Allen A. Finley Jr.

Allen A. Finley, Jr. of Vacaville, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on July 27, 2021 at his home in Vacaville. He was 66 years old.

First and foremost, Allen was an incredibly kind person. Those that met him often felt this from their very first encounter. Second, he was a car guy. Allen knew everything there was about classic cars, and that passion guided his career as an expert body man/restorer of custom cars and mechanic. When he worked on a car, he did so with an uncommon devotion to perfection.

Allen was introduced to his love of automobiles by his father, Allen (Sr.) and uncle, Victor Ugolik, who owned an automobile body shop and traveled from Springfield, MA to begin restoration of a 1930 Ford Model A that Allen's father purchased. The Model A was eventually painted a golden yellow with black accents, and was in many of Vacaville's early Fiesta Days parades. Allen furthered his knowledge of automobile restoration through an accredited program at Solano Community College. This was the beginning of what would span more than four decades of his deep admiration and appreciation of everything automotive.

From that point forward, automobiles became Allen's hobby, career, and passion. He worked at several automotive restoration companies throughout California, and also as a mechanic for Ford. He also worked at Mare Island on submarines and for a local glass company. Early in his career, Allen became friends with custom car icons Rod Powell and Butch Hurlhey, both of whom influenced his work on many projects. He later met another restoration great, Oz Welch, who worked with Allen on his last automotive venture.

Allen owned more than fifty cars in his lifetime, some of which he restored, including a '30 Ford Model A, '61 Ford Anglia, '57 Chevy, '50 Cadillac, '59 Cadillac, and his passion of over forty years, his chopped '49 Mercury. The Mercury was a car Allen lowered the top four inches under the guidance of Butch Hurlhey, and was one of Allen's main automotive focuses. The completion of the Mercury was a renewed focus for Allen and he had completed a major part of the restoration.

Several of the cars Allen restored, whether by himself or through the company he worked with, earned 'best in class' designations at custom rod shows throughout the Golden State, including the Oakland Roadster Show and the Autorama in Sacramento. He also worked on many notable restorations including several cars that won the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show (one restoration that race legend Jackie Stewart was quoted in the Monterey Peninsula News saying was the most beautiful car he had "ever seen"); another for a '31 Chrysler CG Imperial LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton, and a '29 Cadillac). He also worked on a German Maybach that was one of Adolph Hitler's staff cars, among many other notable restorations.

When not restoring cars, in the latter part of the 70s and early 80s, Allen built and participated in the Dixon May Fair demolition derbies, where he worked with a team that included his brother, Greg, and many friends to build cars that would ultimately be used to smash into other cars for sport. His teams often won 'best looking cars,' but never the derby itself.

His home was filled with automotive memorabilia, including a painting of a George Barris classic car, autographed pictures of an American Graffiti actor, car collectables, and parts to his '49 Mercury.

More recently, Allen created an Instagram account where he chronicled his passion for classic automobiles with the next generation of local restoration enthusiasts, whom he mentored and shared his encyclopedic classic car knowledge.

Upon learning of Allen's passing, someone who knew him well remarked, "you could just look right through him and see he was a genuinely good and nice person." That goodness shone through each and every day as Allen was an incredibly devoted son to his parents, Allen and Ann Finley, an always-there-when-needed brother, an attentive and caring uncle to his nephews, and someone who was deeply cared for by his Polish relatives: uncles, aunts, cousins, from as far as New England and Florida, as well as many friends throughout California. Those that knew Allen adored his unwavering smile and positivity. Even in the face of adversity, Allen always saw the bright side of things, an attribute that genuinely inspired others.

Allen was raised in a military household, as his father was a pilot in the United States Air Force. He was born at Westover A.F.B. in Chicopee, MA, and was stationed with his family in Goose Bay Labrador A.F.B. in Newfoundland, and Travis A.F.B. in Fairfield, CA. This military upbringing likely led to Allen's fastidious nature and exacting attention to detail that most certainly aided him when restoring cars.

He was also known as a person who received great joy from the simple pleasures of family, friends, car shows, and an occasional round of golf. He frequented three Vacaville restaurant institutions: Murrillo's, Vasquez Deli, and Pietros #2, and one in Winters, the Buckhorn Steakhouse.

Allen was known to some as Al, Big Al, 'Finndogg49' on Instagram, and even Tiger to his Polish relatives (a nickname that stuck for his cousins, yet not so appreciated by Allen), but it is the moniker 'Uncle Al', which his nephews regularly called him, that appeared to endear him the most.

He was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother (whom Allen called Babcia, the Polish word for grandmother), and parents Allen A. Finley, Sr. and Sabina Ann Finley. He is survived by brothers, Greg of Lansing, MI and Rob of Sacramento; sister-in-law, Kristi Finley of Sacramento; and nephews, Tyler and Ryan Finley of Sacramento.

Of the prospect of passing, Allen stated, "I don't want a service, but would be good with a party...I just won't be there." A celebration of Allen's life will be held on Sunday, August 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Solano Brewing Company located at 5500 Weber Road (across the street from former Vaca Valley Raceway.) All of Allen's friends are welcome to join him for one more opportunity to burn some rubber.

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.