Encinitas: Our History and People

James “Jimmy” Gillan arrived in California on
a surfing trip in 1974 and decided to settle in
Oceanside. Having learned auto repair in high
school, he soon found work at a body shop and,
in 1976, partnered with his friend Dennis
Murphy to open their own (Close Encounters in
Leucadia). After several years in business,
Jimmy and Dennis would close the shop. In
1981, Jimmy founded Rancho Auto Body in
Encinitas, leasing space at 751 Second Street
and living with his son Jim in a cottage behind
the property. Under the mentorship of Gene
Garcia, owner of Gartel Vintage Cars nextdoor,
Jimmy focused primarily on restoring hot rods
and classic cars.
During the shop’s first year, Jimmy met
Linda, who had just moved to California with
her son Shaun. The two of them moved with
their children to a house in Cardiff. Linda
assisted Jimmy with the shop’s bookkeeping,
and the two soon became a couple, eventually
marrying. The pair weathered a shake-up
when, in 1986, the lessor sold the building.
They were able to secure a loan and move to
Suite A at 591 Westlake Street, where Jimmy’s
main business switched from classic car
restoration to collision repair. In the months
following the shop’s relocation, Jimmy and
Linda saw the birth of their daughter Siobhan
and then, in 1990, their son Matthew. All four
children spent summers working in the shop
during their high school and college years.
Later, grandchildren would make regular visits,
eager to ride on the golf cart.
Jimmy and Linda sold the business and
retired in 2018, having served the Encinitas
community for nearly forty years. During their
ownership, the shop contributed to a number of
charitable causes, especially those concerning
youth groups (Jimmy has coached area youth
sports teams for more than twenty-five years).
Rancho Auto Body can attribute its staying
power in part to its unwavering support for its
employees and customers.
RANCHO
AUTO BODY
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