Paul Russell
Over the past 40 years, Paul Russell and Company near Boston have become known as the world’s finest restoration workshop for concours-winning collector cars.
With 46 ‘Best of Show’ awards at the world’s most prestigious Pebble Beach Concours, it is fair to say Paul Russell knows a thing or two about restoring old cars. His clients include top-tier collectors such as Ralph Lauren and Andreas Mohringer , the Chairman of Samsung Electronics Corporation , to retired entrepreneur whose 22-car collection ranges from an economical 1958 BMW Isetta to a Mercedes 540K Special Roadster once owned by Warner Bros. founder Jack Warner and right down to us mere mortals without instantly recognizable names. Everyone is treated the same in Paul Russell’s world.
Paul Russell's shop is tucked away on a winding New England road tailored for a '50s-era roadster. There are woodworkers who bend and shape the wooden frames on pre-Second World War, coach-built cars; upholsterers whose skill would be suitable for the finest homes; and engine mechanics who work magic on the mind-numbingly complex power plants that come through the doors.
The restoration progress does not come cheap an initial deposit is required to get started. In return, Russell sends detailed statements every month cataloguing every bit of work done to the car. The statements include notes from the mechanic about scoring found on the interior walls of cylinders to a body shop memo about rust removed from the inner reaches of a quarter-panel. He also includes "in-progress" photos of the restoration, which he gathers into a scrapbook once the work is complete. A full restoration can take up to 2,500 to 3,000 hours.
Rebuilding cars to their previous condition often means building a history of the car from whatever clues are available. Some people do not care whether those hose clamps are Italian or American," Russell says. "We ask them whether they want a show car that will compete on a national level or whether they want a car they can enjoy and drive, as a way of helping them define their goals and ambitions."
Today, the people who bring their cars to Russell need to share his zeal for perfection; there is a waiting list of six to eight months and customers can expect to leave their car for a year for a full restoration. During that time, Russell's team of specialists will strip the car down to its shell and rebuild it piece by piece.
"There isn't anyone in the world, including Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart, that comes anywhere close to his craftsmanship, “say the Mercedes Benz experts "There are no shortcuts with Paul."
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300Sb
Winning is an art and can be quite expensive. The professionals who specialize in restoring these show cars are a small group. They are forensic researchers, historians, artisans, world travelers and curators.
1958 Ferrari 335 Sport
Paul Russell is what separates a nice, shiny old car from a potential Pebble Beach winner?
Paul Russell and Ralph Lauren at Pebble Beach