We are proud to highlight the incredible work of our alumni, including Jacob Knapp whose dedication and craftsmanship in auto body restoration have landed him national recognition in multiple publications.
A 2014 graduate of the Dansville Central School District and Genesee Valley BOCES’ Auto Body program, Jacob has turned his passion for restoring cars into a thriving career. He currently works as the Head Body Technician at RJ Cars, INC. in Arkport, which is a professional restoration shop specializing in classic cars.
Now Jacob is gaining national attention for one of his most recent projects- a full restoration of a unique and uncommon model car- a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere. The project being featured in both the Mopar Collectors Guide and the RM Paint Manufacturer’s 2025 Calendar.
“This vehicle was brought to the shop as a full restoration project, so I didn’t choose it, but found it interesting from the start,” Jacob shared. “It was different from our usual projects, both in color and rarity.”
Jacob says the restoration project spanned over three years with Jacob handling extensive metalwork, most of the bodywork, and the entire paint job. He also restored many intricate components like the dashboard frame, steering wheel, and wheels. Jacob says he especially enjoyed working on the finer details, such as the original finishes on smaller parts.
“I often joke that two or three months of my work on a project is just staring at a panel while sanding,” Jacob said. “So it’s satisfying to work on smaller components where the results are more immediate. Those details often require creative problem solving since there’s no straightforward replacement or repair option.”
The car’s unique story and Jacob’s exceptional work caught the attention of his boss, Russell Jacobs, who recommended it for Mopar Collectors Guide and submitted it for the RM Paint Manufacturers Calendar- securing a place in both publications.
Russell Jacobs, President of RJ Cars, had high praise for Jacob’s work and growth within the company: “Jake has become our Lead Auto Body Technician after his last few years here honing his skills with the RJ Cars Inc. team. The 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible is just one of many large restoration projects that he has played a major part in bringing back to life! Jake has taken himself from being a helper to being a craftsman in his field!”
When asked about his reaction to the recognition, Jacob remained humble: “I’m a pretty emotionally neutral person, so while I was excited, it felt more like another achievement than a sudden acknowledgment of my work. That being said, it’s still very cool and surreal to see a car I worked on featured in a magazine. I couldn’t stop myself from telling everyone about it, so maybe I was more excited than I remember.”
Reflecting on his time at BOCES, Jacob credits the program for giving him a strong foundation in auto bodywork and essential vocabulary needed to advance in his career. He also expresses gratitude for his instructor, Mike Young, who played a significant role in guiding him toward his current position at RJ Cars Inc.
Jacob encourages current BOCES students to embrace trade skills, emphasizing their importance to society: “Learning a trade is always worth it. There’s no shame in learning how to weld, fix a car, raise animals, or pursue any other hands-on profession. These skills are just as valuable as traditional academics and keep the world running.”
Jacob’s story is a testament to the opportunities that come from hands-on learning. We congratulate him on his well-deserved recognition and look forward to seeing more of his incredible work in the future!