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If there’s a list somewhere containing the names of the automotive industry’s top artisans/painters, Mitch Kelly is right up there at the top. The owner of Kelly & Son in Bellflower, California and the creator of Crazy Paint, Mitch and his father Tom are proud to say that they’re not average painters and they run a shop that is not average either.

Tom Kelly’s grandfather started pinstriping vehicles back in the 1940s and Tom is well-known for working with Von Dutch as well as Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and still works alongside his son on a wide range of projects.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

This year’s winner of hot rodding’s top prize—the Don Ridler® Memorial Award—was a 1955 Ford Thunderbird owned by Dwayne Peace of Tyler, Texas. This masterpiece of creativity, engineering and workmanship was chosen from among 63 very strong contenders that had been pared down to the “Great 8” before the ultimate winner was announced at the Detroit Autorama® back in February.

The ‘55 T-Bird had been in the family for more than 20 years and the custom build was a family affair, handled by Peace’s sons in an outbuilding behind his house. The uncompromising design and build of the custom hot rod brought in a number of outside shops and some of the country’s top automotive craftsmen. Greening Auto Company in Nashville, Tenn., was one of these partner shops, called upon to handle the paint work and some machining duties.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Alternators, starters, voltage regulators, window motor assemblies, light bulbs, serpentine belts… the list goes on and on of the various cheaply made replacement parts available. Being able to distinguish what parts are good or bad is part of being a professional in this crazy world of automotive repair.

When a customer calls wanting prices on a certain job, more than likely this isn’t the first phone call they’ve made today. The way I can tell this is how they answer certain questions I ask to narrow down the options on that particular part or job. “What’s the motor size? Two- or four-door?  Automatic or manual?” If these questions aren’t a hit and miss answer, chances are they’ve been through this before, and have a pretty good idea what the cost is, or at least what they’ve found out from the auto parts cheapo depot.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Forty-eight years young, Grand National Auto Body in Canoga Park, CA, recently underwent a complete remodel and will celebrate its Grand Re-Opening June 21. The shop is inviting insurance managers, supervisors and local agents , and the chamber of commerce for Calabasas and Canoga Park, as well as their customers, of course.

“We want our customers to have an overall excellent experience here at our shop,” said co-owner Robert Salinas. “And that shows from the minute they step through the door. Customers can relax in our newly remodeled 1,200-square-foot waiting room that includes a flat-screen TV, and comfortable couches and chairs. We have relied on our customers just as much as they have relied on us.”

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

A Florida body shop owner was charged with impersonating an insurance adjuster for three carriers at accident scenes to generate more business for his auto body shop, police say.

Vincenzo Gurrera, 43, of Boynton Beach, FL, became the subject of an investigation after numerous complaints were filed against his shop, Collision World, at 610 Industrial Ave, according to the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office and the Sun Sentinel newspaper.

The owner of a Pawtucket, RI, auto body shop at the center of a fraud investigation was arraigned May 21 on three felony counts.

Dino Coccia, owner of AmeriCar Sales and Collision Center at 626 Main St., is charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. A judge set bail at $5,000.

Golden State Collision Centers Inc., a five-shop collision repair operation based in Yuba City, CA, presented two refurbished vehicles to families in need during its “Celebrate Americana Benevolence Event,” on May 17.

Golden State Collision Centers said AAA Insurance provided the refurbished vehicles, and two local organizations—Mercy Ministries and Hands of Hope—helped identify the receiving families.

Auto Body World Collision Centers, with locations throughout Phoenix and Casa Grande markets, announced plans to open its ninth location in Phoenix in June. Auto Body World has been acquired by Texas-based Service King in a deal to be finalized this summer. The 13,000-square-foot facility will serve the Deer Valley community of north Phoenix and is located on 19th Avenue.

“This addition complements our footprint very nicely as it allows us to serve customers and our insurance partners along the 1-17 corridor in the north valley,” said Auto Body World President, Mark Turner. “This addition is another important step in Auto Body World’s overall growth strategy. With the recently announced partnership with Service King, we are excited about the opportunity to accelerate growing out across this market.”

Auto Body World Collision Centers continues to seek out collision repair centers throughout Arizona. Interested owners are asked to contact Auto Body World President, Mark Turner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

"Drew Collision-Fix Auto and Glass," the body shop at Drew Ford, a Ford dealer in San Diego County for over 75 years, has been awarded Medallion status for collision repair quality. The rating is  very hard to achieve. There are only 54 Medallion-rated body shops in the U.S., but Drew Collision-Fix Auto is the first auto dealer facility ever to earn it. The unannounced Medallion inspections are conducted by VeriFacts. Inspectors electronically and meticulously document some 300 different aspects of the repair process. The Medallion rating must be continually re-earned with every inspection or status is revoked. Congratulations in particular to Larry Houk, the Collision Center Manager, and Ted Stein, Service, Parts and Collision Director.

Ford started shipping its first electric passenger car to dealers the weekend of May 19, according to Reuters. About 350 Focus Electric cars will be sent to 67 dealers in California, New Jersey and New York over the next couple weeks. Manufacturing executives signed off on the decision on May 18. Each dealer will get about six cars, one of which will be a demonstration model, the reports said. Ford declined to comment on the news. The people asked not to be named because the plans are confidential.