Mechanic uses ‘magic’ touch on antique cars

For Max Taylor, refurbishing 70-yearold cars is more than just a hobby.

Taylor, 81, works at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls, refurbishing cars made from the 1920s to the 1940s for the park’s Ozark Mountain Taxi Company ride. He described his job as “an affectionate thing.”

“I know what to do with the cars, I know how to fix them, I know how to make them work,” Taylor said. “I get about as much of a thrill of taking them around the track as the kids do.”

Taylor’s current profession began after his son asked him to refurbish two of his cars. Having spent 30 years working with machinery on oil rigs, Taylor said that such a task was right up his alley.

“I know all kinds of mechanic work,” he said. “I knew how to do it. I had worked on cars, too, and basically, I knew what I was looking at.”

Taylor worked at Magic Springs for five years beginning in November 2005, then reacquired his position in September 2015.

According to Taylor, the cars that he refurbishes are similar to the Model T and were originally manufactured in Mountain View, Calif. The cars are either placed on the ride’s track, where children can enjoy driving them at 6 to 10 mph, or are driven by the Magic Springs CEO at the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Taylor described the refurbishing process as an inside-out operation.

“Basically, what I do when I come out here is I start with the car, completely disassemble it, start with the frame and build it back from there,” Taylor said.

Taylor said he strives to meet the three measures set forth by his general manager — safety, courtesy and appearance. On the part of appearance, he said that the company that owns the cars is going to take the cars out one at a time and paint them, improving their look for the 2017 tourist season.

He said one of the best parts about Ozark Mountain Taxi Company is how it gives children the chance to drive a real car.

“We get a lot of kids, and this is the first car they ever drive,” Taylor said.

As far as Taylor’s future is concerned, he doesn’t see himself leaving the cars anytime soon.

“As long as I’m healthy enough to do this and keep them maintained, I’ll probably stay here,” Taylor said.

The Sentinel-Record/Max Bryan MAGIC MECHANIC: Max Taylor, a car refurbisher for Magic Springs & Crystal Falls, stands with his fleet of Ozark Mountain Taxis.

The Sentinel-Record/Max Bryan THE IRISH TOUCH: Max Taylor has refurbished one of his Ozark Taxis into a green pickup, which the CEO of Magic Springs drives at the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade every year.