Jesse Cruz

Cole Foster and Jesse working on the Cole Foster's 1954 Chevrolet, getting it ready to paint blue for the 1990 Grand National Roadster Show. The photos were taken at Cole's first shop. Photo courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Cole Foster's 1954 Chevrolet as it appeared after Jesse had painted it blue for Cole.

Jesse next to the Richard Zocchi's 1950 Mercury in the 1990s. Known as the Cool 50, this was Rod Powell's last Candy paint job. "I had a lot of help on that," Powell told Curtis Mcgann in 2020. "All I did was pull the trigger. Mark Duliba, Jesse Cruz, Jesus Villalobos, and Dan Rosas were all helping that night." Photo courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Jesse Cruz's 1948 Chevrolet. Jesse painted his personal Chevrolet in 2005. Mike Hubbs laid the flames out and Jesse painted everything. Cole Foster and Todd Gravelle helped build the car. Photo by Andy Southard, Jr., courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Jesse and Bras at Don Orosco's shop, getting the Riley Roadster ready for Pomona in 2005 or 2006. Photo by Andy Southard, Jr., courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Kirk Hammett's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe in primer, ready for Jesse to paint it. The photo was taken at Don Orosco's shop around 2005 - 2006. Photo courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Kirk Hammett's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe as it sat after Jesse had painted it and Cole completed the build.

Jesse working on the door for Lloyd Bakan's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe during the restoration of the iconic hot rod. Photo from The Don Orosco Collection, courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

A photo of The Bakan Coupe in primer circa 2005 - 2006. The photo was taken outside Don Orosco's shop, next to Dick Martin's 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe. Photo by Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Jesse painting The Bakan Coupe. Photo from The Don Orosco Collection, courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

A photo of the restored Bakan Coupe taken when it made its debut at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Photo by Andy Southard, Jr., courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Lloyd Bakan reunited with his old coupe at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Photo from The Don Orosco Collection, courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

A photo of Jesse and George Barris in front of Lloyd Bakan's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe. Photo by Andy Southard, Jr., courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Jesse and Lloyd Bakan with the coupe. Photo from The Don Orosco Collection, courtesy of Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Jesse painted Tim Cunha's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe in 2008. Jesse told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that it was an all-nighter paint job. He started spraying at 6 PM and 25 coats of Mooneyes yellow pearl later he finished it at 5 AM the next morning. Jesse added the black stripe later that day. The work was done at Don Orosco's shop. Photo courtesy of Tim Cunha, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Tim Cunha's Coupe is also known as the Mooneyes Special. Photo courtesy of Tim Cunha, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

In 2008 Jesse painted Maserati's 1956 Fiat-Bartoletti Tipo 306 Race Car Transporter for Don Orosco. The transporter wouldn't fit Orsco's booth, so Jesse painted it at Bruce Canepas shop. Photo from The Don Orosco Collection.

A race car that Jesse painted for NHRA racer Mike Salinas from Scrapper Racing in 2017. He used four coats of House of Kolor Tangerine Pearl Base coat followed by five coats of clear. Photo by Jesse Cruz, provided by Curtis Mcgann.

Jesse Cruz is a well-known painter from Salinas, California.

Cruz has been working on cars as long as he can remember. It was his dad and sister Grace who introduced him to the scene. After watching the movie American Graffiti, he began hanging out at Rod Powell's shop. "I started as a helper, but soon was painting and doing bodywork," Cruz told a journalist from Carmel Magazine.

After graduating from Salinas High School and Hartnell College, Cruz started working for Indian Motorcycle Company in Gilroy. He started as a painter but advanced to managing his department. In 2003 the plant closed, and Cruz began working on restorations for Don Orosco. Cruz has also painted some of Cole Foster's builds.

Jesse Cruz's Cars

Jesse Cruz's 1948 Chevrolet

Cars and Trucks Painted by Jesse Cruz

Lloyd Bakan's 1932 Ford
Kirk Hammett's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Cole Foster's 1954 Chevrolet
Maserati's 1956 Fiat-Bartoletti Tipo 306 Race Car Transporter