Hanzel's Auto Body Works in Oakland. Three genrations of Hanzels - 1918-2016

Hanzel Auto BodyCirca 1920's

Started in May of 1918 by Sigmund Hanzel, with a partner and was called Manny & Hanzel at 20th and Broadway. In '26 Hanzel severed ties with Manny, and Sigmund moved to a shop at Broadway and where 580 lies today. Sometime in the 1930's it relocated to 23rd street and Valdez. From May 1, 1946 - January 2016 Hanzel's has operated at 456 23rd Street in a building built for Ed Hanzel, Sigmund's son, and the business passed on to Ed's son Henry Hanzel in 1984.

Within the body shop, Ed Hanzel also fabricated and sold "HanzLift" lift-tow bars for tow trucks, one of which is fitted to the shop's 1952 Ford F-3 which is still towing Hanzel's own cars today.

From 1955-1959, Ed Hanzel stared and ran Hanzel Motors, Oakland's Citroen, Panhard, Morgan and Lloyd dealership in the narrow triangular dealership building located across the street from the present day Oakland VW.

Chris and Henry Hanzel started a "Second Saturday's" car gathering in the past few years, opening the shop to enthusiasts for a impromptu parking lot car show / gathering. From 1946-1960 in area behind the paint booth, an independant Buick mechanic ran his own repair shop. When he retired, Hanzel took over the back portion of the shop. Hanzel's shop for Citroen and French car repair, restoration and bodywork.

Fast forward to 2016. Henry is retiring, and the shop doors are closing. Hanzel's own cars and a few customer projects remain, and years of Citroen spares have been pulled from the corners of the shop. By March it will be gone.