How expensive is restoring or building a vehicle?
Cost varies per vehicle, but the most important part of any build is to have a start to finish plan, with cost and time estimates for each step. It's like building or rehabbing a house, the less surprises the better!
What is the best kind of vehicle for my family to enjoy?
Like any major purchase, the biggest mistake people make is falling in love with the vehicle. An emotional attachment is fine, such as a car or truck that was in the family, but overspending or poor planning on any vehicle build is never a good idea, and can cause a lot of stress you don't need. Remember owning a classic vehicle is supposed to be fun. Going to local cruises is a great start, and if you have a favorite type of vehicle, looking into car clubs or forums can be a great source of information or hard to find parts. If possible, drive a restored or completed version of the vehicle you like, so you know it's really the right choice for you. Big shows such as Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA) or any other national event is a great place to get ideas about your build.
What is better, buying a finished vehicle or someone's project?
This one gets more people in trouble than anything, they look at a completed car or truck and think it's too expensive; it must be cheaper to build, when quite the opposite is true. Unless you have the tools and talent to do 75% or more of the project, buying a finished vehicle is always cheaper. Another big mistake people make is doing all the bodywork and paint first, and then trying to assemble the vehicle. A proper build should always be prefab or layout stage, running stage, then paint and final assembly. There is a huge supply of really cool cars and trucks coming into the market because the baby boomer generation who started all this is getting older. Sometimes it's a great idea to find an older classic or muscle car and just update the brakes, suspension, wiring or driveline and maybe air conditioning. That's what we specialize in!
What's the first thing I should do when I find that perfect car or truck?
Remember the #1 thing is safety; you will be driving something that the steering, suspension, brakes and tires might be designed 40 years ago, and might not handle today's highways and speeds. There is nothing worse than seeing a nice car or truck stranded on the side of the road. We can provide inspection services both at the shop and on-site at a minimal cost. Our inspection procedure list is available upon request.
What are your rates?
Depending on the size of the project, some charges are a flat fee, and others could be time and materials. We are always happy to provide an estimate and answer any questions you may have.
Will you install my parts?
Yes, but under the following conditions, if you supply the parts and they will not fit, then you will be handling that with the parts supplier. Any warranty issues would also be your responsibility.
If we supply the parts, we assist with warranties and are responsible for proper fit.
Is pickup or delivery available?
Yes, but we cannot be responsible for any damage or accidents. We recommend you arrange transportation if possible.
How many vehicles or projects do you work on at any given time?
As a rule, we try to limit the shop to one or two cars at a time. It tends to move projects along more efficiently.
I am thinking about the purchase of a vehicle, but I'm not sure if it's a good investment, what should I do?
Having worked on hundreds of different cars gives us the ability to look at them both with experience and an unbiased recommendation. We can provide inspection services both at the shop and on-site. Our inspection procedure list is available upon request. Our job is not to advise you on price, but overall condition and safety of the vehicle. We can provide an estimate on the cost involved to help you make an informed decision.
I have a technical question, but would like to do the repair myself, can you help?
You bet, just email us the question along with the type of vehicle you are working on. Photos are very helpful in assisting with diagnosis.