors. Today, he owns the auto center building outright and though it is closed to the public, the two parts of the business have joined together in one location.

// SIGN HOARDERS Vantuyl Auto Center has three different signs for their business.

This is common with shops that have rebranded over the years, but don’t have the heart to throw it (or anything) away.

37

“CORVETTES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THEY’RE JUST FUN CARS. I COULDN’T HAVE THEM AS A KID, BUT NOW I CAN.” – Kim Eldred, KC Classic Auto

// OPEN JUST BECAUSE

Vantuyl doesn’t keep regular hours anymore, but whether the garage door is open or closed, there’s still some form of project happening inside.

39

3

Tools of Typography in the Garage

FIX IT RIGHT UP

41

41

T

ype is where the grease is. While

auto shops have the same basic tools and often share the same brands, each garage still manages to create typographic versatility through its organization systems and selection, with an occasional nod to the past.

Even the tools have a typographic history – one of tradition, heritage, and quality. Some of the most well-known tool and machine companies, such as Craftman, Snap-on, and Matco, have gone through their fair share of re-branding over the years, but their past never truly goes away. Grandpa’s tools still have a place in the garage, even if they aren’t in daily use anymore.

43

THE BENCH [type storage] The Bench is a mechanic’s haven. Each mechanic organizes his bucket of tools differently; one might designate a hook for every tool, some might just pull tools out as they go, while others simply have a drawer and make it work. Tools themselves, although they are organized differently on a mechanic’s bench, share the common trait of quality. “Made in the USA,” “Limited Edition,” and “Hand Crafted” find their typographic place on tools, both old and new.

As cars have evolved, so have the tools alongside them.

Newer vehicles require their own set of tools, …but mechanics still have older cars tolling through their shops. The result is a

// IS THAT A CAR? Mmmhm. KC Classic Auto has an old ‘59 Poniac hanging above the main mechanic bench. In the 80s, it became a popular trend to use old cars as decoration or furniture.

wide collection of wrenches and screwdrivers with a diverse typographic history.

45

// OLD NEXT TO

NEWER

Many tool companies, like Snap-on, have rebranded over the years. Dale and Ron’s Auto Center has two benches from different typographic periods.

47

“ TO HAVE AN OLD WRENCH THAT IS FIFTY OR A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND TO KNOW THAT THEY STILL ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE’RE DOING TODAY IS INCREDIBLE. IT JUST TOOK THEM A LITTLE MORE TIME.” – Michael Garber, Garber Automotive

49

// A PERSONAL

TOUCH

Each mechanic is required to have her own tools – so naturally, mechanics organize them however they want. Each bench will have its own system and therefore, its very own unique personality.

51

Branded in Versatility SNAP-ON TOOLS MANUFACTURED AND MARKETED TEN SOCKETS THAT WOULD ‘SNAP ON’ TO FIVE INTERCHANGEABLE HANDLES, WHICH CREATED THE SLOGAN “15 TO DO THE JOB OF 50.”

Alongside everyday tools, occasionally the wrenches grandpa would use can be found; so old, worn, and cobweb-covered, that type becomes a subtle ghost.

Working on the best vintage cars requires the best vintage wrenches, so it’s only fitting that the tools are just as typographically iconic. Over time, some tool sets have become high-dollar collector’s items.

Some are so rare that antiquers and collectors of auto memorabilia have to travel thousands of miles in order to get their hands on them.

53

// A NUTS SYSTEM Every garage manages to create its own system for storing the nuts and bolts of its operation.

55

57

MUSCLE TOOLS [machines of type] When hand tools aren’t enough, mechanics turn to machines. In the garage, machines exist for very specific purposes and the typography on them serves as a guide for the user. While modern machines try to typographically call out hazards through warning labels and cautionary colors, the older machines bring a different typographic element: aged plating, rust, dust, and a feeling of reliability. Some of the oldest machines have the clearest typographic branding, warning labels and instructions, because they were forged together with the machine.

Machinery, like the auto repair tools, have evolved with the cars that they repair. There are more methods and faster ways today to repair the same problems that have been occurring for years.

However, the development of these machines doesn’t suggest “out with the old, in with the new.” Especially when the old machines can still cut it.

59

// CAUTION! There are a myriad of ways to say “be careful,� and auto repair shops have a lot of reasons to be warned. An average car weights over 4,000 pounds and mechanics climb underneath them daily.

61

In with the new. Old is still there.

NEWER TOOLS HAVE MADE REPAIRS FASTER, BUT SOME MECHANICS STILL GET THE SATISFACTION OF USING MACHINES AND TOOLS THAT ARE OLDER THAN THEY ARE. MICHAEL GARBER IS AN OLD TOOL LOVER: “I THINK IT’S HUMAN NATURE TO WHAT WHAT YOU CAN’T HAVE. I LIKE OLDER, EVEN THE 1900S, CAR AND TOOLS. MAYBE IT’S JUST THE TECHNOLOGY OR EVEN LACK OF TECHNOLOGY THAT IS INTERESTING TO ME.”

63

// FORKLIFTS Yale forklifts have been in production since 1868! This particular one (from the 1970s) is still used weekly at Garber Automotive to help move car engines and scrap metal.

65

// ‘ROUND BACK Auto shops that recycle often have an area where scrap metal is stored. Garber Automotive has a large container around the back of the shop to keep spare pieces of metal for auto salvaging.

66

67

// PIMP MY

PAINT COAT Body shops, like Pearson Collision Repair, go through an in-depth process to match paint colors as close to perfect as possible to the original car.

Paint jobs and touch ups are a process, but also an art.

69

71

// ON OFF. START STOP. It’s a pretty simple system that is universally known, but typographically, each machine has its own style and layer of dirt and grease. For instance, Ryan Pearson reconfigured a motor starter to become a light switch.

73

4

Iconic Car and Sign Typography

THE GOOD OL’ DAYS 75

O

ccasionally, repair shops are

asked to fix a beautiful vintage car, which is a typographer’s and a mechanic’s dream. The precision and intention behind the custom letterforms, and of course, the aesthetic and mechanical design, make each car iconic in its own way. These classic beauties show how much typography can create differences in the style and the feel of a car: making a vehicle elegant and subtle, fast and confident, or powerful and elite.

77

PUTTING IT IN [automotive REVERSE memoribilia] Once the mechanics have the keys, the customer is often stuck waiting around until the repair is finished. It seems as though many repair shops are typographically designed to help pass the time. Funny enough, it’s almost as if repair shops were typographically designed to help pass the time. Occasionally, the walls have had a paint job, the shelves have been filled with vintage memoribilia, and the personality of the shop shines through.

Signs and memoribilia from the auto industry are displayed in shops because they have a nostalgic thread that connects to nearly every generation. “As far as the office and the painting [mural] and the old things hanging on the walls, that’s my kind of goal,” Michael Garber says. “It’s a visual history of cars and how far we’ve come.” Older generations see the signs and are reminded of the past while younger folks simply appreciate the vintage aesthetic for the undeniable quality of materials, incredible craft, and proven sustainability.

79

SIGNS REMIND YOU OF YOUR LOCAL DRIVE-IN, YOUR LOCAL GAS STATION, YOUR LOCAL HANGOUT THAT YOU HAD FUN AT. SO THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR MAN CAVE, SO TO SPEAK.” – Kim Eldred, KC Classic Auto

81

// A NEW WALL

MADE OLD

Garber Automotive’s waiting area in the offic has a hand-painted mural that depicts what an old full-service gas station would’ve looked like in Kansas. The mural was painted in three days by a local artist.

The office in an auto repair center is more than just “the place where paperwork goes.” It’s the auto shop’s “Welcome Matt,” the free coffee lounge, the place to wait while the oil is being changed, and the spot to leave the car keys so the mechanics can do their thing.

Several shops use this space as a prime location to honor and display vintage signs, old oil cans, and other examples of typography in the auto industry. For many shops, this is the first opportunity to show off their legacy and what they value as a shop.

Personality is expressed throughout the entire facility and is not limited to the four walls of the office. Each garage has its own style, but in the industry as a whole, there are a few norms that make their way into most garages.

83

// CLOSE UP Some detail of the mural at the Garber Autmotive office.

85

// PRECIOUS OIL Motor Oil Companies have a rich and diverse branding history. All it took to start a new oil business was changing the chemical compound one part per billionth in their formula to be considered a “new company.” Really though, all oil is the same. The collection of motor oil cans is another common hobby for many automotive memorabilia fans.

Oil cans are small, inexpensive and make for stylish keepsakes.

It’s one of many areas in the industry that show a clear typographic history.

87

// STRIKING ALUMINUM GOLD A closer look at nearly every oil can reveals a little crown or “C” logo, the symbol for CanCo. While oil companies were busy competing to find ways aroun Monopoly rules, CanCo took a different business approach: “You guys can have the oil.

We’ll take the can!”

89

// NOTICE A

THEME?

Liscene plates are a common and easy collector’s item. Somtimes, they are found just lying around the shop. Othertimes, they are on display. Regardless, these car markers are pretty much everywhere.

91

93

Antiques, especially in the auto industry, have a special, nostalgic quality that makes them worthy of keeping around. Disregard the rust, dust, and dirt building around the letterforms. We keep vintage auto repair typographic examples around because they are respected and remembered fondly alongside childhood memories. Since craft and care was considered during the manufacture of these beloved items, they are still around today to appreciate. And because they have been so well looked after, many are still in decently good shape.

Some collector’s items can roll into the high-dollar range and committed antiquers will travel thousands of miles to bring back a truck full of neon signs, rare tools, and toys. Whether these keepsakes are purchased to ip for a profit or are collected to be stored in a man cave, appreciation for these objects is found in some way or another.

95

97

// A NOTE ON NEON Distinct sign trends shifted in the auto industry over time. Significant differences can be seen when one compares the simple 50s neon signs to the ashing lights of the 60s or the signs of the 70s when nothing ashed anymore. According to Kim Eldred, the automotive neon signs from the 50s and 60s are by far the most popular.

99

“I’M NOT A BIG SIGN EXPERT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU DRIVE DOWN ROUTE 66, YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNS CHANGE. THE FURTHER WEST YOU GO, THE MORE MODERN THEY GET.” – Kim Eldred, KC Classic Auto

101

AUTOMOTIVE GEMS [iconic car typography] The auto industry has changed a great deal and is much different today. Kim Eldred remembers a different era of enterprise: “Back when I grew up in the 60s and 70s, in September the new cars came out and you went to the show to see them because they were different than last year’s cars. Now, there’s no reason to go to a showroom— you go to the internet and they all look alike.”

In terms of performance, cars today can move faster, travel longer distances, and keep rolling down the road for longer than the cars of yesteryear. So what makes the modern car lose the awe appeal that vintage cars seem to hold with the hearts of so many Americans? “They’re all good cars,” Eldred says,

// ANNUAL AUTO SHOW

“they just don’t have any character.”

It’s a pretty simple system that is universally known, but typographically, each machine has their own style and layer of dirt and grease. For instance, Ryan Pearson reconfigured a motor starter to become a light switch.

103

There’s a Ford in Your Future

SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE MODEL T FORD in 1908, Ford Motors has had a legendary history in setting high standards inautomotive production and the advertising world.

Today, Ford is still the 5th leading automaker in the world. This says a lot for a company that has been in the industry since its near beginning. Contrary to what most people have heard, Henry T. Ford was not invetor of the first functioning car. Karl Friedrich Benz (co-founder of Mercedez-Benz) created the motor vehicle in 1886, nearly 23 years before the Model T

// THE T-BIRD Vantuyl Motors housed this ‘60 Ford Thunderbird, a luxury car that has been adored by car owners of all kinds since the model’s release at the Detroit auto show in 1954. It’s in need of a new paint job, but the handsome lines and interior can’t be ignored in this classic American car.

began mass-production.

Since its beginning, Ford Company has been an industry leader in advertising. “There’s a Ford in Your Future” was a popular slogan used in the 1940s and throughout the company’s production history, Ford has continued to stay creative with its ads. Regardless of the company slogan today, Ford has an incredible ability to focus each campaign with a specific target audience.

105

“EVERY CAR HAS ITS OWN LINES TO IT. SOMEBODY TOOK A LOT OF TIME DESIGNING EVERY FEATURE YOU SEE ON THESE CARS, AND THEY ALL GOT THEIR IDENTITY FROM IT.” – Ken Eldred, KC Classic Auto

107

109

// THE ‘STANG Pearson Collision Repair was working its magic on a ‘72 Ford Mustang GT , one of the most iconic muscle cars from Ford’s production line.

111

A SPECIAL LINE OF MUSCLE CARS was introduced to the Ford performance vehicle production line in 1968. Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American, brought Ford cars into his shop, modified them and sold them with a warrant . His powered-by-Ford custom cars drew so much attention from ’65-’68… that Shelby eventually authorized Ford to produce the modified high-performance Mustang variant, but only if his name was on it.

The ‘68 Shelby Cobra GT500KR marked the first year Ford made the Shelby a production vehicle, and by 1969, the design was predominantly done in-house by Ford. Today, Ford still produces the Shelby Mustang line, but a 1968 model can go for as much as $130,000!

113

115

See the USA in your Chevrolet

THE CHEVROLET BOWTIE—introduced by Chevrolet’s company cofounder William C. Durant in late 1913—is one of the most recognized emblems in the world today. “It originated in Durant’s imagination when, as a world traveler in 1908, he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on wallpaper in a French hotel. He tore off a piece of the wallpaper and kept it to show friends, with the thought that it would make a good nameplate for a car.”

Many variations in coloring and detail of the Chevrolet bowtie have come and gone over the decades since its introduction in late 1913, but the essential shape has never changed. In 2004, Chevrolet began to phase in the gold bowtie that today serves

// THE CAMARO Vantuyl Motors houses this ‘68 Chevy Camero Convertible because it is owned by the shop’s owner, Jim Vantuyl.

as the brand identity for all of its cars and trucks marketed around the world.

117

119

// CHEVY PICKUP In the parking lot of Garber Automotive are two ‘52 Chevy Pickup Trucks. Chevrolet, owned by General Motors, led auto sales from 19471955. Much of the company’s success comes from the introduction of the Advance Design Series.

121

123

125

4

Acknowledgements, References, and Index

THE FINISH LINE 127

POSITIVE YELP REVIEWS [thanks so much yous] To all the business owners and mechanics that humored my odd request to explore their shops for the photographs in this book, THANK YOU. A big shoutout to Garber Automotive, Vantuyl Auto Center, Ron and Dave’s Auto Service, Pearson Collision Repair, and KC Classic Auto. Without their patience to answer my questions and their willingness to share stories, fun facts, and the history behind the industry that stole their hearts, this book would not be possible.

A special thanks goes to…

Tim Copp – your passion is contagious. Thank you for answering my questions, giving me so much of your time, and revealing the more personal side to the auto repair industry.

Kim Eldred – you were rolling out for the day, but stayed anyway. Thank you for taking time to provide some very quotable answers to my many interview questions.

129

Michael Garber – the interest you expressed in this project from the beginning helped me keep the belief that I could find beauty in a grease-filled environment. Thanks for answering my questions, but more importantly, for asking some of your own.

Michael and Ryan Pearson – it was an honor to be a part of your family for the duration of this project. Thank you for letting me into your shop as if it were your home and for sharing the essence behind what it means to be a family business.

Rick Billinger – for being a pretty busy guy, you sure know how to make someone still feel welcome. I really appreciate your willingness to let me wander your shop taking pictures with no questions asked and for finding time in your day to answer all my questions.

“ IT’S KIND OF LIKE OLD CARS. DO YOU REALLY NEED IT? NO… BUT YOU KEEP IT AROUND ANYWAY. THERE’S A LOT OF MEMORIES THERE.” – Rick Bellinger, Dale and Ron’s Auto Service 131

Rolling Art Index

GARBER AUTOMOTIVE 6, 7, 12, 13, 28, 30, 31, 60, 64-67, 70 (L), 70 (R), 71, 73 (L), 73 (C), 76, 77, 82-85, 92, 101 (R), 120-123, 128

PEARSON COLLISION REPAIR 10, 22-27, 56, 57, 68, 69, 72, 110, 111, 122, 123, 130, 131

KC CLASSIC AUTO 2, 14, 15, 18-21, 42-44, 58, 61, 63 (R), 80, 81, 89 (R), 90, 91, 94-99, 100 (BC), 102, 112-115, 126, 127, 134

VANTUYL MOTORS Cover photo, 4, 5, 36-39, 50, 54, 55, 62 (L), 70 (C), 93, 100 (TC), 105-109, 111, 116, 118, 119, 124, 125

DALE AND RON’S AUTO CENTER 1, 32-35, 40, 41, 46-49, 51-53, 62 (C), 73 (R), 88 (L)

// A RARE DOLL In Tim Copp’s garage is a little doll that’s worth a pretty penny. It may be one of the few Skelly dolls left in the world dressed in an outfit made by Lee Jeans

TIM COPP’S PERSONAL GARAGE 8, 9, 74, 75, 78, 86, 87, 88 (C), 100 (L), 132

WESTERN AUTO 16, 17

133

References

INTERVIEWS Tim Copp – KC Classic Auto Kim Eldred – KC Classic Auto Michael Garber – Garber Automotive Michael and Ryan Pearson – Pearson Collision Repair Rick Bellinger – Dale and Ron’s Auto Center

ONLINE SOURCES Ford Website www.ford.com Chevrolet Website www.chevrolet.com Rusty Nail Salvage Blog http://www.rustynailsalvage.com/ Ford Advertising www.neatdesigns.net/ford-as-anadvertisement-legend-61-vintage-ads/ Snap-on www.snapon.com

CAMERA All photographs were taken by Jennifer Beck using a Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18-55mm IS II Digital SLR

TYPEFACES Univers and Volta

// By Jennifer Beck The University of Kansas Designer as Author | Patrick Dooley | Fall 2014

“ IT’S A BABY BOOMER KIND OF THING. EVERYBODY WANTS TO RELIVE THEIR YOUTH.” – Kim Eldred, KC Classic Auto