In memory: John Kale, and 'Al Phoenix Arizona vintage, passing

[V63]

For those of you that knew John Kale that originated 'Arizona vintage parts' with his partner Al (Chicago) I can't remember Als last name at this writing. Actually both have passed this year. Al was 84? And John probably close to that.

Painfully there was a separation, both professional and personal, of John and Al early on in the 90's

John I knew a little better, as he was the one you would see more on a daily basis shopping for parts. He was very tall, 6'3"? And always with a cigarette. He had new big Cadillacs and Lincoln's thru the 60's up to 80's and very fond of them.  John put together a mega chain of auto parts stores in Chicago. John drove a white 1979 'collectors series' town car most of the 90's...and it was hard service. Johns last new cadillac was a 1980 Seville if I remember correct. I know John had personal airplanes too.  John was always so entertaining to talk to and had a great big smile.

Al was a nice guy too...smaller in stature than John...I saw Al recently at the counter of AZ vintage. He was proud of turning 84. He was his old self and looked just great. We talked about the past, his memory was spot on.


I hope others that remember either of these 2 guys and chime in here with their memories to learn more about them. They salvaged many 194o's thru 60's CADILLAC only parts at a time when it would have been just as easy to scrap them.

[Bill Ingler #7799]

I will always remember my first meeting of John and Big Al. It was about 1993 after I bought my 1941 60s.  I stopped to see if they had a couple of parts I needed. John waited on me and found the 2 parts. Big Al wrote up the invoice and forgot to include one part. I noticed the error as I was about to pay John and we corrected the invoice. From that day on anytime I walked in the front door I had free run of anything and everything behind the counter as well as the parts in the bins in back.I can still remember helping John unpack a box of NOS Cadillac Delco parts. After John moved his part of the business to I believe 59th Ave, I continued to buy parts from him. John I knew better than Big Al. I remember John`s smile and his easy way of doing business.    Bill