An Interview with Manuel Reyes

When it comes to hot rods and custom cars, there’s nothing better than working with your friends. That’s especially true when you have friends like Manuel Reyes—an acclaimed custom painter who is responsible for the chopped 1936 Ford coupe you see here. I’ve known Manuel for quite some time, and I enjoy catching up with him whenever I’m down in Southern California.

Manuel’s portfolio is an impressive one. From painting the flames on the “California Kid” to lettering the “15oz. Coupe” and the “Chevado” wheelstander, he’s been deeply involved in the world of hot rods for well over 60 years. He’s owned a lifetime’s worth of interesting cars, but today we’re going to focus on his ’36…in a slightly different way.

You see, this car has already been featured on The Jalopy Journal. A few years ago, Ryan teamed up with Tom Davison to showcase the ’36 shortly after the 2019 Grand National Roadster Show. They knocked it out of the park, and you can catch the full story here.

In January, I was walking around the Fairplex in Pomona when I spotted Manuel and his coupe. I’ve been wanting to shoot a video profile with him and the car for Ridetech, and the timing lined up perfectly. He’s a great storyteller, so we’ll let him take it from here.

Thanks again, Manuel. Looking forward to working together soon. In the meantime, keep enjoying that ’36!

—Joey Ukrop