Folks Of Interest Talked to Andy Southard last night

He is a pinstriper, photographer, and author from the 50s. I tracked him down and called him up, we spoke for about 15 min. Really nice guy, and knows everybody in the old car circles. I could have talked to him for hours, but I didn't want to bug him.
I mentioned the H.A.M.B., he has internet access, but is too busy to spend much time on the computer; he's 75 and still goes to all the car shows. Unfortunately, arthritis has put a damper on his pinstriping.
http://www.allbookstores.com/author/Andy_Southard.html
Some of his books are out of print. I have Hot Rods & Customs of the 1960's; great book,now going for $75 used. Andy said he has a few copies left of all five of books, $35 each. If anyone wants them, don't get rooked, get the from the source and save a few bucks. He said he has enough photos to do another book, but needed a break. He is also in the process of converting his old car show footage from the 60s on up to DVD format; I am looking forward to seeing that.
Check out some of his books, you'll be glad you did.

 

Glad to hear he's still going strong.Always remember seeing his work(striping as well as photography)in the little books of the 50's and 60's and admiring it.Have several of his books that are just top of the line quality.Never met him in person but would like to someday.Hopefully he may chime in here if enough folks request it.

 

One of the pioneers. Glad to hear he's doing well at 75.

 

thats cool richard thanks for the link..

 

If you don't have any of his books, get them!! Great photography from the 'good old days' and excellent text to go with the pix. I highly recommend any of them.

 

Andy, if you're reading, thanks for sharing your collection! Hot Rods of the 50's is one of the best reference books available. How do I contact him to get a copy of Customs of the 50's?

 

Thanks from me too...all of that old LA Roadsters coverage is what hooked me on this branch of the scrap iron industry!

 

Thanks for posting this, Richard! I've always wondered if he was still around. It'd be great to be able to meet him some day.

One of my favorites


Malcolm

 

Thanks guys, for writin' my post for me. Mr. Southard is an automotive national treasure.

 

I've got Hot Rods of the 50's and Custom Cars of the 50's. These are fantastic books. I do not have the Hot Rods and Customs of the 60's but I NEED to get one.
I would love to meet him myself and shake his hand.

 

GETNRKIX and everbody else.. here you go !
Well, If it's not socially correct.. I apologise in advance..
Looked in the phone book ( yeah, i still use a book ! )
Southard, A. JR.
5 san juan dr.
Salinas , ca 93901
831-424-2149
Maybe send him a letter ??
Hope you don't mind, Andy.
Dave Lewis

 

That's the correct info. He sleeps till afternoon, and works until 7 A.M. or so, so I'd call late afternoon-early evening, or just write for the books. Be sure to ask for a list of DVDs. Maybe if he gets enough letters, he'll join up with us? Maybe the publishers will be convinced there is enough demand to put the books back in print. He said some sold as many as 90,000 copies!

 

how many books did he do,,i have 4

 

Five, I think the last was History of the Oakland Roadster Show.

 

His old 27 ford roadster pickup is kick ass. I haved owned the 1950's hot rods, 60's hot rods and the 50's customs books for about ten years and I own plenty of hot rod books but always seem to make it back to his and look at them often. I have wondered recently if he was still alive. He was an amazing pin striper .His books have pictures from east coast and west coast cars. Thanks for the info on him !!!

 

Howdy neighbor!

 

anybody have all 5? i think i only have 3 and i'd like to get what i'm missing...

 

I just placed an order for the remainders.

 

Thanks Andy for the pointers on photography, if you do read this.

Richard, Thanks for the update on Andy.

 

all of 'em?

 

Andy is a very good friend of mine ....and I feel so blessed to be able to say he's a friend....to have admired his pics and such in the magazines of yesteryear....and have all five books ...and be able to hear the stories from the man himself......WOW!
is all I can say....

 

No, I meant single copies of the ones I didn't have. That would have been greedy.

 

i'd love to clone andy's green T rpu

 

When I was a KOA director I wanted to do an article on Andy and Cole Foster. Give each a set of questions about their views on the scene. Kinda compare them as the new and old face of customizing in Salinas. I thought it was a good idea, but the higher ups at the KOA would never give me the go ahead and I wasn't going to bother them with it unless I knew the information was going to be used.

Anyway, when I thought of it I emailed Mr Southard and Cole and both were class acts and liked the idea, that was like 6 or 7 years ago.

 

You sir are a genious and your 740 posts are too few! Always dug your input here on the HAMB!

 

Ooooo, I didn't know he did a Hot Rods & Customs of the 70's... I need to get that!

Did I just say that out loud?

 

I first saw custom cars of the 50's in a bookstore in austin tx, in 2002. I remember thumbing through it, and commenting " wow I have never seen a color picture of that car, or that one , I have never even seen that one!"
I was hooked, but didn't buy the book. It was all I could think about for a few days, and when I had the cash I went back to get it , and it was gone!
I combed all the book stores in austin and finally found one, saw a different one 70's I think in san antonio while on vacation, and promptly got on the computer, and amazoned and ebayed the rest.
I am proud to say that I did not have to pay any exorbitant prices for any of them, I did have to buy a second customs of the 50's after my dad "lost" the first copy for a few years...
Andys books got me back into custom cars, after a hiatus of about 17 years, then the lonestar roundup, and mercury charlie and his T put me over the edge. I even found pics of charlies T on the H.A.M.B. after the second roundup, but I didn't stick around, because I thought message boards were for sissies and girls...(I was dead wrong about that!)

Thank you Andy for showing me the light!

 

I've bought all those books at one time or another. I've just about wore out Customs of the 50s. I keep them on a self in my computer room and those and my Mad fabricator DVDs are things that never get loaned out.

Thanks Tman, I appreciate it.

 

If you guys want these books, please buy them from Andy instead of some profit-hound on ebay or Amazon; it's his work and how he makes his living. He could probably raise the price but hasn't(yet).