Business Cards

A business card from Joe Andersen, a custom paint and pinstriping shop in Gardena, California. Andersen, an early pioneer in airbrushed designs and fadeaway paint schemes, started his career in Los Angeles under the mentorship of Louis Senter of Ansen Automotive. His innovative work extended to show cars, street cars, and dragsters, including the iconic Stellings and Hampshire "Red Stamp Special" dragster, praised as one of the most beautiful dragsters ever painted. Photo from The Mike Kosulandich Collection.

A 1960s business card from Bill Hines Kustom Auto Enterprises from The Mike Kosulandich Collection. Hines worked on Tom Kosulandich's 1955 Ford Thunderbird "Sundowner." The Thunderbird, built with the help of Mike and Greg Sharp, featured Bill Hines' signature craftsmanship and Candy Red paint, earning it the Sports Car Sweepstakes at the 1963 Tridents Rod Custom Autorama. Photo from The Mike Kosulandich Collection.

A 1960s business card from Gene Winfield's Custom Shop, showcasing his role as a Styling Consultant for AMT Model Co., Inc. In 1962, Gene began working with AMT on a consulting basis, designing model kits and later building full-scale promotional cars in their Speed and Custom Division Shop. His innovative designs for AMT connected him to Hollywood, where he created iconic vehicles such as the Maxwell Smart Car from Get Smart, The Reactor for Bewitched, and the Galileo 7 shuttlecraft from Star Trek. Photo from The Mike Kosulandich Collection.

Kustom Coachcraft by Bill Hines Kustom Auto Enterprises of Lynwood, California. The King of Lead. According to Dave Ellis, the card is from the mid 1960s. In December of 2020, he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that the shop location was going North on Long Beach Boulevard in Lynwood, California and was on the East side near Imperial highway. "In that time Bill Hines was doing a lot of Corvair‘s putting hydraulic lifts in them and doing pearl, metalflake, and candy paint jobs. One of my very good friends Dennis Cheney (Chumper) worked there at that time. He drove a 63 Pontiac Grand Prix, it was totally painted in metalflake, and he had hydraulic lifts on all four corners. On the back side windows he had it lettered Sugar Bear, that’s what the girls nicknamed him. Dennis went on to painting for Boyd Coddington and Fat Jack. He then went off on his own and started restoring old gas pumps and Coke machines." Photo from The Kustomrama Business Card Collection.

A 1960s business card for Martinez Custom Auto Interiors, operated by Eddie Martinez, located at 11508 Long Beach Blvd., Lynwood, California. Renowned for his craftsmanship, Martinez was responsible for the interior of Tom Kosulandich's 1955 Ford Thunderbird. His attention to detail and mastery elevated the Thunderbird, helping it win the Sports Car Sweepstakes at the 1963 Tridents Rod Custom Autorama. Photo from The Mike Kosulandich Collection.

A 1960s business card for Perez Kustom Kar Interiors, operated by master upholsterer Joe Perez at 4819 Nobel Street, Los Angeles, California. Renowned for his expertise in diamonds and pleats, Joe was a favorite among customizers, creating interiors for many of Larry Watson's builds. He also contributed to Tom Kosulandich's 1955 Ford Thunderbird. When Eddie Martinez did most of the upholstery work in the car, but when he was unavailable, Joe crafted a snap-on hood tarp and upholstered the trunk, adding his signature touch to this iconic custom. Photo from The Mike Kosulandich Collection.

A 1960s business card for Don "Penguin" Loster, a pioneer in the use of hydraulic lifts for lowering cars. Known for his innovative work in the Southern California custom car scene, Penguin's shop became synonymous with "extra low" rides. Based in Hollydale near Downey and Paramount, Loster worked alongside his close friend Bear in a tight-knit community where creativity thrived in the mid-1960s. Photo from The Mike Kosulandich Collection.

Paul Callow's business card. Paul was the business manager of the association. This card was advertised for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the auction.

Tom Ricker's business card. Ricker was the treasurer for the New England Dragway. This card was advertised for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the auction.

Jack Eaton's National Hot Rod Association business card from the 1960s. Eaton was a photographer for the NHRA. The card was advertised for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the auction.

Joanne Peters Drag News business card. This business card was advertised for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the eBay auction.

An Ansen Automotive Engineering business card that was advertised for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the eBay auction.

A Carroll & Bucher Racing Enterprises business card that was listed for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the auction.

A Gene Snow Racing Enterprises business card. This card was advertised for sale on eBay in June of 2023. Click here to visit the auction.

Business cards, also known as calling cards or visiting cards, have a rich and varied history that spans centuries and crosses cultural boundaries. They have long been a fixture in professional and social introductions, providing a concise and convenient method of sharing contact information and affiliations.

Origins and Evolution

The earliest known precursors to the modern business card were used in 15th-century China, where they were known as 'visiting cards.' These were used to announce a person's intention to visit another in society. In the 19th century, with the advent of the industrial revolution and the rise of businesses and corporations, these cards began to take a more professional form, transforming into what we now recognize as business cards. They became a standard tool in the business world, used to share contact details, job titles, and affiliations.