San Fernando Valley Illusions

An Illusions car club plaque. Mike Belpedio still ran this plaque in his 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air in 2012. Photo courtesy of Mike Belpedio.

Mark Jorgenson's 1960 Chevrolet Impala was restyled in the mid 1960s, featuring lifts up front by Dick & Ron's and a pearl blue fadeaway paint job by Joe Andersen's Custom Shop. This photo was taken in front of the Iluusions' club house.

Sandy Gordon's 1961 Pontiac Bonnveille Convertible received a fadeaway paint job by Joe Andersen's Custom Shop in the summer of 1965.

Bob Guilbault's 1963 Pontiac Bonneville. As Jim Arkin remembers, Bob's Bonneville featured a flaked roof and lifts on the front. Jim believes the lifts were installed by Dick & Ron's.

Jim Arkin's 1965 Chevrolet Impala of San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California received a full custom paint job by Joe Andersen's Custom Shop and lifts on all four corners by Dick & Ron's in the summer of 1966.

Nick Hoogoian's 1965 Chevrolet Malibu of Granada Hills, San Fernando Valley received a fadeaway paint job by Joe Andersen's Custom Shop and lifts up front by Dick & Ron's in the summer of 1966.

Bob Stepanion's 1966 Chevrolet El Camino was restyled by Gordy Brown of House of Customs in 1966.

Jim Arkin's 1965 Chevrolet Impala as it appeared after Joe Andersen of Joe Andersen's Custom Shop had repainted it black pearl with cobweb in 1967.

Bill Stewart's 1955 Chevrolet.

Jim Arkin's 1967 Buick Riviera. After selling his Joe Andersen painted 1965 Chevrolet Impala in 1968, Jim bought the Riviera. The Riviera was fit with 8 inch Ansen slotted aluminum wheels, and a subtle business men's pinstripe by Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style. The pinstripe consisted of two lines, a half inch apart, that ran the length of the car.

The Illusions was a custom car and lowrider club from the San Fernando Valley district of Los Angeles, California. The club was formed by a group of teenagers attending Valley jr. College. They met at school and decided to form their own club. Jim Arkin and Johnny Geyer were two of the founding members. There were 3 or 4 cars in the club that featured full custom paint jobs by Joe Andersen of Joe Andersen's Custom Shop, and a couple of cars with flaked tops by Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style. Most of the members were into hydraulic lifts, and 7 or 8 of the cars in the club featured lifts installed by Dick & Ron's of Huntington Park, California.

The club had a club house at San Fernando and Sepulveda. The club house was an old restaurant they rented from one of the club mothers, paying $100 a month.They met every Sunday at the club house or at Sepulveda Park, chosing some where to cruise to. They would line up and head out all together.

Members

Bill Stewart
Bob Fink
Bob Fuss
Bob Guilbault
Bob Stepanion
Butch
Carl Resorie
Charlie Stapanion
Gary Shermain
Gary Surway
Jim Schoper
Jim Arkin
Jim Guzeman
Johnny Guyer
Mark Jorgenson
Mike Belpedio
Mike Davis
Nick Hoogoian
Ron Toyashema
Ronnie Kimbell
Sandy Gordon
Steve Kennedy

Members Cars

Mike Belpedio's 1954 Chevrolet
Bill Stewart's 1955 Chevrolet
Mark Jorgenson's 1960 Chevrolet Impala
Sandy Gordon's 1961 Pontiac Bonnveille Convertible
Bob Guilbault's 1963 Pontiac Bonneville
Jim Arkin's 1965 Chevrolet Impala
Nick Hoogoian's 1965 Chevrolet Malibu
Bob Stepanion's 1966 Chevrolet El Camino
Gary Shermain's 1966 Chevrolet El Camino
Jim Arkin's 1967 Buick Riviera