About Briarcliff Classic & Imported
Briarcliff Classic and Imported has been in business in the same location since 1974. Founder Bob Millstein has been a racing and classic auto enthusiast since his youth, and began Briarcliff Classic and Imported to share his expertise with others and to provide a valuable service: quality auto repair and restoration for owners of classic, imported, and daily drivers.
Briarcliff Classic and Imported has an extraordinary staff of experienced car repair experts, who always take the time to discuss service options with you. These men are your partners in the care of your automobile.
Bob Millstein
Bob Millstein has owned and presided over BCI since he founded it in 1974. The lifelong car enthusiast is extra passionate about English sports cars and knows more about collecting, repairing and racing them than just about any other human being. While other kids were playing baseball, Bob was crewing for his brother's race team. Bob's collection consists of a Jaguar XKE he has owned for 40 years, a DB4 Aston Martin, a 2019 Bullitt Mustang, a 50th Anniversary 289 Shelby Cobra, and a C4 Porsche. He also owns a rare 1924 Gaff rigged Sloop sail boat passed down by his father.
His love of English sports cars can be traced back to his brother’s MG TC, which he raced. “I was always around British cars growing up thanks to my older brother. And in those days, the Brits had captured the bulk of European car sales in the U.S. Parts were cheap and plentiful as a result.”
As a kid, Bob idolized racers like Sterling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Phil Hill and Jimmy Clark more than the sports icons other kids day dreamed about. His father, a Russian immigrant who put himself through Yale medical school, used a Porsche 912 as the family transport for much of Bob’s childhood. Bob was on his way to becoming a doctor when his father passed away – he started working nights as a mechanic in his brother’s Queens garage to make extra money and never looked back.
“I like working with the customers”, says Bob. “Whether it’s a classic restoration or a late model maintenance job, their cars have great stories to tell and I have the privilege of breathing new life into them. I like to exceed their expectations and witness the excited expression on their face when they see their car for the first time all fixed up.”
The Glass Wall
Ever tried to talk with the mechanic working on your car when you bring it in for service at a dealership? It’s practically impossible – there’s usually a wall of paperpushers and supervisors between you and the person actually working on your car.
Our people talk with you. If you hear a funny noise, he’ll ride with you until HE hears it too. If he finds something important while going over your car, you’ll hear it from HIM, not from someone else.
Symbolic of this is our custom-made Glass Wall that separates the garage area from the office. You can see everything that is going on – no secrets. You can see how clean and organized the work area is. You can watch the guys working on your own car. And you can ask questions and learn better your role in your car’s maintenance.
Remember, the more you know and understand about the care of your car, the better we can work together towards making your car reliable and safe far into the future.
