In the heady days after the First World War, car manufacturing revved to life on the other side of the pond.
Daring young drivers jaunted between garages and racetracks, roaring into a new decade and creating an industry in the process.
Brilliant minds like W.O. Bentley called on his experience refining and improving airplane engines during the war to build a durable three-litre Bentley in 1923.
In Blackpool, England, a couple of motorcycle riders kickstarted Swallow Sidecar Company, which eventually turned into Jaguar.
Some vehicles, like the perpetually overheating Abbey and the three-wheeled Economic, failed to endure.
Conversely, the classics, including Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, and the MG, continue to intrigue drivers today.
Just like you wouldn't arm wrestle the Queen, you shouldn't allow a backyard mechanic to abuse a classic British car, according to Greg Wagorn, the owner of Silk Cat Automotive Specialists.
"It's just a totally different breed. It's a classic. You've got to step back and take a look. It's like working on a fine piece of art," he says.
The son of a mechanic and the nephew of several mechanics, Wagorn has always had his hands in cars.
After developing an appreciation for British classics during a spell working for a car collector, Wagorn opened shop in 1990, which specializes in high-end automobiles, particularly English cars.
"I think it just takes a finesse," says Wagorn, discussing his philosophy for working on a classic.
"You'll see some people, the first thing they'll do is stick their head under the car. They don't put down blankets, they don't treat the car as if it's something special. They just start getting in there and pulling things apart. They put wrenches down on fenders, put wrenches inside the engine compartment."
While many auto assembly lines consist primarily of mechanized mechanics, the classics often have a personal touch.
Hand-built Jaguars are particularly interesting due to their somewhat idiosyncratic construction, according to Wagorn.
"Each side is kind of different. Bob might be on one side and John might have been on the other side as it's going through the assembly line," he says. While a Honda owner can rest assured that any decent mechanic will know their way around a Civic's transmission, the owner of a 1917 Hudson Phaeton has no such confidence.
Despite those misgivings, Wagorn says tracking down parts isn't nearly the problem some may imagine.
The Internet has made it much easier to find rare car parts, and in those instances where a Google search is fruitless, parts can be fabricated.
For many auto owners, the car is a reflection of their personality, explains Wagorn.
"You know how dog owners always look like their dog?" he asks. "It's the same way with a lot of these classics. The people literally match their car."
JEREMY SHEPHERD [email protected]
