Jim Simpson

Interested from birth in anything with wheels, Jim developed a love of mechanical devices that became a lifetime love affair with automobiles and their designs. As a young boy in Houston, Texas, he started drawing cars and went on to a GM sponsored mechanics program, a formal 3-year apprenticeship in European cars and a further 2-year Ferrari apprenticeship. He has had his own business restoring and repairing high-end sports cars since 1975, primarily specializing in high-end classic Italian and Japanese automobiles. Having held his first job as a mechanic at the age of 13, Jim now has half a century of experience with cars of diverse makes and origins.

Jim started Simpson Design in 1978 as an outlet for his original design work in building custom sports cars. His work has caught the eye of other noted designers such as Pete Brock. One of his creations, Blue Ray 3, a concept car built on a preproduction second generation Mazda 929 prototype chassis, represented Nardi at their 60th anniversary at the Concorso Italiano during the 1992 Monterey Pebble Beach weekend. As part of his associations with Mazda, his designs on Miata platforms have been featured in Mazda's booth at the Laguna Seca Historic races.

In addition to his business experience as a designer and mechanic, Jim has appeared as a speaker and celebrity judge at automotive events across the country. He served as Chief Judge at the Classy Chassis Concours d'Elegance—at the time the 3rd largest concours event in the United States—for 9 years, and at Seattle, WA's All Italian Concours for 11 consecutive years. He helped found the first annual Keels & Wheels event in Houston, TX and served as its first Head Judge. He has returned in more recent years as a celebrity judge adjudicating the Concept class.