Jim Karras is a 58-year-old native Southern California born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley area of eastern Los Angeles County. Currently living in Orange County with his wife Sabrina, Jim has been fascinated with cars and trucks from a very young age.
Jim purchased his first vehicle at 15 years of age. It was a 1959 Chevrolet Apache 32 pickup. That was in 1976. Jim and Sabrina still own that truck and they can be seen around Southern California in the truck attending local car shows and participating on classic car club tours and other events. The Apache has become one of a few classic Chevrolets owned by Jim and Sabrina.
Growing up in Southern California, Jim has developed quite a fondness for the area’s great restaurants and other eating establishments which lend themselves to catering to the region’s bustling classic car culture. Jim was frequenting many of these establishments when the term “classic cars” described pre-war cars.
Active in the car hobby, Jim is a member of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America (“VCCA”) and the Antique Automobile Club of America and belongs to multiple chapters and regions of both National clubs. Jim has served on the National Board of Directors of the VCCA since January 2011. He served as VCCA National Vice President for two years and represents the members of Southern California, Arizona and Southern Nevada on the board.
Jim also has an interest in railroads, trolley cars, light rail, interurban busses, antique fire apparatus and vintage ambulances. He also enjoys music, broadcast radio and woodworking. Along with Sabrina, Jim shares his home with two Alaskan Malamutes (Koda Bear and Maya), a Pug (Preston) and two cats (Bailey and Belvedere).