#OPGICustomer Car Feature: Joey Mesa’s ’72 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Original Parts Group’s long-time customer Joey Mesa of Vallejo, California was part of the Chelu Car Club and a huge advocate of the Guamanian and Pacific Island community. He and his family own a Guamanian restaurant “Keepin It Island” and many people, including celebs, like CC Sabathia and E-40, would stop by just to talk cars, food, and most importantly family.

Joey a car lover indeed was the owner of many rides, including a 2018 Challenger, 2019 Porsche SUV, ’79 Monte Carlo, and not one but two ’72 Oldsmobile Cutlass’. The first ’72 he owned back in high school was the one that got away. When he had a second chance at restoring his dream car he held onto it and was determined to finish the project.

Over a 10 year period, Joey completed all of the metalwork while shopping OPGI for the restoration parts he would need to build his Cutlass. Upper and lower tail lamp lenses, outside door handle’s a front window reveal molding set, window cranks handles, trunk seals, roof-rail seals, dome light kit, and a lot more.

In November 2019 Joey tragically and very unexpectedly passed away leaving behind his Jr. High School sweetheart, wife Lisa, and their five children, their “5 heartbeats”. Of his children, his eldest son Joel knew how much the Cutlass meant to his Dad and decided to continue the restoration to keep his father’s memory alive.

With some help from his Mom, Joel continued restoring his father’s dream car and he himself became a customer of Original Parts Group. He began shopping for the grille, emblems, outside mirrors, quarter window moldings, inside door handles, and more to get the Cutlass “car show ready”. The plan was to finish the project by summertime for its reveal at the Island Reggae festival that due to Covid, ended up being canceled.

Joel is working on some final touches to perfect his Dad’s ride and the most important one will be a tribute to his Father, with “In Loving Memory of Joey Mesa” and “Keeping it Island” embroidered on the headrests. “Restoring my Dad’s dream car makes me feel like he’s still around even though he’s gone.”

We admire Joey Mesa’s family’s strength and determination to keep his dream car alive and Original Parts Group is proud to be a part of it.