Free Lance Motors has served the community from its humble garage and junkyard on South Street since the ‘70s. Back then, they had a niche in the Volkswagen business. In fact, their model Volkswagen car and sign perched high up on a pole for all on South Street to see has been there for over 30 years. “It’s become sort of a North Long Beach Landmark,” owner Glenn Tidwell said. But car trends and car culture have changed since the ‘70s. There has always been a certain “buggy”

Everyone has seen the Free Lance Motors sign on South Street. Painted boldly in yellow on top of the large, red Volkswagen Beetle, it’s just about a city landmark at this point—it’s bright, colorful and a cool homage to California classic car culture in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Owner Glenn Tidwell is proud of that sign, and he should be. It’s represented his business for more than 40 years. But there’s another sign hanging next to the counter at their shop in which Glenn an