We’d like to introduce you to Ragnar Lindman, one of our Pomona originals. “Rags”, as he’s known to family and friends, is the owner of New and Experienced Ford Parts. He has also branched out into reproduction signs, starting another business, Roadside Signs of America. You can find him at every Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show, selling parts, vintage accessories, and garage signs on Road 27, Spaces 40, 42 and 44.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

PSM:  When and how did you get started in this industry?
RL:  I started back in the late ’60s building Model A’s and other classic cars. I worked full time as an electrician, and built cars at night and on the weekends. I collected a lot of used parts from my projects and so I started selling the left over parts at swap meets.

PSM:  Have you always been interested in classic cars?
RL:  Yes. All through high school I had hot rods, and I even ran with a car club – The Igniters, in Anaheim. I started off with my trusty ’40 Ford coupe and then moved on to a ’46 Ford sedan. Oh, yeah, there was a ’53 Ford in there somewhere too, before I went out and bought a brand new ’55 Chevy.

PSM:  Do you currently own a classic car?
RL:  I enjoy going to my local cruise night in my all original ’66 Mustang GT Coupe. I think it was owned by a little old lady from Pasadena. Well, that’s the story I was told when I got it!

PSM:  If you won the lottery tonight, what’s the first classic car you would buy?
RL:  I sure did enjoy my Model A’s.

PSM:  Any favorite memories of the Pomona Swap Meet that you could share with us?
RL:  It was always great seeing my good friend George Cross. He would ride up on his scooter to see how I was, and what was going on. It was so nice of him to take time from being so busy to stop and see his friends.

PSM:  Ford or Chevy?
RL:  I bleed Ford blue!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY

PSM:  How can customers contact you?
RL:  My son-in-law, Tony Arnold, does so much for me these days, he’s the best person to contact. You can call Tony at 951-237-3737.

PSM:  How long have you been in business? Tell us a little bit about your history.
RL:  Well, as I mentioned, I started back in the late ’60s selling part time. And it still is only a hobby, but we’ve been at this for a long time. We sell mostly at Pomona, but we go to some other shows here and there.

PSM:  What’s your main focus? Your mission?
RL:  We like to help customers, meet new people, and see old friends.

PSM:  What makes you different from the other guy? What makes you special?
RL:  We try to be the best price out there. We know times are tough so it’s nice to help keep our hobby going. We give everyone the best price that we can.

PSM:  What are your specialties?
RL:  We sell reproduction signs. Metal and wood. It’s great to go out to your garage and see car signs hanging on the walls.

PSM:  Where do you get the items that you sell?
RL:  The metal signs come from a bunch of different suppliers, in order to get the best price. My son-in-law hand paints the wood signs.

PSM:  What sells the best in Pomona? What’s “in” right now?
RL:  All of our signs do real well. But, the rat rod and pin-up stuff is real hot.

PSM:  How long have you been coming to Pomona?
RL:  I came to the very first swap meet that George Cross ever had.

PSM:  Anything else we should know?
RL:  I couldn’t do this without the help of my lovely daughter Wendy, her husband Tony, and my grandson Lt. It has always been a family affair from day one.

If you need some signs to make your garage look as good as your ride, stop by and talk to Rags, Wendy and Tony on Road 27, Spaces 40, 42 and 44 at the next Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show!