KINDRED KORNER: E&G Classics, an American Success Story

E&G Classics, an American Success Story

E&G Classics, Inc. is a –classic” American entrepreneurial success story. And like so many of these stories, it all began with a simple idea: How about offering customers a little more appeal for their cars and a little more profit for dealers.

That was the idea when two Capitol Cadillac employees, Dave Eash and Rick Gilbreath, began hand-building shiny, chrome custom grills in their basements back in the mid-60s, when Capitol Cadillac was still located in downtown DC. Dave and Rick had no trouble finding willing buyers for their flashy grills in the Washington market and soon, with no promotion but a lot of word-of-mouth, orders began coming in from dealers around the country. –Some orders they took over a pay phone on M street,” recalls E&G National Sales Manager Jon Titman.

In 1972, E&G Classics, Inc. was founded, and Dave and Rick were on their way to becoming one of the foremost aftermarket restyling companies in the nation. Today, the company, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland and now solely owned by Eash, consists of 230 employees, over 60,000 square feet of manufacturing and production space, and 95 distributors in the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Far East. –Weêre not just a little local concern,” says Titman.

The company now uses high-tech laser, automated cutting and milling machines to produce an extensive line of custom grills, roof packages, leather interiors, ground effect kits, wings, console kits, classic spares, and other accessories for a wide range of cars and trucks. –All of which make it easier to sell the vehicle by making it more eye-catching to the buyer,” says Titman. Plus, with todayês reduced margins on new vehicles, –The dealer will many times make more money on the accessories than the sale of the car itself,” he adds.

Not surprisingly, E&G is one of the top companies in seniority at the NADA Convention, where it has exhibited its products for the past 30 years, and where Titman says his company –brings high octane excitement to the show.”

E&G joined WANADA more than 20 years ago, –because much of the business we do is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and we support the dealerês efforts in selling more cars and trucks and in generating that additional profit. The interests of the dealers are our interests as well, and we look to partner with them in achieving that goal,” says Titman.

Urban restyling is the next big thing, and it was E&G that provided most of the accessories for Mayor Anthony Williamsê Cadillac STS as part of the –Flip My Whip” promotion for this yearês Washington Auto Show.

But perhaps one of the best endorsements for E&G accessories came back in the early 1980s from Mike and Marguerite Murphy (WANADA CEO Gerard Murphyês parents) whose Cadillac Eldorado was equipped with an E&G grill, top and continental kit. –They stopped by our booth at NADA and said, •this is the prettiest car weêve every owned– every time weêre out in the car somebody compliments us on it,” Titman recalls Mike Murphy commenting to him.

What more can we add?

Jon Titman can be contacted at E&G Classics, Inc., 8910 McGaw Court, Columbia MD, 21045; tel: (800) 394-2774 or (410) 381-4900; e-mail: jtitman@egclassicsinc.com.