When you take a look at how some of the most interesting businesses and partnerships got started, there is usually an equally fascinating story or twist of events that made it all possible.
Anton Media staff recently met with the Autoseum co-owner Andy Perillo, 70, who shared the story about how he accidentally got started working on customizing cars. At 9 years old, Perillo began toting a shoeshine box along Jamaica Avenue, shining shoes for a dime. At his usual last stop of the night, he had made a friend, a mechanic at a shop on the avenue who would tell him fascinating stories and even pay him a quarter to have his shoes shined. Through his connection, he began washing used cars on an adjacent lot for 75 cents a week.
Perillo said, “One day, a guy who used to come in to do body work in another garage on the lot said to me, ‘Andy when you are finished washing the cars, come with me to get this car ready to be painted.’” He was learning a trade and making connections.
“One day, I saw a magazine in the garage that featured George Barris, who was talking about custom cars, and I thought, ‘I want to do what he does,’ but the guy that I was working for said I had a lot more to learn,” said Perillo. “He told me I was just a punk-ass kid.” Perillo was not even 11 years old.
Perillo continued to work in painting and customizing, learning the craft, refining he techniques. He was given a car to customize and thought this might be his big break. He was 15. He took his customized car to a show in New York City, which Barris had been judging. He left devastated. Barris threw him out of the show, but he returned with vengeance the following year with the same car, only better. The following year he took home all seven of the show’s seven trophies. Barris recognized Perillo’s work and at 18 years old, Perillo was invited to California to help Barris work on the first Batmobile.
(Photo by Christy Hinko)
Perillo’s original shop was in Jamaica, Queens, but has since moved over to Mineola.
Perillo’s resume is much more than just customized body work. He teaches, he flies planes, he rigs special effects and stunts, and more.
In 2008, Perillo made the decision to retire. The day before he was due to close the doors to his shop he remembers Mike Manning stopping by and turning his retirement plans upside down. Manning used to work for Perillo, years before, when he was only 14 years old. At that time, in 2008, Perillo said Manning owned two of his own body shops.
“Mike made everything we have here possible,” said Perillo. In May 2012, the Mineola-based teaching museum, Autoseum launched, through a collaboration with George Barris.
The Autoseum is open to the public, teaching visitors about the history, the industry, the craft and the people who make this culture of cars a reality.
It’s home to many of the world’s most famous cars, as well as other unique cars created by the public, providing a place where these great vehicles can be shared with the world in one location, helping to preserve this great art form and keep it alive and evolving for many generations.
(Photo by Christy Hinko)
On permanent display are some of Barris’ most famous designs (such as one of the original Batmobiles, the Aston Martin DB5 from 007 and the Drag-U-La from TV’s The Munsters). The Autoseum features regular classes and workshops demonstrating highly specialized equipment and techniques.
The garage employs a rotating staff of interns and apprentices from schools and colleges as well as past students from across Long Island.
Autoseum was recently featured in the History Channel’s series, Leepu & Pitbull. Check out the July 15, 2015 edition of Anton’s Auto Guide for a feature about the show.
Autoseum is located at 100 County Seat Dr., in Mineola. Visit www.autoseum.org or call 516-571-1894 for hours and details.
