John Manoogian II

In August 1963, a young and aspiring car designer, John Manoogian II, wrote a letter to the legendary Alexander Brothers, Mike and Larry, seeking advice on a career in car customizing. Having lived just a few blocks from their shop on Littlefield, John would often ride his bike over to catch glimpses of the magic happening inside. The Alexander Bros. responded with this letter, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of the custom car business. Their work had a profound impact on John's early passion for cars, and years later, fate would bring them together at GM Design, where John had the opportunity to work with Mike at ASC on showcars. It was a dream come true, collaborating with one of the heroes of his youth. Interestingly, John also had Harry Bradley, another car design legend, as an instructor at Art Center, making for a truly small world among car enthusiasts. Photo courtesy of John Manoogian II.