Hello, As teenagers, we were always on the lookout for the next source of income to help out our involvement with hot rods and cruisers. We could not have a clunker, so it was money well spent to “fix up” our cars to look and perform the best it/they could. having one of our high school’s reputation for being a hot rod enthusiast fit right into our teenage world. Most knew my involvement in our pre high school drag racing background at Lion’s Dragstrip. they also knew about building and racing our 671 SBC in our 1940 Willys Coupe. And, finally they definitely knew that their friend had the strangest teen hot rod in the whole area, a Flathead powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery. A what? So, now, with all of that going on, we were asked if we would like to work at a Bixby Knolls Christmas tree lot on the busy corner that everyone knew and used daily/weekly. Of course, we said yes. We did ot even ask how much we were going to get paid. We knew it was going to be a fun job. My friend got us the jobs at a cool Bixby Knolls Christmas Tree lot for extra holiday money and a fun experience. We were the only teenagers working by ourselves on the lot for weeks prior to Christmas. He was a good salesman, he could almost talk anyone into buying a tree of any kind. I was a great spray painter and made custom trees for anyone that wanted a specific size and color (green, white or pink) We did a rousing business selling to our friends and families from the local area. The teenage girls came with their families and friends to buy a tree or two. We usually sold as many trees as we could. It was helpful that the families knew us from high school activities, sports, their daughters and his parents from the local community. They felt safe talking to us and knowing we would not steer them wrong. I even gave out small custom trees from those left over toppers that a family wanted off the top of their tree they just purchased. A custom fit height to fit the living rooms and family rooms. But the good thing was we did not waste anything from our cuttings. A little stand and tree shaping made a perfectly good "kid size" tree just for the little guys. When we came out in front with a small kid size tree, how could a cool parent say no to the custom made tree, just for their little son or daughter? Plus the large 8 foot tree for the whole family sold fast… we were great salesmen. Jnaki It also helped that our hot rod sedans were parked on the lot. Our friends that cruised by saw them, stopped to say hello and brought some pizza, burgers/fries from the local diners. It was a great job for some needed money during the holidays. Plus, on the slow nights, it was a little party inside of the small trailer with great music and visiting friendships. old Friday Art … Custom Christmas trees, green or color flocked and delivered to your living room , was our specialty on the busy lot in Bixby Knolls. Delivery was always free. Most deliveries were within a mile or two at the most. Tips were always appreciated… It was his 57 Chevy that was used to make most of the deliveries to the local homes as a courtesy customer service. Both of us could not go, so we chose his white 57 Chevy Bel Air with a thick blanket on top, to strap on the trees for the deliveries. We decided that of the two delivery cars, his White Bel Air could have a scratchy tree strapped on top better than on top of my pristine black paint of the 58 Impala. Black was too easy to scratch and show up under any lights. Even with a blanket for protection. But, I offered the pull out rear seat section of the Impala and open trunk lined with a huge blanket to transport trees to the customer’s nearby Bixby Knolls houses. By the way, that also presented additional benefits in food and tips for a job well done, and additional phone numbers…Ha! The deliveries ranged from around the closest block for a delivery, to a delivery to a store down the street, and the longest delivery was a well paid for huge tree custom made to fit this good looking older lady who happen to stop by our lot. She paid extra to get it cut right, shaped better to make a perfect triangle shape sprayed slightly, and have it delivered. Where? 10 miles away on the Belmont Shore -Alamitos Bay Peninsula beachfront home. One of the last 3 still standing on this particular portion of the oceanfront sandy shoreline. (Others destroyed by the only hurricane/tropical storm to hit and affect Long Beach, in its history) The wide stretch of white sand shows the last three houses left from the 1939 Hurricane/Tropical Storm that hit the Long Beach shoreline. The destination was the large house on the left, near Shoreline Walk. We knew the area well, as the beach on the bay was our hangout beach/bay place, as well as the shoreline on the inner side of the bay to the end of the peninsula. The strong tropical storm that hit So Cal coastline several weeks ago and the one that swirled inland to wreck havoc on other communities was a reminder of this storyline. Comparisons were made from 1939 to 2023. The woman was living in the last remaining house on this empty stretch of white sandy beach. The woman was very happy that we were able to help her out and was pleased that we delivered her custom made Christmas Tree to her oceanfront bay window. Using the White 57 Chevy Bel Air with the sound of the modified 283, the rumble of the exhaust and a big greenish-white tree strapped on top, got a lot of "thumbs up" looks. Great memories of great times as a teenager. My friend’s white 57 Chevy Bel Air was on a lowered rake and had many different jobs in our community. The coolest job was during the Christmas Seasons in our junior and senior years of high school. We grew up as teenagers in a 1957 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop, modified it as much as the teenage budget could afford and it was a fast one of a kind cruiser/hot rod. It had the most modifications done to a stock Chevy sedan of our whole teenage group. We even installed a 4 speed for a one time custom performance addition. It was the only 57 Chevy in the whole Bixby Knolls/Long Beach area that had a dual quad modified 283 motor and a 4 speed. It was on a lowered rake, plus it was fast. a similar look and style... It was not just a hot rod/cruiser/drag race sedan, but used for a variety of odd jobs. From a daily driver to high school, after school job and weekend beach cruiser to weekend dating scene. Plus, any money source such as a Christmas Tree delivery hot rod... YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
