Page 48 - Oct 2022

I left Bob's basement almost overwhelmed.
On the long ride home I kept thinking about
the commitment he's made to this car, not
only in time but in talent and in research.
He's building it now for the future. What
better way to end this story than to let Bob
tell you how he feels in his own words.

"Working on Italia #184 has been such a
pleasure. Part of it comes from the
satisfaction of doing a job correctly and well.
But more than that is how special the car is
and how much I love the design and
construction. I am particularly proud of my
compound curved metal replacement work The complete chassis
on the body. I have such admiration for the waits patiently for its
skills of the original Italian craftsmen." reunion with the body.
"Rest oring a car wit h t his much required Bill at work, a study in
work is not for t he faint of heart concentration.
(obviously). I have never considered
Immaculate parts, an
?giving up? and doing somet hing easier.
automotive still life.
So your perseverance should be st rong.
My dad used t o say I had
Bulldoggish-hangonive-t iveness. I t hink
he was right . "

"It really helps to really love your car. I have
had friends jokingly say that to spend your
whole life on a project like this, you have to "Consider your skills. What you cannot do or cannot or will not
be either crazy or stupid. Or, I would say you learn, you will have to find a shop to accomplish. Prices are very
really need to love the car you are working high, figure $100 per hour or more. Folks that pay to have Italia?s
on." restored are paying in the range of $80 to $100K and more for that
work to be done [for them]. If you love a car and have the money,
"You have t o be realist ic about t he hours
then the price may be OK with you. But over the years I have come
involved. Today?s t elevision shows make
to understand that most people will spend more than the car can be
all t hese rest orat ion t asks seem simpler
sold for. If you mostly want to just drive your dream car, then you
and fast er t han t hey are. Maybe by about
might want to seriously consider buying a restored car in the first
10X. So, be realist ic about how much
place, if you can afford it. "
t ime you can commit and how fast you
expect t o complet e t he work. I hear of " Since you were here, I I found out t hat Bill Clark passed away
guys who will finish a rest orat ion in a in t he Spring of 2020 . He was 87. "
year or t wo. All I can say is t hat t hey
must spend 8-10 hours a day t o do t hat .
Right: Italian craftsman ply their
And please consider your family and life
trade shown in one of the many
out side of t he project .
period magazines in Bob's
I am sure some project s have been t he collection.
cause of family break-ups and divorces. "

48