About Bob Earls
I’ve been a certified gearhead since elementary school and have been told that I must have gasoline coursing through my veins. I don’t know about that, but I do seem to spend an inordinate amount of time living/breathing cars.
Over the years I have had to go back over others’ badly botched repairs, or informed a new owner that what they bought was not the restoration they were told, but a deceptive detail job.
Rule #1 when buying a collector car: A mediocre paint job and some shiny chrome wheels don't qualify as a restoration.
What distinguishes me from other inspection services is over 40 years of professional restoration, street rod and maintenance experience of pre-1975 vehicles, I’ve been there and done that, as opposed to getting a freshly-minted, on-line correspondence course certificate. My customer’s cars have won at Pebble Beach, LeCercle Concours, Forest Grove Concours, Columbia River Concours, Portland Roadster Show and Seattle Roadster Show.
I have a broad knowledge of cars between 1925 and 1975, and although I do know some marques better than others I don’t like to represent myself as an authority of any specific make or model. I will give your potential acquisition a thorough going-over and report everything I am able to see and check. I keep abreast of current market trends and auction sale results. As an appraiser I can give you my opinion of a range of value. Many appraisers may tell you what you want to hear, but because I've been in the restoration trenches I'll tell you what you need to know in order to make an intelligent, well-informed decision on a purchase or sale. In many cases I can give you a reasonable “ball park” estimate on what certain repairs might cost.
I also offer consultation services on restorations so you can work your way through the often confusing and time consuming process.
Over the years I have had to go back over others’ badly botched repairs, or informed a new owner that what they bought was not the restoration they were told, but a deceptive detail job.
Rule #1 when buying a collector car: A mediocre paint job and some shiny chrome wheels don't qualify as a restoration.
What distinguishes me from other inspection services is over 40 years of professional restoration, street rod and maintenance experience of pre-1975 vehicles, I’ve been there and done that, as opposed to getting a freshly-minted, on-line correspondence course certificate. My customer’s cars have won at Pebble Beach, LeCercle Concours, Forest Grove Concours, Columbia River Concours, Portland Roadster Show and Seattle Roadster Show.
I have a broad knowledge of cars between 1925 and 1975, and although I do know some marques better than others I don’t like to represent myself as an authority of any specific make or model. I will give your potential acquisition a thorough going-over and report everything I am able to see and check. I keep abreast of current market trends and auction sale results. As an appraiser I can give you my opinion of a range of value. Many appraisers may tell you what you want to hear, but because I've been in the restoration trenches I'll tell you what you need to know in order to make an intelligent, well-informed decision on a purchase or sale. In many cases I can give you a reasonable “ball park” estimate on what certain repairs might cost.
I also offer consultation services on restorations so you can work your way through the often confusing and time consuming process.
My automotive experience includes:
Cars I’ve built and worked on have won awards at Pebble Beach, LeCercle, Forest Grove Concours, Columbia River Concours, Portland Roadster Show, and the Seattle Roadster Show.
Inspection travel has included trips to China and London.
I belong to the CCCA (Classic Car Club of America), AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America), the Packard Club, CORSA (Corvair), and the Studebaker Club.
- Hill & Vaughn in Santa Monica during the late ’70s doing their engine and chassis work.
- California Custom Coach in Pasadena during 1980-81 doing the engine and chassis work for their Auburn speedster replicas.
- Lamborghini Of North America in Torrance during1982 as shop foreman.
- Brinkman Collection in Los Angeles, 1983-87: creating and maintaining his diverse collection.
- Don Ricardo Collection in Pasadena, 1984-87: maintaining one of the most significant Mercedes collections in the United States.
- Webfoot Garage, Portland, Oregon 1991 – Present: restoring, maintaining, and constructing classics, collector cars, and street rods.
- Judging at LeCercle Concours in Los Angeles, Forest Grove Concours, Columbia River Concours.
Cars I’ve built and worked on have won awards at Pebble Beach, LeCercle, Forest Grove Concours, Columbia River Concours, Portland Roadster Show, and the Seattle Roadster Show.
Inspection travel has included trips to China and London.
I belong to the CCCA (Classic Car Club of America), AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America), the Packard Club, CORSA (Corvair), and the Studebaker Club.