…to the first electronic issue of Shop Talk, the monthly e-newsletter for Pollock Auto Restoration clients and friends. We plan to continue bringing you the latest news about the collectible car industry, tips to help you keep your car on the road, and advance notice of special events.

Your input is valuable to us. If there is something you would like to see in the newsletter, let us know. If you have comments to share, we'd like to hear them, too.

Thanks.

Mike Engard
President
Pollock Auto Restoration

Around the Shop

Pollock Auto Restoration has been used to display and restore antique and classic cars since 1975. We have maintained some of the William Pollock history by displaying photographs of Bill and his family as well as some of the cars that were restored here.

As we enter the shop you’ll find our Metal Fabrication area. Dorian Custodia supervises this department, where we do everything from planishing out a small dent to fabricating entire body sections. 

Right now in the shop we're working on a 1957 AC Bristol. Dorian has already strengthened and modified the frame. The original aluminum body is frail and weak in many areas, so our metal fabricator is taking each piece and hand-forming replacement panels. It wont be long until this beauty is back on the road!

Over in our Upholstery shop, John Shiban has been a long-term occupant of Pollock Auto Restoration. He worked with Bill Pollock and Ralph DeStefano, and continues to work with us.

John is currently creating the entire interior for a 1935 Hudson Terraplane. This car had water damage due to leaking windows and roof trough, and mouse damage, as well as general degrading from old age.

The paint area is one of the largest sections at Pollock Auto Restoration. It includes the spray booth, the paint mixing area and several sanding and prep areas. 

Our painter, Curtis Bohn, is skillfully managing several projects, including is a full paint job on a 1937 Railton, repainting the crash damaged bonnet of 1971 Jaguar, color matching the blue for 1959 Mercedes wheel covers, and wood-graining the dash and window frame trim for a 1935 Terraplane.

The mechanical shop has been particularly busy. We just delivered a 1912 SGV, which was brought in so we could get it in running condition for the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. 

We're also working on a 1950 Chevrolet that has been in storage at Pollock for more than a decade. The owner is retired military and wants now to enjoy this car. In moving it out of storage we discovered the car’s brakes where frozen to the drums, which has been addressed. We have also replaced all the fluids, installed a new battery and given the car a tune up. 

But when we took the car for a test drive, we discovered a bad vibration in the engine. We are currently diagnosing the reason, although we understand the engine was rebuilt in the early 1980s. Hopefully, the outcome will not be too serious.

We also have a 1939 Buick Special, which the owner wants to get back on the road after a 30-year hiatus. We're going to install a new wiring harness and a modern third brake light. We already added a modern fuse block so that if the customer runs into those electrical gremlins, the entire 6-volt system will not go down.

My favorite car in the shop is a luxurious 1941 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible that has been in the owner’s family since day one.  It  had been sitting for a few years in the customer’s barn. When we delivered their 1937 Chevy truck we picked up this lovely car.

We had the car fully detailed, gave it some new fluids, and sent the clutch to be rebuilt. Now this wonderful car is off to parade her excellence at the 2010 Philadelphia Auto Show. Make sure you check it out! 

The rest of the shop is being used to store more than 35 cars for various reasons.

As you can tell from this little virtual tour, at our shop we can do it all for your special interest car, from something as simple as changing a spark plug to doing a Full Concours Restoration. 

Thanks for taking a few minutes of your time to stroll thru the shop with me here at Pollock Auto Restoration. If you have any questions, give me a call at 610-323-7108.

Barbara Heppenstall Plant
Facility Manager 

Restoration Quality Coachwork
Available at Pollock Auto Restoration

When it comes to body repair, fabrication and paint in a do-it-yourself restoration project, talented classic car enthusiasts have always had just two choices: go it alone, or entrust the job to an auto body shop.

The problem with the first choice is that most hobbyists lack the equipment, facilities and expertise to complete the work. The problem with the second choice is that body shops often prefer to work on insurance claims and might not be willing to invest the time it takes to do the job right. Plus, they may not have the right specialized equipment, either.

Here at Pollock Auto Restoration, we understand the dilemma. That's why we're offering a third choice: "Restoration Quality Coachwork," which makes our award-winning fabrication and painting capabilities available to you, the talented enthusiast.

Here's how it works: you dismantle your vehicle and bring us the bare body. We'll address any body issues and paint it to your specifications, all with the same attention to detail and quality that we provide to our own restoration projects. 

"The benefit to the customer is that he saves time and the job is done right," said Mike Engard, President of Pollock Auto Restoration.

Visit the Pollock Auto Restoration website to see examples of the high quality work we perform on behalf of our clients. Then gives us a call at 610-323-7108 to get started on "Restoration Quality coachwork" for your vehicle.
 

Why Should You Have Your
Collectible Vehicle Appraised?

There are several reasons why you should call on the services of a licensed appraiser to determine the value of your special interest car:

Insurance. Most companies that insure collector cars want an appraisal provided by a knowledgeable expert.

Buying/Selling. A car with a properly prepared appraisal can benefit both you and the other party.

Import/Export Duties. When shipping a car in or out of the country you need to provide a reliable value to determine fees.

Estate Planning. The value of your vehicle should be taken into consideration as you look toward the future.

Collateral on a Loan. Some banks will allow you to use the value of your vehicle to apply for a loan.

Just to Impress Your Buddy. Imagine how good it feels to tell him for sure just how much you car is worth.

A perfect time to establish the value of your vehicle is before, during and after a restoration or major repair project. You should always keep your car insured while it is at a shop. If something happens -- fire, burglary, natural disaster -- while your vehicle is in the shop's possession, it may become necessary to establish its value both for your insurance company as well as the insurance company representing the shop. (You did make sure the shop was insured before you took your car there, right?) 

An appraisal is proof that a vehicle has undergone customization and/or upgraded work. It successfully illustrates what work was performed, the quality of materials used, as well as the degree of workmanship.

Like most states, Pennsylvania requires appraisers to be state-licensed. Most appraisers rely on subjective judgment, but professional appraisers also rely on common market values, reference as many objective criteria as possible and refer to prices of similar (like, kind and quality) vehicles in order to guide their judgments. A certified automotive appraiser reviews the vehicle in question, determines its accuracy and quality and then assigns a dollar value to it. 

With collectible cars a situation may arise where, in the case of a loss of some kind, the insurance company offers an unacceptable settlement. As the vehicle owner, you are able to turn to the appraisal to document a previously established value.

If you need an appraisal for your special interest car, give us a call. We'll help you select a trusted professional who will do the job right.