06/29/2021
In Memoriam
David L. George II
April 6, 1950 - June 23, 2021
The vintage racing and European car restoration world has suffered a huge loss with the passing of the ever-cheerful David L. George II. Born in Pottsville, PA, to David L. and Anna George, his childhood was larger than life. His youth was spent roaming through upstate Pennsylvania coal country and getting into trouble with his brothers and sister, often driving through abandoned strip mines in $5 and $10 cars. Other times they would sled down local hills using old car hoods as their toboggan hurtled toward a ravine.
As a teen, Dave became interested in small British sports cars, beginning with a series of Austin-Healey Bug Eye Sprites. Then, learning to work on his own cars, he soon graduated to Big Healeys and Jaguar E-Types, with an occasional Mercedes-Benz 190SL.
As a teen, his part-time job in a local metal casting firm became educational, as the owner discovered Dave’s interest in old cars and enlisted him to assist with the restoration of a Rolls-Royce. Rescuing another local collector broken down alongside the road also provided other opportunities to gain restoration experience on a variety of significant French cars.
While working his way through West Chester University as a part-time draftsman, he spent summers as a counselor at Camp Kirkland on Cape Cod. He supplemented his income by buying and selling all kinds of sports cars.
Following graduation with a degree in chemical engineering, he joined Johnson Matthey as a process engineer. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize that a 9-to-5 desk job was not for him.
One day after work he called about an ad for an industrial space where he could set up his own restoration workshop. However, his plans quickly changed when the landlord invited Dave to build him a collection of significant cars. With many of the cars coming from Europe, Dave made numerous trips to France and England, where he ultimately managed a private restoration shop for his employer.
Upon returning to the United States in 1982, he established D. L. George Coachworks in Frazer, PA, ultimately moving to his own building eight years later. He soon found himself with projects of his own, including several Rolls-Royce, a Pierce-Arrow Motorette, Delahaye 135MS, a Type 57 Bugatti, a BNC 527, a Maserati Ghibli, and a Bizzarrini P538. His most recent personal project was a pre-war Alfa Romeo. Dave and the team at D. L. George, meanwhile, earned a reputation as a leading specialist in maintaining and restoring pre-war Alfa Romeos, Bentleys, Bugattis, and BMWs though many of its efforts also focused on post-war sports and racing cars.
In the late 1990s, Dave took up Vintage Racing, often driving a 6C Monoposto Alfa Romeo, a black Lotus 18, or a Kurtis 500KK sports car. He soon became involved in organizing the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and the Hillclimb at The Elegance at Hershey. Then, following a life-long dream, in 2012, he began flying lessons and quickly earned his private pilot’s license.
Along the way, Dave built many lasting relationships with clients, fellow racers, colleagues, and others within the collector car world. The strength of the relationships he built is illustrated by the longevity of the D. L. George team and many of his loyal clients, who often evolved into close friends. To him, everyone was viewed as a friend, and he made whomever he was with feel special. Dave also shared his love of events such as the MM, CO Grand, Amelia Island, and Pebble Beach with many.
Although he was proud of D. L. George Historic Motorcars, its reputation, and the cars it turned out, he was most proud of his daughter Allison and son David, with whom he remained very close. Another point of pride for Dave was working with his father, David L. George Sr., and his son, David L. George III, as three generations at D. L. George.
Survived by his mother Anna George, significant other Dr. Tanya Emslie, former wife Rev. Linda George, daughter Allison Flora George, son David L. George III, daughter-in-law Dr. Jenna Korsan-George, and siblings Patti George, Ken & Helen George, Rick & Heidi George, Keith & Edie George, and Denise & Steven Souden, the loyal team at D. L. George, many cherished friends, and his beloved yellow lab Monza. David L. George III and the team at D. L. George will continue Dave’s legacy.
Details of a Remembrance Ceremony to be announced at a later date. Contributions can be made to the ALS Clinic at Johns Hopkins, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, and the Cheshire Land Preservation Fund.
