Joe Andersen's Custom Shop
"Custom Auto Painting by Joe Andersen" was a custom paint shop owned and operated by Joe Andersen of Gardena, California. Joe started his pinstriping business on Western Avenue in Los Angeles, near Ansen Automotive. Louis Senter, the founder of Ansen, encouraged Joe and was a mentor for him in the beginning. Later, Joe found a commercial property for sale at 1519 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles that he purchased. That was the begining of "Custom Auto Painting by Joe Andersen".[1]
Joe acquired a 1949 Chevrolet from his grandparents. The first thing he did was to replace the 6 cylinder engine with a Corvette V8. He then painted the car silver and purple in what he called, "The Fade Away." Joe may be the first person ever to do this type of painting. There were many street cars, show cars and race cars painted at this shop. One of the cars was the fuel dragster of Stellings and Hampshire which was also known as, "The Red Stamp Special." It was candy red and silver metalflake and it is said to be the most beautiful dragster ever painted.[1]
In 1959 Bruce Schwartz began working for Joe. Bruce worked for Joe for several years at the Florence Ave. Shop. Later, Joe sold the property at W. Florence Ave, and moved to a rented shop at 13805 S. Normandie Ave., Gardena, California. He expanded his business by adding retail sales of accessories which included Muntz car stereos, 8 track tapes and some chrome accessories. Later, Bruce worked for Joe again at the Gardena shop.[1]
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Pearl for Pennies
Around 1967 Joe began promoting and selling custom pearlescent paint kit's. Promoted as "Pearl for Pennies", custom enthusiasts could now have a real custom pearlescent paint jobs for little work or cost. The kit included ten "out of sight" standard custom colors to choose from. According to Joe's brochure "Colors by Joe Andersen", Joe had formulated a pearlescent enamel paint that allowed show quality finish. Dan Woods' Milk Truck, and Bob Reisner's The Invader, that won the World's Most Beatiful Roadster Award at the 1967 Oakland Roadster Show was painted with Joe's pearlescent paint kit.
Employees
Cars Restyled, Painted or Pinstriped by Joe Andersen's Custom Shop
Joe Andersen's 1949 Chevrolet
Bob Mendoza's 1953 Oldsmobile
Mick Tully's 1954 Chevrolet
Sal Orefice's 1954 Oldsmobile
Oscar and Ernesto Ruelas' 1956 Chevrolet
Tony Bachiero's 1957 Ford
Bruce Schwartz' 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air - The "Blue Car"
Dennis McKee's 1958 Chevrolet Impala
John Taylor's 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible
Dennis Ercek's 1959 Chevrolet
Ed Biggs' 1959 Chevrolet El Camino
Mark Jorgenson's 1960 Chevrolet Impala
Howard Gribble's 1961 Ford Starliner
Sandy Gordon's 1961 Pontiac Bonnveille Convertible
Johnny Geyer's 1962 Chevrolet Impala
Mike Smith's 1962 Chevrolet Impala
Julio Ruelas' 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS
Mike Smith's 1965 Buick Riviera
Jim Arkin's 1965 Chevrolet Impala
Nick Hoogoian's 1965 Chevrolet Malibu
References
Additional Information, Feedback or Corrections
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