Bill Hines

"Bill Hines"

Kustom Car Legend and Icon

In my last post I decided to dedicate this blog to the memories/history and the future/dreams of the Kustom car and the people who build them.  I have enjoyed meeting and chatting with a few of the legends and absolutely love the creativity and vibe of the local clubs and organizations I have had the pleasure of hanging around.  We all have our opinions and favorites when it comes to legends, clubs and cars but, the legend I hear the most agreement and honor given to is a legend kustom car builder named Bill Hines. 

Bill Hines is one of those kind of people that surprises you.  As you can see, he is not tall, or handsome ... he does not travel with an entourage of celebrities or hot babes ... and he is not loud and gregarious.  He is quite the opposite, ... when I met Bill Hines a few years ago in Paso Robles CA he was sitting at a small folding table in a folding lawn chair signing autographs and taking pictures with those who recognised him.  He was like a little Yoda ... kind, humble and inclusive a true blue collar kind guy.  You would have never thought that the man you were standing next to had helped shape an entire culture in the 40's, 50's and 60's and is an icon of car history today.  I really like that.  Bill, just turned 86 years old and still works on cars almost everyday

Heres a little more history on Bill Hines:

Bill was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1922, and grew up in Jackson, Tennesse. At the age of ten, he moved to the Motor City of Detroit, Michigan.

At the age of nineteen in early 1941, Bill owned a gas station doing custom body and paint work in the Motor City of Detroit and in the early 50's, Bill opened his own shop in Detroit. Seventeen years later, he moved to the West Coast and found work as a body man for George Barris, King of Kustoms.

Shortly thereafter, Bill opened his own shop in Lynwood, Callifornia. He built and designed his own '51 Ford with custom fins. It was the first car to have his fabulous custom fins. He helped to popularize side pipes and sunken antennas and Candy Apple paint.

Bill now lives in Garden Grove. Has lived in Orange County since 1963, and still working seven days a week, but considers himself semi-retired, reducing his workdays from 12 to 14 hours to a mere 8 or 9 hours, vowing to continue building custom cars until 88 years young.

His son, Michael Hines, a Sales Manager at Nicholas Chevrolet is credited with keeping his father young by making sparks fly. Some of Bill's creations can be seen driving across the country every summer to different car shows and functions, or your favorite custom car books or Cable TV Speed Vision.

When most men his age have retired, Bill Hines is still at it. Having built custom cars sine 1941, his career now is a hobby. He has been recognized and admired for setting the standards of excellence and creativity in the custom cars.

Building his custom cars have inspired vision, imagination and mastery of his craftsmanship. There is so much to be said of his career history and success.

Over sixty years of building cars for customers and friends, Bill likes to encourage the younger generation to get involved and enjoy this great hobby.

The third generation are getting ready to keep the torch lit and masterfully handle the spray guns as Bill's grandsons work with him. Matthew, Mitchell, and Michael hang out at Bill's shop in Long Beach, working on their own projects on weekends and holidays. With Grandpa's sound advice and teaching, 

Future projects in Bill's mind include a 1951 chopped Mercury--like the cool 50's--with a set of airbags to make it low to the ground. Not a bad family affair--making sparks fly! 

See what I mean...

If you want to read more about Jesse Padgett and his adventures in life then go to www.jessepadgett.blogspot.com ... see ya next time.