Alex from ISP West

Today we talk to Alex, the owner/founder at ISP West in Carson, California.  they're a full service shop that works on any kind of Volkswagen, but specialize in Type III. You can bring your car in and they'll do a tune up but what they really like to do is full blown, nut and bolt restoration.

Find Alex at https://vwispwest.com/

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Transcript

Today we're going to talk to Alex at ISP West in Carson, California.  and he's the owner founder of ISP West. , and uh, they really work on any kind of Volkswagen, but they specialize in Type and they're a full service shop, so if you just need some mechanical work done, you can bring your car in and they'll do a tune up.

But what they really like to do is full blown restoration, nut and bolt, tear the whole thing down. Um, they do a lot of work in house, but they also sub some work out. Uh, they'll... They'll recommend different, uh, vendors for different things, but they have a full paint booth there now. And, uh, you know, they have a ton of parts.

They have a ton of NOS parts. And they've even moved into manufacturing their own parts. So, they're an amazing resource if you have a Type 3. Notchback, Squareback, Fastback, or a Type 3 Ghia.

I first became aware of ISP west. Most likely it was the, uh, mid nineties and it was by way of hot VWs magazine. I was living in Southern California at the time, so I was able to go to their location, in person. and then of course, with the onset of the internet, I began to see more of their products. And over the years, Alex has actually purchased a car from me and I've purchased a ton of products from him, Uh, he brought a Squareback. I bought out of Montana once back to life. It had been sitting forever and he just went through all the mechanicals and everything. It was a 69 type three. beyond that, he's just sold me a ton of parts that I have  installed on my car and given me some great advice on you know, how to, how to install it.

What's the best way, the right way, all that good.

So here's my interview with Alex at, is P west in Carson, California.

So tell me, , what got you into Volkswagens? 

Well, uh, when I was in high school,  I always rode motorcycles and, I wanted a car and, uh, had a limited budget. So I started looking for a Ford Fiesta that was out of my range. I had to think of something else and a squareback came up for sale in the recycler. In temple city, actually. And so me and a friend of mine from Argentina rode our bikes up to  temple city to look at this running.

Squareback something that, uh, sounded perfect, just, um, right price and everything. I needed to get started.  We get there to a auto shop and where our little puzzled, they, Mr. Asking around hey we're he to here to see this VW for sale and the shop guy goes, well, the only VW we have here is that one on the corner.

And he was just a,  a square back that looked like it sat there for 20 years full of mechanical parts and things on top and on the side sitting outside. And, uh, I'm thinking, okay, this must be a mistake. So this was nineteen eighty five, nineteen eighty six. There wasn't a cell phones or anything. We're scratching our head, trying to figure out what to do.

So ask the guy for, could use the phone to call the guy that's selling the car German guy. His last name was Herman and, uh, he owned some kind of a importing business. So I call him I'm a little upset and I'm telling him, look, I rode all the way up here for this car.  And it's nothing like you described.

He goes, that's not possible. When I drop off the car over there, it was a running car. I told the guys at the shop, just use it, you know, go get parts just  as a little shop wagon, because I don't have room to park at home. I'll be on my way. Let me go see what's going on. He gets there. He seems as surprised as we were about the car and the condition.

, long story short, I bought the car for 400 bucks and, , had to ride home and, uh, give my uncle the great news debt. , he was going to have to help me.  With his pickup truck and rent a Dolly to get this car over to my girlfriend's house. And automatically he assumed he was going to be stuck helping me fix.

So he was really upset because I, I only worked on bikes and motorcycles. I knew nothing about cars except for basic things that I was learning with him. So he didn't want to have anything to do with the project and, um, took it to the girlfriend's house and, I started digging into it. somehow it was fuel injected and, um, it actually started battery gas and it fired up, but it ran really bad.

I couldn't figure out a why. So I start calling around and there was a shop down the hill from where I lived and, uh, it was called Parker's VW in San Pedro. And, uh, I  knew that the car ran good enough to get out of where I lived and down the hill bout five miles, all downhill to where he was, but I couldn't afford to pay him to fix it nor could I get, get it back home if he wasn't fixed.

So I told him on the phone, what was going on and I told him that. I wanted to learn. So would he be willing to tell me how to fix it instead of me paying him to fix it? And he said, okay, come on down. So, I go down there and get the car there. And, um, I keep it running. He comes out we're in the alley and, uh, pop the back open.

And he said, you got 10 bucks. I said, yes. He goes, let me see it. So show him the money he goes. All right. So this is what you're going to do. Turn it off. I go. You sure? He goes, turn it off. He turned it. I turned it off. He goes, take this plug wire from here and put it there and go one from there. Put it here I go.

Okay. And I'll watch he goes going.  And that was it. I had two wires crossed,  so I was running on two cylinders.  I was so happy.  

Do you, so you lived in San Pedro, you rode your bike with your buddy to temple city. Do you remember what year the car was? It was 69 square back. That was my first car ever. Yeah. 

And, uh, what color was it?  

Um, originally. 

I don't know. And I tried to remember what was the original color, but he was painted metallic, blue, very faded. Uh, the only thing I can compare to what, You see today on the road would be somebody had a G wagon wrapped in a flat blue metallic. That's what it looked like. It was totally faded, like Earl shy, a paint job.

of course it was the eighties. So, uh, once I got it running, I got super excited. And next thing I had to do was to buy eight spokes and 1 35 lower the front. And then started doing the body work and, uh, painted, um, a turquoise blue.  

Wow. So this is the mid eighties. The car is a 69. So it's really not even 20 years old yet at this point. 

Okay. Uh,  

right behind you. And that's you  

okay. If you don't mind, I'm going to take a picture of that before our interviews over here or after rather you can hear a.  Alex's phone is ringing off the hook because his shop is popular. so that was your very first car, right? And that was kind of your first foray into Volkswagens in general.  you were, you know, essentially a kid then.   Tell me about the time between that car and between when you started ISP west?  

Well, the car really triggered everything because I always, I was always mechanically inclined.

So when we were growing up, um,  There were 10 friends and 10 bicycles. I was the one servicing the bikes. When we graduated to mopeds, then I became the MOPAN mechanic. And then from there, the motorcycle mechanics. So, the transitioning to car was just part of the  destiny. And, uh, once I.  Drove it to high school.

They was just, wow. Who painted? Wow. Who Lord? Wow. Who did this and that. I did it. I did it well. Can you do mine? Sure. So after school, that's what I was doing. You know, working on people's cars. I had a, I had a download. I'll put my tools in the back of my car and go to somebody's house. And the two hours I had to think. 

Wow.  what year was it 1990? That ISP officially 

opened?  Yes. So the official date was 1990, so we let's say, the end of the eighties was more of a hobby, but, in 1990 I was actually renting a place. 

And where was that first 

location in Inglewood only period.  

 When did you move into this location here?

That we're sitting in 98. Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're from Brazil. Yes. And so tell me about coming, uh, from Brazil to the U S . How old were you? What, what went on around that?  

Oh, basically when I finished, junior high, eighth grade in Brazil, uh, I was 15 and, um, my dad said, Hey, um, if you just go through high school and college here, you're going to be just another guy with a diploma.

And the.  But if you can be fluent in English, then you'll be another guy with a diploma on the wall, but that speaks English and speaking English in the eighties was like speaking Chinese today. You needed to do that in order to have a good job. And so he sent me here to go to school, learn English. So I did high school. 

Still learning English,  never learned to write. And, um, I never went back.  

Wow. That's fascinating. do you have business partners or did you ever have business partners? 

Uh, yes. When we started, uh, I was part of a. and I still have the window off my first car and it has the sticker from, uh, DSS. K what's the name of the, the, the club, uh, there strands tougher cruiser or something like that, but I don't remember.

And couldn't even say it There I met, uh, so many great people. and there was this guy named Tim who was still today very much into Volkswagen. he  was wasn't is very, very knowledgeable about many, many things. And, uh, definitely eat a type three. It was a club for all VWs.  Most of it, most of the cars were typed threes.

And so, I started doing this out of my house, the driveway, and then, uh, Tim had a, a larger driveway in the larger garage. So then, um, we started doing cars there and then we moved to Imperial and then eventually moved.  

Yeah. Wow. And so is he still a partner, like a silent partner or anything? Or are you the sole owner now?

No, I'm the sole owner for while I think for over 22 years. Yeah. 

And, uh, you know, I've been one of your clients off and on since at least the early nineties, you know, my earliest memories are, uh,  Probably around 93. So I've been to the shop quite a few times and I've seen it change. So tell me about some of the changes you've made to this shop over the years. 

Wow. I don't even know what you start. Just I'm continuously trying to organize things. So many changes because, um, as people come and go and, uh, And things change. Uh, we have to adapt , and, um, staying organized and making the most out of the space we have was always a priority.

And it's frustrating at times because we are always, , it feels like you're always moving things around like musical chair, try to find room and, uh, , you get frustrated sometimes.  Yeah, 

I saw the last time you have had your open house. Cause Alex has a, an annual kind of like open house barbecue, where he welcomes his guests and the community in that.

Uh, you have a pretty nice paint booth. Did you always have that? 

Yeah, When we started in the nineties, we had, um,  three body shops doing work for us simultaneously, so we could keep up.  And, uh, the Imperial location, all we did was metalwork and, um, assembly.  one of the body shops was closing and there was an opportunity where we could take over  the crew and the. 

So  I basically took that over and started working more out of there. Then the assembly shop on the Imperial,  and then  we, for a short period of time, we got a third location, which was a bigger.  Place with a bigger body shop, spray booth and everything. And, um, got rid of the one and moved over there and, uh, had two.

So it was one, then it was two, then it was three, then it was two. And then I was losing my hair at a faster rate than usual. So then in 98 I'm like, okay, that's enough. I got to put everything under one roof. 

 And, uh, unfortunately.  Due to many different things.  didn't work out, uh, with Tim because it was, it was a friendship thing, not a official partnership. He was, it was a hobby that we both enjoy.  And, um, I was taking it to the next level where he wasn't comfortable going to. And, uh, and, uh,  he's profession is construction.

He woodworking and, uh, and, uh, while he was very knowledgeable with the cars and, uh, was a hobby that he loved.  Seven days a week, uh, long hours and, uh, all the things that, uh, takes to, to do what we do, wasn't in his plans. So, um, 

we, I guess to answer your question, then we had the booth, um,  From the body shop I bought then to the other location. And then here,  the warehouse was just  empty shell. We had to start fresh. So new booths, new pallet racks and everything.  

Uh, you've always been. Really generous showing me your cars. I know you own very interesting cars yourself.

I know you have a nine 12, and you have a, uh, correct me if I'm wrong. It's a type two from Japan.  Yes. Right. And then one thing that's always stuck in my memory. Uh, when I was here many years ago, you showed me a prototype Squareback that you have, tell me about that. 

Um, I wouldn't call it a prototype. 

I I think is just our early Squareback. We have a 62 square back. 

I remember it being a really early and you had kind of, uh, over here underneath this, uh,  This deck hair it was 

covered, right? Yeah. So under the deck, there's a 61. Notchback chassis number 3, 0 5, 9. And then there is a early square back also.

So both cars are good examples of, uh, 61, the only things. So probably in conversation, the prototype thing came about because I think they are adjusting.  Introducing the line. And, there were some things that.  Appeared only in those low chassis number cars, and then they changed and, you never saw them again.

That's funny that, you know, the VIN number right off the top of your head, because at one point I owned a type three Ghia, and I know that the VIN number was 0 0 3 2 1 9. And I'll never forget that number. And it was an early car and it had all the square badge in the cat eye mirror and everything. I know I have a few, do you have any cars? 

You regret getting rid of  

oh, good questions.  Well,  Hmm. I got a few that, I wish I had still not because of what they're worth now, but because I haven't been able to replace it for  another one that gave me as much.  So, I guess my first car,  I, I got rid of it because I was two blocks from my house.

And does girl on the Volvo rear ended me at the light and pushed me to a Nissan truck in front. So my car was saying.  Totally fixable, but back then, I didn't know how and everybody in the club was like, oh yeah, just cut it. Get another one. And it's true. You could just get another one. And, um, I regret doing that. 

Yeah. I guess my. 21 window, my 66, 9, 12, and my 64 type three. Those are three cars. I regret selling.  

Fair enough. I think we all have that list, so don't feel bad. Um, okay. how have you seen the industry or our hobby, whatever you want to refer to it, it's a, it's a hobby for me.

It's a, it's a living for you, but how have you seen it change over the years and besides maybe just, you know, prices going up.  

Right. So prices, cost of living. All of that goes up. That's a given, right? it still is kind of a hobby to.  Because, uh, anyone in their right mind wouldn't do what I do for a living. 

So it's truly from the heart. Otherwise  it just doesn't make sense. when I was starting out, I worked at, um, Arnie's VW center in long beach. Arnie was, uh, from Sweden or Denmark. Uh, he was.  Awesome. Incredible guy, super knowledgeable. back then in the eighties,  he was telling me about the end of everything and how he transitioned from a huge building. 

30 employees build the engines in doing that. He was an engine guy. He was a, like a Gex of the eighties. Right. And, uh, he went to a small building and he was taking him service and uh, stuff that he didn't necessarily want it to do because things were just falling apart. They were not what they used to be because he was used to the ramp up of the late seventies through the eighties.

And as we're going to deny.  For him, his world was falling apart I knew no better. And, , I just, jumped into it. , I think about what he said back then, to the past, 35 years, 30 years, he can still say the same and justify making to a believable story. But, uh, the bottom line is that the hobbies always. 

Reinventing itself and changing and, um, the evolution of the market and recognition of the brand to serious car collector was a game changer where before, if you want it to get high dollar for your car, you have to send it over to.  that changed and, local buyers who were paying top dollar for good cars that enabled the industry to go out and spend a hundreds, tens of thousands of dollars. 

Jolene up to make parts to make restorations possible. And that's how we started making parts because we had orders for cars. We had to fill the orders and, there were no parts to be found how you make a, a full restoration with, cracked lenses, you know, so let's make the lenses while there isn't a good though.

When the rubber, what do we.  Tell the customer don't drive it in the rain. Don't wash it because it's going to leak water. You got to make good, the window rubber and so on. And that, continues to grow and it will keep growing, even though they don't make the cars anymore. people can say it's a dying hobby because our generation is getting to an age where  we're just. 

Getting out of it and transitioning to other things. Uh, and the new generation is  into,  fast and furious type of cars, which is understandable. If I was a kid today, I definitely would have my laptop and I want to tinker with my car and do all kinds of crazy things. And, uh, there's so much power and technology behind those cars, but, The industry today is all about, restoration and. 

Collecting and preserving. And, uh, when we are agreeing up with about, um, shaved door handles lower D Chrome and, uh, and the road trips.  

Absolutely. , my very first car was a 72 Skyblue Squareback and I, shaved all the Chrome and the turbo mirrors and all that stuff. So  I'm guilty of that.  earlier when we were talking, you mentioned, um, I wish I wouldn't have gotten rid of that car because I can't find another one that brings me so much joy.

What is it you think about Volkswagens that  brings people joy because you know, not every car brand does that, what do you think it is about Volkswagens that evokes this feeling of joy in people?  

Um, good question. So.  First thing that comes to mind is memories. Right? So if you  or your parents, if you had any type of, uh, experience  with a brand. 

As you're growing up or being born. So many people were born in the backseat of a VW or transported to the front of the hospital. And, uh, you know, that's what people had a working class had Volkswagens that's number one, I think, , then I think that cars are like people they have a face to. 

And, uh, when you meet someone before you even speak a word, you can say, Ooh,  I don't know about this guy. And there's some people you never met before and suddenly your best friends. And, uh, you tell me life stories and doing road trips. So.  If you look at a car and car design, you will see that, there is a relationship to the design and the people of that country.

And, facial expressions. You look at, Japanese cars. You look at German cars and, uh, Italian car. And, it kinda represents their culture and the people relate to it. So it's the car companies started selling globally. You're not stuck with a Chevy or Ford or a Dodge.

And of course, people migrate all over the world.  And, uh, your neighbor has a Volkswagen and, uh, you're looking into 69, his car back and he looks like he's smiling. Yeah, you it's got a happy face. I like the scar. And, when you getting that, he has a distinct sound and, uh, it vibrates in a certain way and a seat feels a certain way.

And Durga Nomics are.  The right fit for your body and for your height. So you have clearance overhead, you have nice distance between you and a dashboard. And the steering wheel is easy to get in and out, you know, for some people they think I'm the Porsche. Idea's the greatest thing. I think that I'm sitting on the floor and I have a hard time getting. 

You know, I don't feel comfortable in a bug. It's like a death trap to me, a bus. I have several, I love I drive them, but in, in a way it's like being in a wheelchair, going down the hill,  you know,  and the type three is like the only real Carvey w ever made. It's fantastic. The suspension, the handling.  Uh, the relationship of the driver to the rest of the car, blind spots, everything it's  perfect for me,  I'm sure.

Uh, people have many different opinions about the bug, the gear, the bus, and the type three, because it's not  for everyone. Everyone has the right fit. So.  Relating to it, cosmetically relating to it from background history. And then  the topper is the feeling how you feel when you're in it. And I've had a lot of cars and nothing feels better to me than a type three. 

Well, that's amazing and by the way, we're seeing. 

Alex's office right now. And as you can imagine, the walls are covered with, uh, various prints and toys and parts that he's probably collected and as well as manufactured from, uh, probably his whole life  oh, okay. The wall. So what do we got? We got, um,  Okay. So, so we got 'em wait, uh, that  dove blue.

Okay.  Second car, my 61 crew cab  and we have stealing wax red.  We have Pearl white and we have Bellevue green.  

So it's awesome. It's a VW person's kind of dream come true. This is where you'd like to wake up in here. . What's your favorite type of restoration to get in here and again, not having to do with money, but, , just generally, what kind of restoration do you like to take on and why? 

Well,  I only do original cars, a wishing the restoration, right? So if you walk in and say,  I want this car to be.  Like you was when you rolled out of the assembly line. That turns me on, if you're walking here and you say, I want suicide doors, lowered airbags, narrow beam. I, I have to control myself , but that's trendy.

That's what people like. I don't know how we, how one drives. I know he looks super cool, but uh, I want to drive my car. I want to enjoy.  You know, whether I'm going to go to home Depot or go to New York, I want to be able to get there comfortably. 

You prefer a bone stock restoration, trying to get as close to.  As if the car is just rolling off the factory, uh, I noticed in your lobby, you've changed your lobby a bit over the years. And more recently you've made it kind of inviting almost like a, it reminds me sort of, of like a cool coffee shop.

When you walk in now, there's what looks like comfortable seating. , of course there's parts everywhere, but in addition to that, you have a couple of engines that are for sale and a one is like a cutaway engine. Uh, and then you have The car that's up on the Dolly there what's, what's under that cover.

It's it's covered, but it's on a Dolly and it looks like it's pretty awesome. 

So that's a 64, some roof, safari beige. Uh notchback  that was the original color and it was also originally two tones. So it has a, white top, , That project is been on hold, waiting for us to have time To begin assembly and create, uh, videos as the car goes back together.

Over the years, you put so many cars together a video can do so much more than printed instructions. And, uh, he never fails when I go to our car show and I'm looking at cars, customer cars, and I see things that are installed incorrectly And, there isn't enough information over there on how you should put the hoods you on, for example.

And, if it's more than one way. So, if it's on there upside down, it's it's The best the installer could do given the resources. So we're trying to create a library of videos that is going to take the car from the beginning to the end. So you'll cover everything. Uh, Dora assembling stalling, the wiring harness fender, beating who'd seals, um, All the, all the things that we see that can be a challenge, doing a restoration that,, will help not only  the doer yourself first, but, uh, other shops to provide a better finished product to their customers. 

Awesome. I can't wait to see those. and now.  We're lucky here in Southern California, where we're kind of in a Mecca, if you will, when it comes to VWs, we have great weather. A lot of VWs were imported to this part of the world back in the day. So, uh, there's the, the supply is not totally exhausted and we have shows, like you mentioned all the time, and I noticed that you, uh, sponsor quite a few of the shows.

how long have you been doing that? 

I would say for the past 10 years, um, we started sponsoring and, uh, that's, uh, our way to support the hobby, give back to our customers and, also to be able to reach, uh, people that we couldn't otherwise, because not a week goes by that we get a call from someone that a. 

As frustrated, trying to get their car done and never heard about us. And uh, every place they called that they use in the past for other VWs operations kind of shut them down when they mentioned type three. Oh yeah. Well, sorry. We don't do that. We don't know anything about it. Blah, blah, blah, can help you.

 Thanks to technology, internet, and, uh, being involved in events more and more people know about us now. And, uh, uh,  I think he helps everyone. 

All right. And then hopefully.  After this interview, even more people are gonna know about you. Uh, that's the goal anyway. Well, listen, Alex, it's been a pleasure talking to you.

I know you're very busy. I've seen firsthand, you got a lot going on today, so I'm going to let you go. And I want to thank you very much for, uh, giving me your time and sharing your great stories and your unique perspective with us. And, maybe we'll get together and talk again sometime in the future. 

My pleasure, anytime it was really great during this. 

That was my interview with Alex. Uh, I thought it went pretty well. I learned some stuff about him that I didn't know, and I have a feeling he has a lot more stories, so I'm hoping to come back and, uh, do another interview with him in the future. I love talking to Alex because I've known him for so long and I've been a customer for so long.

And he's always been real generous. He's let me go into the back of the house there more than once. But this time he got real specific and the shop has grown a lot since I've been back there before. But Alex also has open houses. So if you ever do want to see all the stuff that I got to see during my interview, uh, go to one of his annual open house barbecues and you'll get to see everything I did. Be sure and check out his website,  vwispwest.  com.