Auto Fender Bib

Sitting watching late-night television, a lot of times, can leave one with the feeling of, “I could have invented that!” Well you might just as easily get the same feeling walking the aisles of Pomona when you happen by Bob Baker’s Auto Fender Bib’s space. There you’ll find the custom protective pads he makes to keep the paint looking beautiful on your project, while offering full access to the engine bay.

Auto Fender Bib is, essentially, a protective blanket that covers the area around the hood opening of that project vehicle and protects the surface of the car while it’s being worked on. It’s an ingenious cover that earned Bob two patents and is made up of soft polyester on the outside and recycled cotton on the inside – that’s it.

“It covers the whole front of the car – it’s one piece and can’t fall off,” says Bob Baker. “I do not have magnets sewn into the cover – you don’t want magnets on something with a $30,000 paint job.”

Part of the secret is that the items are each custom made for the vehicle, so they fit perfectly. Furthermore, if Bob doesn’t have the pattern already set up, there is a handy measuring tool on his website www.autofenderbib.com, that can get a custom unit made for your specific vehicle.

Bob’s already got about five dozen different designs and sizes ready to go and some of them will fit more than one vehicle.

Oh, and Bob’s the guy who cuts, sews and inspects each one. He makes sure that every stitch is up to his liking and with more than a few decades in the world of classic car restorations, you know Bob knows how much people love their vintage rides.

Bob’s also sold quite a few of these to auto shops and does have a model that is adjustable through Velcro, but the Velcro fastening material never comes into contact with the vehicle’s paint. Additionally, Bob works with a restoration shop who orders a custom Auto Fender Bib for each car they restore, then they have their company’s logo embroidered on it and include it with the restoration. How cool is that?

Cool enough that OPG, Classic Industries and a few other companies have put Auto Fender Bibs in their catalog and a few more have been knocking on Bob’s door. But since he appreciates classic cars and is, technically, retired, he only wants to grow the business at his pace. And what pace is that?

A custom-made bib can take about 3-5 days from when he receives the initial sheet from a customer. The turnaround is obviously faster if it’s something he’s made previously.

One of the most gratifying aspects of his business is when Bob receives positive comments from his customers and spectators at the show.  Folks can instantly see the value of the Auto Fender Bib and realize that will save a paint job and make working on a vehicle so much easier. “It just makes me feel good!” said Bob.

And when it comes to an innovative device that helps protect your vehicle’s paint, the Auto Fender Bib hasn’t even scratched the surface yet. Nor will it.

Visit Bob Baker’s vendor spaces on Road 26, Spaces 8 & 10 at the August 11, 2013 Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show to see how his product can help protect your investment.

And, yes, we wish we had invented that ourselves.

This article was written by Tony Barthel of the Curbside Car Show Calendar which features a whole new way to easily add or find your car show. Share your car show or other automotive event with the world today – it’s free and easy. www.curbside.tv

Bob has many material samples to suite your needs.

A full size classic shows off just how nice the Bib fits.