I’ve known Bob for almost 20 years, though not very closely. But I have always known him to be one of the best people around. Always willing to help anyone who needed it. He was a very talented and skilled man, and made the best hot rod brakes around. His Lincoln brakes were copied by bigger companies, but the copies never held a candle to what a one man operation in Flower Mound Texas could do. He inspired countless local hot rodders and I’m sure many outside of town too. If you asked who the most genuine hot rod guy around here was, I bet 9/10 answers would be Bob and the tenth answer probably came from someone who hadn’t met him yet. Nothing ever seemed to break Bob’s spirit. I understand his last words were “We did pretty good, didn’t we?” Yep. Pretty damn good Bob. Rest in peace.
oh no, so sad to hear this, use to love ringing Bob to buy his brakes. I'm from the U.K and a couple of times he sent my parts before I paid for them saying " I had to take them to the post office to find the cost of the postage so while I was there I might as well post them " . A genuine nice guy
All I can add to the many positive stories about Bob is that he was a truly great individual and I always enjoyed talking to him at the LARS. Bob supplied the brakes for my '32 Roadster and when I finished it he and I talked at the Roadster show. He told me how much he liked the Washington blue color and a month later called me and wanted to know if he could paint his '32 the same color because it was his favorite. We both laughed and I told him I gave him my permission. I considered Bob a good friend and our Hot Rod hobby has lost a wonderful man. RIP old friend!!!
So sad to see this! About 15 years ago a friend from here near Victoria BC jumped on a plane to go get a rollback ramp truck. I told him if he has trouble with the truck to let me know as I may know a hot rod guy near to where he needs help. Well he calls me and says he broke down in Texas and needed a hand. I msg'd Seymor / Dennis on here and we both laughed as Texas is huge. Turns out my friend was 2 blocks from Bobs shop. Dennis called his friend Bob and he said for my friend to head over there to get something welded on the truck. Bob and Dennis fixed the truck and when my friend went to pay him Bob laughed and said its no charge, we are hot rodders! Race In Peace Mr Wilson! -Shiny
Bob Wilson was such a great guy, friendly to all and a mentor to many. When “Traditional Hot Rodding” was young and the HAMB was new, Bob was helping all us young bucks in Texas and beyond make it happen. I first met bob about 30 years ago when the HAMB did a local Garage Crawl. We stopped at various hot rodder's garages and got to see the humble space that Bob was working out of, providing people all over the world with his brake products. His Lincoln Brakes and Finned Buick Brakes are very well known. For a short while he also churned out a handful of home built quick changes of which I’m proud to have one of. A few quotes about Bob come to mind. One was that he was so nice that when you needed his help he always stepped up. If you went to pay him he would always say no. You dang near had to tie the money to a rock and throw it through his window. Another quote I heard is “There are only two people you can trust, Bob Wilson and Jesus Christ.” When I broke my drive shaft in my Model A with Laycock overdrive spliced into the torque tube, I called him up and he said “bring it over now and we will have you back on the road today.” Bob jumped on the lathe, salvaged the special coupler for the overdrive, cut down a new drive shaft and welded it all up in minutes. Again I had to cram some money in his back pocket when he wasn’t looking. He was a local hero, a mentor, a man to look up to. I always loved seeing Bob. Very sad that the last few years dealt him some health problems that his body couldn’t fight. (And Bob was one tough SOB Marine!) Brian Bass said he saw him a few days ago and his mind was still sharp as a tack. I wish he got a better shake, but happy that he is now at peace. We will keep your name and stories alive Bob. Stay fast up there. See you down the road Bob.
Bob was a friend to so many. I knew him since the mid 90's. Hard to believe I can't pick up the phone and call him.
The Jalopy Journal
