Shiney Mike’s Hot Rod Shop Truck
For as long as he can remember, Mike Grawunder has always wanted a hot rod truck. For his 65th birthday his wife Wendy was all about granting that wish.
Mike is a retired trucker who has a passion for polishing metal. The seductive, almost zen-like process allows all the noise to go away. The feeling is similar to when he is riding his bike, cruisin’ in his Hot Rod Truck or Wendy’s ’40 Studebaker.
He got the nickname Shiney from his fellow truckers who would give him the business because he was always cleaning his rig, and it has stuck ever since. Today he is known throughout Southern California the go-to guy for metal polishing. Aluminum, stainless steel and the like all get the treatment for your hot rod, custom car, chopper and any fuel fed beast he can get a polishing wheel around. His polishing magic has been seen on award winning bikes and rods.
Mike wasn’t interested in taking on anyone else’s project, instead he wanted to make it his own. As luck would have it he found a 1928 Ford Model A frame with a title and possibly a cab in Las Vegas. He was excited to see that his trucking roots would be honored as the cab was actually an AA Commercial Truck Cab. Two days later at the Big 3 Auto Swap Meet in San Diego, he was able to pick up all the parts needed to make it a roller from friends and friends of friends. For the next year while he was collecting parts waiting for his name to get to the top of @MikesMetalWorx’ list to start the build. In just three months the truck was done including the 6″ chop, Ford 9″ 3:89 posi with curry axles, 40 Ford Truck steering column and 40 Ford Wheels. Rick Palagyi built up the 350 SBC and 700R.
It’s a great runner especially since he recently moved from Ontario, California to Kingman, Arizona, reliability is a must.
Mike’s world is all about the SHINEY. At first glance his truck is an assault on that sentiment. Then you realize the highly detailed jewel of a mill in the doghouse, the painted frame rails, and super clean wheels and tires.
This is a perfect visual dialog not only to the detail in his work, but to the lovely contrast Mitzi Valenzuela puts into her images of beauty. Mike and Mitzi have been friends for years and more often than not you will find a Shiney Mike vehicle or one with his polishing works as a subject in her incredible images.
On the cover of Blacktop Magazine #30 “The Shine On” issue, we meet Krista Sparks fairly new on the pinup scene and certainly caught our eye as well as Mitzi’s. Heather Hotcakes plays a little tune for us. Bomber Betty won an emotional Miss ZADM at the Women N Wheels car show 2022. See more of these beauties in Mitzi’s Pinup Playing Cards: MitziandCo.com
Photos: Mitzi Valenzuela, Narrative: Tony Colombini
