Driven by Heart: How Deb Pollack Turned Passion Into Purpose

Written By Alexander Cartigan

By Alexander Cartigan – Chief Editor

From Volkswagen Bugs to Reimagined Legends

Deb Pollack

Every story has a spark. For Deb Pollack, that spark ignited the moment she watched her father shift gears in a 1 963 Gulf Blue Volkswagen Beetle on the quiet streets of upstate New York. It wasn’t the car’s horsepower that fascinated her, it was the rhythm, the connection between human and machine. “I was mesmerized,” she recalls. “I thought it was the greatest car in the world.”

That fascination only deepened when a teenage Deb learned to drive a manual transmission in her cousin’s Porsche Targa, her cousin’s hands guiding her feet on the pedals, whispering “smooth.” That moment set her on a lifelong course, one that would take her from the automotive press representation for Mitsubishi, Ferrari, and Maserati to the heart of Singer Vehicle Design, the California restoration house and global luxury brand redefining the art of the air-cooled Porsche 911.

Engineering Emotion

Deb’s journey in automotive public relations began humbly at the global PR agency that represented Mitsubishi Motors, where she learned that relationships, not press releases, drive real influence. “You build trust first,” she says. “That’s what makes people listen.” It was there that she absorbed her earliest lessons about authenticity, like understanding the importance of “off-the-record” candor and treating everyone at the table, from mechanics to executives, as equals.

Deb Pollack

Her career accelerated as she transitioned to Ferrari and Maserati, navigating the world of Italian craftsmanship and speed. But in 2009, she met Rob Dickinson, the founder of Singer Vehicle Design, and everything changed. “Rob had an undeniable vision, and I was smitten with what he was doing. I just had a feeling.”

That intuition proved prophetic. At Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2015, she watched as enthusiasts from across the world gathered around Singer’s reimagined 911, quoting stories they’d read in Top Gear and Octane. “That was the moment,” she says. “When people start repeating your stories back to you, that’s when you realize you’ve built something bigger than a brand. You’ve created joy.”

For Deb, Singer’s magic lies not only in the craftsmanship but in its humanity. “We don’t just engineer cars,” she explains. “We engineer emotion. Every story we tell celebrates the connection between people and machines.”

The Language of Legacy

Ask Deb what connects Mitsubishi, Ferrari, and Singer, and she doesn’t hesitate. “Passion,” she says. “Every brand I’ve worked with, Japanese, Italian, or American shares one thing: they make people feel something.”

She recalls the precision-driven philosophy of Japanese design, where even door handles are crafted to avoid breaking a woman’s fingernail, and contrasts it with the artistry of Ferrari and Maserati, where cars are built to seduce the senses. Singer, she says, takes that artistry a step further, “an emotional resurrection of an icon.”

Deb’s work has helped elevate Singer from boutique workshop to global phenomenon, now boasting over a million social media followers and a cult-like reverence among enthusiasts. “It’s incredible,” she admits. “We’ve only delivered about 500 cars worldwide, yet the following is massive. People connect because it’s not just about the car; it’s about the story.”

Still, Deb is quick to point out that storytelling has evolved. “Social media builds awareness, but true storytelling comes from real journalists, those who dig deeper. Editorial content gives you third-party validation. It’s not just advertising; it’s earned trust.”

Driving Toward a Cure

If Singer is the professional symphony of her life, Drive Toward a Cure is the heartbeat. Founded in 2016, the nonprofit blends Deb’s love for cars with her drive to combat Parkinson’s disease; a cause deeply personal to her.

After losing her mother to Parkinson’s, Deb discovered that Phil Hill, America’s first Formula 1 World Champion, was being treated at the same facility. The connection allowed her to invite Phil and his son to a media day in Monterey to celebrate his 80th birthday, where he had his last on-track experience, driven by his son Derek.  After his passing, Deb was inspired to organize her first fundraiser, selling passenger laps in a Maserati MC12 driven again by Derek at Laguna Seca. Ninety minutes later, she had raised $7,500 and an idea that would soon become a movement.

“I realized how naturally generosity and camaraderie flow in the automotive world,” she says. “Enthusiasts love to drive, but they also love to give.”

From there, she founded Drive Toward a Cure as a 501 (c)3 nonprofit in 2016, honoring what would have been her mother’s 90th birthday and a decade since her passing, launching rallies, tours, and events across the country. Since its inception, the organization has raised over $1.3 million to fund Parkinson’s research, patient care, and support programs nationwide, from caregiver academies in the Pacific Northwest to providing medical fellowships at Vanderbilt and scholarships for Rock Steady Boxing programs.

But Deb is most proud of the individual stories: the man with early-onset Parkinson’s whose medical bills and care were funded by her community within days; the private car show staged at his senior living facility when he could no longer attend events himself. “It’s not always about money,” she says softly. “Sometimes it’s about heart.”

The 356 That Started a Movement

Among Deb’s proudest possessions is her vintage-inspired Porsche 356 Speedster, a roadster that perfectly embodies her ethos; authenticity, joy, and accessibility. “She’s got the badge on her sleeve and a Volkswagen heart underneath,” Deb smiles. “It’s not about pedigree. It’s about spirit.”

She drives it everywhere; on rallies, to events, through the winding roads of Mulholland Drive, and it’s become the unofficial mascot of Drive Toward a Cure. “People stop, they smile, they take photos. They don’t care that it’s a replica. It makes people happy, that’s what matters.”

During the pandemic, that little Speedster became her therapy. “Whenever I needed to breathe, I’d take her out for a drive,” she says. “That car reminds me that simplicity is elegance. It’s proof that joy doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Legacy in Motion

For Deb, legacy isn’t about fame or fortune; it’s about connection. “Relationships have been the foundation of everything I’ve ever done,” she reflects. “Whether it’s the journalists I’ve worked with, the clients I’ve represented, or the families we’ve helped, it all comes down to people.”

Her goal moving forward is simple yet profound: to keep growing Drive Toward a Cure, to continue giving back through storytelling, and to celebrate the human side of automotive passion. “If I can leave one mark,” she says, “it’s that I helped people feel something, through cars, through causes, and through community.”

In the rarefied world of exotic machines and million-dollar restorations, Deb reminds us that true luxury isn’t what we drive; it’s what drives us.

Alexander Cartigan
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