This is a few pictures from my recent drive out to Gene Winfield's shop near Mojave.  People in the area that know him have been telling me to take my car to him and have him take a look.  Saying that he sometimes does a "regular" car on top of the many custom projects he has going.  So after a year of putting it off and trying to gather the courage to go talk to this well known customizer about a run of the mill '64 Galaxie XL convertible unnaturally shaped like a red banana I got in the car, sweaty palms and all and headed for what you would think was the end by the nervousness I was feeling. 

  Unsure exactly where the shop was I headed down the Sierra Hwy from Mojave.  Thinking that it has to be obvious when I find it as I was sure there would be a few old Mercs sitting around or at least some kind of old car.  I was correct, there it was, like an oasis of old cars in the desert.  Mercurys everywhere in different stages of construction, fresh fiberglass tops sitting on some of them and there were other makes mixed in also.   I wasn't sure where to park as it looked more like a backyard collection of old cars really, no formal parking area, nothing say "Office" even.

  I pulled in, turned the "banana" around and backed in along side a big greyhound looking bus.  Gathering my wits, or what little I had, I walked up to a young man and said that I had been told by many in California City to see Gene Winfield about my car.  He tells me, well there's the man right there.  *acckk panic moment*  What do I say/do, it's HIM, the one I've heard and read about.  You'll have to excuse my silliness but I have never met anybody with a reputation as Gene has so my first experience is a bit nuts.   He came walking out of the building and asks "Hi, what ya need?"   Then I'm sure I babbled what it was I needed!   What an idiot I am.  I then said on the way to the car, "I'm Deb, by the way" and shook his hand.  I think to myself, I just shook hands with Gene Winfield!!  I can't believe it!

  After looking my car over and going to get his pad to write down what needs done.  He then asks me about a '64 he did years ago called "Constellation" and how it took him hours of filing the grill to get the results he wanted and other things he had done to the car.  I replied that I have heard of the car but don't believe I have ever seen it.  As he walks away he says "I have a picture of it somewhere"  as if to say I know I have a picture somewhere but who knows where exactly. 

  Since we were talking of '64s I couldn't resist showing him my bright green, blue and froggie 390 under the hood.  He thought that was funny and had a couple other of the guys come over and check it out.  The other laugh I got was when I told him of reading an article in a recent Car Kulture Deluxe about his 2 day class he gives twice a year.  In the article it mentions one of the things they learn is how to de-arch springs.  I told him that when I read the article I thought to myself, heck I got some already de-arched, I could trade him!  Sounded like a plan to me! 

  I asked later if I could take some pics of the cars there and he said take what you want and another man there said go look around, Gene doesn't mind.  So I took pics and talked to others there who told me about the various creations there.  I took notes, which I don't do well and looked up extra info on some of the pictures here.  Before leaving I asked Gene if I could get a picture of him with my car.  Sure he said.  I stated, how bout the other side, it's the good side now. He just grinned.  Another moment of elation!  He touched my car!  Wonder if that'll make it be a good car now or not?

As I headed for home I thought wow, what an experience and what a great guy.  A quiet man but with me around who has time to get a word in anyway!  He really is a regular down to earth human being and the people that work for him are also great people who don't mind answering questions.   I arrived home, still wearing the grin I had when I left Genes AND I didn't get bitten even!    It won't take me so long to get out there next time, now that I know I'll survive.  Plus, I keep thinking I should have got a pic of this or that.  Hindsight they say is 20/20 and with my mind reeling from that 2-3 hrs I was lucky I found my way home!    

**HOME**

 

 

 


 

 

 

.

Gene Winfield and my "baby" '64 Galaxie XL

I didn't bug him for an autograph but now that this pic is printed I might have to! Maybe his touch will fix it huh? This is going on my wall of "baby" pics. Ignore the dent back there, probably a parking lot mishap prior to '74 when I first saw the car.