For many years now, Rafi Hershkovich has had a good relationship with Dani, the Assistant General Director of “Avis”, the famous car rental company. When he talks about Dani and phrases like “very decent, highly intelligent” are mentioned, one can feel the high regard that Rafi has for this person, how highly he places him on the ladder of human hierarchy.

As it happens, this amiable acquaintance was preceded by a rather unpleasant start, while Rafi Hershkovich’s firm was carrying out contractual work for the Avis company garage. It so happened that in the Avis company management, a certain unpleasant and indecent element appeared. Everything was okay – to lie, to present one thing as another, to accuse – anything, just so that payment would not be rendered for services made. One lie, two, three, four – and Rafi had had enough and turned to higher management. To receive money for the work done was important, but these people constantly insulted a person who was completely professional and who loved his work immensely. Rafi wanted one thing – so that things would be investigated, cleared up and that the guilty parties be punished. He did not was these people to dirty his profession and his craft. Fortunately, he spoke with a person who worked on the establishment of the State of Israel, who himself did many things for the country and who was able to see a person’s worth. That person was Dani.

Dani wanted to visit Rafi and to see his business and the manufacture and restoration of automobiles. At that time, the Ralex Autoservice garage was restoring six Chevrolets, two Jaguars, and three Impalas. Dani was speechless. He said only, “Take a look at the love…” Justice was restored and Rafi was paid in full.

Some time passed, the acquaintance became stronger, and Avis constantly sent its cars to be repaired at the Ralex Autoservice garage. One day, Dani called Rafi and said, “You know, I really admire your love of automobiles. I, myself am an old ‘motorist’ and I want to restore an old car. Will you help me?” It’s easy to imagine that Rafi happily responded to Dani’s request.

Those who saw the crumpled remains, which at one time had been called a Chevrolet, could not, with some certainty, imagine that they could be restored. The car was only partially intact, without any glass, or wiring, and completely rusted. Some of the parts lay in boxes. And that was all… Rafi said to Dani, “Take the car. I will restore it. You can pay me every month, whatever you can, and in the end, we’ll settle the accounts.”

The restoration work on the Chevrolet continued for three and a half years. Work went on without hurry. The car was cut and soldered, in the spare time when there was little work at the garage. The engine was restored by Rafi himself, in his spare time. And Dani waited patiently all these years. He didn’t break during all this time, did not give up. When you begin to see, how the work comes alive, you want to see the final product as quickly as possible. And all this time, Dani paid the expenses on the restoration of the car. And in the end, settled the account completely. The work had been done very well. The Chevrolet found a second life. Now, it is a working car which Dani drives to Jerusalem, to Haifa, wherever he wishes. And whenever Rafi needs the car for an exhibition or another function, Dani brings it from Tel Aviv. Brings it himself.