History

    We specialize in Collector Cars: Classic, Muscle, Antique, Custom and Hot Rods

   

From headlight to taillight we do complete restoration and repair - foreign or domestic

BUILD THE CAR OF YOUR DREAM   -   COMPLETE RESTORATION AND REPAIR OF ALL COLLECTOR CARS  -   IF NOT NOW?   -   WHEN?   -  ANTIQUE TO MUSCLE   -   BODY WORK - PAINT - MECHANICAL - ELECTRICAL - INTERIOR   

Home Classic Sales Restoration Services Scooters Restoration Projects Past Projects Current Projects History Car Show Links Restoration Tips Projects For Sale Cars Wanted


Renovating the building

Family History

My father, Bill Wilson, was born in 1906, and he grew up during the very beginning of the automotive industry.  Working as a mechanic from age twelve, he was the sole support of his family during the depression of the 1920's.  Recognized for his skill as a mechanic, he opened his own garage, Wilson Auto Service, during the 1940's.  He took on the Packard and Willy's dealership until Packard went out of business in the 1950's.  Then, he finished his career as the service manager for a local garage.

Wilson Classic Car has grown out of this rich legacy.  As a young man, I would stop on my way home from kindergarten to watch the mechanics in my dad's garage.  At age twelve, I began building go-carts out of old bed frames and lawn mower engines.  My pals and I made our own steering mechanisms using pulleys, cables and old car steering wheels.  We used tires from old coaster wagons, dolly's and whatever else we could find.  We built our own clutches and brake mechanism. 

 We would race these contraptions down the streets of Burlington, seeing who could go the fastest.  Of course the police did not appreciate this practice and warned us to stop many times.  Once our go-carts ended up in jail over night.  After we could no longer drive in the city, we started driving in the country.  Our favorite drive was to Lyons and Lake Geneva.

The next step was building mini-bikes.  Again we started with lawn mower engines, bed frames and used whatever other materials we could find.  We mounted the engines in various places, but the best spot turned out to be on a platform off to the side using a third drive wheel.  The nice part about this was that we could shut the engine off, raise the wheel with a lever and drive the bicycle in the city normally, then when we wanted engine power, we could just lower the wheel, the engine would start, and away we’d go.   

My father gave me my first car, a 1953 Packard, just before I turned sixteen.  He said I could have the car if I repaired the blown head gasket.  At age sixteen, changing the head gasket in a straight eight turned out to be quite the project.  That was my first car, a little rusty and four doors, but I loved that it. 

When I was sixteen, I had a 250 cc Yamaha motorcycle.  When I was 17, I bought a 1948 pan head 74 Harley Davidson for 50 dollars.  I had some great experiences on that cycle.  Straight pipes, saddle bags, kick start, suicide clutch, side shifting, saddle seat; it was quite the bike.  In high school, I took every shop class offered and completed several hot rod projects. 

After high school, I spent a year in college and then ended up in the Army and eventually, Viet Nam.  When I came back, it was time for marriage and a real job.  I began working as a technician for National Cash Register (NCR) repairing business equipment.  I worked there ten years and then began my own business in East Troy, Wisconsin.  It was a great place to raise my five children.  To shorten a long story, I went back to college and graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater in 1994. I began teaching students with learning disabilities at Burlington High School where I have been teaching for the past ten years. 

That brings me to this last summer of 2004; my wife Deb and I, purchased the building across from Dad’s old garage.  Wilson Classic Car became a reality.  I know it will not always be easy, but I am very excited about the future and proud to have the Wilson name back in the car business.


 


Thanks for stopping

Shop is Open  Mon - Fri.  9 AM to 6 PM and 

                                 Sat. 10 AM to 2 PM 

                           or by appointment      

                                                                          

Phone:        262-763-1903                                  

Fax:             262-763-1899

 

 

Owner: Errol Wilson

Wilson Classic Car        

724 S. Pine St.   

Burlington, WI 53105

 

email: wilsonclassiccar@hotmail.com                          

Map/Location:  Wilson Classic Car