User:Sabrinarae77/The fin man

The Fin Man

The FIN MAN (Bruce Alan Kunz, born October 24, 1946) is an American columnist and classic car enthusiast based in St. Louis, Missouri. He is known as the author of The Old Car Column in the St Louis Post Dispatch and for his appearances at car related events in the Midwest.

Early life
At a very young age, Bruce started working at his father’s full service Mobilgas filling station and car repair business, Han-De Super Service in University City, Missouri.

Throughout his formative years (50s and 60s) he was fascinated by all types of vehicles, and he also discovered a passion for art and design. He often wrote letters to companies asking for sales brochures and literature on their models, and would use the catalogs and brochures he received to draw his own illustrations.

Bruce graduated from McCluer Senior High School in St. Louis, Missouri in June of 1964.

Bruce chose the name The FIN MAN to reference the fins on classic cars of the 50s and 60s.

Journalistic career
Bruce began writing articles and stories about collectible cars while working in the production department at Trader Publishing. The text was used as filler when there was extra space in Auto Trader magazine.

In the fall of 2002, Bruce filled in as the writer of the Old Car Column at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for about six weeks. In 2003 he became the permanent columnist and has written a weekly article under the name the FIN MAN.

The article appears on the front page of the Autos section in the printed version of the St Louis Post Dispatch every Monday, and is also on the website under Auto Reviews.

Each column usually focuses on one make of car and includes personal anecdotes, manufacturing specifications and trivia about the relevant time period. It also includes any upcoming events in the area.

Take a Kid to a Car Show (TKCS)
In 2010 The FIN MAN brought a program called Take a Kid to a Car Show to the Greater St. Louis area. Take a Kid to a Car Show is an awareness program started by the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO), a council of SEMA, that aims to get youth involved in the collector car hobby. The programs provides promotional items to car show promoters and participants.

The FIN MAN sets up booths at car shows and other car related events to help promote this program. He is usually accompanied by a young person whom he works with throughout the year to teach the classic car hobby and hands on automotive skills.

Personal
The FIN MAN lives in the Greater St Louis area. He is married and has three children and three grandchildren. He is also a surrogate grandpa to a number of children who participate in the Take a Kid to a Car Show program.

Affiliations
Bruce Kunz is a current or past member of the following organizations: •the Society of Automotive Historians (current member) •the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America •the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America •the Vintage Thunderbird Club of America •the Cadillac/LaSalle Club •the Imperial Owners Club •the Edsel Club •the Buick Club of America