Rich & Pam Gabrielson
He bought his first car, a ’38 Chevy, at age 13 for $49. By the age of 15 he owned 3 cars, a ’36 Ford Sedan the ’38 Chevrolet Coupe and a ’50 Canadian Meteor, which was a ’50 Ford in disguise. In his senior year of High School he installed a Packard V8 into the Meteor. He says cars were so important to him at that time that he skipped the Senior Prom even though a certain girl was trying to get him to go. He laughs that cars were more important than girls then, and Pam pipes up with the comment that they still are.
Rich did a lot of street racing on East 14th with the Meteor and others and luckily escaped any mishaps or serious trouble. Fortunately the cops at that time all had 6 cylinder Fords and it was easy for the racers to make a getaway.
His first job right out of High School was at M & F Auto Electric where the owner was so impressed with the wiring job he did on his Meteor that he fired his part time employee and gave Rich the job. The part time guy turned out to be a Highway Patrolman who was using it as a second job. It scared Rich when he learned this, but it turned out to be no problem and this fellow became a good friend and was best man at his wedding to Pam.
He then worked for 11 years at a starter and generator rebuild factory. He became their specialist on rebuilding the oddball stuff, like antique and foreign equipment. He had become a journeyman with the union there, when he discovered that he had the same union card as a friend who was earning $3 an hour more at a car dealership. With that information he went to work for the next 5 years at an Oakland Lincoln Mercury dealer. When they closed their doors he went to the Lloyd Wise Oldsmobile dealership where they also sold Hondas. His next stop was the AMC Jeep dealer in San Leandro. When this dealer closed his doors in 1980, Rich felt that he had acquired a pretty thorough resume in car mechanics and he was ready to take on his own business. It was at this time that he was able with the help of a friend to purchase the shop he currently operates.
Fremont Auto Air and Electric has been his business for 28 years and Rich has just signed another 3-year lease. He now works without help and is able to pick the jobs he really wants to do. He still works on the newer vehicles but there are some jobs he really does not want to do anymore but can recommend a reliable shop. This leaves time for him to work on the older cars and classics. And even finding some time to work on his own projects. In the shop office he has photos of over 300 classic, antique, and unusual vehicles that he has worked on stapled to the wall ranging from a 1922 Model T Fire Truck to a Russian Lada. He also has a show case displaying collected auto memorabilia, including models of the more than 30 cars he and Pam have owned over the years.
Rich got married for the first time in 1962. It lasted for 10 years and produced one son. His second marriage was to a woman with 5 children, 4 girls and a boy. This gave him a lot of experience because of having 4 teenage daughters at the same time. He says it taught him great lessons in patience, which served him well in his work. His wife passed away in early 1989. His daughters suggested that for something to do he should restore his ’55 Pontiac Safari Station wagon. He went to Texas to buy a Pontiac parts car and it turned out to be much too good for parts so he restored it and he and Pam now drive an orange ’55 Pontiac Chieftain on tours. They have been showing and enjoying this car ever since. The Safari is still a work in progress.
In late 1989 he and Pam got married. They had been acquainted for some time because they attended the same church. Rich’s wife had been doing his business books and when she died he kind of let it go and got behind. Pam volunteered to help him get his books back on track and the rest is history.
Pam was born in Oakland, her father was in the Navy, and when he got out her parents bought a house in South San Francisco. At age 6 Pam was traveling by herself by Greyhound bus to San Francisco to attend first and second grades. In addition to the bus ride she had to walk 6 blocks to the school, oh yes, and it was about a mile from her parents house to the bus stop. Times have sure changed.
She had a brush with big time Television commercials when at age 20 months she was used in a Christopher Milk ad. Her mother turned down further activity by way of a contract to move her to Hollywood. So there went her future career as a movie actress.
She graduated from South San Francisco High School in 1966. This was also the year she bought her first car. With $500 down she ordered a new VW bug and on her 18th birthday she went to the dealer and picked up her car. This was also the year she was married. The marriage lasted 13 years and produced 2 daughters. It was then 12 more years as a single mom before she would marry Rich.
Pam says that she has had a long time interest in cars even before she met Rich. Her father had taught her to change oil and do tune-ups on her cars. She has even gone so far as to repair body damage by getting the parts from a wrecking yard and replacing them. Today she can actively participate with Rich in restoration projects, something she loves to do.
Between them they have 8 children, 15 grandchildren, and almost 3 great grandchildren, needless to say with this much family it takes up a lot of their time and cuts into the opportunities for car club touring.
Rich and Pam lead a very active life with family, church, and cars. Pam works full time at the California State University East Bay in Hayward. She is a musician in her spare time. She plays most of the percussion instruments and is learning the Marimba. Rich still enjoys rebuilding antique and classic generators and starters. He has over 40 years under his belt.
When asked about CHVA and other clubs they rank CHVA at the top because of the friendly nature of the members. They said they are always made to feel welcome even after an absence of months. Other clubs that they belong to are the Custom Safari Club, for ’55 to ’57 Pontiac Safaris. The Pontiac/Oakland Club International and the Ford Falcon Club.
With retirement for both of them about 3 years away they are looking forward
to participating in many more CHVA tours.
Published in AAN May-June, 2008
