Alpine experts in the Los Angeles area?

[chrisheadrick]

Hello, I'm brand new to the SAOCA. I own a 1969 arrest-me red Series II FHC E-type, and am looking to add an Alpine to the mix...always loved 'em...

...but I need to find some Alpine experts in the area. Owners who know a lot about the car...I'm trying to identify which series I would like, and what are the benefits of each, both aesthetics-wise and mechanical-wise. The Technical Data section of the site has been a good start, but I'd really like to meet someone and have them show me around the car in person.

I'm an animation artist working for Walt Disney Studios, and I live in Pasadena, California. Anyone in the LA area I can bribe with dinner or beer to help me start learning about the cars?

Chris

 

[gordonra]

Hi Chris,

Welcome!

I am far from an expert, but I do live in the LA area... South OC - Lake Forest.

If you read the posts on here and ask a few questions, you'll get all the answers you need. This group of folks are the most helpful you will find anywhere.

Rich

 

[napa 1]

Hi Chris. I'm up in Napa. I have a garage and driveway full of Sunbeams and would be happy to help you out. Do you ever get up this way? Please email me jp at napavalleyflowers dot com, I'll give you my cell phone number and we can discuss these great cars.

Hope to hear from you soon.

John.

 

[chrisheadrick]

Great. Just a few contacts are all I need. This forum is a good resource, but it's one thing to type out questions, and another to visit someone and have a car in front of both of you to look at/point things out to answer questions that occur on the fly.

John, if the red/black Alpine with whitewalls you use as an avatar in your post is your car, well, that photo from the owner's gallery inspired at least two questions, because it is a car I'd particularly like to imitate. It has a top that is different than most I see on Alpines, so I'd like to know where it came from/how to get one. Also, I'll probably put whitewalls on my Alpine, so I'll need a source for those, too. I'll give you a call.

Thanks, John and Rich, and I'll contact you soon.

C

 

[chrisheadrick]

Rick--if I wanted to maybe swing by one afternoon and have you show me your Alpine, would that be possible? Probably just 30 mins. - hour to talk about your car and its upkeep. Don't know when this would be...I'd contact you and work something out. How can I get a hold of you...an email address or phone number?

 

[napa 1]

Yes that's my series I alpine, one of the early body styles that I am partial to...love the fins. That style hard top was available for just series I and II alpines. Or maybe you'd like one of these.....

 

[chrisheadrick]

Ah--the Harrington! Nope, I prefer the regular ol' Alpine, and I do prefer the fins of the Series I and IIs, as you do. The top you have, though, is rare for me to come across in photos, and I love the lines better than the later series tops...I'll give you a call soon to chat.

If anybody can recommend a shop in the LA area that has an Alpine/Tiger speciality, I'd be interested, too: my Jaguar mechanic is a great fellow and can most certainly figure out anything, but he is not a Sunbeam specialist, and I've learned from years of dealing with my mechanic that it is best to find a guy who knows the particular, eccentric quirks of the certain model and make car you have.

C

 

[gordonra]

Sure... I'll send you a PM

Rick--if I wanted to maybe swing by one afternoon and have you show me your Alpine, would that be possible? Probably just 30 mins. - hour to talk about your car and its upkeep. Don't know when this would be...I'd contact you and work something out. How can I get a hold of you...an email address or phone number?

 

[Sownman]

If anybody can recommend a shop in the LA area that has an Alpine/Tiger speciality, I'd be interested, too: my Jaguar mechanic is a great fellow and can most certainly figure out anything, but he is not a Sunbeam specialist, and I've learned from years of dealing with my mechanic that it is best to find a guy who knows the particular, eccentric quirks of the certain model and make car you have.

C

I'm a Tiger owner in Valencia. I have a friend also out here who is a TAC inspector/former Alpine owner/current multiple Tiger owner. I have gotten
a great deal of help from him, and he is a pro mechanic. If you want I can ask
if he's interested in picking up another hanger on more than he's already got.

One of the top Tiger restoration guys is Dale Akuzewski in San Bernadino. You can search for Dales Restoration in Google and call him regarding his interest/ability to be an Alpine mechanic.

Steve R
B9473720

PS I'm not even a Tiger expert let alone an Alpine expert, but I do own one of those rare Tigers which was actually sold as an Alpine 260, and no it's not a conversion of any kind.