Copart Announces Winner of Second Annual Rebuild Challenge

DALLAS -- August 27, 2015: Copart, Inc. , a global online vehicle auction company, recently announced the top three winners of its second annual Copart Rebuild Challenge. The contest was designed for car enthusiasts and auto rebuilders to show how they restored, customized or rebuilt a vehicle.

“It’s a hobby and a habit for now, but I hope to start my own business soon.”

Copart Members from across the country submitted their rebuild projects for a chance to win the $2,000 Grand Prize. A panel of Copart judges narrowed the contest entries to 10 finalists, and then the public submitted thousands of votes to select the top three finalists. Entrants ranged from hobbyists to professional body shop owners.

After the voting period closed, Thomas Lea-Anderson from Michigan was named the $2,000 grand prize winner. In his entry, Lea-Anderson depicted how he rebuilt a wrecked 2013 Volkswagen GTI. He has been rebuilding cars since the age of 16 and currently works at the family business, Lea’s Auto Body.

“I’ve worked at my uncle’s body shop for 10 years, and I rebuild vehicles on the side,” said Lea-Anderson. “It’s a hobby and a habit for now, but I hope to start my own business soon.”

Lea-Anderson repaired the collision damage on the Volkswagen GTI and upgraded the vehicle to include modifications such as turbocharger parts and a new racing coilover suspension. His project was finished in six weeks, and he currently uses the vehicle for personal use.

“Thomas Lea-Anderson’s entry in the Copart Rebuild Challenge was a great example of what can be done with a vehicle purchased from our auctions,” said Copart’s Senior Director of Marketing, Michelle Hoffman. “The work he did to turn the damaged Volkswagen into a beautiful, finished vehicle with racecar-like features was really impressive.”

In the past two months, Lea-Anderson has purchased and rebuilt three vehicles from Copart in hopes of kick-starting his own business. He plans to use the prize money to invest in his business and buy more cars.

The Second Prize winner is Daniel Basco of Florida, who rebuilt a Volkswagen Passat; and the Third Prize winner is Jack Parker of California, who rebuilt a 2007 Corvette.

View the winning projects on Copart Winners