THE ACCIDENTAL RESTORER Book

THE ACCIDENTAL RESTORER 

Cars, Concours, & Characters 

 

By Raja Gargour

2022

 

I thought that I was in the classic car restoration business, so I never expected meeting life size statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Osaka – of all places! But that is exactly what happened during a visit to one of our clients. While we discussed his classic car, Snow White and all seven dwarfs peered down at us from his little balcony. 

This is the story of my adventures into the restoration of quite a few rare and priceless classic cars. The story starts in 1984 and ends in 1995; however, looking back, it seems my whole life was in preparation for this accidental adventure and its aftermath. 

The history of the automobile parallels the history of the industrial revolution and the two World Wars. I lived that history through these cars. Cars before World War I such as the 1905 Mercedes; and those of the “roaring twenties” like the 1925 Hispano-Suiza, all the way through the golden age of automotive design just before World War II and the cars that followed in the 50s and 60s. 

Each car we restored, transformed me to a different era. I lived their stories and survived their owners’ personalities; won many Concours and interacted with some truly unique characters. These are the stories that I still remember.”

- Raja Gargour

Amman, March 2022 

 

 

ISBN 978-9923-00-175-2 

Published by: Yarnu Publications. — www.yarnu.com. 

Book design: Hussein Alazaat, ALAZAAT Design Studio. — www.alazaat.com 

138pp Hard cover — 28.5 x 21 CM

Printed on: 170gsm Art Matte Paper and bound by the National Press, Amman, Jordan. 

Back cover