Grundy Worldwide has expanded its team with the addition of automotive restoration specialist Luke Spence, a graduate of McPherson College.  Luke will represent the insurance company at collector car shows, as he drives across the country with the Grundy travel trailer in tow.

Luke has previously worked for Kansas City’s Carriage and Motor Works and at the Collier Automotive Museum, in Naples, Fla., as well. He joins Grundy with expectations of jumping into the business end of the hobby in which he has been involved, since he was merely a toddler.

“My dad always had a love for the 1960s muscle cars he grew up around,” says Luke. “And, I just followed him to car shows.” 

Now, he will have a chance to visits dozens of car shows, while traveling for Grundy Worldwide.  Grundy has a strong presence at collector car shows across the country, as the company sends representatives to between 50 and 60 such events, each year.

“I’m excited to go to the shows,” says Luke.  “I can’t wait to meet other hobbyists and make new contacts, while selling Grundy insurance.”

Luke brings plenty of expertise to Grundy, as a graduate of “the only accredited four-year college that offers a degree in Automotive Restoration Technology,” as stated on McPherson College’s Web site.

Luke says that he learned about the college from an article his father found in a local Kansas City newspaper. After reading about the automotive program they offered to students, Luke says he immediately visited the Web site and applied within 12 hours of learning about what would soon be his future school.

While attending McPherson, Luke studied and received a degree in Technology with an emphasis on Historic Automotive Restoration, which included investigating the history of this specialized industry, while also spending many hours in the shop.

“We learned that restoration is an industry about time. It’s nothing to rush. And the minor details are important,” he says.  “Anyone can do the first 90 per cent of the job. But it’s that last 10 per cent of details that count. I was taught about meticulous detail.”

Luke brought his close attention to detail to an internship program with Carriage and Motor Works. There, for several summers, he worked on collision repair and restoration work on foreign and American made cars, including Ford, Dodge, Lotus, Alfa-Romeo, MG, Porsche and Jaguar.  Some of his duties included metal forming, welding, paint work, removal and installation of new and/or handmade body parts.  He says he also did a lot of “grunt work,” including sanding and polishing.  But, he says it was worth every minute.

Once he graduated from McPherson, in the Fall of 2006, Luke’s experience in the field landed him an opportunity at the Collier Museum, in Florida. There, he did extensive prep and paint work on a 1953 Cunningham C-3. He says he was honored to work among such an elite group of vehicles.

After his experiences at Carriage and Motor Works and the Collier Museum, Luke spent a short time working on American muscle cars at Showroom Finish Specialist, based in Shawnee, Kan., before he decided to look more towards the business side of the collector car industry. When he chose to make the change, Luke researched and contacted different companies and ultimately made the choice to work for Grundy Worldwide.

“We’re glad to have yet another hobbyist on board our team,” says Jim Grundy, President of Grundy Worldwide.  “Since our agency began insuring antique cars, over 60 years ago, Grundy’s employees have always been involved in this hobby in different aspects and in various capacities.  Luke’s direct experience in restoration will bring all the more expertise to an office that is already filled with collector car enthusiasts.”

“I am bringing a lot of knowledge to Grundy,” says Luke. “I understand these cars and the amount of work that goes into them. I hope to bring a sense of comfort to our customers by having a background in restoration.”

Luke is currently scheduled to travel to The Stan Hywet Father’s Day Car Show in Akron, Ohio (June 15), The Goodguys 3rd Nashville Nationals (June 27-29) and The Summer Nationals in Worcester, Mass. (July 3-6).

Be sure to stop by Grundy’s exhibits at these shows to meet Luke and other Grundy representatives who also share a passion for collector cars.  Grundy’s traveling reps can provide you with insurance quotes on the spot. A full listing of events that Grundy attends is located at www.grundy.com/calendar.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin