California's car culture steers route to career in high-end body repairs

March 7, 2016
Kye Yeung’s fascination with Jaguars and Corvettes began in 1964 at the age of 9 upon hearing Jan & Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve” on the radio: “I was cruisin’ in my Stingray late one night when an XKE pulled up on the right and rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag and challenged me then and there to drag…”

Kye Yeung’s fascination with Jaguars and Corvettes began in 1964 at the age of 9 upon hearing Jan & Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve” on the radio: “I was cruisin’ in my Stingray late one night when an XKE pulled up on the right and rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag and challenged me then and there to drag…”

At a Glance:
European Motor Car Works
Santa Ana, Calf.
Location
Kye Yeung
Owner/president
1
Number of shops
41
Years in business
16
Number of employees
0
Number of DRPs
16,000
Square footage of shop
14
Number of bays
$4,600
Average repair order
$90,000
Average weekly volume
20
Number of customer vehicles per week
$4.5 million
Annual gross revenue
BASF, Glasurit, Standox Stando Blue
Paint supplier
Globaljig, Car Bench
Frame machines used
Mitchell, Audatex
Estimating systems used
www.europeanmotorcarworks.com
Website

The hit song that caught his ear was collaboratively composed by the duo’s Jan Berry and a writing team that had gathered at Brian Wilson’s mother’s house in Santa Monica. The young Yeung, having emigrated from Hong Kong to California with his family and later proudly becoming a U.S. citizen, was equally inspired by the hot rod and fun-in-the-sun surfin’ tunes of the Beach Boys. Fast-forward to 1975, when a 20-year-old Yeung decided to forgo a planned career as an architect in favor of pursuing his childhood passion for cars — embarking on “the ride of a lifetime” as he opened the 750-square-foot European Motor Car Works in Santa Ana, specializing in Jaguar XKE restorations along with other high-end nameplates.

"We painted vehicles late at night without a spray booth; just makeshift plastic curtains and house fans. Even with minimal equipment our restorations competed in local Concours, a few winning Best of Show.”

In 1977 the operation expanded and relocated to a 5,000-sq. ft. site in Costa Mesa. Its first cross draft booth was installed the next year, and by 1982 the business had grown to the point of leasing an additional 4,000-sq. ft. building behind the original structure.

“Later that year we upgraded to the Italian spray booth, Blowtherm, a true downdraft. We continued to excel in the restoration industry; some vehicles even competed at Pebble Beach. One MBZ 300 SL in particular placed Second in Class around 1985. This was also the same year that we started doing work for Bauer Jaguar in Costa Mesa. In 2000 Aston Martin contacted us about a new certification program for the Aston Martin Vanquish. The criteria to be certified as a structural repair facility forced us to relocate. We broke ground on our current building in 2001, which we currently occupy,” Yeung recounts.

Measuring 16,000-sq. ft. with 14 bays and 16 employees, the gleaming and ultra-clean Santa Ana facility annually grosses $4.5 million. The shop has no direct repair program (DRP) affiliations, nor does it track cycle times given the sophisticated restorations and repairs that average $4,600 per ticket.

“We don’t advertise,” he reports. Currently the shop has a 2-month waiting list of appointments. “We strive to live up to our reputation with 40 years of good will. The best compliment we could ever receive is a customer for life.”

European Motor Car Works is an OEM-certified structural repair center for Aston Martin, Jaguar, Range Rover and Tesla. “These brands use intensive aluminum and carbon fiber in construction methods. By specializing in these brands we can negotiate, order parts in volume and inventory a mass selection of OEM clips and fasteners,” says Yeung.

Owner Kye Yeung stands with his daughters Nichole Hubbard (on left) and Jennifer Yeung (on right).

“Our technicians benefit from constant training received from the OE programs and working with the latest equipment available. The onsite repetition improves and hones their skill-sets because of similar repair tasks day-to-day,” he says.

“We also place our clients’ interest first and do not participate in any DRP programs. Our employee retention averages over 12 years, the oldest being employed for 35 years. Most start as entry level and complete an apprentice program to develop their skills and the right mindset to restore and repair vehicles as a team. Our concept allows every vehicle to be touched once during the repair process by every technician, guaranteeing our consistent quality.”

New hires are mostly recruited via the existing staff’s recommendations of relatives and friends who hold promise as being a good fit with the company culture.

“I ‘own’ everything that we work on,” Yeung points out. “It allows me to be on the same level as the customer.” The patrons appreciate that he drives the same types of vehicles that they do, leading to a confident feeling of comfort that the job will be performed to perfection.

“British cars have always had this aura about them that they weren’t dependable; they were purchased on emotion, and the owners have an emotional bond” with their vehicles that each employee at the shop appreciates and preserves.

“My passion for the industry has allowed us to develop a unique brand. The term ‘family owned’ runs true, as our team includes Nichole and Jennifer, my daughters, who run the day-to-day operations, and my son-in-law Mike is the shop foreman. I’m involved with all of the decisions and work the shop floor every day as production manager and trainer for our apprentice program,” he notes.

“Customer service rocks; Nichole and Jennifer are the best in any industry,” Yeung continues. “The care and thoughtfulness passed on to every customer sets us apart from our competitors. I also personally color match every vehicle and contribute to the final checkout process. Having personally painted every vehicle for my first 35 years of business, I understand the level of expectations and demands from our clients.

“With the luxury of participating in one of the first OEM-certified programs in 2001, we have instilled into the repair community a higher level of repair processes. This has allowed us to negotiate higher labor rates based on proper OEM repair practices,” he says.

Win-win strategies

“Insurance relationships can be difficult when supervisors and appraisers move on or are transferred,” according to Yeung. “The relationship process can be successful if we help educate the insurer representatives. The complex construction and repair methods on aluminum and composite vehicles are quite unique to the everyday vehicles they see every day. We offer fair and complete estimates based on the factual damage along with OEM position statements, OEM repair procedures, P-Pages and other guidelines from paint and material manufacturers. We also stress our OEM certifications, past experience and expertise in working on these brands of automobiles. A positive relationship guarantees the customer a positive experience — a win-win for the insurer and the repair facility.”

In working with suppliers “we don’t always shop for the best pricing, but the best service. I believe the best pricing can be negotiated once a positive relationship has developed. My daughters interact with most of the vendors one-on-one. It’s not just about ordering our supplies or getting the best price, it’s about compassion and maintaining the relationships we’ve developed over the years,” he explains. “Nichole and Jennifer genuinely care about the person on the other end of the phone. A simple ‘how are you doing today?’ can go a long way.”

Yeung is particularly motivated to maintain extensive involvement with numerous industry endeavors. He currently serves as vice chairman for the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). “You have all the brilliant minds from all over the country with different business practices.” For the past 25 years he additionally chaired and co-chaired the auto body programs at local community colleges and participates as a national judge for the SkillsUSA automotive collision sector.

“By engaging in these activities the benefits have outweighed any negatives,” he observes. “Networking with likeminded individuals across the country allows the sharing of ideas and concepts to further move our industry forward. The friendships created along the way are held closely to my heart, and my involvement could not be possible without the support of my family; they fill in with every aspect of my duties while I’m away.”

Old-school traditions

Yeung’s childhood attachment to the creativity found within car culture continues to this day. In his office he displays a treasured collection of 12 Big Boy statuettes along with a life-sized statue of Rat Fink. “My inspiration at the time was Big Daddy Roth; his imagination set him apart from the norm and that was very appealing to me,” he recalls. “We were very poor so I drew cartoon cars on old grocery bags or on a chalk board my dad had made.”

After graduating from high school Yeung enrolled in the Golden West College Autobody program as an elective. “Bud Yeargain, now retired, was my instructor, and he had a major influence on my decision to enter the auto body industry. Bud, as a panel beater and customizer in the 1960s, taught me this dying craft — something I will always be grateful for.”

His late father-in-law Don Carothers “was another huge factor in starting my business at such a young age. We would have discussions about the possibility of putting off school and starting a business. He always said I had the skills to be successful, and that I could always attend school in the future. I took his advice and started European Motor Car Works in 1975. I never returned to college for my AA degree, but did receive an Honorary Degree from Golden West College for my volunteer work in the auto body program.”

Yeung goes on to describe how “our restoration background has allowed us to excel in the auto body industry. Our experience comes from years of dedication through fabrication, panel beating, metal finishing and shaping techniques. We promise that every vehicle is repaired to the highest standard in the industry.

“Many of the techniques that we use are no longer practiced in the industry. Today there are faster and easier methods of completing a job. However, they are not always better. We believe the more hands-on the repairs are, the better the outcome. We are proud to carry on the ‘old-school’ traditions of auto repair.”

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