Wirth's Body Shop

A photo of J. R. Wirth and Bill Babb standing in white in the doorway of their shop. This photo was published in Trend Book 175 Custom Cars 1959 Annual in a story about how the custom body shops influenced the styling.

"How the Custom Shops Influence Styling" was a cover story in Trend Book 175 Custom Cars 1959 Annual. Wirth's Body Shop, Bailon's Custom Shop and Barris Kustoms were all featured in the story.

Bill Babb and J.R. Wirth installing a mesh-type grille in Jim Doyle's 1952 Mercury around 1957. This photo was used in the Trend Book 175 Custom Cars 1959 Annual story about custom body shops. Photo courtesy of Trend Book 175 Custom Cars 1959 Annual.

Another photo from Trend Book 175 Custom Cars 1959 Annual of Bill Babb and J.R. Wirth working on the rear end of Jim Doyle's 1952 Mercury.

Paul Sobeck's 1950 Ford two-door of San Jose, California was restyled by Wirth's Body Shop. Joe Crisafulli gave the car a scallop paint job.

Wirth and Babb started to restyle Jim Doyle's 1952 Mercury Convertible in 1957. The build was completed by Joe Bailon of Bailon Custom Shop around 1958/1959.

John and Ann Scarlett's 1956 Metropolitan of San Jose, California was restyled by Wirth's Body Shop in the late 1950s. Joe Crisafulli applied the scallop paint job.

Ken Sowers' 1956 Plymouth of San Jose, California was restyled by Wirth's Body Shop in 1958.

Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane of San Jose, California. The first version of Jerry's Ford, known as the Maze, was restyled in 1957, featuring custom body work and paint by Wirth's Body Shop, and a scallop paint job by Joe Crisafulli of J & J Auto Painting. Jerry was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club.

Wirth's Body Shop of Campbell, California was a body shop that just did customs. In 1959 the shop was owned and run by J. R. Wirth and Bill Babb. Babb, a long time custom enthusiast, was the idea man of the duo. Prior to becoming a partner at Wirth's Body Shop, Babb ran Bill Babb's Custom Shop in Glendale, California.

Custom painter Joe Crisafulli, of San Jose, California, was responsible for many of the unusual paint designs on the customs that Babb and Wirth built.

Cars Restyled by Wirth's Body Shop

Paul Sobeck's 1950 Ford
Jim Doyle's 1952 Mercury Convertible
Jerry Ash's 1956 Chevrolet
John and Ann Scarlett's 1956 Metropolitan - The Imp
Ken Sowers' 1956 Plymouth
The Imp
Jerry DeVito's 1957 Ford Fairlane - The Maze

Employees of Wirth's Body Shop

Bill Babb
J.R. Wirth