"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 64th street in Los Angeles, just about 80 feet east of Normandie Avenue, near Ansen Automotive. Louis Senter, the founder of Ansen, encouraged Joe and was a mentor for him in the beginning, and Joe did a lot of engineering for Louie. Joe's first shop was a very clean and redone garage, and the sign on the wall read "Pinstriping by Andersen". While at this location, Joe started airbrushing, and he was one of the first to do airbrushed T-shirts. Bob Holley worked for Joe for a short time while he worked out of the 64th street shop, and Joe taught Bob how to mask and sand. He also gave him some tips on pinstriping.[1]
Later on, at age 17, Joe found a commercial property for sale at 1519 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles that he purchased. The new shop was listed in the phone book as "Andersen Pinstriping". Former employee Bob Holley used to stop by the new location from time to time to talk with Joe and one of his best stripers, Steve Feinberg.[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.[2]
In 1959Bruce 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.[2]
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 1967Oakland Roadster Show was painted with Joe's pearlescent paint kit.
