CHERISHING OUR VALLEY 2013
Cal Automotive Inc. (vintage postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)
The following is unedited - as printed:
"8044 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91605 - Phone 767-8025
INTRODUCING This worlds nost powerful Mustang Mr. Cal Automotive, Driven by TEX COLLINGS the famous Hollywood badman. Powered by the World War II P38 and P51 Mustang - 12 Cylindrs, 1710 Cubic inch, 3500 H.P. Allison, Tex Collins, the only man that ever successfully made a Aircraft engine run in a car. No problem to go 200 MPH in 1/4 mile."
Hey there may be a real story here!
The hot rod shop called Cal Automotive Inc. in North Hollywood was bought out by a Hollywood stunt man named Tex Collins. Several internet accounts have it that Tex died as a result of being shot to death over equipment sold to a Texas client.
According to a posting on the T Busketeers blog:
http://www.tbucketeers.com/threads/what-ever-happened-to-cal-automotive.10725
"Curt Hamilton who founded Cal Automotive has a shop in Van Nuys,
California on Stagg Street called Hamilton Automotive Industries. He
still has the T-Bucket molds with the improved dash panel and molded one
piece pick up bed body. All his bodies were hand lamenated fiberglass.,
cleaner and stronger than a messy chopper sprayed body. Tex Collins,
who purchased Cal Automotive from Curt tried to mass produce T-Bucket
bodies by selling franchiases with hastley made molds to "Mom and Pop"
operations. One such operation soured and as a result Tex was shot in
the back by the son of a law enforcement official and was later aquitted
at trial. Tex was a part time Hollwood Western stuntman who had a
fiberglass company called Ford Duplicators in North Hollywood when he
purchased Cal Automotive."
There’s
a little more to the story. The Tudor ended up in the hands of a
sometime Hollywood stuntman named Tex Collins, an Allison fanatic who
ran one in a Mustang Funny Car, plus the Lytle-built oddity seen here,
The Bad Brawma Bull, which used a White 3000 truck cab and modified
chassis (check the bolted-together roll bar, as with Big Al IV).
Collins, who owned Cal Automotive and was, sadly, shot to death,
actually made passes in this thing and got to the far end unharmed. Mike
owns the Bull, too. - See more at:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/01/18/rip-jim-lytle-a-power-crazed-genius/#sthash.2YjjHEf1.dpuf
There’s
a little more to the story. The Tudor ended up in the hands of a
sometime Hollywood stuntman named Tex Collins, an Allison fanatic who
ran one in a Mustang Funny Car, plus the Lytle-built oddity seen here,
The Bad Brawma Bull, which used a White 3000 truck cab and modified
chassis (check the bolted-together roll bar, as with Big Al IV).
Collins, who owned Cal Automotive and was, sadly, shot to death,
actually made passes in this thing and got to the far end unharmed. Mike
owns the Bull, too. - See more at:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/01/18/rip-jim-lytle-a-power-crazed-genius/#sthash.2YjjHEf1.dpuf
24 comments:
My name is Frank collins and Tex collins was my dad I don't know where you got this info on your site but you only got one part right the fact my dad was shot in the back by a dirt bag from the sfv not Texas. it happened in a town called Fillmore the town my mom and step dad lived in I spent a lot of time with my dad and was standing 10ft away when it happend it was over a bad deal that my stepdad had made over a rented piece of property that my stepdad not my dad had gone in with two dirt bags and they wanted to cut out my dad my was just dropping me off on a Sunday after being at his house for the weekend I was 10 years old at the time I rembember driving up and getting out and my dad walking over to say hi and all hell breaks lose the two dirt bags pulled out guns and started shooting my stepdad and my dad run to get me and got it in back then they shot at me a ten year old kid they got off because his dad was a cop . Part two my dad own two companies t.c automotive and ford duplicaters before he saved cal automotive from curt my made all the fiberglass for the Shelby mustangs and roller rockers dean Jeffreys made the t bucket molds not curt when curt sold cal automotive it was bankrupt and tex collins keep curt on and payed his bills For years curt Hamilton is a nice guy but has always felt that he never got his do. And for the molds he has they are junk the molds that we make to today are 10 times better I hope you guy the your facts correct in the future it makes for better reading know it not made up thanks
Glad you spoke up to make the story right!
I remember your dad's place on Lankershim. As kids, we would press our snotty noses against the glass to look at the cool cars. And in my teens in the late '60s, I worked at the McDonalds across the street.
Great memories. Sorry I never heard about his passing until recently.
Bob Rocco
In response to Frank Collins, the molds that Curt has are not junk. They are the original molds and they are still pulling parts from them to this day. From my understanding your father took the business over because he saw the long con, as well as having them make parts for him for free, with a "franchise" pipe dream. Regardless of what you believe the story is, pre Tex Collins Cal Auto bodies were the real deal, not chopper gun cheap imitations. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
You mean the ones that Dean made all the molds curt lifted from calautomotive after tex died from the low life Earl he left outside for forty years that i saw with my own eyes sorry but in 1965 tex had a deal with shelby it was not a con. he needed bigger shop and more employees to get it done on t bucket plans.com its stated by curt that he sold calautomotive in late 67 but was not the way it was tex was writing the checks in 1965 not 1967 no chopper gun .intel 1971 by the way i still have some of the bodys with tex collins business cards in them not made with a chopper gun get it right.
My dad's cabinet shop was next door to Cal Automotive on Lankershim in the early 70's---It was called Crown Cultured Marble because he was also making cultured marble countertops to go with the bathroom cabinets we made. I used to play around and sit in the "Quad AL", the beast with the 4 Allison Aircraft engines. It was all dusty but displayed in the front showroom. I was too young to know how well my dad knew Tex. But my dad was into neat cars too, he had Dean Moon ("Moon Eyes"), put a 427 into his 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark 2. (I remember doing 140 MPH in that car on the 5 freeway on the way to church one morning...dad was a nut job.) He also drove a cool dark blue 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud 2. Dad moved to bigger building in Pacoima in 1974--Do you know if Famous Earle is still around? (Earle Rogne).
Hi Frank
I remember the day your dad was shot, it was a terrible day at my house.
I cant say who it was who called my home and spoke to my mom.
she came out side by the pool where I and my brother were playing in the pool with my dad
Karl Krumme
she came out and was crying uncontrollably when she told my dad Tex Collins has been shot and killed when he went to pick up money owed for a car he and worked on.
I was very young and it was the first time I ever saw my dad cry.
it brings tears to my eyes just remembering that terrible day.
I hope you and your family are well.
Best wishes
Karl Krumme 111
My name is Darren Wolf. I met Earle my senior year of high school in 1985-86. He was renting a detached garage from a nearby house down the street from me. Earle showed me what he claimed were the original shelby molds of fenders and hoods from Cal automotive. He said he used to work for Tex Collins
Earle had a 1967 Red ,White, Blue Shelby clone gasser. I drove it many times. Wally Dahlman owned the house where Earle kept the gasser, also a beautiful t bucket and a 67 gt 500. Dies anyone out there no if Earle is still alive?
My name is J Bartell and I worked at Cal Automotive for 3 years, around the early 60s. I moved from Santa Barbara down to North Hollywood. I had build boats before moving to No. Hollywood and Tex gave me a job. He also gave me a new Chev. engine for my 39 Chev. Coop after the engine blew.
I guy name John worked there and was the best at laying glass. We made Model Ts and Shelby Hoods among other things. Even made some of the first dune buggies.
By the way, all the work was by hand layup. No chopper gun!
J Bartell
I worked for Tx Collins in 1965,, I remember lots of the bodies that was made,, layed by hand,, Tony Nancy wedge, a C-cab for universi Studios, I can recall going with him to a Shelby garage where there was shelbys lined up on each side of the garage we nade the doors and decks, I remember the business card of Tx Collins,, it had a picture of him dressed in cowboy clothes standing on a large rock with a rife in his hands.. never knew what happebned to Tx, but will always remember him as a good person..
This is for J bartell,Righteous brother ,Karl krumme
Hi guys I’d love to talk to you about your memory’s of my dad we are in the middle of doing a Documentary about Tex collins Cal Automotive
Ford duplicator And Tc automotive It’s going to put too bed a lot of the myths on how he died when he actually bought Cal automotive and why.I have spent the better of the past 20 years Listening to all of the bull crap that’s on the internet and like my dad Tex collins I’ve been in the movie industry for the past 15 years and I’ve found a lot of interesting info I also found and restored 4 of his cars please email me at frankcollins6@yahoo.com Who knows if your story is legit maybe you can get on the show thank you
This is for J bartell,Righteous brother ,Karl krumme
Hi guys I’d love to talk to you about your memory’s of my dad we are in the middle of doing a Documentary about Tex collins Cal Automotive
Ford duplicator And Tc automotive It’s going to put too bed a lot of the myths on how he died when he actually bought Cal automotive and why.I have spent the better of the past 20 years Listening to all of the bull crap that’s on the internet and like my dad Tex collins I’ve been in the movie industry for the past 15 years and I’ve found a lot of interesting info I also found and restored 4 of his cars please email me at frankcollins6@yahoo.com Who knows if your story is legit maybe you can get on the show thank you
To Frank Collins..Laura (Jines) Uphoff and Mark Jines in Arvin, CA. What’s up Cousin??
Laura93203@gmail.com
Hello, my name is James, my Grandfather was Jason c Collins, and we lived in Martinez, ca 140 author road,I remember, Tex, storring some of his cool cars at my Grandfather's house when I was a kid, Tex, took me in a ride to the corner store, in a t bucket, that I still have the picture of today, I always enjoy hearing there is still family out there. James.
I believe you Frank.my father was Roger Greenman.he was a friend of your father.your dad loaned us his chevy powered manure spreader. And we had pictures of his wells Fargo stagecoach. I have 3 black and white photos of the mustang. I'd like to share them with you and the world..one has your dad with the car. It
Hey guys if you’d like to contact me my email frankcollins6@yahoo.com
Hi Frank I have some info that you don't know about Cal Auto. My name is Ron Gilbert and I worked for Tex and Curt in the early days. I was asked by Tex to help him build the Mustang when I was 15,Tex treated me like a son, he rented the Mustang from the rent a car place and we built the mold which he taught me how to do. Frank I don't know but I think I saw you when you were a baby.I don't remember you mothers name but she was a great lady. When I turned 18 I was asked by Carol Shelby to com to the plant by LAX and fix the GT 350 & 500 Line as I knew a lot
about fiberglass and hot frame building. Tex & Curt got me the job.There my be more but I am older now and remember things a little at a time. If you want more info please let me know and I will try to help. Yes Tex was murdered and I think he was shot in the back chicken S
@Frank Collins I'd love to hear about the cars your found and restored. Do you have the incredible V12 Allison "Mr. Cal Automotive" in your garage? I'd love to see and hear that monster some day!
Hi BGK I'm not Frank and I will wait to see what he says and then I will ad
a blog along with him.
I have heard the monster and it was load bestially when your on top of it tuning it!
Ron G.
sorry for the misspell
Hi Ron G, thanks for the reply and looking forward to future blog posts about the 1968 Allison Mustang! Does the car still exist? I've seen Jim Lytle's "Quad Al" in person earlier this summer but have never seen or heard an Allison running in a car, though I have seen one in a tractor pull over Labor Day weekend (check out the YouTube links below):
Allison powered tractor pull in Mendota, Illinois:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-0r5MLkYnY
Old footage of Tex Collins Mr. Cal Auto Mustang at SFV drag strip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar8uqumjy9M&t=11s
Hello again! I'm planning to be in LA on April 5-6 and was wondering if it would be possible to see any of Tex Collins' cars fi they're still in the area? Thanks!
so sorry to read about this tragedy.
What year did Tex die?
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