Alex Mendoza

A Chevrolet El Camino owned by Alex Mendoza's father. Gil Ayala gave the car a Candy Apple Red Metalflake paint job circa 1966. Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

Another photo of the El Camino. In 2021, Alex told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that he would go to Ayalas with his dad when he was a little boy. Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

According to Alex, this photo shows the guy that built his dad's El Camino. Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

A 1955 Chevrolet that Alex Mendoza's father built in their backyard for a cousin shortly before he left for Vietnam. Gil Ayala painted it blue circa 1969. Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

A Chevrolet truck that Gil Ayala painted. According to Alex, he experimented with a few mahogany colors, and it "came out with a nice paint job." Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

Alex Mendoza's 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle. In 1978 and 1979, Alex hung around Gil Ayala's shop as a high school student, doing odd jobs without pay. Mendoza recalled, "I used to work at the shop during High School, didn't get paid, but he painted my car. I liked hanging around there and doing odds and ends." Painted in 1978, the Chevelle was originally lined up to appear in the 1979 film Boulevard Nights, in the scene where the star is thrown through the rear window. The role went to Gil's own Candy Apple Red 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle instead. Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

A Chevrolet Camaro owned by Alex Mendoza's cousin. First designed at Gil's Auto Body Works around 1978. Based on the IROC Camaro, with a custom cow catcher in front, a lowered stance, and hand-formed metal fenders in place of the factory fiberglass. Photo from The Alex Mendoza Collection.

Alex Mendoza of East Los Angeles, California. The Mendoza family had a long connection to Gil Ayala and Gil's Auto Body Works. Mendoza's father knew Gil for years, and Gil painted several of his hot rods over time. As a small child, Alex tagged along on visits to the shop with his father.

Gil's Auto Body Works

In 1978 and 1979, while still in high school, Mendoza spent time at Gil's Auto Body Works in East Los Angeles, doing odd jobs around the shop. He worked without pay, drawn to the place because he liked hanging around. Mendoza recalled, "I used to work at the shop during High School, didn't get paid, but he painted my car. I liked hanging around there and doing odds and ends."

The Chevelle and Boulevard Nights

In 1978, Gil Ayala painted Mendoza's 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle. According to Mendoza, the Chevelle was originally lined up to appear in the 1979 film Boulevard Nights, in the scene where the star is thrown through the rear window. The role went to Gil's own 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle instead, which Mendoza described as a "beautiful candy apple metallic."

Mendoza's father had a short on-screen appearance in Boulevard Nights. Alex was in school during filming and was unable to be on set. As he later put it, "I was in school so I could not be there or else I would have been in there."

Family Cars Painted by Gil Ayala

Mendoza's father had several cars painted at Gil's Auto Body Works over the years. A Chevrolet El Camino belonging to his father was painted candy apple red flake by Gil Ayala circa 1966.

A 1955 Chevrolet was built in the family's backyard by Mendoza's father for a cousin who left for Vietnam shortly afterward. Gil Ayala painted that car blue circa 1969.

A black Chevrolet Camaro owned by Mendoza's cousin was first designed at the shop around 1978. According to Mendoza, the car was based on the IROC Camaro and received a custom cow catcher in front, a lowered stance, and hand-formed metal fenders in place of the factory fiberglass.

Mendoza also remembered a truck that Gil painted around the same period, in an experimental mahogany color that "came out with a nice paint job."

Alex Mendoza's Cars

Alex Medoza's 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle