Feature 20 Top Restorers The People Who Keep Old Alive

ost of us have bought — or owned — a great old that needed some help. Perhaps it needed new body M panels, rust repair to the frame and an engine rebuild. Maybe it needed some light bodywork and new paint. Or in an extreme — but not especially rare — case it crashed and burned and needed an entire rebuild. Over the past few decades, a special breed of mechanics, technicians and historians have made it their life’s work to bring old cars back from the dead — or just keep them running. Without them, our world would be a lot rustier, noisier, more dangerous and, yes, sadder. SCM Publisher Keith Martin is no stranger to the restoration shop, and he came up with the notion of recognizing a few of the elite people in the restoration world. We reached out to SCM readers, and we got hundreds of nominations. The selection process was tough. Yet, like a good resto tech, we pressed on, and here are SCM’s Top 20. — Executive Editor Chester Allen

Courtesy of The Creative Workshop

62 SportsSports Car Market Car Market Feature 20 Top Restorers Richard Barnes Ed Barr Company: Paul Russell and Company Company: McPherson College Location: Essex, MA Location: McPherson, KS Specialty: Automobile upholstery resto- Specialty: Sheet metal ration (coach trimmer). Years of experience: 13 Years of experience: 40. I grew up in Contact: [email protected] London, England, and was accepted into Most recent project: I recently helped the Rolls-Royce Apprenticeship training a group of students build an aluminum program in 1977, when I was 16. I com- MGB “” front clip with the classic pleted the four-year program and went three-bump hood. It looked unbelievable on to work for Hooper and Co., custom- and gave me a chance to immerse these izing Rolls-Royces and Bentleys for three students in the lore and techniques of years before moving to New Hampshire Italian coachbuilding. in 1984 to work for British Auto. Between Most challenging project: I am build- 1990 and 2006, I worked for different ing a full-size Jaguar D-type wood buck companies. I was also self-employed for convertible top, so a new solid oval rear that students will use as a guide in metal a while. In late 2006, I was asked to join window had to be made for the top and shaping. I feel like I have picked a fistfight the Paul Russell and Company team, and positioned exactly right to allow the top to with a gorilla. Unfortunately, making an I have been there for the past 11 years. fold. The car went on to win First in Class accurate sculpture of a car is exactly as Most recent project: I’m currently at Pebble Beach. challenging as one might expect. Hope- working on a late-1930s Bugatti, a late- Career high point: Joining the Paul fully, the gorilla will tire before I do. My 1950s BMW and an early-1960s . Russell and Company team allowed me students are counting on it. Most challenging project: One to witness every aspect of restoration in Career high point: Getting random text particular car that comes to mind was a detail. After 30 years in the trade, this messages from current and former stu- 1938 Delahaye. Nothing about the car allowed me to complete my career at the dents showing me the amazing cars they interior or top resembled its original highest possible level. Another high point are restoring at their internships and jobs. configuration. A lot of research went into was last year, when I was asked to teach a My students are working on Mercedes- studying what that configuration should few classes in the automobile restoration Benzes, Bugattis, , Aston Martins, be. I constructed new door panels and program at McPherson College in Kansas. and an O.S.C.A. reconfigured the seats. The car came in It was the first time a tradesperson had with a full-size plastic rear window in the been invited to teach classes there.

October 20172018 63 Feature 20 Top Restorers Mariah Bruins Hershel “Junior” Conway Company: MRestoration Design LLC Company: Junior’s House of Color Location: St. Louis, MO Location: Bell Gardens, CA Specialties: Preservation/paint Specialties: High-end custom paint and Years of experience: Seven restoration, along with metal finish and Contact: 785.447.0487 lead bodywork. Most recent project: Rolls-Royce Silver Years of experience: 65 Cloud and Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Contact: 562.928.6393 preservation. I’m also doing full paint and Recent projects: 1967 GTS, assembly for 1933 Auburn 12 Boattail 1957 Ford Thunderbird, 1972 Speedster and full collection preservation 911, 1936 Topolino, 1974 Ferrari for Hunter Classics (150-plus cars). 246 . Most challenging project: The Rolls- Most challenging project: 1940 Royce Silver Cloud II. Silver Clouds are Mercedes-Benz 770 Grosser bulletproof custom coachbuilt cars. Parts are expen- car for William Lyon. sive and becoming hard to find. This Career high point: I’m still working 10 car had original lacquer paint and was Career high point: The Rolls-Royce hours a day, six days a week. found as a barn find. The overall goal Silver Cloud II that won a preservation was to keep it as original as possible award at the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club while servicing the mechanics and re- National Meet (with credit to Zenith Motor freshing any interior that was damaged. Company LLC, Kansas City, MO).

Giovanni D’Avola Company: Autosprint Ltd. Location: Chicago, IL Specialties: Mechanical restoration (engine, transmission, brakes and suspension). Years of experience: 45 Contact: 773.685.0930; info@auto- sprintchicago.com Most recent project: A complete en- gine and transmission restoration for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE. Most challenging project: It was a 1964 Ferrari 365 2+2 that had been in several shops and had sat for years. It came to me in boxes. Parts were missing, and it took a long time to sort through and research the project. Career high point: When I bought Autosprint and when I was asked to come out to California and participate in a project on “Monster Garage.”

64 SportsSports Car Market Car Market Feature 20 Top Restorers Bob DiFrancesco Ken Downes Company: Leydon Restorations Company: European and American Location: Hatfield, PA Auto Upholstery Specialties: Machinist, fabricator, Location: San Rafael, CA welder, engine machining/rebuilding, Specialties: Ken Downes is the founder body and paint of European and American Auto Up- Years of experience: 40 holstery, which specializes in interior Most recent project: I’m currently restoration of vintage European and working on rebuilding a Type 57 Bu- American automobiles. gatti engine, which came to us in bro- His restoration projects include cars ken bits and pieces —as they usually made in England, Germany, and do. Many components were missing, France. therefore requiring machining of new Ken’s craftsmanship also includes parts and welding repairs. There are a modern and contemporary cars, using lot of challenges, as these engines are his expertise for custom convertible-top old, have been through a lot of hands installation, leather interiors and an Contact: 415.459.0353 and we have to deal with Bugatti’s engine components, laying out a grid assortment of other interior and exte- Most recent project: A complete inte- “interesting” way of doing things. pattern of 3/8-inch squares with a marker rior restoration components. His deep rior restoration of a 1971 Mercedes-Benz Most challenging project: I have and then using a hand-scraping tool — knowledge and skills are far-reaching. 280SL, using original materials. had many challenging jobs over the it resembles a large chisel — to strike He has a fine-tuned eye for the integrity Most challenging projects: Interior years, from rebuilding 110-year-old two marks in each box, perpendicular to of classic and rare automobiles and he and top restorations of Mercedes-Benz steam engines to rebuilding blown-up one another to create a decorative pat- honors the aesthetics that make them 300SL Gullwings, Mercedes-Benz 300SL incomplete motors and transmissions, tern, thousands of times over. One slip, collectible and unique. Roadsters and DB4 and so it’s hard to pick one. I would say that and you’re starting over. He has the artistic ability to transform DB5 cars. Bugatti engine hand-scraping requires Career high point: Having had the raw materials — such as canvas, wool- Career high point: Ken is an Instructor the most focus and mental concentra- pleasure of restoring a classic car for each blend carpets and European leather of at the Academy of Art University in San tion. It’s a process which involves one of my three children — and seeing the the highest grade — into a finished Francisco, where he teaches Vintage smoothing all the aluminum topside enjoyment they get from them. product. His finishing includes stretching Vehicle Upholstery Restoration in the and forming leather on a dash, steering Industrial Design Department and men- wheel or seats. tors and inspires his students to become Years of experience: Over 30 superior auto upholsterers.

Kevin J. Mackay Chris McCune Company: Corvette Repair Inc. Company: D.L. Location: Valley Stream, NY George Historic Specialty: Corvette restoration and Motorcars, Cochran- repair ville, PA Years of experience: 33 Location: Cochran- Contact: 516.568.1959; www.corvet- ville, PA terepair.com Specialties: Metal Most recent project: The 1956 Corvette shaping, fabrication, SR-2. One of only two high-finned Cor- paint and bodywork. vettes ever built. Years of expe- Most challenging project: The 1963 rience: 38. I have en- Corvette Cutaway, chassis 003. This car is joyed working in the completely functional and drivable. automotive restora- Career high point: The Corvette Hunter tion field since 1980. book that told the stories of the many as the #3 1960 Briggs Cunningham Le I began my career by discoveries of “Holy Grail” Corvettes that Mans Corvette that won its class. We are studying automotive we made, with a lot of help, through the most-awarded Corvette restoration fa- bodywork at a vocational technical school Most challenging project: The most Corvette Repair Inc. The book is about cility in the country, with many NCRS Top in Phoenixville, PA. During my senior challenging project I have completed is how we were able to unearth a lot of cars Flight, Bloomington Gold, Triple Diamond year, I learned the basics of paint and the fabrication of a complete that were thought to be lost forever, such and concours award winners. bodywork by working in a co-op posi- 8C 2300 Monza coachwork body to Bri- tion. In 1986, I began working for Dave anza specifications. The scale and com- George at D.L. George Historic Motorcars. plexity of the project made it particularly After 32 years, I am still part of the team. challenging. Twenty-some years ago, I studied metal Career high point: Many top awards shaping under the late Clay Cook — and achieved at Pebble Beach and Amelia the primary focus of my work transitioned Island Concours — and successful finishes into metal shaping soon thereafter. at events like the Mille Miglia and Colo- Contact: [email protected] rado Grand. In particular, I recall Jack Most recent project: A current project Rich’s Murphy-bodied S Mercedes and an is metalwork, bodywork and paint for a 1500 Testa Fissa Spider Labourdette-bodied Bugatti Type 49. Zagato.

66 SportsSports Car Market Car Market Feature 20 Top Restorers Bill Hahn Austin Higbee Company: Hahn Auto Restoration Company: Macy’s Garage Ltd. Location: Harmony, PA Location: Tipp City, OH Specialty: Auto restoration Specialties: Triumph TR2 through TR6 Years of experience: 47 sports cars. Mechanical, interior, electri- Contact: 724.452.4329 cal, final assembly — everything except Most recent project: Something totally body and paint. different from the usual — a Fiat Hellcat. Years of experience: 7.5 I am putting a 2016 Dodge Charger Hell- Contact: 937.667.3014, Austin@ma- cat chassis under a 2012 Fiat 500 body. cysgarage.com Most challenging project: The 1938 Recent project: There are 16 to 20 TRs HRG coupe. It was a prototype and the in our shop at all times. Last month, only one built. HRG produced only 241 we completed and shipped restorations cars in 21 years. The car was disassem- on two TR3s and one TR3A. In addition bled in the mid-1960s in England. It was to the work I do on the cars, I have the then shipped to the United States in the boxes. The body was rusted and rotted. responsibility for scheduling and direct- was correct and absolutely perfect. I had 1980s. Some used parts from scrapyards The frame was stress-cracked. Much of ing seven other techs to keep all projects to research everything, even down to the and flea markets were thrown in the parts the interior was nonexistent. There wasn’t moving forward toward completion. hardware level to make sure that every much history to Most challenging project: The 1961 bolt had the right finish on it, every go on. TR4 that was just completed for the screw had the correct head, and that Career high point: owners of Macy’s Garage. This was a every washer was the right diameter. Developing and very early car, serial 288, and there were Career high point: Winning Best utilizing 3-D scan- many parts and assembly methods that of Show honors at the 2018 Triumph ning and imaging were different from all of the later cars Register of America National Meet with to restore bodies of that I’ve repaired and restored. As this the 1961 TR4 (CT288L). The car received Mercedes-Benz 300SL car was intended to be an example of the first perfect 100-point score in the Gullwings and Road- our shop’s work, all of these early oddi- 44-year history of the Triumph Register sters to the tolerances ties had to be researched and confirmed of America. that the original to make certain that every single piece engineers originally drew.

October 20172018 67 Feature 20 Top Restorers Don McLellan and Ernie Morreau Company: RM Auto Restoration Location: Chatham, Ontario, Canada Specialties: Complete restorations, including body, panel fabrication, paint, mechanical, upholstery, electrical, Dyno testing and woodworking Years of experience: Over 50 years combined Contact: 519.352.4575. Website: www. rmautorestoration.com Most recent project: 1937 Cadillac V16 Special Roadster by Hartmann Most challenging project: The cars we restore can be one-of-a- kind, coachbuilt examples. We have to research their history to make them as correct as pos- sible. Many times, these cars have been restored before — sometimes many times. Career high point: Six wins of Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2015. Also getting to show cars all over the world (including England and Italy).

Roger Patten Mike Pierce Company: KTR European Motorsports Company: Pierce Manifolds Inc. Location: Ayer, MA Location: Gilroy, CA Specialties: Body panel and parts Specialties: Authentic Weber carbure- fabrication and repair. Auto body and tors, manifolds, conversion kits and restoration management. Assembly. other parts. Years of experience: 31 Years of experience: 41 Contact: 978.772.7800 Contact: www.piercemanifolds.com Most recent projects: 1956 Alfa Ro- Most recent project: Restoration of meo 1900 C Super Sprint Tipo 4 and an vintage Weber , manifolds Alfa Romeo Veloce Spyder and linkage for a 1974 Most challenging project: A 1960 Countach LP400. Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato. Removing the Most challenging project: Building paint and filler revealed major damage complete new Weber 38 DCN carburetors to the alloy body panels. Removing the from scratch for a Ferrari 250 GTO. We body panels revealed major rot in the correct form and was used for templates had to make all-new tooling, molds and Career high point: During early 2018, main frame rails, rockers, torque boxes, to make a guide buck. This ensured small parts — as they were made in the we completed the restoration on our hinge posts and striker post. the correct shape. With more templates early 1960s. 7,000th Weber while doing a The hinge and striker post were and guide bucks, the rest of the needed set of Weber 36 DO2s for an Alfa Romeo. removed, straightened, rot-repaired and panels were made and installed. The car reinstalled. A section of roof support was finished in 2003, and it still looks from the left-side C-pillar to the right- good. It’s also still being raced in vintage side A-pillar was removed, straightened motorsports. and reinstalled. The left door inner Career high point: Working with the shell was damaged and rotted to the different customers over the years. They point that it was easier to fabricate a are passionate about their cars and the new shell. car’s history. They enjoy the research that The alloy body panels were damaged they do, and they enjoy hearing about beyond repair. what I find out about the cars. What I About 80% of the car has been enjoy the most is the feedback about how rebodied, the roof skin being the biggest much customers enjoy driving, racing and challenge. The right side still had the showing off their cars.

68 SportsSports Car Market Car Market Feature 20 Top Restorers Joseph (Joe) Potter Pat Ritz Company: Vintage Underground Company: Sports & Collector Car Center Location: Eugene, OR Location: Tempe, AZ Specialties: I particularly enjoy com- Specialties: Mechanical restorations, plex engine builds. There is something including engines, transmissions, about the intricacy of mechanical, electri- carburetors and distributors. Expert in cal, and metal fabrication that excites European, Italian and British cars. Expe- me. My shop is a full-restoration shop, so rienced with V12 Ferrari, Lamborghini I really get a chance to work on every- and Jaguar engines. Expert in multi- thing from time to time. carburetor setups, including Weber, Years of experience: Almost 40 British SU and Stromberg. Contact: 541.510.5296 or www.vinta- Years of experience: 44 geunderground.us Contact: 480.968.5000 or patritzsccc@ Most recent project: I am working on gmail.com a Jaguar XJC. This body style is one of Most recent projects: Just completed the few 2-door, 4.2-liter coupes. and natural, concealing any indication of two V12 engine was something to behold. The customer Most challenging project: Isn’t the transitions between the original and new. and gearbox overhauls, including re- was extremely pleased. hardest project the first one? I was 14 The time and research put into the resto- building the carburetors. Current focus Career high point: Opening my own years old, and my father worked with ration was really evident, and the Double is a complete engine rebuild for a 1954 shop with my brother in 2007. me to build a 1931 Model A Ford pickup. Bubble came out magnificently. Arnolt-Bristol. Thankfully, it is a pretty forgiving car to Career high point: Right now, I feel Most challenging project: work with, but I learned a lot of hard that my career is at a high point. My The mechanical overhaul of lessons. restoration shop can restore, repair and a 1958 Tojeiro Roadster was Professionally, it was a 1957 preserve historical machines. I have ac- challenging on all fronts. It is 750 GT Double Bubble. The objective quired and cultivated exceptional employ- a unique car with extensive was to restore it while retaining as ees who are highly skilled in metalwork- provenance and limited infor- much of the original patina as possible, ing, restoration, and body and paint. We mation. It required in-depth while fully redoing the alloy skins, are in the process of moving into our new research and a fair amount chassis, drivetrain and suspension. This shop, with a state-of-the-art paint booth. of fabrication work. I learned was immensely challenging from an There is literally nothing we cannot take a lot about John Tojeiro, the aesthetic position to make it look fluid care of in-house. designer. The finished project

Jeff Snyder Jack Swint Company: Porsche Cars North America, Porsche Classic Factory Restoration Location: Atlanta, GA Specialties: Porsche engine restoration Years of experience: 48 Contact: [email protected] Most recent project: 1973 2.7 911 RS engine and transmission restoration Most challenging project: I inherited a 993 Turbo engine job that had been dis- mantled and boxed up. It was difficult because there were many parts missing and the customer wanted it to be upgraded to a higher performance level. Career high point: After 45 years in the business, I had the opportunity to work for Porsche Cars North America — a true high point.

Company: Jeff’s Resurrections Location: Taylor, TX Specialties: Classic and sports cars, American and European Years of experience: 30 Contact: Website: www.jeffsresurrections.com. Telephone: 512.365.5346. Email: [email protected] Most recent project: One of the 12 existing 1961 Jaguar XKE outside-latch coupes Most challenging projects: Transforming vintage race cars back to their original road-car configuration and corroded cars delivered in boxes and coffee cans. Career high point: First in Class win at Pebble Beach

70 SportsSports Car Market Car Market Feature 20 Top Restorers Paul Vorbach Jason Wenig Company: HV3DWorks.LLC Company: The Creative Workshop Location: Sewickley, PA Location: Dania Beach, FL Specialties: 3-D scanning/design and Specialties: Concours-level restoration 3-D print management for the auto- of rare, exotic, orphan, prototype and motive restoration and customization unique vehicles — both European and industries. domestic. Coachbuilding/custom car build- Years of experience: 2.5 years with the ing. Unique, historically accurate custom 3-D business. Nine years in automotive vehicles — from partial to comprehen- restoration and 30 years in information sive coachbuilding. technology. Years of experience: I have been work- Contact: 724.266.7925, email 3d@ ing with cars since I was a kid. I started hv3dworks.com. Website: www.hv3d- working professionally with cars in the works.com late 1990s. I founded this company in Most recent project: Just finished up a 2001 and began formal operations as The trunk handle and escutcheon for a 1939 scratch. We also re-engineered the part Creative Workshop in August 2002. Hudson. We also made a radiator cap and to go together as several separate pieces Contact: 954.920.3303. Email: info@ 1953 Stanguellini Bialbero, 1955 Alfa hood latches for a 1921 Kissel and built so it could be adjusted for fit. The parts TheCreativeWorkshop.com. Website: Romeo Ghia-Aigle 1900 CSS, 1915 REO a heater-fan housing for a 1951 Fiat. We were printed in a combination of stainless www.TheCreativeWorkshop.com Coachbuilt Special, 1966 Ferrari 330 GT also made a hood ornament for a 1938 steel and bronze, which ended up being Most recent project: We are completing Speciale, 1962 AC MA200 prototype, Cre- Oldsmobile. very hard and difficult to drill. This made the forensic restoration of the last 1921 ative Workshop Coachbuilt Sport Speciale, Most challenging project/job: A chasing the 3-D printed threads a signifi- Kissel 6-45 “Gold Bug” Speedster on 1959 Ferrari 250 Series II PF Cab, 1951 complete lower grille section for a 1934 cant challenge. earth. The car is being unveiled at this Connaught L3/SR. Cadillac. The part was fairly large, with a Career high point: On the 3-D front, year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Career high point: One was the first large number of angled pieces. The origi- two vehicles with my parts appeared at We are also finishing a one-off Ferrari time I was honored to have had one of nal component that we modeled from Pebble Beach this year. As a restorer, coachbuilt custom car — a 1966 Ferrari our restorations appear at the Pebble was slightly warped, so the scans were our shop has had cars at Pebble Beach, 330 GT Speciale. Beach Concours d’Elegance (back in only useful as reference pieces, and the Amelia Island, The Elegance at Hershey Most challenging project: There are 2007). We showed a 1953 Stanguellini entire assembly had to be designed from and several other top shows. countless challenges that I am faced with Bialbero with our client — which took a in this business, but here are some of the class award. It was quite an exciting and more challenging projects undertaken: humbling experience.

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