Custom fabrication & specialty work

Classic car restorations, custom paint schemes (color changes, special effects, two-tones, racing stripes, full graphics), specialty repairs on vehicles with no current OEM procedure, one-off body modifications like fender flares or custom bumpers, and refinishing across non-automotive platforms (boats, motorcycles, equipment). If the work involves bodywork or refinishing and doesn't fit a flat-rate manual, it probably belongs here. The best way to find out is to send photos and describe what you're after, we'll tell you straight whether it's something we should take on.

Collision repair runs on standardized procedures and flat-rate hours, most jobs map cleanly to a published number. Custom work doesn't. Pricing reflects the actual hours required, which depend on the specific vehicle, the condition we find during disassembly, and the level of finish you want. We provide a written estimate after a real in-person inspection rather than guessing from photos alone. For longer projects we'll typically structure the work in phases with check-ins, so you're not committed to the full scope before we've validated the plan.

Usually yes. Our computerized color-matching system can read existing finishes from a panel sample or sample chip. For colors with no physical reference, we can mix to a paint code or a published reference. Special effects (metallics, pearls, candies, flake) require additional planning because particle orientation during application affects the final appearance, we'll talk through what's realistic before committing to a path. For ultra-precise matches (concours-grade restorations), we may recommend a test panel before painting the whole vehicle.

We focus on bodywork, fabrication, and refinishing, which is most of a visible restoration. For mechanical, drivetrain, or interior work outside our scope, we coordinate with specialists we trust. We're honest about where our work ends and someone else's begins, so the project lands without gaps. For a frame-off restoration with significant mechanical involvement, we'll often work as part of a larger team rather than as the sole shop.

Highly variable. A custom paint job on a single panel could be a week or two. A multi-panel color change with significant prep work could be a month or more. A classic restoration involving rust repair, sheet metal fabrication, and full refinishing could be six months to a year or longer depending on scope and what we uncover during disassembly. We give realistic timelines based on the work, not optimistic ones designed to win the job. And we communicate when something on the project changes that timeline.

For many older or specialty vehicles, yes. We can hand-form sheet metal patches for rust repair, fabricate replacement sections where panels are no longer manufactured, and work with specialty suppliers for reproduction parts when they exist. Fabrication is more time-intensive than installing a replacement panel, so it factors into the estimate. For some vehicles we may recommend a reproduction or used original panel even if it requires modification, because the cost and time tradeoffs favor that approach.

Depends on the policy. Standard policies often value modified or classic vehicles at standard book value, which won't cover the actual cost of specialty repair. Agreed-value or stated-value policies (common for classics and modifications) declare the vehicle's actual value upfront, those typically work much better for specialty claims. We help document existing modifications and finishes for owners who want to upgrade their coverage, and we work with adjusters when claims come in. If you're investing in significant modifications or restoration, talk to your agent about coverage before the work is done.

Absolutely encouraged on custom work. We provide updates as the project moves through phases and we welcome customers to come see the work in progress, especially at key milestones (after disassembly, before paint, after color application). For larger projects we'll often set check-in points where you confirm direction before we commit to the next phase. Specialty work is a collaboration, and customer involvement usually makes the final result better.