Met him briefly at a car show, late 50's, kept his card...I think that he had broken off with Joe Maillard around then and started his own shop in Long Beach, 4th & Cherry, if I remember right....story was that if Del trusted you, you got credit to race on from Reath, which almost all of us needed....those kinds of people are hard to find today. RIP, Joe
R.I.P. Joe, a wonderful man. In 1955, my folks bought me a new 1955 Chevy 210 with powerpack. When the car was three months old, I scattered the engine. Joe bailed me out and had me back on the road in short order. That was when He and Joe Mallard had their shop at 10th and Cherry.
The T-bird in question? <a href="http://beta.photobucket.com/" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://beta.photobucket.com/" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://beta.photobucket.com/" target="_blank"></a>
Thanks for the picture and story of Joe's T-Bird . . . was a neat car and he enjoyed having some fun with it. Anybody remember the little hamburger stand (really a hamburger booth) that Joe used to go to? Seemed it was a little old Japanese lady that ran it (trying to remember) - used to go there with Joe, have a great burger and a bottle of pop. That was all they sold if I remember. Joe introduced me to Joe Hunt, Isky, Don Ferguson Sr., etc . . . really sort of a 'HotRod Dad' to me at the time. RIP Joe . . .
The '55 210 I built in Highschool along with several other cars we built were almost totally done with parts from that shop '62-'66. Joe really helped us teenagers realise the dream, we could call him anytime with questions.. God bless BUCKD
Dale, 12 or 15 years ago I used to run into Joe at Eastern Meats in Paramount. It was a deli that had sandwiches (and beer too). I know this isn't the place you're talking about. Wayno