Meet Rudy Telles

As a small boy, I really enjoyed planes, trains and cars.  As I grew older, about twelve years old, I built lots and lots of model cars.  I’d paint them; wire the ignition on the engines with my mothers sewing thread and so on. 

When I turned sixteen I demanded my parents take me to the DMV so I could get my license.  I passed the test the first time, but I was disappointed that my mom would not let me drive home.

I found a broken down 1952 Chevy in my Uncle’s garage.  I had to have that car.  It did not run, but that did not matter.  We towed it home and my dad helped me to get it running.  I remember how cool it was to drive my friends in my car.  Anyway, the Chevy only ran for about two weeks, it was after all, a piece of junk.  I had no money and Dad refused to spend money on it.

Shortly after this my father died. It was really a sad time but I inherited his 1955 Chevy and his 1958 Ford Ranch Wagon.

The 1955 broke; I really did not know how to fix it. So, I made the Ford Wagon my own.  It is about 1969 at this time. I lowered it, painted it peach primer, put chrome wheels on it and a stereo in it.  I was out of high school and I was, I thought very cool!

I got a job at an auto parts store. That came in really handy, as the wagon was my first priority.

In 1970 I got drafted, it was during the Viet Nam war. Instead I enlisted into the Navy.

I did my tour of duty and married my wife Syndie.  At that time we had a 1958 VW bus and a 1972 MGB GT. We loved both of those cars. We spent a lot of time at the beach.

In 1976 I went to work for a Republic Supply Company.  At this time our focus was our home but cars were still super important to me.

We worked for the supply company until 1979 when my first son Rudy M was born.  During this time I was promoted to outside sales and given a company car and an expense account. I thought things were going quite well.

About 1982 I was laid off from my job at the supply company so I went to work for my brother-in-law who owned three auto paint stores. These auto paint stores were very busy at the time.  He taught me the business and I worked as a salesman for him.  During this time I bought a 1969 VW bug. The “California Look” at that time was all the rage. I convinced Syndie we had to fix up the Bug.

About four years after I started working for my brother-in-law, I am sure that God told me I should open my own business.  I was going to call it “Father and Son Refinishing” Father for God, son for me and refinishing because we were going to paint cars. 

We started up August 1987 and the business has continued to grow.  We stopped painting cars about 1992 because we found the accessory business to be far more profitable and less time consuming.  We still love cars and currently own a 1950 Mercury coupe.

They say that doing what you love is a blessing and that’s about where we are today.

Rudy and Family