ABOUT JBA SPEED SHOP AND J. BITTLE

ABOUT JBA SPEED SHOP AND J. BITTLE

About JBA Speed Shop – San Diego performance history and legacy

High school TO TEXAS A&M

About JBA Speed Shop: JBA Speed Shop is San Diego’s trusted home for performance excellence and American horsepower. For more than 40 years, the story of JBA Speed Shop has been one of craftsmanship, innovation, and racing culture. On this page, you’ll learn about JBA Speed Shop, its founder J. Bittle, and how JBA became one of the West Coast’s most respected high-performance destinations. Today, the JBA team continues to deliver expert builds, reliable upgrades, and the kind of authentic car culture that keeps enthusiasts coming back.

Raised in a Gearhead family by Jim & Ruthie Bittle, J.’s first trip to Carburetor Day at the Indy 500 practice started a love for all things screamingly fast. Attending the 1967 Indy 500 race J. witnessed his hero, AJ Foyt, defeating Parnelli Jones’ turbine-powered STP car. J. was never the same after that experience.

Fast forward to 1973 high school days and J.’s first car, a muscle car, a 1970 Ford Mach 1, 4 speed, 351C-4V Mustang. From Hatburo, PA, and the cruising action of a 1969 Mach 1, Cobra Jet became J.’s second car. Following a catastrophic event in 1975, he discovered the #1917 1967 Shelby GT500 in New Jersey ($800). That 4th of July weekend, his 428 SCJ engine landed in the Shelby, and J. headed to Texas A&M.

J. Bittle’s first three high school muscle cars — a 1970 Mach 1 Mustang, a 1969 Mach 1 Cobra Jet, and a 1967 Shelby GT500.

High school TO TEXAS A&M

About JBA Speed Shop: JBA Speed Shop is San Diego’s trusted home for performance excellence and American horsepower. For more than 40 years, the story of JBA Speed Shop has been one of craftsmanship, innovation, and racing culture. On this page, you’ll learn about JBA Speed Shop, its founder J. Bittle, and how JBA became one of the West Coast’s most respected high-performance destinations.

Raised in a Gearhead family by Jim & Ruthie Bittle, J.’s first trip to Carburetor Day at the Indy 500 practice started a love for all things screamingly fast. Attending the 1967 Indy 500 race J. witnessed his hero, AJ Foyt, defeating Parnelli Jones’ turbine-powered STP car. J. was never the same after that experience.

Fast forward to 1973 high school days and J.’s first car, a muscle car, a 1970 Ford Mach 1, 4 speed, 351C-4V Mustang. From Hatburo, PA, and the cruising action of a 1969 Mach 1, Cobra Jet became J.’s second car. Following a catastrophic event in 1975, he discovered the #1917 1967 Shelby GT500 in New Jersey ($800). That 4th of July weekend, his 428 SCJ engine landed in the Shelby, and J. headed to Texas A&M.

J. Bittle at his first business, the Total Performance Texaco gas station in College Station, T

TEXAS A&M AND A TEXACO GAS STATION

After 5 years of road tripping from PA to Houston, TX (Aggieland) and drag racing at Atco Dragway to East Tex Dragway, the Texas A&M Sports Car Club lured Jay into autocrossing and high-speed solo 1 events at Texas World Speedway (TWS). His Shelby dominated the C-Prepared class of SCCA racing and introduced road racing wheel-to-wheel at TWS.

Jay’s first business, Bill’s & Jay’s Auto Tune Up, opened in December 1979 and led to the acquisition of a Texaco Gas station in 1980, a speed shop “Total Performance Texaco”.

Jay’s first race car built at his Texaco set a track record road racing Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competition, where his Texaco-built Shelby dominated in 1981.

J and the first JBA location on Clairemont Mesa Blvd in 1985

Home to California and the Start of JBA

Then in 1982, J. and his wife Vickie returned to California and opened J. Bittle American. Determined to develop both distribution and innovative products for automotive performance enthusiasts, J. created his patented design the JBA “Shorty Header”, which quickly set a new standard by combining performance, reliability, and compliance with California’s strict emissions laws.

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Home to California and the Start of JBA

Then in 1982, J. and his wife Vickie returned to California and opened J. Bittle American. Determined to develop both distribution and innovative products for automotive performance enthusiasts, J. created his patented design the JBA “Shorty Header”, which quickly set a new standard by combining performance, reliability, and compliance with California’s strict emissions laws.

J. Bittle with his sons Austin and Stewart, continuing the JBA Speed Shop family legacy.

The legacy continues

J. and Vickie have two sons, Austin and Stewart, who both followed in their father's footsteps. Austin rebuilt a '69 Cobra Jet Mach 1 SCJ, and Stewart restored a '67 Big Block Mustang Bullitt. After graduating from Texas A&M, Austin joined the JBA Speed Shop team, and, after 11 years, now serves as the General Manager.

Exterior of JBA Speed Shop in San Diego — home for American performance and car culture

San Diego’s Home for Performance

Today, JBA Speed Shop is a 24,000-square-foot facility and San Diego’s home for performance and the American car culture. Featuring in-house mechanics, fabricators, tuning specialists, a tire center, and a robust parts store, JBA is the place to find automotive enthusiasts working to rebuild, upgrade, modernize, and make their vehicles JUST BAD ASS! See our services and explore upcoming Cars & Coffee events that celebrate the community J built.

If you want to learn more about JBA Speed Shop or visit our San Diego facility, explore our services or schedule a visit today.

Exterior of JBA Speed Shop in San Diego — home for American performance and car culture

San Diego’s Home for Performance

Today, JBA Speed Shop is a 24,000-square-foot facility and San Diego’s home for performance and the American car culture. Featuring in-house mechanics, fabricators, tuning specialists, a tire center, and a robust parts store, JBA is the place to find automotive enthusiasts working to rebuild, upgrade, modernize, and make their vehicles JUST BAD ASS! See our services and explore upcoming Cars & Coffee events that celebrate the community J built.

If you want to learn more about JBA Speed Shop or visit our San Diego facility, explore our services or schedule a visit today.

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