Engine Shop Still Trucking Almost 60 Years Later

York County’s Apples Machine Shop does everything from classic cars to boats to hot rods

By Melissa James, York County Contributor

Scotty Williams, right with son Chad in the shop

“I’ve always liked automobiles and was always working on cars with my dad,” said Scotty Williams, longtime owner of Apples Machine Shop. “We shopped a lot at Apples for car parts. One day, I walked in and asked Apple for a job, and he gave me a chance.”

That was 1974. Today, Williams operates the York County business alongside his son, Chad, to whom he recently handed off ownership.

Apples Machine Shop was launched in 1968 by Ernest Lemonds—who was called “Apple” due to his heavy frame (and likely, his fruit-reminiscent surname). Williams began behind the counter selling auto parts, observing in the machine shop whenever he had free time. Honing his skills on the job, he began hands-on work with the machines in 1984 and has enjoyed building and fixing engines ever since.

Apples Machine Shop specializes in all automotive machine work, including block, crank, head and other miscellaneous machine work.

Pontiac 400 engine the shop recenty completed.

“We do anything related to the automotive engine, from model A Fords to newer models,” Williams said. “There’s really nothing we don’t do. Most of our work right now is related to high-horse-power engines, hot rod-based engines."

Son Chad joined Apples Machine Shop nearly 30 years ago, fresh out of high school.

“I’ve been around the industry my entire life,” Chad said. “Growing up, I was into dirt bikes and motorcycles. I developed a passion for engines and wanted to do it as a career. I love working with my dad and enjoy doing what I do. We treat every engine as if it were our own.”

Decades prior, Williams had opened S&W Motor Supply, another machine work and engine installment company on Route 17, when the opportunity arose to purchase Apples from the Lemonds family. Williams sold S&W and rejoined Apples as the owner. Apples Machine Shop eventually outgrew its space on Route 17 and moved to its current home on Production Drive.

The company does machine work for nearly every local auto dealership, along with boat engines during the summer months. For years, father and son handled all responsibilities, but last year, as demand increased, they hired a third employee, Elmer Pocasangre, to assist with fixing and building engines.

Engines waiting to be restored

On average, the company assembles three engines per week, with some cars featuring their handiwork winning awards at car shows or having appeared in films. While most clientele are local hot-rod enthusiasts and classic car collectors, the business has done work for Daniels Performance Group in Smithfield, as well as for customers in Richmond, North Carolina and Maryland.

“Our business usually comes by word of mouth, from recommendations from friends and family,” Chad said. “This has become a lost trade, and there are not a lot of machine shops around anymore, so we are one of the few places to take your engine.”

Longtime owner Scotty Williams at the front desk

Apples Machine Shop enjoys giving back to the neighbors who have stood by them all these years, supporting organizations like the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Special Olympics and various Little League teams. While the business has been around for over half a century, the family has been ensconced in the County for far longer. Williams’s wife, Darlene, traces her roots in Dandy to the 1800s.

“Her grandmother delivered mail in Dandy by horse and buggy,” Williams said. “There are a lot of people who know us from either being from York County or from Apples Machine Shop. Everyone in this County has been nothing but supportive.”

“Few businesses can say they’ve been part of the York County landscape for nearly 60 years,” said Kristi Olsen-Hayes, director of York County’s Department of Economic & Tourism Development. “Apples Machine Shop is not only one of our longest-running businesses, but also a remarkable family legacy that continues to grow with each generation. At a time when skilled trades like this are becoming increasingly rare, their commitment to preserving and passing down this expertise makes their story even more meaningful to our community.”