Lou Baney’s Hot Rod Heaven

Way in the back of the 1950 Fawcett book ‘Sports Cars and Hot Rods’ is a 2 page article on Lou Baney’s Downtown Los Angeles shop known as “Hot Rod Heaven” that ‘drew hot rods in like flies’. Lou was already a master engine builder at 30 years old when this article was published, and his filling station served as a Saturday night gathering spot for local rodders from all over the Southern California area. You get a sense of the tight knit community it was back then, and the driver camaraderie as well at Lou’s fun and generous personality. (He obviously wasn’t into working on hot rods strictly for the money.)

Who wouldn’t die to have a cool shop like Baney’s to hang out on the weekends?