Build Styles

In truth, there are three things you want to know up front: Quality, Cost and Duration. Quality is of the utmost importance, as whatever the cost, you want a job that will last and thrill you everytime you touch the car. Still, cost is a major consideration. Finally, the time the build takes is very important too. Most shops can't or won't offer assurances up front that you can rely on. We offer a more enlightened experience. After having built so many of these projects, we can offer you quality, as evidenced by these pages, by references, by seeing our completed projects at local car shows, at national events, in magazines, at the SEMA show and, most importantly, on the street! We understand very well the time, materials and effort needed to build your car. We understand the proper methods and materials to do it right. And we understand Mopar muscle cars inside and out, having disassembled and reassembled them time and again. We're going to do all we can to provide, up front, answers to your questions. We're going to honor our answers. And we're going to take the fear out of the process.

Restoration Services - done a bit differently than you may expect...

You have a car your want to have restored. You've visited a couple of shops. You find that they don't seem to have the experience you are looking for... experience that is specific to your Mopar. They want to bill you Time and Materials... a method that leaves you with no idea how much it will end up costing. You've heard the horror stories... you don't want to be another victim...

We offer many different services, perhaps the most complete list of services you'll find anywhere. We don't want your car to be
dragged from shop to shop and instead perform the entire build in-house with very few exceptions.

When it comes to build styles, we have a few to choose from: Restoration, Resto-Mod and what we refer to as Muscle Rod, also called 'pro-touring' or 'G-Machine'. Lets look at each:

Features:
Not quite original restoration
but dang close.
Custom wheels not to exceed 15".
Factory style colors.
Original style interior.
Period motor and induction with performance parts such as intake, headers & exhaust.
Original paint/decal schemes.
A real hot-rod!

Features:
No holds-barred modifications!
Big billet wheels and tires.
Modern engine systems.
Modern comforts including sounds, A/C, power windows.
Modern handling upgrades.
Superchargers, scoops, and bulges are encouraged.
Wild paint, especially pearls and graphics.
A muscle car street rod!

Features:
Original restoration.
Factory wheels.
Factory color.
Original interior.
Original or other period motor.
Original paint/decal schemes.
Not necessarily all numbers and dates matching, but all
parts look like original parts.
Just like the factory built them!

For the record, we do not like to do strict Restorations... numbers-matching date-coded and paint-dabbed builds are very time-consuming and require too much research and documentation. If your car is rare enough to require such a build, seek out one of the shops better suited to handling it but beware the price tag associated with it! For us, Restoration means to make it look like the factory built it, but keep the cost reasonable, and keep it such that the car can still be driven and enjoyed. We make sure the right screw goes in the right hole and all the parts are where they belong, but in truth the paint will be nicer that stock, the date codes may not be present, and there are no assembly line markings. This is a top-quality show car you can drive on the street and it will cost you an amount you can afford.

Resto-Mods allow for more personalization. These cars can be easier and less expensive to build and they reflect the owner's preferences not so much the factory's offerings. Restoration rules still apply to the parts that are original... if a screw is present it must be the correct type for instance... but aftermarket, custom and owner-preferred parts are encouraged. Build the car the way you want it and to heck with what the numbers-matching crowd thinks!

At the other end of the spectrum from Restoration is Muscle Rod. This is a muscle car built with the techniques and parts once reserved for Street Rods. Here, anything goes. Still, if a factory part is used, it needs to be right, but anything else is up to the imagination of the owner. Modern suspensions, engine systems and power-adders are cool. Graphics and wild colors too. Too many people feel that modifications such as these ruin the car... please... there are plenty of stock cars out there. Like street rods, Muscle Rods take the original vehicle to a new realm and with it comes increased value and fun.

IN ALL cases, driveability and affordability are what we do. We want your car on the street, at shows and in magazines. We're here to help see that happen. Talk to us, we'll define the scope of the project and the cost up front. Most of the builds you see on these pages were completed to turn-key status from rusted hulks for between 20-40k depending most often on the amount of metal work required (rust repair) and level of final assembly (labor and materials). We work to make your project affordable to you, in ways you can handle and in a time frame that work for you. You will not find a shop better suited to building you muscle Mopar than Paintshop101!

Features:
Made to look like an original car of more desireable pedigree such as a Hemi can or AAR Cuda.
Factory style colors.
Original style interior.
Period motor and induction though performance parts such as intake, headers & exhaust are allowed.

Original paint/decal schemes.

Features:
Definately not an original restoration,
but not too far out there.
Custom wheels MUST exceed 15", 17's, 18's and 20's are preferred.
Modern colors.
Mostly original style interior.
Mosatly period motor and induction with performance parts such as intake, headers & exhaust.
Any paint scheme. This is a primarily stock-looking car with big wheels.