Lastly, always buy from repu-

tation. If you are interested in

buying a car from an individual, it

is definitely worth paying for a pre

-purchase inspection from a repu-

table shop so that you know what

you are buying is what was pre-

sented to you. An informed buyer

is a good buyer.

W hen thinking about

purchasing a sports

car, Mike Gassman

offers his personal insight on how

to make the best purchase for your

self.

First, Mike recommends know-

ing what you want to accom-

plish. What is most important to

you in your purchase—Are you

looking for a cosmetically great

car? Is a mechanically sound car

more important? Is this purchase

more for investment purposes

rather than enjoyment?

After you have decided what

your purchase will accomplish,

next Mike recommends knowing

what your abilities are. If you

choose a car that has cosmetic

damage, are you capable of fixing

body work? If your car has me-

chanical needs, are you handy with

wrenches? If your answer to both

is no, do you have a body/

mechanical shop to do any neces-

sary repairs for you?

Third, Mike recommends know-

ing what you are getting into

with an antique/sports car. There

are several great sources of parts

for British cars including: Moss

Motors, The Roadster Factory,

Coventry West, British Parts

NorthWest, or you can join a fo-

rum, and use Google to your ad-

vantage! Spend time researching

the cost of parts so you know what

to expect when it comes time for

maintenance.

Tips for Buying YOUR Perfect Sports Car

Our Upholstery Shop is not just for Antiques

O ur upholstery shop, a.k.a.

George and BJ, stay

extremely busy here at

Gassman—and not with just an-

tique interiors! Approximately

60% of our upholstery business

comes from newer model cars,

minivans and trucks. While we are

proud of their capabilities of creat-

ing an entire custom interior, or

replacing an entire carpet set in a

vehicle, we also want to inform

everyone that we are very well

versed in replacing a single bolster

in a seat, replacing an entire head-

liner, or fixing a broken seam.

Whether your car is brand new or

80 years old, our upholsters are

capable of refreshing any interior

including: headliner replacement,

convertible top repair/replacement,

seat cover repair/replacement,

carpet replacement, door panel

repair/replacement, and anything

in between!

Gassman Automotive

August 2014 Volume 2, Issue 2

Gassman News

Special points of

interest:

Know what you want

to accomplish with

your car purchase

Know what your

abilities for main-

taining/fixing the car

may be

Know what you are

getting into, whether

it be for parts or

maintenance

Always buy from

reputation, or have

a reputable shop

perform a pre-

purchase inspection

Inside this issue:

Tips for Buying YOUR

Perfect Sports Car

1

Our Upholstery Shop -

not just for Antiques!

1

Featured Car for Sale 2

Ethanol and Antiques 3

Brake Systems: Safe-

ty First!

3

Say NO to “Biker

Butt”

3

Letter From the Editor 4

Mike Gassman has been a certified

dealer for over 20 years!

T his fantastic example of a

1960 Triumph TR3A had a 7

year, frame off, rotisserie, nut/

bolt restoration completed in the re-

cent past. The entire body was

stripped to bare metal, and beautifully

refinished with extremely nice gaps

and dead straight panels. The engine

compartment is also beautifully re-

stored and detailed. The frame was

sand blasted and painted, every piece

of the suspension system was rebuilt

and upgraded in multiple places. The

engine and transmission were built by

Gary Cook, a factory trained triumph

engine builder. Many New Old Stock

(NOS) parts were used during the

restoration, making this car all the

more desirable. The interior boasts

original leather and rebuilt gauges.

The side curtains were rebuilt as well,

and a new top was installed. Optional

Featured Car for Sale : 1960 Triumph TR3A

Page 2

Gassman News

here, but the bike in the photo

also happens to belong to Mike’s

brother, Joe, who is ready to sell.

An incredible example of the

BMW’s is this 1957 BMW

R60/2, which has the larger 30

hp 300cc engine. The engine and

transmission were both rebuilt

M ike sells a lot of

antique cars every

year, but what most

people probably don’t know is

that he sells antiques bikes as

well! Not only has Mike restored

his very own BMW R50, that is

very similar to the one pictured

by Vech’s, the industry-

leading /2 engine rebuilder, a

few years ago. The bike now

runs and drives perfect and

needs nothing. It will make both

a great investment, and a great

“toy” for any household!

1957 BMW R60/2—Not just cars at Gassman!

equipment includes Amco wind

wings, 8-spoke aluminum spline

drive wheels with radial tires, a ton-

neau cover, and a boot cover. Addi-

tional features include all new

chrome, new steering wheel, new

rubber, new base and clear coat, new

brakes, and virtually everything has

been restored or rebuilt. The car runs,

drives, and looks like new. Over

$60,000 was invested into the restora-

tion alone, and this amazing car is

available for a fraction of the cost due

to health reasons. Needs nothing.

Visit http://

www.gassmanautomotive.com/cars-

for-sale-2/1960-triumph-tr3/ for more

photos or call Mike at 540-649-3000

for more information.

Page 3

Volume 2, Issue 2

Of all of the gas stations in

Waynesboro, only 1 provides

ethanol free fuel. Why is this

important you ask? Ethanol,

which is made from corn, ab-

sorbs water which we all know is

never good for cars. Water in

fuel, besides breaking down the

fuel and causing phase separa-

tion faster, also causes rust in

tanks and fuel lines and causes

poor performance in engines—

especially the older ones. When

phase separation, the separation

of water/ethanol and fuel/

ethanol, occurs, it reduces the

longevity of fuel shelf life. This

is certainly important for those

of us with antiques that are not

our daily drivers. If your car sits

with fuel containing ethanol in

the tank for over a month, it is

recommended to drain the fuel

(and PROPERLY dispose of it)

in order to keep your engine and

fuel system in good condition.

However, there is an alternative:

find a gas station that provides

ethanol free fuel. Sure, it may

cost more, but fuel disposal cer-

tainly is not cheap and replacing

fuel tanks, lines, pumps, hoses,

seals or carburetors is not cheap

either! For more information on

the implications of using fuel

containing ethanol, please visit:

http://www.mossmotors.com/

SiteGraphics/Pages/ethanol.html

pad installed directly into your

seat. Installation inside of the

seat is much simpler than remov-

able pads which can be lost or

forgotten, and will be completely

unnoticeable.

Our upholstery shop offers

affordable installation of custom

Do you enjoy riding your

motorcycle, but often tire of

bumps, long rides, and sore bot-

toms? At some point in time,

every rider feels the discomfort

of “biker butt”. But alas, there is

a simple solution to alleviate

both pain and fatigue: have a gel

cut gel pads that will fit any seat

on any make/model. And since

motorcyclists are not the only

people to suffer from an uncom-

fortable ride, we also offer gel

inserts for cars seats. Call today

to book your appointment.

Ethanol and Antiques

Say NO to “Biker Butt”

Brake Systems: Safety First!

deteriorate shedding flakes into

the fluid which can cause build

up and blockages, lines can cor-

rode, and moisture can enter

systems causing rust. Any and

all of these issues can lead to

brake failure and catastrophe.

The simplest way to prevent a

failure is to have a professional

determine the state of your brake

system. If it is determined that

calipers or pistons need to be

replaced, as they often are, the

removal of these items can dis-

turb any sediment that has built

up over time and could lead to a

failure. It is recommended to

replace all components of the

brake system at the same time,

including a flush of the fluid, to

prevent a blockage from the

debris: When it comes to brake

systems, safety is always first!

Whether you are just purchas-

ing your first antique car, or you

are a long time owner of an older

vehicle, a fresh brake system is

critical for keeping you safe, and

is a component that is often

overlooked. I cannot tell you

how many cars come in with

their ORIGINAL, 30+ year old

brake system that has had 1 hose

replaced. Over time, rubber seals

in the cylinders and calipers can

“Phase separation: a thick

layer of gasoline mixed with

a little ethanol on top, and a

thinner layer on the bottom

consisting of water mixed

with most of the ethanol.”

Gel inserts offer com-

fort and alleviation of

pain from long rides.

“It is recommended to

replace all components

of the brake system at

the same time,

including a flush of the

fluid, to prevent a

blockage from

disturbed debris.”

Gassman Automotive Products, Ltd.

184 N. Bayard Ave.

Waynesboro, Virginia 22980

Phone: 540-949-8764

Fax: 540-949-0202

E-mail: Mike@GassmanAutomotive.com

This would be a good place to insert a short paragraph about your organiza-

tion. It might include the purpose of the organization, its mission, founding

date, and a brief history. You could also include a brief list of the types of

products, services, or programs your organization offers, the geographic area

covered (for example, western U.S. or European markets), and a profile of the

types of customers or members served.

It would also be useful to include a contact name for readers who want more

information about the organization.

Gassman Automotive

This story can fit 175-225 words.

If your newsletter is folded and mailed, this

story will appear on the back. So, it’s a good

idea to make it easy to read at a glance.

A question and answer session is a good way

to quickly capture the attention of readers.

You can either compile questions that you’ve

received since the last edition or you can sum-

marize some generic questions that are fre-

quently asked about your organization.

A listing of names and titles of managers in

your organization is a good way to give your

newsletter a personal touch. If your organiza-

British Car Specialists!

We’re on the Web!

example.com

Gassman Automotive Products, Ltd.

184 N. Bayard Ave.

Waynesboro, Virginia 22980

Phone: 540-949-8764

Fax: 540-949-0202

E-mail: Mike@GassmanAutomotive.com

Shenandoah Valley British Car Club

Owning a British car can be both fun and rewarding. Driving

on the open road is exhilarating. But driving on the open road

with fellow British car owners is an experience all its own. Ask

any of the SVBCC members, and they would agree!

Follow this link to their website to become a member today,

and join in on the many activities throughout the year, includ-

ing the annual British Car Show in Waynesboro every Octo-

ber!!

http://www.svbcc.net

Here it is, over half-way through 2014, and a

lot is still happening here at Gassman. Last

month, a new metal shop was built in the back

of the storage room to provide additional space

for working. We have also welcomed another

new member to our team, Dave Uttley. Dave

moved all the way from Connecticut to be here

at Gassman, and he is proving to be a great

addition—currently assisting Mike with the

installation of a V12 motor in a 1971 Jaguar

XKE.

It is also that time of year where we want to

wish (a slightly early) Happy Birthday to

Mike! We also want to thank him for his con-

tinued dedication to this business and his cus-

tomers. Happy Birthday Mike!

- Katy English, Editor

Letter from the Editor

British Car Specialists! Serving the

Valley for over 22 years!

We’re on the web!

Www.GassmanAutomotive.com

I want to extend my sincerest of Thank You’s to all of you who helped

vote for us back in May/June for the Comcast Innovations 4 Entre-

preneurs contest. Although we did not win, we know how many of

you have a vested interest in helping us win and that means so much

to us. And hey, $5,000 is still AWESOME!!!

So THANK YOU again from all of us at Gassman Automotive!