Born in California in 1929, Bill Reese has lived over eight decades, spanning the Great Depression, World War II, and 14 presidents. He persevered in his schooling to earn a Doctorate in Education and had a storied career in law enforcement.  He has always had a passion for collecting cars and restoring them.

It all started as a boy. Bill was heavily exposed to automobiles because his father was an auto mechanic.  His father was very old-school, diagnosing car problems without the use of any major technology or diagnostic equipment.  Bill can remember a time when his father put the working end of a screw driver on a running engine of a car that was having problems.  His father then put his ear to the handle and based on the sound that the engine was making, he diagnosed that the car needed wrist pins.  Bill's family had all kinds of cars as he was growing up, including a Model T, a Pierce Arrow, and a Model A Roadster. 

Bill got his driver's license at the age of 15.  He promised his mother that he would drive her anywhere she desired if she signed the request for a California driver's license.  Of course, shortly after he got his license, the desire to fulfill his promise of chauffeuring her around rapidly diminished.  Bill figures that she knew that would happen, though.  His first car was a 1935 Chevy two door sedan.  Since Bill was in High School at the time, he was able to utilize the mechanical shop.  He and several friends rebuilt the 6 cylinder engine.  Shortly after that, he sold the car and purchased a 1936 Hudson Terraplane Coupe.  He vividly remembers burning out thirteen rods before his dad finally diagnosed that the gear that pumps oil to the engine was stripped. 

Bill's first Model A was a 1931 Roadster, pictured here with his sister, Shirley.  According to Bill, it was super at making the girls swoon.   Bill drove the Model A through most of High School.  He figures it would be worth some big bucks today if it was restored. 

The dream car of his teen years was a 1937 Chevy Business Coupe.  He loved the car.  A few years after he bought it, his cousin, who was in the Navy submarine service, came home from World War II on a furlough and told Bill he was very interested in buying it.    Bill foolishly blurted out that he would take $600 for it, assuming that that was an enormous amount of money, and that there would be no way his cousin would accept such an offer.  Well, like a sailor on shore-leave, his cousin peeled six $100 bills out of his pocket and Bill couldn't back down on the offer.  So away went the car of his dreams, one which he has been trying to recover for nearly 60 years.

Mr. Reese has restored Model A's, built hot rods, and had as many as five cars at a time.  He reckons that he drove his mother nearly insane with some of the tickets and daring episodes he has had with his cars.  She most likely dreaded the day she signed for that license.  Bill conservatively estimates that he has had over 125 cars during his lifetime.  “In the early days it was possible to own lots of cars, since insurance wasn't required” Bill says.

As a young man, Bill met several police officers through the many traffic citations he received in his teen years.  None of the infractions were serious, but they were pretty annoying for his mother and father.  Eventually, in his late 20’s Bill chose to pursue a career as a law enforcement officer.  For him, it became apparent that it was better to join them than to oppose them!

After much hard work and the need for a better position, Bill was accepted as a Deputy Sheriff and was employed as a patrolman for the City of South Pasadena in California. During this time, Mr. Reese sought to finish his college education.  He earned a BS in Police Administration, an M.A. in Health and Science, and a Doctorate of Education in Institutional Management at Pepperdine.  Bill led a very busy life as his college studies were intertwined with marriage, child rearing, and his full time employment as a patrolman.  Bill had little time for his car hobby but he did manage to join a Ford Car Club and restore a 1929 four door and a bucket case 1930 Model A Pick-up.

Over the course of thirty years, Bill worked his way up the ranks at the South Pasadena Police Department.  He held various job titles including Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Commander, and eventually Chief of Police.“My last five years were as Chief and it was especially gratifying, since I was the only South Pasadena P. D. Chief in over 40 years, that had gone though the whole gamut from patrolman to Chief.  It was a challenging and demanding tour of duty that I attribute to my wife's patience, the support of my kids, and the good Lord's blessings.”

Although he was very busy, he never gave up his dream: getting a '37 Chevy Business Coupe back in his possession.  The model "A's" were an easy entrance back into restoration, but the desire to get that 37 Chevy, led Bill to purchase a '37 Tudor Sedan on eBay.  He then dropped out of the Ford club and joined the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America (VCCA).  For Bill, this was the start of a tedious restoration process.

“I found that the rear floor boards were rusted out and there were several other problems that needed fixing.  The early part of the restoration entailed seeking someone to replace the rusted metal and then investing a considerable amount of time and money to get the replacement metal installed.  Luckily, the motor, a 216 stock, was in good condition.  There were numerous dents, bumps and scrapes, and a shimmy situation that had to be dealt with.”

Bill was rewarded for his time and effort, as the '37 Chevy is in good condition and performs well on Club Tours.  Has Bill given up on his dream of having a '37 Business Coupe?  “No, it still remains a wish ... down the lane perhaps.”  Almost everything on the restored '37 Chevy Tudor Sedan is new.  According to Bill, “The only thing '37 about it is the cab and a 1937 California license plate.  Oh, here is a caveat emptor...Always check a vehicle for rust before you buy it.”

Bill definitely emphasized the need to check for rust as this problematic issue reared its ugly head fairly recently.  For Bill's 80^th birthday, his family purchased a 1965 Mercedes SL, as a surprise gift.  It was a well kept secret, and it was to be the restitution for an identical vehicle that he had sold as a down payment on his family's home, 30 years prior.  The sellers assured Bill's family that the vehicle had been thoroughly checked and was in pristine condition.  This was the case on the top side of the car. Underneath, though, it turned out to be a "rust bucket" that had been covered with tar.  Fortunately, through legal action, Bill and his family recovered 95 percent of the purchase price back.  Since then, Bill's latest acquisition is a 1969 Mercedes SL from Ventura California, with "no rust".  Bill has restored it to about a 90 percent point car.  “I intend to drive it and enjoy it for the rest of my tenure here on earth.”

The last 20 years have allowed Bill to become active in his life-long love affair with vehicles. Searching for and finding parts, sharing information, making new friends and the fruits of the labors of the restoration is a gift that is invaluable. It does require sensitivity to family and budget, of course. “For example the cost of a Chevy or Ford part does not equate with that of the Mercedes. I made it a rule to not allow the cost of my car fetish affect the household budget. I've done some work playing Santa and some chauffeuring to help pay for my unique hobby” says Mr. Reese.  Over the course of his life, he's owned a great number of Fords, some Chevys, Chryslers, an Austin Healy, a Porsche, a Mercedes Benz, several Volvos, and several VWs.  He current has a 1995 Cadillac four door Converse, a ‘37 restored Tudor Chevy Sedan (This is as close as he's come to re-capturing his dream car, the '37 Chevy Business Coupe), a 1937 Chevy Pick-up hot rod with a 350 engine, a ‘69 VW sedan, and a ‘69 Mercedes SL (his latest purchase).  Bill has also stayed active in the VCCA and been its Director for 5 years.  He also recently joined the MBA (Musclecar Brokers Alliance).

Bill thinks that someday he'll sell the two Chevys and a VW Bug he owns and like serendipity, find a ‘37 Chevy Business Coupe just waiting to be restored and loved.  “Time is really not part of the equation. After all we are only here for a hop, skip, and jump and then a hope of life thereafter. I promised my dear wife I would stick around until I'm 93. That would allow us to have a 50th anniversary.”

By Carson Honaker

Carson is a computer engineer and personal trainer as well as a freelance writer.