Get to Know Phinel Garcia
“My dad bought a 1967 Chevelle Malibu for me on my 16th birthday, and we worked on it in the garage for months. We did most everything except for auto body repairs and paint, so when we were done with the mechanical work, we drove over to the local body shop and left it there. After the car was finished and we went to pick it up, I fell in love with the way it turned out and said, ‘I want to learn how to do that!’ I asked the shop owner if he could use me, and he put me to work as a shop helper. Early on, all I did was clean the shop and throw out trash, but I never gave up or quit and, eventually, I was learning some body work, sanding, prepping, and priming. At the age of 18, I painted my first car and the rest is history!”