Text and Images by Ron Lampley
Bob had been looking for a new home when he found a developer that was having difficulty selling some of the homes he’d built. It was 2009, and financially, things were bleak, especially in the home market. The home Bob and his wife chose still needed some work, but after discussing the idea, they decided this parcel would be just perfect for them.
To Bob, the home was ideal for both he and his wife as they could mold the home the way they would like to have. Since the yard and garage were not built yet, Bob saw an open canvas upon which to build a dream garage. Likely the Great Dream for most car collectors, and there was Bob, with a blank canvas.
Wanting a larger garage, he set out to build a 2,700-square foot building. During construction, Bob paid a lot of attention to innumerable details; each garage door was custom made, and instead of having them painted Bob had the frames, tracks, and all the metal parts powder coated. Bob’s wife hired a lady to texture the interior walls, so Bob brought her out to his garage and she did the same there.
Bob enjoys working on his cars, so he knew he wanted a lift. When it came time to install it, he had the contractor wire in-ground lighting to provide illumination under the car while he was working. But, the idea fell a little short. The lift installers had to put the lift a few feet off center from the lights. Working at machine shops, Bob like metal things, and when it came to chairs, tables, and cabinets, he likes the metal look. Looking through Garage Style Magazine, Bob found Moduline cabinets, and felt they would work best for him. He even liked the furniture that Pitstop Furniture offered, so he also purchased a few items from them.
Bob became attracted to cars at a young age. Like most kids during his time, he would ride his bicycle everywhere. He would ride over to the local arcade center and he and his friends would play the pinball machines. As Bob got older, he would do odd jobs and cut yards for his money. Working at a young age he was able to save enough money to purchase a 1970 Datsun 510 as his first car. He paid a whopping $900.00 for it, a lot of money back then. From the Datsun he moved on to his second car, 1974 Chevrolet Camaro, and then a 1970 Chevrolet Nova. Later, Bob acquired a 1955 Chevrolet which he still has today.
Bob got a degree in metallurgy, and after graduation found a job in a lab testing jet engine parts. Bob did this for 10 years until he joined a forging shop which also built jet engine parts. During this job he was also the technical sales person dealing with the European market, developing connections that would benefit him later in life. After spending 10 years there, he once again moved on to a machine shop that manufactured – jet engines parts, of course! Here, he only lasted five years before he and another two engineers decided to start their own machine shop manufacturing jet engine parts. They started with seven used machines and a few employees, but that magic number came back. After 10 years of owning the company, which now had 140 employees and 65 machines, they sold the business to another company, and never looked back.
Once he started building his garage. Bob wanted to fill it with cars he loved and always wanted. He already had the 1955 Chevrolet, and a Shelby Mustang, but like so many of us, one car he sought was rooted in his younger days, a television hero (how many cars became heroes thanks to some film work?) from the hit NBC show Miami Vice. He had Ferrari fever, and chased down a Ferrari 360, but kept on looking until he found the right Ferrari Testarossa. A Chevrolet guy at heart with a soft spot for Camaros, he started looking for one and found Peter Klutt’s Legendary Motor Cars website listing just what he wanted. After a couple of phone calls, and some picture viewing, Bob flew to Canada and purchased a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro and a Plymouth ’Cuda from Peter. With those two purchases consummated, Bob headed back to the airport to come home, but while waiting for his plane he couldn’t take his mind off a 2000 Viper Legendary was selling. So, before getting on the airplane he called Peter and purchased the Viper to fill his garage. Two new Mopars and a Chevy. With a 360 and a Testarossa, a Shelby Mustang and a 1955 Chevrolet. The garage was filling up.
Remembering the pinball machine days, Bob felt he needed another childhood toy. Good times, friends and pinball machines, few cares and lots of fun. With a little hunting, he found two restored car-themed pinball machines, and put them in the garage.
Once Bob started the garage project, he wanted a place his friends could come over and hang out and watch the games. Now that it’s finished, he has friends flying in from all over and hanging out. He wanted a place to enjoy his cars, build a surrounding the way he wanted it, a place with memories and great times to come. He’s achieved it. But like so many garagistas, he’s thinking about it; he’s wondering about it; what else can he do to make his space better?
