In this weeks Made with Michigan Hands reports, some Traverse City businesses came together all for a local restoration project. Their collaboration and hands on approach is all part of restoring a part of Michigan history.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Henry Ford directly impacted Michigan's automotive industry...and decades later restoring classic cars created by Ford has become not only a hobby, but a tradition.
"At Hagerty we're all about celebrating the history and tradition of the automobile and it just so happens that we live in the state of Michigan were many if not most of the cars in the U.S were built," says CEO of Hagerty Insurance in Traverse City, McKeel Hagerty.
It's this motivation along with the idea of having its employees grasp a deeper appreciation for restoring classic cars, that prompted Hagerty Insurance to restore a Ford Model-A. Built in 1930, the 80 year old car needed a modern make-over.
"That's where we work with Bill Marsh to help us get the car painted and get it prepped and ready for painting and we also work with Barrett Upholstery," says Hagerty.
The project started last January. With the help of more than 100 Hagerty employees, Barrett's Auto and Marine Trim in Traverse City assisting with Trim and Upholstery and Bill Marsh Auto Body using their newest water-based paint technology.
"They were interested in using our body shop facilities, particularly our paint spray booth to be able to get some of the body work and paint work done on their vehicle...which is really state of the art stuff. Twenty-first century paint on this turn of the century vehicle," says Jamie Marsh with Bill Marsh Automotive.
"Especially with a car like this we're trying to make it as close to what it was when Henry Ford first built it. So, we want to first research and make sure that we're putting the correct upholstery, the correct top, the correct colors," says Paul Barrett, owner of Barrett's Auto and Marine Trim.
The total cost of the project was about $30 thousand...all which went right back into the community since all restoration was kept local.
"I think it says a lot because these are never a one person project. It involves a lot of people coming together, working together," says Barrett.
"It really is a unique situation in that Michigan has always been the automotive state. These cars were made here, restored here and people are still into this as a hobby and I like to say, 'why not, why not us, why not do it," says Hagerty.
Just a little known fact, more than five-million Ford Model-A's were produced in styles. You can view the restored car at Hagerty Insurance in downtown Traverse City.
