ABRA Auto Body & Glass-Coon Rapids Assists Local Fire Department.

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2003

ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a Minneapolis-based damaged vehicle repair company, is working with the Coon Rapids Fire Fighters to restore the city's first fire engine. The 1940 GMC American LaFrance 500 gallon-per-minute pump truck was originally purchased circa 1956. The truck was sold by the Fire Department in the mid-seventies, and eventually found a home in a fire museum in Hastings, MN.

After the fire truck was found by a retired Coon Rapids firefighter, the Fire Department contacted several local businesses to ask for their help in restoration. One of those called upon was Mell Messer, General Manager of ABRA Auto Body & Glass-Coon Rapids. "The truck is in rough shape," said Messer, "and has been coming to us in pieces. We've been repairing the body work, painting the pieces `fire engine red', and then returning the pieces to the Fire Department for reassembly."

Fabricating of some parts has been handled by Messer, with Pete Fick of ABRA-Coon Rapids completing the repairs and the painting. "Special thanks need to be given to Pete for all the hard work he's put into this project," Messer continued. "We also extend our thanks to Sherwin Williams for providing the paint, and to ABRA for donating the remainder of the materials as well as paying for the hours that Pete and I are putting into the project."

In addition to collision repair, ABRA Auto Body & Glass also offers paintless dent removal and auto glass repair and replacement. For further information on ABRA-Coon Rapids, located off Hwy. 10 and Hansen Blvd., and all other ABRA repair centers call 1.888.USA.ABRA or see their website at www.abraauto.com.

ABRA Auto Body & Glass is a national damaged vehicle repair company specializing in collision repair, paintless dent removal, and auto glass repair and replacement. Started with one repair center in 1984, they have grown to seventy-five facilities in ten states.