Time Warp

Are you overwhelmed by your motor mall megadealer? Are you cowed when you go to the antiseptic parts and service department, where you're never allowed to talk to the mechanics? Maybe you should be taking your car to Nick Pagani at Ace Auto Service in New Rochelle, New York. Established by Nick's grandfather in 1920, Ace Auto is Westchester County's oldest family-owned service facility. During the 1950s, the business included a Hudson dealership. At Ace Auto you can talk to the mechanics at their work benches, and customer policies are plainly posted. The parts department doesn't need a computer; the parts are easy to find in the loft or hanging from the rafters.

Most of the cars at Ace Auto are old. That's because they're Nick's. Many are Buicks, like this '54 Roadmaster sedan with rare factory air or this '64 LeSabre wagon. There's a 1939 Century that looks like it's nearing the end of a restoration, and a '61 that simply sits. Many of the cars work for a living. "Hollywood Nick" has a movie rental business specializing in 1950s and '60s cars like this 1960 Chrysler hardtop wagon and the 1963 Mercury Meteor that doubles as America's most unobtrusive collector car. Nick's 1935 Packard limo does double duty as movie maven and wedding car.

Some cars await attention, like this 1960 Cadillac limo with flaccid air suspension. His Hudson Commodore is being restored while keeping company with a '58 Olds. There are some surprises, like a Mercedes SL coupe ("I don't know why I bought that thing"), some alternative transportation and a few shifty characters loitering about. Once in a while he even fixes a modern car.

There's something for everybody at Ace Auto. While groping behind this '55 Buick Roadmaster, Dennis David was happy to find the pulleys he needs to install power steering on his '59 LeSabre.