By Ashley Reyes
SEMA's Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) has named Hahn Auto Restoration as the council's newest spotlight member. Get to know the company’s story in the SEMA News interview with Hahn Auto Restoration Owner Amy Beck below.
SEMA News: Tell us the story of your business. How did you start?
Amy Beck: Hahn Auto Restoration was founded in 2001 by Bill Hahn and Wes Woodward. In 2013, Bill's daughter, Amy Beck, joined the company. A year later, Wes Woodward retired, and Paul Vorbach joined, leading to the company being renamed Hahn Vorbach. In 2016, Bill and Paul started a new venture, HV3D Works, which specialized in 3D printed parts. In 2017, Paul took over HV3D Works, and the original company was renamed Hahn Auto Restoration. The company's founder, Bill Hahn, retired in 2023. Amy Hahn Beck is now the owner and continues to uphold the standard set by her father and looks forward to blazing a new path for Hahn Auto Restoration. Throughout all the years of changes, the company has maintained a trusted reputation and has won several national awards.
SN: What was your breakthrough moment?
AB: There have been several moments over the years where you can look back and marvel at how that happened. Every evolving moment counts. From moving a shop in two and a half days to finishing a very complicated restoration of a vehicle that rolled over to 3D printing, to changing owners or moving from one generation to the next. They are all very important moments that make the life of a company and make the life of all the people involved in the company.
SN: Tell us about your business now and the projects that you are working on.
AB: Our diverse team has been assembled to create works of art. From our British Car Specialist to our Mopar Specialist, we hire top people in their area of expertise so we can work on many makes and models. With that being said, the shop floor is very diverse. We have a full restoration going of a '63 356B Porsche, '54 Jaguar XK120, '60 Jaguar Mark II, '68 Lamborghini Espada. A partial restoration of a '37 Cord, '70 MG Midget, '66 Mercedes 230SL. Then there are several in for repairs, including a '95 Rolls Royce, '70 GTO, '56 Mercedes 190SL and a few others.
SN: Tell us about a particular project, product or build you are proud of.
AB: The '38 H.R.G. Coupe was one of our favorite projects. HRG Engineering was an English car builder. Between '35 and '56 the company produced 241 vehicles. All were roadsters except one…the 1938 HRG Coupe. The coupe was the brainchild of Maj. Ted Halford (the H in HRG) and was produced as a prototype. It is the only HRG to be powered by a Triumph engine. The frame was constructed from the chassis of the Halford-Cross Rotary Special race car, which was widened to accept the coupe body and rechristened as Chassis #WT-68. The rear section of the car was a second series of the distinctive MG Airline coupe manufactured by Carbodies (now known as London Taxi). The fenders and bonnet were unique to the HRG and were formed by the Crofts Coachbuilding firm, which also handled the body assembly. The car was debuted at the famed Brooklands Race Track in England in 1938. When Halford left the company, the remaining partners scrapped the project but the little coupe survived. It was purchased by its current owner in 1965, disassembled and brought to the U.S. (still in pieces) in 1985. The car has undergone a long and extensive restoration to bring it to the level you see today. As a one-of-one vehicle, it is a unique and historic piece of British automotive history.
SN: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive restoration segment?
AB: Go for it. There's no reason not to. Restoration is a thriving industry. You can make a great living and you are needed.
Fill out an ARMO-member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates will be featured on ARMO's social media, SEMA News and future ARMO-member updates.
