Restoration Check-Up

Yesterday I headed over to Allan Schmidt’s restoration shop near Escondido. Ever since I started doing research on our cars, the one that has intrigued me the most is our 1921 Heine-Velox Sporting Victoria. Piano maker Gustav Heine only built five of these enormous, curious-looking vehicles, and only one Sporting Victoria. Considering one could buy a Rolls Royce for $10,000 and a Ford Model T for $500, Heine’s prices of $17,000 - $25,000 for his big cars were outrageous. Yet, Heine refused to sell them.

I was pretty excited to see the Heine-Velox, but this was what greeted me:

The 4,500-lb car has been completely taken apart so Allan and his crew can work their magic and bring it back to its original glory. The fenders were in one room awaiting our decision on paint color, brake rods were at the welders table, wood pieces were being sanded, and the body was outside so the glue could dry. The modified Weidely V-12 engine was still mounted, so I snapped a picture of it:

Based on the other work Allan has done for us and others, we know the Heine-Velox will look stunning when it's finished. Allan also has our Biddle, so I got a nice "before" look at that car before I headed over to the San Diego Wild Animal Park (where I got mauled by a flock of lorikeets, but that's another story).

If you have an antique car and are looking for restoration supplies and accessories, be sure to visit Restoration Supply Company's website at www.restorationstuff.com. Allan and his crew will take good care of you.

Nancy