How it all began at Eckler’s

by R.J. Schmeider

2014 is upon us and another year passes. Eckler’s has been a major part of the classic car business for more than 50 years and is still working diligently at keeping those classics alive today. Ralph Eckler started the company by accident in his father’s gas station in Moline, IL back in the early ’60s. He purchased a Corvette that had been involved in a crash and needed repairs to the front end. Ralph decided to make this a one-piece front end rather than bond many smaller pieces like GM did in the factory. Well, one thing lead to another. Someone else needed a front end, so Ralph made him one. That continued until Ralph was fully involved in making fiberglass parts for Corvettes.