My StoryPerhaps it is true that if one sticks with one thing long enough they will become proficient at it. That was never my intention as restoring old cars started , as most avocations-turned-professions do, working in the back of my parent's garage on a 1929 Model A Ford coupe. Next came an MG TD . Where the Model A was a cookie cutter disassemble and reassemble with everything available new from J C Whitney the MG was a challenge which seriously honed my skills as a young restorer. It was still "coach built" construction which means it had a wooden frame over which the sheet metal was formed. The wood frame was rotten. Very fortunately for me and my future career "industrial arts" was still taught in school and I had paid attention to Mr. Reeves, one of the best teachers I was ever to have. At 19 I rebuilt the wooden frame from ash with hand tools. Just as a precaution against future rot I soaked all the pieces in Cupernol .
On to college at Syracuse University to major in Industrial Design and try to stay out of the Vietnam war. I drove the MG to school (my room mate, Guy, drove an MG TC throughout his time there) . As soon as I had my own apartment (on campus housing was mandated for freshmen) I dug a hole in the ground in my back yard which served as a pit and continued my hobby/obsession working on the British cars which were then the vehicle of choice for the Longiland student population at SU. The "pit" earned me a better living that most of my neighbors and brought me to the realization that when and if I continued this I would create the most user-friendly and comfortable work environment possible; and this is what we have today at Alan Auto Volvo Restoration. |
Me and my son with The P1900
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When I say that women have been a profound influence on my life I probably speak for many of you readers' experiences as well. In 1968 U.S. federal mandates in emissions and safety were about to impact the auto industry and
all of its derivatives (like little ole me) in heretofore unimaginable ways like virtually eliminating the British car industry! Coincidentally one cold and dismal upstate New York winter day a neighbor, Darya Porcelli , came into the shop ( I had an actual garage with heat and lights by this time) and asked me quite sweetly if I could help her get her 1966 Volvo 122 running. It had been towed to a shop which was seemingly clueless . This was my first experience with the great value of selecting those possessing the most experienced with anything to be the ones to work on it. When I open the hood of Darya's Volvo to my amazement I saw a pair of SU carburetors. It took be only a little time to figure out that the choke cable sheath had slipped through its bracket under the dash and the choke cable was not operating the chokes when the lever was pulled. Thus my Volvo career was off and running as was Darya's 122. After graduating from SU with a degree in Industrial Design I did work for a time building design models (before cad cam was even a concept). But working in an office environment was not for me so I made a commitment to repairing Volvos and applied my design training (we called ergonomics "human factors" in the day) to building excellent work environments to enable capable employees to perform great work. I stayed in Syracuse for a time after graduation until the dismal winters became unbearable at which point I returned home to Maine and dug a new pit still by hand (I love to dig in the earth) but this time in doors. Always frugal I created a living space in the rear of the shop. This seemingly odd move triggered two unanticipated and unplanned benefits to me and clients alike. 1) living in a shop environment and being very particular about my space motivated me to implement an unprecidented cleanliness program in the shop of washing and squeeging the shop floor after every shift. This has been a boon to both worker moral and quality work and we have carried on this practice to this day. Radiant heat in the shop floors is another worker-comfort innovation I employed as I improved the quality level of facilities throughout time. 2) I was able to start purchasing rental properties with the money I saved living at the shop so my sole income was not derived from auto repair. Taking the pressure off the auto related income source was a great stress reliever in an industry characterized by stress ("how much will this cost and how soon will it be done"?). The concept "If you love what you do for work it is not work." needs, for me, to be kept as unencumbered by negativity as much as possible form any source. |
For many years Alan Auto Volvo Service has worked on daily drivers as well as restorations. I divested of the daily driver aspect of my business about 8 years ago to pursue restoration only. It has, since high school , been my primary interest and now I/we do it without having to compromise around other variables at the shop. I don't do much of the work myself any more. I have lately spent time ensuring that all aspects of our process on their vehicles are communicated to clients accurately and timely. We photojounalize every aspect of our work perhaps if anything take too many pictures. Every week before billing the pictures go out first so we can have conversations with you about what was found and what was done. The pictures coincide with the descriptions of work on the repair orders which are sent out weekly after the pictures. This level of transparency I believe is an absolute necessity in enabling us to perform in a manner in concert with clients' wishes as well as accomplishing what is necessary to do what the cars need done.
About who does the work, I am blessed to work with such a group of talented , dedicated , enthusiastic, and good natured people. The only problem which this brings with it is that it is difficult to move on from something which is so much fun. It is highly likely and in fact in the process that my legacy will be assumed by one or more current members of our group (Andrew, Krystal, Ivan). Besides the excellent better-that-it rolled-off-the-assembly-line restorations they turn out routinely we are doing conversions. We are in conversation with a talented electric conversion technician and are in hopes of soon electrifying a Volvo. The technology is there. We have the resources and talent to accomplish this. On my own 210 we have incorporated what I consider to have been the best/ most reliable of the mechanical components produced by Volvo over time: B-230 engine, 240 differential, 4 wheel disc brakes (140/240 combo) , Canadian market carburation and intake manifold, AW 72 transmission, etc. A 240 destined for California highway use is getting an LS motor. There is no longer a reason that the beautiful cars we grew up with and may want to continue to use need to be compromised in any way by any anachronistic mechanical components. We are enthusiastic about embracing the future and blending it with the past.
Alan Prosser
About who does the work, I am blessed to work with such a group of talented , dedicated , enthusiastic, and good natured people. The only problem which this brings with it is that it is difficult to move on from something which is so much fun. It is highly likely and in fact in the process that my legacy will be assumed by one or more current members of our group (Andrew, Krystal, Ivan). Besides the excellent better-that-it rolled-off-the-assembly-line restorations they turn out routinely we are doing conversions. We are in conversation with a talented electric conversion technician and are in hopes of soon electrifying a Volvo. The technology is there. We have the resources and talent to accomplish this. On my own 210 we have incorporated what I consider to have been the best/ most reliable of the mechanical components produced by Volvo over time: B-230 engine, 240 differential, 4 wheel disc brakes (140/240 combo) , Canadian market carburation and intake manifold, AW 72 transmission, etc. A 240 destined for California highway use is getting an LS motor. There is no longer a reason that the beautiful cars we grew up with and may want to continue to use need to be compromised in any way by any anachronistic mechanical components. We are enthusiastic about embracing the future and blending it with the past.
Alan Prosser