Cerny's Custom Shop
Body and paint shop located at 1514 North Long Beach Boulevard in Compton, California. The shop was operated and owned by George Cerny and his brother Carl Cerny.[1] George opened up the shop in 1942, after working for his brother in law for a while painting cars at his paint and metal shop. Being interested in modified cars Cerny attracted a lot of young kids to his shop.
George Cerny is known for introducing pastel colors on kustom cars in the early 1950s as he experimented with colored primers.[2] The trend was called "Easter Colors", and George invented it by adding a drop of color to white primer.[3]
In the beginning of his career, Dean Jeffries worked out of Cerny's Custom Shop pinstring cars and boats. Dean used to hang out at Cerny's shop before he went in to the service. Then his dad would hang out, and he asked if George would give him a job when he returned from the army. George rented Jeffries the front part of his shop, and he got a percentage of his earnings. After the word got out that Dean was a pretty good pinstriper George Barris convinced him into subleasing space at Barris Kustoms in Lynwood.[4] George Cerny wasn't too happy about Dean moving out, but he could make more money working out of Barris Kustoms, because when Cerny went home, Dean also had to go home. At Barris Kustoms he could work whenever he wanted, and as long as he wanted.[3]
Staff
George Cerny
Carl Cerny
Rodger Cerny
George Barta
Dale Neeley
Woody Parker
Cars Restyled or Painted by Cerny's Custom Shop
George Cerny's 1932 Ford Tudor
Tom McMullen's 1932 Ford Roadster
Don Schaedel's 1940 Ford Tudor Sedan
Hal Peterson's 1941 Mercury
Carl Cerny's 1949 Chevrolet
George Cerny's 1949 Chevrolet Four Door Fleetline
Buster Litton's 1949 Ford- The Panoramic Ford
Ross Anderson's 1950 Chevrolet
George Cerny's 1950 Plymouth Suburban
George Cerny's 1951 Chevrolet Pick Up
Johnnie Luna's 1951 Oldsmobile Holiday 88 Coupe
Dave Chavis' 1951 Kaiser
Larry Lee's 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air
Paul Lehrbass' 1952 Pontiac Catalina
Ed Levinsky's 1953 Oldsmobile
Gilbert Cruz' 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
John Benson's 1956 Chevrolet
Jim Truscott's 1956 Ford Victoria
Jack Stewart's MG
Mike Kuhl's Top Fuel Dragster
Rich Degonia and Ron Dozier's AA Fuel Dragster
References
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