University Motors Closing

[dklawson]

University Motors run by John Twist is closing next month. This has been posted on other boards and the MG forum here. In case anyone missed it, please read the succinct summary at:
https://www.universitymotorsltd.com/

 

[jlaird]

Passing of an icon.

 

[toysrrus]

Wow, Not good news.

We`ve had the same situation happen here in NE PA.

One of thee, If not "THEE" best LBC mechanic closed his doors forever after nearly 40yrs of serving the community.

Sign of the Times I suppose but wish there were better signs out there.

Russ

 

[jvandyke]

Bummer. I remember going to John for advice and help with my 1500 Midget back in '88 or so. He's an awesome guy. I always wanted to sweep floors in his shop just for the chance to learn. Every time I go there (about once a week it seems) for some little tidbit there's cars being worked on. I'm surprised they're hurting (although he's right about our Governess and the "tax business into oblivion" mentality that has shoved Michigan into a recession years ahead of her time....I digress..)

I'll have to watch for deals on parts and special tools and such, although it feels wrong to scavenge off them. He has this HUGE MG octagon sign that would look stellar above my house......

 

[walshja]

his video on starting an MG without a key saved me a few weeks ago

John Twist seems like a guy who loves his job, sad to see it come to this.

 

[Mio]

John Twist seems like a guy who loves his job,

Not only does he love his job, he's one of the most altruistic and helpful individuals that one will ever meet. Indeed, he was in the habit of taking technical phone calls during his lunch hour! I don't recall ever coming across someone that was so willing to help others in real-time while on lunch break.

Mike

 

[Sarastro]

Serious bummer. There goes another resource, and a deep repository of knowledge.

 

[vagt6]

A bummer it is. I wish Mr. Twist the very best.

We lost a Triumph specialty shop down here a couple of years ago, and as usual with small, specialty businesses, no one else has stepped up to fill the void.

Joe Hash Triumph, Ltd., in Grottoes, VA closed due to the owner's health problems. Like John Twist, Joe was a highly skilled and experienced craftsman with old-school honesty and integrity and a very cool guy. There's another LBC repair specialist nearby, but there's nothing like Joe's shop. He could do it all: body; paint; ground-off restos on Triumphs, Jags, Healeys. He helped me immensely with my GT6 restoration, couldn't have done it without him. He knew every single inch of a Triumph, could fix 'em in his sleep.

Sadly, it's hard for a small, specialty repair shop to attract young craftsmen because they can't generally afford to pay the higher wages and benefits. And, I don't see any younger craftsmen taking the place of the retiring LBC specialists.

Maybe we need to work harder to get the younger generation involved in our hobby?

Food for thought . . .

 

[Trevor Jessie]

John made a lengthy post on MGExperience that explains his decision. He made some excellent points and it is apparent that his decision was well thought out.

 

[jlaird]

Link pls.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Hmmm... I can't find it now. It was getting a bit political, so they may have pulled it.

Basically, he said his wife was undergoing cancer treatment, the shop broke even in 2007, lost money in 2008, and was headed for a horrific year in 2009. He decided to cut his losses since people do not have a huge entertainment budget at the moment, and money spent on British Cars is basically for entertainment. So, while other car repair shops flourish at times like these... his type shop does not. And he has no desire to run a shop for modern vehicles.

According to his YouTube video, he was planning to shut down and retire in a few years anyway (he is 60). So the economy just hastened the shop closing a bit.

 

[jhorton3]

Here's the statement he made on YouTube about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CDrhFFEcUU&feature=channel_page

 

[jhorton3]

He didn't go into great detail in the video, but did say something very similar to his plan in 5 years just came due sooner than expected. In the video he's showing some of the cars at his shop. One is the last surviving American spec MGB GT V8.