A labor of love

ALake County dentist since 1975, Dr. Lee Tatro is widely known for restoring beautiful smiles for his patients with dental problems. However, few realize he uses those same skilled hands to transform decaying antiquated cars into mechanical works of art.

He has the collection to prove it — and it is quite an extensive one.

Tatro has been restoring and collecting antique European automobiles since 1967. That is the year he purchased a 1960 MGA. He has since restored seven other vehicles; some are parked inside a five-car garage near his home, while others are inside a metal building constructed by his son, Danny Tatro.

“I restore patients’ mouths for a living and am also passionate about restoring cars,” he says. “I am used to taking something that is beat up, busted up, or abused and putting it back together.”

His fervor for restoring automobiles dates back to his college years as a student attending Emory University in Atlanta. As a part-time employee at

Baker Motor Company, he learned the finer points of body work and print work. While in dental school, he landed a part-time job painting automobiles and oftentimes found himself working on cars such as Porsche and MGA. He has a penchant for British automobiles even though his collection is varied.

“British cars are tinker toys,” he says. “Honestly, I have not ever figured out why I like them so much. I guess it is the nature of the beast. I became hooked on British cars and stuck with them.”

Since buying his 1960 MGA, Tatro has added others to his collection: two 1954 MG TFs, a 1968 MGP, a 1970 MGB GT, a 1973 Jaguar XKE V12, a 1971 Saab Sonnett, and a 1960 Volkswagen. The restoration of each vehicle required lots of patience.

“It takes a long time to restore a vehicle,” he says. “I am very meticulous when I am doing this, and ultimately the vehicle will be better than when it was new.”

To locate parts, he scours the Internet or contacts members of car clubs throughout the country. Once he assembles the necessary parts, he uses his deft hands to accomplish the body work, mechanical work, and painting. The 1954 MG TF proved to be his most challenging job to date, as he disassembled the car down to the frame and put everything back together.

“I’ve even used a sewing machine for the upholstery,” he says and laughs. “A restoration is not something you rush; you take your time and work on the car when you feel like it.”

His favorite car in the collection is the fern gray 1973 Jaguar XKE. For about fifteen years, he would drive the automobile in the Leesburg High School homecoming parade to prominently showcase the homecoming king and queen.

“The Jaguar is without a doubt the most unique car in my collection,” he says. “However, because of its V12, the engineering aspect of the restoration was more difficult.”

Tatro has no plans to sell any car in his collection.

“They may sit for several months before I move any of them,” he says. “However, I worked so hard on restoring them that I cannot imagine getting rid of them. I still enjoy tinkering with them every once in a while.”

Indeed, the detail, creation, and uniqueness of his dental work can only be matched by the intricate details he delivers in each restoration.