This week, we learned that Robert "Bob" Ingram, owner of the Ingram Collection and father to Cam who runs esteemed Porsche shop Road Scholars, had passed away.
Bob is a well-known figure in the Porsche community, both for sharing his collection with the world and for being a regular fixture at concours events around the country. Numerous Porsches, both those owned by the Ingram Collection and examples restored by Road Scholars, have taken top honors at some of the most celebrated events in the country, from Pebble Beach to Amelia Island.
Ingram was a highly successful pharmaceutical executive who took his love of Porsches and built it into one of the foremost names in collection management and restoration. From historically-significant track cars to some of the rarest and highly preserved air-cooled models on the planet, it's safe to say the Ingram Collection has been touched by some of the best Porsches in existence.
What I love about Road Scholars and the Ingram approach is the commitment to preserving history, and I don't mean just original body panels and numbers-matching engines (though they certainly make that a priority.) They focus intently on the story of the car - its first owner, and subsequent owners, and how it was used. Frankly, they go over the top in their efforts to uncover as much history as they can, and it's the reason I'm such a fan of the entire operation.
Bob Ingram is no one one I knew personally, but I certainly understand the passion he had for vintage sports cars - and it seems like his son will carry the torch just fine.