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Fathers footsteps

Over 50 episodes, yes this is 50, I’ve talked to 50 different people with just about every automotive category. If you’ve been here since episode one, we’ve heard stories of why people have been motivated by a movie, a car hanging on a poster, or a family heirloom that you just can’t let go. However this story might be one of the most heart wrenching that I have done and when I first spoke with Rob Williams at World of Wheels Pittsburgh I knew his story needed to be told. It all starts with this Porsche 944, not just any run of the mill old car, maybe the finest restored 944 in North America, maybe the world. The project was started by his father and after his untimely death finished by Rob and rolled onto the Pittsburgh Convention Center floor, a dream his father envisioned.

The story starts with Rob’s father purchasing a red 1984 Porsche 944 for $1600 as a project he would restore to the finest quality. Let’s back up. Rob’s father wasn’t just a guy who was into cars, he was a crafted body man who worked his entire life making sure only the best work came from his hands. Rob explained, “he was a body-man since he was 15,” and, “always taught me, everything is all about the details, always take your time, always do it right the first time.” Rob’s father was always into Porsches and old VWs and Rob suspects that he saw one as a younger man and knew he wanted a 944 at some point. His dream car was a 911 however he knew that by the time he shelled out the money for these high dollar cars he would have no money left to restore it.

When the car showed up in the garage it was in poor shape, imagine something that cost $1600. The motor was blown, interior and body weren’t the best and represented something you’d find when cars sit for many years neglected.

944s aren’t the most popular car to restore and as you can imagine there are not plenty of places that reproduce parts. Rob’s father found a man in New Jersey who was a 944 enthusiast who decided to get out of the restoration game. He sold a large lot of 944 specific parts for Rob’s father and after he took delivery picked only the best pieces to use on his project. The car then went through a 3 year nut and bolt restoration where every panel, fitting, electrical was painstakingly torn aport and restored back to new. Rob tells the story of showing up to his fathers house and he had buckets with wires hanging in them in which his dad explained, “I’m electroplating.”

After his death Rob decided that he needed to honor his father and finish the car. The car had the full suspension built, the paint and body were complete and the engine was installed. Rob started the process of completing the interior and essentially did final assembly on the car. Rob took the liberty of throwing his own touches on the car with the black accents on the wing and bumpers. It took him about a year to complete as he was dealing with all of the additional responsibilities that come along with a family members death. After many emotional nights of working on parts that he knew his father was the last to touch, he completed it mere days before World of Wheels Pittsburgh. It was a dream of his fathers to see a piece of his artwork shining under the convention center lights and Rob fulfilled that. Rob states, “all I wanted to do is make my dad proud.”

This dream was not only fulfilled but it was done on the day on what would have been his fathers birthday…and boy did it show well. Rob explained how emotional it was unloading the car and placing it in the show, “I only cried five times.” As he came back to the car on Sunday morning he found the first place trophy sitting in the trunk and all he could say was, “we did it dad.” When I was cruising through the show this 944 stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the customized Civics and WRX’s. The years of meticulous work was on display and stopped me in my tracks memorized at the level of detail and cleanliness the car projects. As mentioned in the podcast there is not one spec of dust, rust or rot that you will find on this vehicle. I truly believe this is one of the highest quality 944 restorations you will ever put eyes on aand belongs in a museum. And this is where the story throws you a curve ball.

Rob’s fathers last dream for the car was for it to roll across the block on television at the Mecum Auto Auction. Which means Rob will one day part with the vehicle! When I asked the question about selling the car Rob said, “my dad said he wanted to sell it to some rich guy for way too much money.” Which to me is such a juxtaposition to what I was expecting when I asked the question about how long he would keep it. This might be the end of the story, it might not, but judging from the attention the car is gathering whether he keeps it or not, Rob will be making the right decision. Rob still has not taken out on the road because it terrifies him. He does not want to risk ruining the incredible work his father completed and is, “the only thing I have left of him.”

What’s funny about the Porsche is that Rob is not a German car guy at all, in fact he hates them. He worked as a mechanic at Mercedes Benz and after the messes he had to clean up he never wants to work on one again. Rob is a hardcore Japanese car enthusiast. A guy with five cars and no garage, he builds motors in his kitchen and works in the driveway when the days are nice. If you know Pittsburgh, these are few and far between. He’s currently rebuilding a motor from a 3000GT along with a 4G63 and a motor from a Civic, all located in the house. All of the cars follow his fathers recipe of meticulous attention to detail under the hood and cleanliness all around.

He also has caught the drift bug and bought a 350z which on the outside looks beat but underneath the bones are great. With only 30K and some change on the odometer he’s got the car setup nicely for this years drift season. Fortunately for Rob his girlfriend is also into cars and has caught the car bug as well which allows for him to fuel his car addiction. She was also very emotional about the Porsche build as she knew Rob’s father well.

Big thank you to Rob for showing up during a monsoon and talking about him and his fathers masterpiece. Go follow his journey with the Porsche on instagram @rob933kgt and who knows if you’re in the market for a 944 you might have a chance to buy it. Be on the look out for Rob and his girlfriend who goes to many of the DSM events, drift events and some local car shows.