While cruising around LA last year, I guess we had a destination mind, one of the guys spotted a cool looking yellow 32 three window up on a hoist in a garage. Jumping on the brakes in our hire car and turning around, we stopped off to check it out. It turned out to be Braun’s muscle car & Hot Rod restorations workshop and just one of a number of customer’s cars receiving maintenance.
Looking around this old brick premises, we could see numerous other projects on the go through their various stages. Curiosity got the better of us and we ventured inside. 
Warmly greeted by one of the mechanics, I guess he was entertained with the idea of a bunch of blokes from the other side of the world dropping in to check out their establishment and was happy to show us around.
For a small operation, they certainly had some cool stuff on the go! Standing out like a sore thumb on one side of the shed was what looked to be a wild altered gasser under construction! In its perfect bare metal guise for any auto enthusiast, we were able to take in all the mechanical and sheet metal work it takes to build such a beast! The blown motor with its old school Hillborn scoop set back in the chassis gave it a menacing stance complimented by the wild straight axle and aftermarket Salt Flat racing wheels.
Along the other parts shelving covered brick wall were a number of hoists, each with a cool ride hoisted up as work progressed on their undersides. Everything from a tough AC Cobra getting new pipes fitted through to a rodded early 40s Cabriolet receiving general maintenance peaked our interest as we perused our way through the workshop.
Heading out back, our eyes sought out the black Nomad amongst the hot rods and muscle cars awaiting work. The reason it caught our attention is that it was not your usual Chevy Nomad but a rarely seen one from the Pontiac stables! It had the usual street rod mods done to it but still retained all the original trim throughout allowing us to see it in its original form. What a cool looking classic, with its big Pontiac grill and bumper, the Starchief moulds running the length of her flanks and that 1950s bling on the dash the shoebox rides were so popular for!
Checking out the rest of the yard, a big block Chevelle with all the latest gear on it was getting service while a beautiful 50s Cadillac convertible rested peacefully in the morning sun awaiting pickup. Various other muscle cars rested under the awnings and right up the front of the yard was a classic 32 rod in the perfect unrestored condition straight out of the 1950s rodding era!
As long as these guys like Braun’s continue to exercise their craft on the classics, we will be the beneficiaries of their work as the classics are kept alive!
Keep on cruisin’
Cheers,
Greg
Comments