Custom Hot Rod Furniture At Jake's Chop Shop (GALLERY)

Jake’s Chop Shop recycles pre-1964 vehicles into custom furniture and art.

The roots of Jake’s Chop Shop began in 1988 and grew in the most unlikely of gardens - a funeral parlor in Baltimore.  Perhaps the living arrangements had something to do with the development of Jake’s grisly artistic sensibilities.  He did what any kid would do in a house where the kitchen was the embalming room, and his bedroom was the hearse garage. He built a music and vintage clothing store in the chapel, and customized his motorcycle in the middle of the viewing room.

This unorthodox background, unfettered creative spirit, and a love of vintage cars inspired Jake to build custom hot rod furniture by recycling totaled pre-1964 vehicles. Over the years, Jake has built couches, tables and other creations for a local and national clientele including; The Vans Cup, International Motocross Freestyle Championships, Fender, and several Arizona clubs.

There is a story behind every piece of art.  Jake’s signature V-8 marlin was a trophy fish ‘donated’ in the shop parking lot with a note: “Thought you might be able to use this.” And a 1960 Chevy Impala which fell 15 feet from a car carrier before the rear end was resurrected into a flame painted hot rod couch and the front into powder puff pink bed that comes complete with working headlights, hand stitched headboard and plenty of storage under the hood.

The pink bed, and other one-of-a-kind art pieces are available on-line and in the shop, but for the first time Jake’s Chop Shop has a new line of products, capturing Jake’s artistry without the investment required for custom pieces.  The Dayna Delux Cocktail Table features cheetah print, curvy kidney bean shape, and a lounging Dayna Delux, one of Southern California’s hottest retro pin up models.