Samuel Polyak, Polykup, David Gutwill, and Ultimate Car Care: A New Jersey Elder Abuse CaseÂ
When a 90-year-old stroke survivor hands over a prized vehicle for restoration work, he expects it back in the condition agreed upon, not stripped, compromised, and potentially dangerous. That is not what happened to Robert Kerekes.
What happened instead has led to a court case, an amicus brief from an elder advocacy organization, and serious questions about the conduct of Samuel Polyak, his associate David Gutwill, and the business operating under the names Polykup and Ultimate Car Care.
This article is written to raise awareness, and details come from public court filings and a formal amicus brief submitted in May 2026 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, case Kerekes v. Polyak, Docket No. MRS L 000015-26. The facts on record are troubling. They deserve public attention.
Who Is Robert Kerekes And Why This Case Matters
Robert Kerekes is not just any elderly man. He is a 90-year-old stroke survivor, a longtime New Jersey resident, and a car collector with over 40 years of experience whose collection has been featured at the New York Auto Show and on ABC News. He was once described by the network as an “American classic.”
Mr. Kerekes trusted Samuel Polyak and his operation, variously identified as Polykup and Ultimate Car Care, to carry out an EV conversion on his 2003 Acura NSX. That is a valuable vehicle. The project required specialist knowledge and a clear agreement on parts and execution.
According to the court filings, what followed was not a legitimate business transaction. It was, in the words of the formal submission, a case of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
What Samuel Polyak and Polykup Are Accused of Doing
The main allegation here is pretty clear-cut. Operating through Polykup and Ultimate Car Care, Samuel Polyak allegedly swapped the high-value Tesla batteries promised in the contract for cheap, salvaged Chevrolet Bolt batteries from a junkyard.
The customer was completely misled, the contract was violated, and a prized collector’s car was returned in what court documents call a “severely compromised” state.
On top of that, the vehicle was missing its original engine and transmission parts, worth an estimated $200,000 on their own.
The Court Order That Was Not Fully Honored
Back on April 14, 2026, the New Jersey Superior Court officially ordered Samuel Polyak and his circle, including David Gutwill, to return the vehicle.
Since it was a Writ of Replevin, it wasn’t a request; they were legally required to hand over everything, from the car itself down to the keys, remotes, fobs, and any components they had taken out of it. The vehicle was eventually returned.
But it came back missing its engine, its transmission, and the related components. That is not compliance with a court order. That is the return of a shell.
An eyewitness, Matt Pekham of Vintage Motor Management, is prepared to testify that David Gutwill personally confirmed possession of every part. According to the filing, Gutwill even made an early-morning trip to retrieve additional components.
That account directly contradicts subsequent explanations offered by Polyak and Gutwill, and their legal counsel’s explanations are described in the court brief as shifting and contradictory.
What They Are Asking the Court to Do
The submission is direct. It names Samuel Polyak and David Gutwill by name. It references Polykup and Ultimate Car Care as the business entities involved. And it asks the court to take three specific steps:
1. Fully enforce the Writ of Replevin and order the immediate return of the missing engine, transmission, and all related parts or a complete accounting of where those parts currently are.
2. Issue subpoenas compelling Polyak, Gutwill, and their counsel to provide sworn testimony and all documentation related to the chain of custody and final disposition of the missing parts.
3. Refer the matter to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office for investigation into potential theft, conversion, elder financial exploitation, and violation of the Writ of Replevin.
Why This Is Bigger Than One Case
He trusted a business with a high-value asset. According to what is now in the public court record, that trust was met with fraud, dangerous parts substitution, and the alleged removal of $200,000 worth of components from his vehicle.
The fact that a formal nonprofit had to file an amicus brief to get this taken seriously says something. These situations require public attention, not just legal proceedings happening quietly behind closed courtroom doors.
Anyone who has dealt with Samuel Polyak, Polykup, or Ultimate Car Care in a business capacity should be aware that this case exists, that it is active, and that its findings may have implications beyond this single dispute.
What Role Did David Gutwill Play In This Case?
David Gutwill is identified in the court filings as an associate of Samuel Polyak. According to eyewitness testimony cited in the amicus brief, Gutwill personally confirmed possession of the vehicle’s missing parts, including making an early-morning trip to retrieve additional components.
His subsequent explanations, along with those of Polyak and their counsel, have been described in the brief as shifting and contradictory.
Conclusion About Accountability Cannot Wait When a 90-Year-Old Is the Victim.
The case of Samuel Polyak, David Gutwill, Polykup, and Ultimate Car Care is not a minor contractual dispute. It’s honestly hard to overstate how ugly this situation is. You have a 90-year-old stroke survivor who was targeted with a deliberately hazardous parts swap and a defense team so brazen that they just blew off a formal court order like it didn’t even exist.
Robert Kerekes was called an American classic. He deserves to be treated as one. What allegedly happened to him at the hands of Samuel Polyak and those operating through Polykup and Ultimate Car Care should not be forgotten as soon as the next court date passes. It should stay visible for his sake and for every elderly person who trusts a contractor with something they value.
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