Top Gear
Locals who make a living on wheels
Car enthusiasts’ differences might be great – age, income, background – but what they share is ever greater: a true passion for motor vehicles. Be they roadsters, muscle cars from the 70s or antique cars from the 30s, autos inspire these aficionados to dream big.
CORY WADE
How I caught the car bug
"It’s always been in my blood," Wade said.
In his younger days, Wade enjoyed working on cars with his father.
My first car
"I bought my first car, a ’71 Chevelle, when I was 15," he said. "I restored it with my dad. His grandfather was in auto service." Wade has been buying and selling cars ever since.
What I drive
2012 VW TDI, 2005 Chevrolet 2500
My favorite car
Most of them "¦
Wade’s lifelong interest in cars eventually led to employment at Hagerty Insurance in Traverse City. While working at the classic car and boat insurer, Wade met the principals at Grand Rapids Auto Gallery, a classic car consignment dealer.
"I knew them personally and professionally," Wade said. One thing led to another and, eventually, Wade was leading the Traverse City branch of the Auto Gallery.
The Auto Gallery’s inventory holds nearly 300 vehicles. This includes several motorbikes and boats, like a 1953 wood Chris Craft speedboat, but 95 percent of its vehicles are four-wheeled contrivances: Porsches and Jaguars, antique autos from the 30s, muscle cars, hot rods, luxury rides. There’s a ’77 MG, a 1967 turquoise T-Bird, a lime green ’72 Datsun 240Z and a Nascar Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Richard Petty. There’s even a Volkswagen Thing.
Appreciating cars and people
Wade explains that different segments of the market are in demand at different times.
"The Porsche 911 market is really hot right now. It’s hot worldwide. Sometimes the weird and unique sells," he said, referencing the Thing. "That doesn’t make them expensive."
Sometimes, it’s simply the law of supply and demand. Vehicles like the Thing that didn’t find a niche with the buying public, or the AMC Pacer, which were denigrated when produced, quickly fell out of favor. These days they’re rare.
"There might not be as much interest as in other vehicles, but there’s also not as many available," he said.
Wade says the market for vehicles from the 1970s is heating up. He also points to what he calls "the obscure 4-wheel drive market" as another area garnering increased interest from collectors.
Though the facility at 1701 Park Drive in Traverse City is open to the public, Wade said most of the sales activity takes place online.
"Eighty to 90 percent of the sales are online, without (the buyer) ever looking at the car in person. We’ll ship the cars. I can help with the logistics.
ED TIMM
How I caught the car bug
"I was born a gear head in Saginaw. I’ve always liked machines – cars, bikes, etc.," he said.
My first car and age when I bought it
"My first was actually a motorcycle, a 1965 Honda Dream. I was a student at U of M and that was all I could afford. My first car was a 1969 Firebird 400. I was 23."
What I currently drive
A 2013 Toyota Tacoma
My favorite car
"That would be my 1969 Corvette. I just spend about 2,000 hours restoring it, so it better be my favorite."
What does an engineer from Dow Chemical do when he retires? In Ed Timm’s case, he moves to Harbor Springs and begins concentrating on his other passion: cars and motorcycles.
Timm received his Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Michigan and worked for Dow Chemical in Midland for 30 years.
His parents owned a place on Burt Lake and, when he retired, he moved north permanently.
"I really like northern Michigan a little better than Saginaw," he said with a laugh.
Now, he whiles away his days in his garage. "I call it Joe’s Garage. It’s my grandson’s name and I’m also a Frank Zappa fan," he said, referencing the iconic rock composer and guitarist’s 1979 albums of the same name.
Timm has worked on a fleet of motorbikes, as well as his 1969 Corvette.
"I’ve totally restored it. Even though I thought it would be a lot of work, I was wrong by a factor of two."
Appeciating cars and people
Timm said he’s enamored with the people who work in the industry throughout the area, whether as pros or as hobbyists.
"There’s an incredible group of car people who do some incredible work," he said.
"They forced me to pick up my game. There are a lot of wealthy people [who are car enthusiasts], but the real stars are the ones that know which end of the wrench to hold."
Timm says his personal preference is working on vehicles that date from the 60s and before.
"Nothing after 1970. I’m part of the slide rule generation," he said. "I prefer to stick with strictly mechanical, not electronic. I have a friend who hates his Porsche. He said it talks too much."
Timm currently owns five bikes and his Vette, as well as a regular car to drive. He’s looking at another bike that he says needs some love. If he decides to love it, then it too will end up in Joe’s Garage.
"I spend a lot of time there," he said. "I like grease a lot. My wife is less enthusiastic."
BRAD BICKLE
How I caught the car bug
"There is a family photo that still hangs in my mother’s home in which I am sitting on the floor at five years old, and in my hands is a plastic model of a 1967 Pontiac GTO. Even back then I was truly crazy about cars."
My first car
"A 1974 Chevrolet Vega. I was 18 and working two jobs during school, delivering papers in the morning and after school at a local country club cleaning golf shoes and parking cars. About a month later a business associate wanted to buy it from me as it was a small economy car vs. his 1971 Plymouth Fury 3. He offered to buy my car and throw in his 1971 Plymouth. This was my first car transaction, which opened my eyes to the fun and passion for buying and selling cars.
What I drive
BMW 3 Series, VW Toureg TDI, and 1985 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with 81,000 original miles.
My favorite car
Maserati Gran Turismo – in fact anything Maserati is me!
A Michigan native, Bickle graduated from Northwood University at the top of the automotive class. He is also a graduate of the National Auto Dealers Association Academy.
He has worked with various lines at most every level. "I’ve worked for GM, BMW, Maserati, Toyota, Ford, and Land Rover," he said.
Today he helps others buy and sell – not autos, but auto dealerships. Bickle is a director with the Tim Lamb Group, a national company that brokers deals between dealers and buyers.
"My experience with various lines has helped me understand the nature of buying and selling cars – and doing the same for dealerships," he said. "My days are full. The car industry has just been insane," he said.
Bickle moved full time to Traverse City after retiring as CEO of the Stanley Auto Group in Dallas and CEO at YTransport, LLC in California. He was consulting for numerous dealers’ operations before landing with the Tim Lamb Group.
"It’s an ongoing challenge," he said. "I’ve got 15 to 20 buyers at any one time, and one to two dealerships for sale."
Bickle says the nature of the business is cyclical and now it’s on the upswing. That’s due to the health of the economy in general, and the automotive industry in particular, as well as innovative financing.
Appreciating cars and people
While that means the climate is very good for his business, Bickle sees it as a positive for anyone looking to purchase a vehicle. Dealers are focusing more than ever on customer service and satisfaction. The better the business responds to its customers, the healthier its bottom line. And for those looking to sell, the more attractive it will be for potential buyers.
"The benefit for consumers is dealers are very focused on "¦ being the best in sales and service to have the type of operation someone will buy. Our guys up here do a great job with consumers and the community," he said of local auto dealerships.
Bickle believes the cycle will continue on a positive note for the foreseeable future.
"I think we’ll see this robust environment for another three or four years."
JOHN MCLEOD
How I caught the car bug
McLeod’s auto heritage goes back two generations. His grandfather crafted facsimiles of upcoming models to guide engineers and manufacturers.
"My grandfather had a model and pattern company in Detroit in the 50s," he said.
He worked mostly with Chrysler and Ford, but also some with General Motors. "They made the models out of mahogany."
My first car
A 1968 Plymouth Fury, which he bought two years before he could even drive.
What I drive
"Now, that’s a list. It’s an embarrassing list," McLeod said with a laugh, before going through it: A 1967 C110 Chevy pickup, a limited edition Dodge Viper, a #30 Hemi Drag Pak Challenger, a 1980 Lifted 4WD Chevy, a new Hemi Durango, and he’s now restoring a 1932 Ford roadster.
My favorite car
"That’s a tough one. I had to think about that. But if I could have just one car, it would be a ’68 Hemi ’Cuda."
McLeod attended Chrysler’s Motech Automotive Education Center, but after graduation, he had an epiphany.
"I didn’t enjoy dealership life. It didn’t interest me much," he said.
So McLeod returned to school and became a police officer. He served with the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department before becoming an officer with the Boyne City police.
"I loved it," he said of his 16 years in law enforcement.
But McLeod still harbored a love of autos, as well. He loved it so much that he began working for fellow enthusiast Mike Stowe at his classic car facility. What was supposed to be a part-time job detailing and cleaning up evolved into full-time work doing mechanical, electrical and bodywork, as well. During this time, he was still working full time as a police officer.
After five years, Stowe came to McLeod with a proposition.
"He said he wanted to start a new business and he wanted me to run it," recalled McLeod.
In the end, Stowe bought Classic Instruments, a company that recreated tachometers, speedometers and other gauges and instruments for classic and vintage automobiles. He moved the business from Portland, Oregon to Boyne City. McLeod resigned from the police force and began his new career.
Today, McLeod leads the company, which has grown from one and a half employees to 24.
McLeod has won recognition and numerous awards, including being named Individual of the Year by the National Street Rod Association. He’s driven 200 miles an hour, met celebrity car geeks like Jay Leno and James Hetfield of Metallica and shown cars at shows across the country.
Appreciating cars and people
Best of all, he gets to feed his soul every day at work, doing what he loves in the city he loves.
"I’m passionate about Boyne City. We opened a business in the industrial park, doubled our size and bought another lot.
"We were named one of the top 50 companies in Michigan to watch by the governor.
I feel like I’ve lived three lifetimes, and I’m only 47," he said.
ADAM HAMMER
How I caught the car bug
"I’ve loved cars my whole life," said Hammer. He started out working with his dad on go-karts and had friends who were into racing and helped them out as well.
My first car
"It was a 1995 Ford Ranger. I was 15. I worked on it with my Dad.
What I drive
I still drive the Ranger. I swapped a V8 into it. I also have a Ford F350. In the summer I drive my ’66 Mustang.
My favorite car
"It’s gotta be a Duesenberg. There’s a lot of others that come close, but that’s the one that really gets me going."
Hammer & Dolly isn’t a law firm or a specialized machine. It’s the name of Adam Hammer’s auto restoration business in Traverse City.
Though at 27 his memory only stretches back to the 90s, he prefers vehicles from the 70s and earlier. His favorite autos are those made prior to World War II.
"My grandfather had a ’66 Mustang that he bought new. I restored it. I like race cars and going fast," Hammer continued. "I still dabble in it. That’s my release from business. It’s what I love."
Hammer and his wife Tabetha both attended McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas to study automotive restoration. It’s the only college in the country to offer a bachelor’s degree in auto restoration.
Appreciating cars and people
Hammer says he was fortunate to receive scholarships and meet some influential people. The awards included the Jay Leno/Popular Mechanics scholarship and the Collectors Foundation scholarship, the latter of which was started by Hagerty Insurance.
After graduating, Hammer worked for a Rolls-Royce Ghost restorer. Then he went to work for a private collector in Grand Rapids. He did it all, from sheet metal fabrication to upholstery to bodywork and mechanicals.
In a roundabout way, it was Hagerty that attracted Hammer to northern Michigan. Tabetha had taken a job with the collector car and boat insurer and Hammer was looking around the area for employment opportunities.
"I restore and repair collector vehicles.
I did some independent work and decided my skills could be maximized independently," he said.
Hammer says there’s really no such thing as a typical day.
"It varies from doing paperwork to making calls and contacts. A few weeks ago, I was blocking paint for a "˜56 Chevy Nomad.
"You talk with other collectors and enthusiasts, find solutions to problems and share ideas. You have to research forums on new technology – if there’s a new tool."
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