Classic Auto Finder does not rely on traditional advertising, but the El Paso shop has built a following among classic car enthusiasts. For owner Jacob Cena, a shared passion for cars has kept the business going for more than 20 years.
“I worked at a print shop before I started my shop. I lived in my truck. It was very hard for me because I grew up poor. I made a decision to have 2 jobs. Try to build a shop, and then work for somebody delivering paper. You gotta do what it takes because if you don’t do it, who’s gonna do it for you? This is a culture. Cars are a culture. We put them in movies, car shows, weddings- you always gotta have a cool car.”

Cena’s film work includes providing cars for “Glory Road,” the 2006 film about Texas Western College’s historic 1966 NCAA championship team, and working in location management for “One Battle After Another,” a six-time Oscar winner, including best picture. The work has given him another way to connect El Paso’s car culture with film productions while helping bring period-specific vehicles and local knowledge to the screen.

“We’re not new to this. We’ve built thousands of hot rods and classic cars. There’s many cars running El Paso to this day that we built.”

His older brother, George Cena, has been a major inspiration throughout his life, teaching him that giving back remains central to the shop’s purpose.

“When I was growing up, he had a bunch of hot rods. We were poor, but he would build his cars. He had 3 of them. A ’57 Chevy, Chevelle Convertible, and a ’69 Torino Fastback. I was inspired by that, I wanted to have a lot of cars like my big brother. He taught me how to work on cars, and I learned, from him, that skill. The passion he had for the cars, it drove me. He was my hero. That’s why I have long hair, because he has long hair- to this day. There’s a lot of people who have a cool car and that makes them who they are. And me, I build them for my eyes, not to be a showoff. I built them to my liking because I appreciate the art of a car.”

Cena is intentional about how he does business and the clients he takes on. He wants each client who shares a dream with him to have a meaningful experience.

I’m about the passion, the love for the car. The whole car community knows us very well. That’s why I’m a picture car coordinator for movies because they trust me. Can I revive it? Can I bring it back to life? It’s not about money. I will pick the client because I can see if a client is passionate about a car. If he’s wanted it since he was a little kid and now he’s got the money, and that’s his dream. I’ll help that person. If I get a millionaire who just wants to show off, I will not build it for him.”

“Hot rodding is a sport that everyone loves. It’s such an American thing, right? People all over the world see our classic cars because we’ve set a staple of class. This is my art form. Once I build a car, I always tell myself I could do better. So, the next car I build is gonna be even better.

Cena also serves on the board for El Paso Community College’s multimedia program, where he helps mentor students interested in building picture cars, working as picture car coordinators and location management.

“El Paso is a great city because our cars are not rusted. Most cars from the North rust because they put a lot of salt on the roads.

Classic Auto Finder offers appraisals for people purchasing classic or high-end vehicles, helping buyers better understand a car’s condition and value before making a purchase.

“I know what to look for on a bad car or a good one. I check for rust, if they were wrecked, wiring issues, brakes. I want to make sure that you’re not buying lipstick on a pig. That’s another service that we provide. We offer inspections. You want to buy a car and they want a million dollars? Bring it over here, we’ll tell you if it’s really worth a million dollars.”

For Cena, enjoying the car remains the point. When asked where he likes to cruise, he pointed to the countryside.

“A convertible, drop the top, go cruising. I like to do that. It’s good for the spirit, the soul, and the mind. It keeps you young. I like that because you’re tied in closer to nature that way. Cruising a classic car down the countryside –nothing beats that.”

Jacob Cena can be reached at classicautofinder@yahoo.com.