Lynwood

Forey Wall Used Cars was located at 10792 Long Beach Boulevard in Lynwood, California. Started in 1946, the lot was run by Forey Wall and his partner Al Sulminoff. Forey had some custom cars for sale in the lot, but not that many. In 1955, Forey and his brother Glen would open up Wall Custom Cars in South Gate, a dealership specialized in selling and buying custom cars. Photo from The Glen and Forey Wall Photo Collection.

Don Schaedel's 1940 Ford Tudor Sedan was restyled by George Cerny of Cerny's Custom Shop in 1950.

Dick Jackson's 1938 Chevrolet Sedan of Lynwood, California. Dick was 14 years old when he started to hang around the Barris Kustoms shop in 1949. A rope kept visitors out of the shop so the workers would not be disturbed by curious by-passers. Dick used to stand outside the rope and stare into the shop. One day, Sam Barris said, "Hey, we're getting tired of you staring at us. You want a job here?" At the time, the Manok brothers worked there along with Bill Ortega, Sam, and George. Dick said yes, and he started to sweep the floors. The Chevrolet was Dick's first car in 1951. Under Sam's guidance, the car underwent a series of modifications until it finally got the Barris Kustoms touch.

Dean Jeffries' 1947 Mercury Convertible of Lynwood, California. Restyled around 1955 - 1956, Jeffries dressed the Merc up with murals, flames and pinstriping. In 1957 he sold it to Jerry Halak of Toledo, Ohio.

Kalle Jonasson's 1939 Mercury Convertible of Costa Mesa, California. Originally restyled in the 1940s or the 1950s. An earlier iteration of Kalle's Mercury was supposedly spotted in Lynwood, California in 1958. By 1963, it had been repainted in Green Metalflake, and an old photo shows it sitting at a car dealership in San Diego.

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.

Erney Gustafson's 1947 Studebaker

Buster Litton's 1949 Ford, The Panoramic Ford, was sold to Don Schaedel of Lynwood, California in 1953 or 1954.

Frank Sonzogni's 1950 Mercury

Ross Barnes' 1951 Chevrolet of Lynwood, California.

Tommy D'Amico's 1952 Chevrolet Convertible of Lynwood, California. Tommy bought the car from Leon Welmas. After buying it, he restyled it further and had Gaylord's Kustom Shop stitch a new interior for it.

Walter Gilder's 1953 Mercury

Tom Von Pertz's 1954 Chevrolet of Lynwood, California. Tom was a member of the Tridents of Southern California car club, and he had the car when he joined the club in 1960.

Dick Jackson's 1954 Mercury

Custom by Paint - Made in Bellflower - A tribute to traditional custom cars of the 1950s. Bodywork by Barris. Paint by Larry Watson. Lifts by Bill Hines. Long live Kustomland! Price: $19.99 - Check availability on Amazon.om.

Herb Conway's 1954 Mercury of Lynwood, California. Herb bought the Merc in December of 1954. He had Kinch's Body Shop paint it, before Earl Harman and Dean Jeffries pinstriped it.

Bill Sharpe's 1955 Chevrolet of Lynwood, California. Bill was a founding member and the first President of the Tridents of Southern California car club, and his Chevrolet was restyled in the late 1950s. The car was named "Dracula."

George Barris' 1955 Chevrolet truck, the Kopper Kart, was built as a promotion vehicle for Barris Kustoms of Lynwood, California. The build was completed in 1957.

Richard Axcell's 1955 Ford Pickup

Dean Jeffries' 1956 Porsche 356 Carrera of Lynwood, California, was restyled by Dean. He bought the car after selling his 1947 Mercury in 1957. The build was completed around 1958/1959.

Carl Swenson's 1957 Chevrolet of Lynwood, California.

A photo of Carol Lewis' 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air taken in front of the Barris Kustoms Lynwood shop. Carol was Dean Jeffries High School Sweetheart, and her Chevrolet featured a licking flame paint job by Dean. Developed in June of 1957, the photo was taken before the tragic shop fire that took place December 7, 1957. Photo from The George Contaoi Photo Collection.