www.masbakersfield.com

The Tin Man

Looking for a part for a classic car, but don’t have time to travel to Southern California? A new custom car parts shop in Bakersfield just may be your solution.

Vintage Tinopened it doors in last November after owner Rick Peralez, 41, and his wife Vonda, 40, decided to put a lifetime of expertise in cars to work.
Rick Peralez has been an active member of the local car club Loco Banditos, which has between 25 and 30 members.

Loco Banditos was formed 13 years ago after a group of friends, including Peralez, decided to start a car club. Members participate in a car show in Paso Robles, Ca.; March Madness at Famoso Raceway;  and a reunion at Famoso Raceway.

As soon as a customer walks through the doors into Vintage Tin — located at 4300 Wible Road, Suite C, less than three miles from the Bakersfield Auto Mall— an instant smell of rubber and the glimmer of painted stainless steel and chrome hits them.

There’s also a warm greeting offered by the boisterous voice and friendliness of Peralez, who’s basically putting his dream into a reality with Vintage Tin.

“We have bunch of used car parts in my garage. We thought it was time to open the shop,” he said. “It made sense because you would have to travel down south to get these parts.”

Peralez said he’s always been a fan of classic cars, but it wasn’t until the mid-80s that he got really serious.

Of course, that meant Peralez needed to start his own classic collection of “Vintage Tin.”

His first classic automobile was 1957 Chevrolet truck — talk about the basics, it didn’t have an seat, a fender or a motor. Peralez never completely remodeled it before he sold it.

Then came a 1965 Thunderbird.

Today, Peralez is the proud owner of a candy apple red 1959 Skyliner Retractable Top. Layered on top of the paint is an intricate, scallop design and the word “Karma” on the back of it.

Kyle Gann at K Daddy Kustomz painted Peralez’s car.

“I was thinking about opening a place like this myself, but he did it before me. I think this is a great idea and place,” said Peralez’s friend Tom “Diablo” Herrera. “There’s no other place like this in Bakersfield. Someone should have done this a long time ago.”

And as much as he treasures his current piece of Vintage Tin, there is one “dream car” Peralez would like to own.

“It would have be a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr,” he said with a toothy grin. “That’s one cool car.”

As for competition facing his shop, Vintage Tin, Peralez doesn’t see any so far.
“There’s no other place in Bakersfield like this,” he said. “The guys from the Auto Mall come in here on their lunch hour and hang out. They tell me they like the place or are thinking about putting together a car.”

Vintage Tin has three rooms — the store front, the clothing room — with unique clothes and Hot Rod/Rockabilly-style accessories by local label lines like Cherry Lane Doll Wear and Lucky 11 Jewelry and Accessories — and the garage, filled with used car parts.

His wife Vonda helps him out after work and on weekends. While she says she’s far from an expert on cars she enjoys spending time with her husband and loves how the cars look.

“Rick has been into cars probably since the time I met him and we were married. This is a place for people to find used car parts,” she said. “It’s a place for the guys, who (are restoring their cars and) need these parts.”

For the classic car enthusiast, it’s the garage that offers the heart of Vintage Tin. In there, you’ll find those little automotive nuances like pair of side windows for a 1940 Chevrolet and a complete 1953 Chevrolet.

Vintage Tin also features a consignment program for customers, meaning they’ll sell your auto parts for you. The shop also carries new parts made by makers such as Moon Eyes and Speedway.

“We sell things that are hard to find,” said Peralez, explaining what Vintage Tin aims to do for its customers. “Take this for instance, it’s rare to find a side trim spear for a ‘51 Chevy.”

“This (garage) might not look much to you, (but) this is like Toys ‘R’ Us for guys.”
Peralez says some days at Vintage Tin are slow, while on others he’s swamped.

But, so far, the hard work is paying off — customers have come from as far as Fresno, Tehachapi and Mojave to check out Vintage Tin, according to Peralez.
He’s noticed the younger generation is into hot rods more than ever.
Like most typical small business owners, Peralez puts in long days — he’s at Vintage Tin everyday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“I’m supposed to have Mondays off,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve been here everyday, so far.”
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Vintage Tin
4300 Wible Road, Suite C
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday  through Sunday.
Phone: 398-0030