Like father, like son

Mathis Winkler

At 14, Bob Robins drove a car quite out of the ordinary. He struck a

deal with his father Theodore, the owner of Balboa’s first garage and car

dealership: For $150, he could drive the company’s 1914 Ford Model T.

He’d drive it to classes at Newport Harbor High School, to the movies

in Santa Ana and the beach in Laguna.

“I don’t know whether they called it ‘cool’ then,” Robins said,

sitting in his wood-paneled Costa Mesa office on Harbor Boulevard, where

the business -- Theodore Robins Ford -- moved in 1966. “But I guess

they’d call it ‘cool’ now.”

Now, almost six decades later, Robins might again jump in the

old-timer and head down to Balboa on Sept. 9. At a ceremony at the Balboa

Pavilion, he’ll accept the Balboa Merchants and Owners Assn.’s inaugural

Historic Award on behalf of his father, who died in 1976.

The Robinses have “continuously given to the community over and over,”

said Ralph Rodheim, chairman of the Bay to Beach Block Party, which will

form the backdrop to the awards ceremony. “It’s only fitting to honor

them with this first award.”

The younger Robins, who turned 71 in January, said his father had

placed a lot of pride in his business.

“He always believed firmly to give a fair price,” said Robins, adding

that his father first rented a garage in Balboa for $15 a month in 1921.

He made sure “to offer good service and treat [his] employees well,”

Robins said. “Maybe it was not as structured as things are today. But

that was basically the principals he followed for all those many years.”

Robins still remembers his first steps in the family business. He

started by wiping used cars and sweeping the showroom.

“I had never any thoughts of doing anything else, being around that my

whole life as I was growing up,” he said. “I was doing whatever --

stamping brochures [with the company’s logo]. I worked in every

department.”

Although the business had grown to a 10-acre complex by the time

Robins’ own children had come of driving age, Jim, Dave and Sara still

couldn’t rely on special privileges as the owner’s kids.

“A lot of people think, ‘The dealer’s son can pick up any car from the

showroom floor,’ ” Robins said. “That’s not how dad handled it and that’s

not how I handled it with them, either.

While his sons now work in the family business, Sara lives in Montana

with her family. Robins and his wife Gini live in Westcliff.

Robins clearly admires his father, whom he calls a “great teacher.”

In his office, which he took over from his father, he still keeps the

original 1923 Ford Franchise Agreement framed on the wall. Next to it

hangs Theodore Robins’ first car sale on Feb. 14, 1923 -- a week after

he’d set up the dealership. He’d sold a Ford Coupe for $637.10, marked up

$45.90 from the wholesale price.

“He was a great listener,” Robins said. “There were times when we

would disagree. He’d give me enough rope to try something, but not enough

to hang myself. He had the last word.”

FYI

The Bay to Beach Block Party will take place on Sept. 9 from 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. in Balboa where the Ferry, the Pavilion and the Balboa Pier

meet. The party is open to the public and will include food stands,

displays and music. The Historic Award ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m.