ABOUT US
"Every car has a story, ours just starts with Bruce."
Bruce founded his antique and classic car business in Keene, NH, eventually bringing it to Staunton, Virginia in 1989. What started as a storefront became a beloved community fixture, known not just for rare finds and expert restorations, but for Bruce himself—his stories, his warmth, and his firm belief that every customer deserved honesty, respect, and a bit of fun.
He wasn’t just a business owner—he was a mentor, a public servant, and a storyteller who never met a stranger. During his eight years on Staunton City Council, Bruce worked tirelessly to make his adopted hometown better for everyone.
With the same thoughtful attention to detail and a deep respect for the work his father built, Andrew now runs the day-to-day operations of the business. He’s supported by a close-knit family who share his commitment to keeping Bruce’s vision alive.
Together, they’re honoring the past while steering toward the future—preserving the charm, craftsmanship, and connection that made Bruce Elder’s name known well beyond Staunton’s city limits.
Elder Classic Auto
It all began with Bruce Elder—a man whose love for classic automobiles was matched only by his love for people and community. Born in Boston and raised in Dublin, New Hampshire, Bruce’s entrepreneurial spark ignited early. By the time he was 15, he was already working on vintage cars, and that passion would steer the course of his life.
"Things with history should not be treated as lifeless artifacts. They should be driven, played, listened to, shared, painted, and enjoyed."
Andrew Elder grew up in Staunton, Virginia, surrounded by antique automobiles, restoration projects, and the automotive history of his father’s business, Bruce A. Elder Antique and Classic Automobiles.
Andrew began learning pinstriping at 15 - the same age his father began pursuing his antique-automobile business. Through Bruce, Andrew met nationally recognized master pinstriper Tom Van Nortwick. In 2007, Andrew formally apprenticed under Tom through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, learning that every design begins with the discipline of pulling a clean line by hand.
More than 20 years later, Andrew still paints every line by hand. His work spans classic cars, hot rods, motorcycles, helmets, guitars, signs, glassware, and wonderfully unexpected objects. An old soul with a lively, quirky spirit, Andrew appreciates old music, classic automobiles, skilled craftsmanship, and anything with a story. That personality inspired King Prawn Pinstriping, named for an image in Dan Reeder’s song “Maybe.” For Andrew, the king prawn represents rebirth, hope, and new beginnings even for old things.
King Prawn carries a traditional craft into a new chapter - rooted in family, loyalty, history, and mentorship, but unmistakably Andrew’s own.