For Wheels and Waves 12th edition, MOONEYES will be officially represented in Biarritz. We are honored to welcome Emi Suganuma who will come specially from Japan to live this new opus with us.
Dean Moon (May 1, 1927 – June 4, 1987), grew up in California. He was into cars and racing since his youth and started his business with modest means in a small garage behind his father’s Moon’s Cafe in Norwalk. Near by there was a go-kart track he called “Moonza”.
He founded MOON Speed Equipment in the 1950s and turned it into an internationally recognized brand. His company has become an icon in the hot rodding industry.
First products were Fuel Block multi-carb, aluminum wheel discs, aluminum tanks, and a foot-shaped accelerator pedal. Moon products became very popular. By the way, Moon Equipment’s bright yellow show cars and drag racers inspired Hot Wheels toys.
In 1962, he moved his historic MOON Equipment location to Santa Fe Springs, California at 10820 S. Norwalk Boulevard.
This is where MOONEYES still resides today and continues production. Moon brought his aesthetic to the drag racing world. His racing cars not only went fast, but looked great with their Mooneyes stickers, yellow paint and chrome. The whole MOONEYES crew was dressed in white featuring the inimitable logo. Many Moon products are still in use today and are sought after by people who restore and recreate old hot rods. The “Mooneyes” logo has become part of motorsport history.
Dean Moon (May 1, 1927 – June 4, 1987), grew up in California. He was into cars and racing since his youth and started his business with modest means in a small garage behind his father’s Moon’s Cafe in Norwalk. Near by there was a go-kart track he called “Moonza”.
He founded MOON Speed Equipment in the 1950s and turned it into an internationally recognized brand. His company has become an icon in the hot rodding industry.
First products were Fuel Block multi-carb, aluminum wheel discs, aluminum tanks, and a foot-shaped accelerator pedal. Moon products became very popular. By the way, Moon Equipment’s bright yellow show cars and drag racers inspired Hot Wheels toys.
In 1962, he moved his historic MOON Equipment location to Santa Fe Springs, California at 10820 S. Norwalk Boulevard.
This is where MOONEYES still resides today and continues production. Moon brought his aesthetic to the drag racing world. His racing cars not only went fast, but looked great with their Mooneyes stickers, yellow paint and chrome. The whole MOONEYES crew was dressed in white featuring the inimitable logo. Many Moon products are still in use today and are sought after by people who restore and recreate old hot rods. The “Mooneyes” logo has become part of motorsport history.
Moon Speed Equipment “stopped” after Dean’s death in 1987 and his wife’s death a bit later. In 1983, Shige Suganuma, after meeting Dean Moon in the U.S., started a small business in Yokohama as a dealer of MOONEYES products. 40 years later, his business is still ongoing in the Honmoku area.
Shige Suganuma was a close friend of Moon’s family and restarted the business under the MOONEYES USA name which continues to carry on the traditions of Dean Moon today, including the organization of Mooneyes Hot Rod & Custom Show in Yokohama. This is the largest custom car and motorcycle show in Japan. A popular event where visitors, guests and manufacturers come from all over the world. The program includes meeting areas, exhibitions, live bands, a custom painting contest, pinstripers and much more… An absolutely crazy day.
Come and meet them in Biarritz in June 2023, before taking your flight to the Land of the Rising Sun next December.
© WHEELS AND WAVES 2022 – Legal notices – Confidentiality policy – General Conditions of Sale
