Custom Car builder Spotlight: AYALA BROTHERS

[bubba67]

Originally Posted by JeffSled

Wally Welch was HEAVY HITTER and lets not forget it.

This photo of Wally's girl is incredible. She is by far in my opinion one of the hottest chicks from that era that I've ever seen a picture of. Period.
Wally was the man !

[glassguyOC]

yeah, that girl is a knockout.

[olpaul]

This small building and sign are all that is left of the original shop on Olympic Blvd. in East LA.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...86.67,,0,-7.78

[JeffSled]

Just cant say enough about these guys. One day its shooting the cover for MotorTrend and the next day its a pushcar at the lakebed. One of my favorite pictures EVER.

[BICKFORD]

Originally Posted by JeffSled

Just cant say enough about these guys. One day its shooting the cover for MotorTrend and the next day its a pushcar at the lakebed. One of my favorite pictures EVER.

Jeff

That has to be one of the greatest pictures. I love it!!!

[JeffSled]

Bickford ..... Yes these guys were the real deal and I STILL feel they dont get the credit they deserve.Even though they get more recognition today then they did 5 years ago.

[Ralphies54]

Just read and reread all 10 pages. thanks for a great thread and some photos and insight into two of the greatest kustomizers ever . Keep 'em coming Rikster and thanks again,

[BICKFORD]

Originally Posted by JeffSled

Bickford ..... Yes these guys were the real deal and I STILL feel they dont get the credit they deserve.Even though they get more recognition today then they did 5 years ago.

Jeff

It does suck that they didnt get the reconition they should of got before. Its hard to say what car builder where better, but they had an amazing style of there own. Glad to see that other are now finding out about them.

[296ardun]

Originally Posted by Rikster

Here are some more photos of the Mazmanian A/GS Austin

Gil chopped the top, and radiused the rear wheel openings. Then he painted the body candy red.


From the internet...










The car is still around and the all steel body was sold not to long ago. The body work looks a bit rough... but its a Race Car... not a Custom Car.

Rik, correct me if I'm wrong, but think that Gil and Big John Mazmanian went way back...to the 40's, and somewhere there is a picture of John and Gil in a custom Merc convertible that Gil did for John....right after he got out of the Navy in WWII.

[JeffSled]

Originally Posted by JeffSled

Well like I said earlier,this photo is great.Rik I wish I could of known these were coming,I would of actually loved to hold this history changing plaque right here.
Well we now know who had the first 49-51 mercury in a major car show as a finished car......Yes, Wally Welch's 50 mercury built by the Ayala Brothers.Jerry Q,Jack Stewart and Jim Mcneil have told me this but now their is proof. Gee,it sure is nice when some personal photos or artifacts pop up at these car shows like this plaque and Marcia Campbells photo album 2 years ago.Looks like some our custom books are going to need to be rewritten.

Just a reminder

[K13]

Originally Posted by JeffSled

Just cant say enough about these guys. One day its shooting the cover for MotorTrend and the next day its a pushcar at the lakebed. One of my favorite pictures EVER.

Wow not sure how I missed you posting this Jeff but that is a great shot! The Ayalas ruled!

[JeffSled]

Yes you are right they did rule,I just wish we had more pictures to look at and study,I still feel these guys are still overlooked.Its like everytime they get mentioned in a real magazine article its not just about them,it seems as if the other shop always has to get talked about as well.I just dont think that is fair,these guys were doing there own thing and I wish more people would see it that way.I have never heard of Gil Ayala taking credit for other peoples work,it just seems like he was a standup honest guy.

[Rikster]

It has been mentioned in this thread here before that there are several
Custom Cars that where started, or even finished by Ayala and then where
finished, or redone by Barris. And then basically lived on as Barris Custom
Cars from then on.

Most of us Custom Car enthusiast know this, and will never forget.
But I thought it would be nice to visualize this a little better... just to mark
how good the Ayala brothers really where, and to give them the credit for
the work they did on those particular cars.

Most likely there where plenty more Custom Cars that where started by the
Ayala's and finished by Barris, or even other shops that we don't know about... yet.
And most likely there where cars that where create elsewhere and where
painted at the Ayala shop. And perhaps where then known as Ayala Customs.

But The Barris Ayala mix is the best know, and I think its good to once again
give credit where credit is due.



The first one is the Jack Stewart 1941 Ford that was mostly built at the Ayala Shop,
but that was finished by Barris, and at some point also wore the Barris Crest.




Then we have the Wally Welch 1950 Mercury that The Ayala's completely
finished for Wally in lime green/gold paint. In 1951-52 Barris completely
redid the car, added two extra DeSoto grille teeth, a new custom interior
and purple paint. As far as I know the Wally Welch Mercury never had a
Barris Crest.





The Louis Bettancourt Mercury was also completely finished by the Ayala's.
This time in a lime gold paint, and about a year after it was finished, Louis
took it to Barris for a redo. Barris added a new custom made grille, Cadillac
side trim, new bumpers and hubcaps, and painted it Tingia maroon. This car
also wore the Barris Crest (on the hubcaps as well as on the front fenders).
Later Louis sold the car to Johnny Zupan and Barris again updated the car for him.





The Ayala's also worked their magic on this 1950 Mercury for an unknown
owner. They performed a near fleetline chop and extended the rear fenders
with Olds taillights and fender sections. In 1955 Buddy Alcorn was the owner
of the car and had Barris redo the car with new 55 Plymouth taillights and a
lot of other modification. Barris also added a crest to this Barris recreation.





And then we have the Dan Landon 1949 Chevy.
I have no hard evidence of this, since I have never been able to find any
construction photos of this car (which by itself is another hint), but I think
this car was built, or at least started by the Ayala's.
All the Ayala characteristics are present in this car. Extreme flowing lines
with molded in character lines. Sectioned top for perfect proportions.
Those are all typical things the Ayala's did, and where not generally done
by at the Barris shop. And I have one magazine/book article that wrote about
this car being done at the Ayala's. However I have no real proof, no
construction or primer version photos, its just a hunch....

[JeffSled]

Thank you Rik for doing this post.Im always trying to bring it to the top to bring these guys more attention but when you do a post like this , you really bring good attention to the great Ayala brothers and I think they deserve it and I dont think these magazines have done a great job of doing so,Thanks again.

[Rikster]

Here is another snapshot of the Ayala built 1941 Ford Convetible for Wally Welch.
This photo comes from the Wally Welch Photo Collection ANd shows Wally with a friend in front of Wally's car at one of the drag races in 1949 or 1950.

[JeffSled]

Originally Posted by Rikster

Here is another snapshot of the Ayala built 1941 Ford Convetible for Wally Welch.
This photo comes from the Wally Welch Photo Collection ANd shows Wally with a friend in front of Wally's car at one of the drag races in 1949 or 1950.

What a great picture and what a cool cat.Wally was a serious Heavy Hitter,had the cars the hottest chick and hung out at the Dragstrip,this guy was no joke. Rik check out the 49 merc to the right,I wonder who's that was and I wonder if that car on that day was giving Wally some ideas for his 50 merc he was about to buy and take to the Ayala brothers.

[Rikster]

Originally Posted by JeffSled

Rik check out the 49 merc to the right,I wonder who's that was and I wonder if that car on that day was giving Wally some ideas for his 50 merc he was about to buy and take to the Ayala brothers.

Sure I saw that.. and yes I had the same thoughts. I think this photo was taken in 1949, and probably Wally was ready to sell his 1941 Ford and move on to something more modern. So yes, he very well could have been inspired by the 49 Merc parked close to him. Also notice the 1940 Ford with 47-48 Ford bumpers... I would love to see the rest of that one as well.

[JeffSled]

Rik,very glad you posted the picture of the Buddy Alcorn merc when it had the Ayala treatment,I think the tailights look great on this version.

[K13]

They really never did get the credit they deserved and I am sure alot of it was the fact that George was such a great promoter the Barris stuff was always front and center while the Ayalas seemed to be more laid back and did their own thing be it racing or building some of the most organic looking customs of all time.

Although the Stewart car has never been one of my favorites the others Rik posted are definitley at the very top of my list for all time favorite customs.

It shure would be cool if someone uncovered a bunch of Ayala build pictures. I have a feeling not many exist as again I think Gil was more concerned with building killer cars than documenting the process but I would love to see some if they do exist.

And somebody needs to track down the Bettancourt Merc and restore it damn it!!

[JeffSled]

The question is ......... do you restore it Ayala version or do you go with the more popular Barris version????????????????? Me personally........ AYALA version without a doubt and yes it would include a built ass flathead just like Louie had in it.