73 Year Old Mechanic Repairs Museum Vehicles

73 Year Old Mechanic Repairs Museum Vehicles

You might have never heard of Chris Beebe, but he is one of the most prolific individuals in the automotive industry. He has owned and worked at Foreign Car Specialists in Madison, Wisconsin for over 45 years. He was active in the world of racing for over 30 years, both in the driver's seat and as an instructor. He was also instrumental in the development of the Chevy Volt. Now he has turned his talents toward assisting the Midwest Microcar Museum with 15 cars and 13 motorcycles that were damaged earlier this year in torrential rains. 

Working out of a small shed on a farm near the museum, Chris has been drying, repairing, and replacing the materials necessary to get the vehicles back into shape. The damage was extensive to many, though. The flood waters completely engulfed the engine compartments of almost off of them, including the amphibious Aquacar, whose seals failed under the sudden influx of water and flooded. 

Many of these vehicles have engines that are only slightly larger than a modern riding lawnmower, meaning they're extremely difficult to work with. Many had no drain plugs, meaning Chris had to drill holes for drainage. Fans and dehumidifiers have been running nonstop to extract as much ambient water as possible, but it's been an uphill battle. Our partners at Kennedy's Auto Body Shop here in Anchorage, AK can vouch for the difficulty of working on flood-damaged vehicles, as they often have issues that are only discovered during a complete teardown.

Unfortunately for all involved, it wasn't just water that washed in with the flood. It also had high concentrations of sewage, and after it got into the museum itself a thick layer of oil covered all substances. It's been messy and difficult work, but Chris has taken it all in stride. 

Carlo Krause, the museum's owner may just be Chris' biggest fan.

“He’s a gift from God. You’d never find another guy around here that even comes close to what this guy is doing. I nearly kiss the guy every time I see him.”

Written By: Todd Hendrickson
Source: postandcourier.com