Auto Icon Chip Foose Visits S&S Collision

S&S Collision

3865 N Clare Ave
Harrison, Michi 48625

HARRISON – It seemed to be business as usual in the early morning of Thursday, Sept. 14 at S&S Collision. Cars were driven in and out of the shop area, employees in jeans and company T-shirts were beginning their workday.

Yet there was an undercurrent of excitement and preparation. The day before S&S Collision had been notified that Chip Foose would be stopping by as part of his visit to Michigan. Foose planned to visit a few body shops on his way to Traverse City for the grand opening of a new Micro paint store which he is affiliated with. Foose is the BASF brand representative and was traveling with Anthony Barlett, technical representative for BASF in the state of Michigan.

For those who don’t know of Foose, he’s an automotive industry legend. He has had a long career as an automobile designer and artist and his reality television series, “Overhaulin’” has run for 10 seasons on various cable channels. In 1997, he became the youngest person to be inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame. His many other awards are too long to list here.

S&S Collision held a Facebook contest for one of their followers to join the crew in meeting Foose ­– which generated significant excitement in the community. The winner was Josh Sigafoose who “happily took the morning off work” to attend.

“My boys, they both grew up watching Overhaulin’,” Sigafoose said. “That’s a big part of why they are the way they are now.”

After introductions were made with shop staff, family and friends in attendance, Foose took a tour of the S&S Collision facility. He was impressed with the unique, modern look of the shop’s exterior and even more impressed with the facility’s cleanliness.

 Foose’s eye for detail is immediate. He spotted a small antique toy tractor in the corner of the shop and questioned what would be done with it. The answer: repaint and refurbish for a customer to raffle off eventually for a local charity.

It didn’t take long for Foose to talk shop with owner Jacob Stuhr, owner and office manager Ashley Pratt – OEM parts, paint brands, volume of business – Foose was interested in all the details as Pratt and Stuhr outlined their business model and business philosophy. Their main mantra: quality over quantity of work.

Foose patiently and enthusiastically signed glove boxes, shirts, hats, magazine covers, and anything else S&S Collision staff and visitors asked him to sign.

Of course, the main topic of conversation? Cars. New cars, old cars, and all things cars!