Having dedicated his professional life to the real estate business in coastal Southern California, Woody has forever enjoyed the automotive lifestyle. His garage, a light industrial warehouse located just blocks from the beach, reflects his interest very well. His roster of classic cars includes a 1940 V-12 Lincoln Zephyr 3-window coupe with a Columbia rear end, a 1948 Oldsmobile Woodie station wagon, and 1954 Sunbeam Alpine Mark I, but he’s also got a couple of muscle cars to balance the scales.
“Muscle cars are a lot of fun, so much torque and noise,” said Woody. “I have a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS and a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, which are quite the antithesis to the other cars.”
He’s quick to point out too that the Sunbeam is the same make and model as the one used in the Alfred Hitchcock film “To Catch a Thief,” starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.
“That was a great movie, it really gave the Alpine a good platform, some great exposure,” he said. “Sir Stirling Moss also drove one to victory in the 1954 Alpine Rally.”
Woody’s garage is a simple affair, with some framed art and a few neons hung along with some clocks. 28 clocks, in fact, all vintage, all lighted by neon.
“I kind of went a little off the deep end with clocks,” he said. “But, I like to think they’re well balanced with the jukebox and Coke machine and gas pump.”
He forgot to mention the few porcelain signs, but we’ll overlook that.
“When you turn off the main lights and just let the neons glow, it really looks cool in here,” he said.
The floors are lightly polished, turning the lighting into a pool of reflected colors and shapes. The walls are covered in drywall that’s been painted light grey, rounding out a finished look that doesn’t detract from the decorations.
“I wanted a clean overall look, a place where everyone would feel comfortable,” he said. “But, at the same time, I didn’t want the garage itself to dominate the attention.”
He did well. It’s very clean and very well balanced.
With a vintage bar for serving up various beverages, plenty of electrical, and ample restroom space, Woody enjoys sharing his garage when the opportunity presents itself. Fortunately, that’s often.
“To me, it’s a great place to spend time and relax,” he said. “Usually on Saturday mornings, I gather here with friends and enjoy cigars and stories.”
