Latest Car Extreme

Every year I make the trip to the US to stay with my good friend, arch motorcycle and car enthusiast, Mick Felder. This time it was to travel with Mick up to the Napa area of middle California for the US Velo OC “Spring Opener” ride at Sue and John Ray’s “Rancho Veloce”…and while a Velocette aficionado, Mick likes British and early American cars… So come stroll with me through the photographs I recently took inside his business…Felder’s Body Shop, 210 Pacific Coast Hwy., Hermosa Beach, Ca. 90254……
Mick Felder will tell you he is on the wrong side of 70, but a fitter person of this age would be difficult to spot. A bachelor, he has had a life-long love affair with mechanical things.
As a restorer of older cars his body shop… panel beating shop would be the term in Australia or the UK, is a constant source of supply of these gems.
A 1917 Studebaker sits in the centre of the showroom, more often used yearly for local Rotary club fund-raisers ( Mick is a great supporter of such community organisations and regularly does Meals-on-Wheels deliveries to the less mobile members of the local community and has served on the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years).
MG B, Porsche 356, MG Midget, 1952 Moto Guzzi Falcone 500, Triton ( Triumph engine in a Norton “Featherbed” frame), Velocette Venom and numerous engines on display greet you when you walk through the door.
Back in the spacious work area a Triumph TR3, several 1980s BMW motorcycles, a mid 50s Triumph, and many examples of good American “iron” nestle in corners.
All the while Mick in his usual laid back style answers queries on the telephone, rebuffs disappointed callers with more modern cars suffering from the inevitable “fender bender” from LA traffic and discusses restoration work with friends and fellow enthusiasts.
So if you’re in this area of Los Angeles, it’s a shop that beckons to be stopped at….

Left click on photos to enlarge them.