Published 8/11/2017

Fun Friday: A Moldmaker’s Passion for Classic Cars

That AMBA Chicago BBQ stirred up some interesting history when it comes to classic cars and the moldmakers who own(ed) them – especially for Chuck Klingler of Janler Corp.

Case Study

Cynthia Kustush

Contributing Writer

Chuck Klingler of Janler Corp. in Chicago shared this photo of a 1949 Triumph Roadster that his father, Josef, purchased in 1953. “It was his first ‘sports car,’” Chuck says.

This 1926 Rolls-Royce Picadilly Roadster was once part of the Josef Klingler Collection in Chicago, Illinois. It was originally owned by Howard Hughes! Joe, like so many moldmakers in the U.S., was a “car buff” and avid collector.

This image of Klingler family members represents three generations of those who actively lead Janler Corporation in Chicago, including its founder, Josef (center). Joe was known in the industry as a leader and a classic car collector – a passion he shared with many through the years. Son Chuck (at right in white shirt) carries on his father’s pursuits.

Chuck’s father, the late Josef Klingler, founder of Janler, shared his passion for classic cars with Chuck, who shared some memories with me. “My dad’s collection was extensive for sure. We partnered on several cars, and at the high point, his, mine and ours added up to over 50 automobiles,” he says.

The collection Joe and Chuck accumulated ranged from a 1926 Rolls-Royce Picadilly Roadster that was originally owned by Howard Hughes (check out one of the images, above) to late-model Mercedes high-speed cruisers. “We had a full collection of Mercedes Benz,” Chuck told me. “All were post World War II, and I think we had 18 of them at one time.”

We partnered on several cars, and at the high point, his, mine and ours added up to over 50 automobiles.

Chuck shared a page from a magazine called The DuPont Showcase which featured the Rolls-Royce. The caption reads as follows:

“This superb Roadster was purchased new by Howard Hughes on November 5, 1925. Mr. Hughes had a penchant for the finer things in life, and this Picadilly Roadster met his demands for excellence. This particular automobile #S135MK was built by Merrimac and its series was the first left hand drive off the blocks. Finished in yellow over black, it has only 14,000 miles. Complete with a standard 3-speed transmission and sporting a polished engine with dual ignition. This beautiful Roadster has been completely restored to mint condition and is part of the Josef Klingler Collection in Chicago, Illinois.”

It's always so interesting to learn about a classic car’s provenance, and this one does not disappoint! Unfortunately, Chuck says all the Rolls-Royces from his dad’s collection are gone. But Chuck does still have a classic 1949 Triumph Roadster (also pictured above) that Joe bought in 1953. “He was a consummate collector,” Chuck says. “It was his first ‘sports car.’ I worked on it and drove it to high school—as well as on a couple of dates. After being stored/parked for over 20 years, I restored the Triumph in the 90’s for my dad, as he retired from Janler. I bought it from him about five years ago, when he felt he could no longer drive it safely. The car is very special and I do drive it, and I will never sell it.” (Understandable!)

My dad never wanted to sell any of the cars, but we ran out of storage!

I asked him if his father ever collected Porsches. He answered, “We added up almost 200 cars that passed through our hands, but believe or not, we never owned a Porsche! But we had several friends that owned them, and we did do some work on their cars in our restoration shop. My dad never wanted to sell any of the cars, but we ran out of storage!”

Chuck says he has lots of fond memories revolving around his father and their shared passion for the automobile, plus “a thousand great stories!!” I plan to hear as many of those stories as I can someday. Cheers to moldmakers and their toys! Write to me about yours!