FAMILY VALUES — GALPIN’S BEAU BOECKMANN
STORY | Eric Minoff
PHOTOGRAPHY | Moneeb Nain
Beau Boeckmann is a unique breed. Shaped by the incredible growth of his family’s car dealership—something to which he has greatly contributed—and raised in a family that cherished honesty, loyalty, and character, he has helped continue to grow the business into the largest Ford dealer in the world while incorporating a multitude of brands ranging from Mazda to Aston Martin, Land Rover to Porsche. And along the way Beau has built a mighty impressive collection of cars that draws stark influence from the vehicles he and his family have sold since the beginning.
Beau’s father Bert started in the car business in a haphazard manner. Initially working the graveyard shift at Lockheed Martin, selling cars seemed like a more lucrative avenue. Starting out selling Nash Motor Cars, he saw greater longevity working for Ford spurred by the fact that Ford was discounting cars and Nash wasn’t. Bear in mind, this was the early 1950s it had taken that long for automotive production to finally catch up with demand following WWII. The Big Three were leading the charge in that production, and when they started to discount, it put the squeeze on smaller manufacturers like Nash, Packard, and Studebaker. Hanging his hat at Frank Galpin’s dealership, Galpin Ford in San Fernando, California, Bert found his stride. In a business with a reputation for pulling the wool over the consumers eyes, Bert maintained his honesty through and through, helping him rise through the ranks to general manager by 1957 and eventually owner of the dealership in ’68. With his wife Jane, he continued to create what would become the modern dealership with multiple brands under one roof and all the crazy marketing gags that came with it—from custom cars and racing to circuses and King Tut-themed events.
It was in this environment in the 1970s and ‘80s that Beau got his first glimpse of the car business. Of course, at that time if you wanted to buy a car, you came to the dealership to see it first. The fertile mind of his mother and father, as well as their employees, created any number of creative stunts to get people through the door. And, of course, there was the excitement of watching newspapers get taped to the windows in anticipation of the release of that year’s newest models. But for Beau it seemed normal, that there was a lot full of RVs (since his family was selling those at the time) to hide in. Or wild customized cars to draw in curious buyers. Or great food at the dealership’s restaurant—an innovation that was well ahead of its time but just a good place to eat for Beau. Seeing a car full of flowers or converted into a fish tank was day-to-day.
While the eye candy got folks in the door, it was Bert’s attitude that got them to sign on the dotted line for a new car—and come back for another when they were ready. Taking a servant’s attitude and treating everyone equally, whether the customer was there to buy a base model Falcon or a fully loaded Shelby GT500, it was from Bert that Beau learned to listen to the customer and do his best to see that their needs were met and that they drove away with a smile on their face. And it was all done with straightforward honesty, creating a relationship and not just a deal.
Beau joined his family in the business in 1987 and held true to the culture and ideas his father helped cultivate. Since starting in the car sales business, Galpin has become the largest Ford dealer in the country, broadening to multiple brands, and expanded its customization business under Galpin Auto Sports (GAS).
Meeting Beau in his elegant, terrazzo floored mid-century dealership in North Hill, California, any preconceived notions of what a car dealer looks like are quickly shattered. Rather than being greeted by a fast-talking guy in a suit with slicked back hair, you find an affable, jeans and flannel shod enthusiast who looks more like someone who will buy you a beer and chat cars than tell you a car doesn’t come with ‘that option’ because he doesn’t have one on the lot. Sitting in the conference room overlooking the showroom floor filled with Galpanized Mustangs and Broncos, a new Ford GT, and a Mustang Mach-E Beau was quick to open up about his life in the car business and his collecting.
The business of cars has been the tiller that has steered his collecting. Growing up, he only drove Fords. Given that his family sold Fords, and you were to be loyal to your product, it could be argued that Beau’s push to incorporate brands like Volkswagen, Mazda, Honda, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Land Rover have been driven in part by his desire to own cars—both new and old—from those brands. Case in point, not long after opening Land Rover of Van Nuys, Beau bought a North American 1995 Land Rover Defender 110.
While largely limiting himself to brands sold new under the Galpin umbrella, rare is the instance of the expected model being found in the garage. Aston Martin is not represented by a DB4 or ‘80s V8 but by a selection of Aston Martin Lagondas saloons and an exceedingly special, factory built 1993 Aston Martin Virage 6.3-liter ‘Vacances’ Shooting Brake—one of only seven built. Jaguar isn’t just embodied by an E-Type but a XJS Eventer by Lynx. Porsche isn’t reflected in a silver G-Body 911 as the representative of the brand added to the portfolio three years ago but rather a growing fleet of 911s in exceedingly uncommon hues of pink including Ruby Stone and Magenta. Ford isn’t just some Mustang but rather a 1965 Shelby Cobra sold new by Galpin. And if one of seven Aston Martin Virage four-door wagons isn’t rare enough, Beau’s collection really hits its stride when it comes to California Kustom Kulture and one-off oddities and orphans. In a nondescript warehouse not far from the dealership, a Mountain King’s hoard of the greatest customs from the likes of Ed Roth, George Barris, and more fill the space. With Beau’s cars interspersed with cars stored by Barris Kustom Kars and others, it is easy to lose yourself surrounded by the legendary machines that you have only read about in magazines. In one corner is Tweedy Pie, Ed Roth’s legendary T-Bucket, next to it is Mysterion and Orbitron, and between both is the nearly lost to time Wishbone. It is easy to feel like you have been shrunken down to 1/25th scale and plonked down in a cabinet of Revell’s most legendary model kits from the 1960s. The walls look the part too. Adorned by works (and some signs for the cars in the collection) painted by California legends like Von Dutch (of pinstriping and custom gunsmithing fame—not trucker hats).
Beau’s collection is full of extremely rare and interesting vehicles, including a factory-built 1993 Aston Martin Virage 6.3-liter ‘Vacances’ Shooting Brake—one of only seven built.
Across the room stands what is one of Beau’s most recent acquisitions and a true diamond in the crown of his collection—the world-famous Hirohata Merc. Brought by its first owner, Bob Hirohata, as a nearly new car straight to brothers Sam and George Barris in 1952, the car they created became the Gold Standard of custom cars, with influences that drove the look and style of customs from the 1950s through today. The original Lead Sled, it coincidentally debuted at the same 1952 show as the first ‘Galpinized’ Ford custom, giving it a particularly special history for Beau. In single family ownership for over six decades prior to Beau’s purchase, it was restored to its original colors and specifications and is truly a sight to behold. The lodestone of the California hot rod culture of the post-WWII period, it could find a no more fitting custodian than Beau Boeckmann.
The collection continues to grow, but with acquisitions and creations. With a burgeoning custom shop — in addition to the wizards at Galpin Auto Sports—a steady stream of restorations and projects are on the boil. Whether it is the forthcoming resurrection of X-Sonic—a 1956 Corvette hotrod that featured the first use of hydraulic suspension on a custom car—or a safari-style 911, there is little that can’t be done. One theme that has started to take hold within the collection is pink. Not some passing phase, the hue has a long history in Galpin. In the 1960s and 70s, Beau’s father Bert would order a sufficient quantity of a model to qualify for a fleet order—thereby allowing him to specify custom colors. Rainbow sales would occur, with a healthy selection of pink cars. On another occasion, in the 1970s a woman came into the dealership wanting a new Mustang in a custom color. This being SoCal, the custom color she wanted was one to match her nipples. Beau’s father Bert, being the gentleman that he is, referred her to his painter just before she pulled her shirt up to provide the, ahem, color matched samples. A new Ruby Stone 911 Turbo serves as a daily, while a second-generation Ford GT that was painted by the factory in a fuchsia shade named ‘Beauberry’ has become a favorite in the collection.
Looking toward the future though, Beau sees the automotive enthusiast light only shining brighter. When asked about his favorite eras of motoring, today and the birth of the motorcar are his answer. A Léon Bollée three horsepower Tandem Two-Seater or Sunbeam-Mabley Motor Sociable—two Veteran Era (pre-1904) cars from the collection—both are held dear for their unique operation and design. They represent cars at the infancy of their development when commonplace features—like a steering wheel, spark plugs, and throttle pedals—were not yet the norm. On the flip side, what he sees in his dealership today is truly what the future promised—face-meltingly fast vehicular missiles that are just as happy motoring through L.A. traffic as they are testing your mettle on a race track.
Like his father, Beau is more than just a passive observer, he’s helped create a fabulous ecosystem of enthusiast events that bring people to the dealership. Cars and Coffee events are regularly held at his dealerships, bringing motorheads from all over to nosh and chat. His fast-growing website, The Autopian, which features a breadth of coverage that swings from deep dive nerdom on vehicles you’ve never heard of (remember the 1920 Golem? No?) to celebrations of cheap thrills, demonstrates how Beau’s enthusiasm spans a wider swath of the hobby than most can imagine.
A regular presence at SoCal events, Beau is right there with the rest of us ogling the weird and wonderful be it at his own Cars & Coffee on the lot or on the lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours. Beau is totally accessible, but with his accomplishments he may be hard to spot. Don’t look for the buttoned-up and stone-faced world-conquering dealership monarch you’d expect, seek out the casually dressed guy with the big smile and ponytail. Find him, and you’re talking to a true car guy.
