Eteceterini, Specials, Vintage Race Cars, Exotics

We approach all projects - both large and small - with the same core philosophy - to do things right, the first time.

Doing things "right" is actually a bit more complicated than it might seem on the surface - as many times, a cars problems are not only hidden deeper than what might immediately be evident, but in many cases, years of neglect or improper repairs have masked and hidden the underlying problem.

Peeling back the layers and thinking through a problem - not taking the easy way out - this is what is required to get the job done correctly.

The art of Restoration is a process that in principal, seems basically simple: take something apart, clean and fix it, and put it back together again. Unfortunately, as they say, the devil is in the details, and it is the hundreds if not thousands of details that make or break projects.

For instance, “Body Work” sounds simple enough, but to a restoration shop (at least this restoration shop), Body Work means the meticulous alignment of every body panel and the fitting of every molding, mirror and emblem on the car. Every piece is fit and refit, new opening springs are installed, hinges are re-bushed, all new rubber seals and bumpers are installed – all to ensure that gaps are tight, the car sits square and everything lines up beautifully - this happens on top of the steps taken to provide for a flawless and lasting paint finish!

The time it takes to complete any given project can vary greatly, but in general there are two main factors: How rare is the car, and how bad condition the starting point.

In other words, ordering Mustang parts from National Parts Depot and having them arrive the next day with original Ford markings and a full warranty is quite a bit different than working with translators to procure a part from the Stanguellini Museum in Modena, Italy.

So if your car is well "covered" and in great starting condition, you can expect about a year. If your car is the opposite, 18 months to two years or more could/should be expected. An average restoration could log 2000 man hours to complete, with rare and exotic cars cresting 3000 hours.

An argument is often raised regarding marque "specialists" versus "multi-marque" shops. Obviously, there are arguments for both sides of the coin.

We have chosen a multi-marque approach for many reasons. Most importantly, we feel that by working with many marques and eras, our overall skill set, troubleshooting abilities, knowledge base and contacts can be maximized.

Although we do not focus on any one particular type of vehicle we would not consider ourselves "generalists" either – rather, we specialize in the quality of the work and the dedication to the project that we offer.

As craftsmen, making these connections between cars and acquiring these skills is a critical part of us becoming better at what we do – every day.

We approach all projects - both large and small - with the same core philosophy - to do things right, the first time. Doing things "right" is actually a bit more complicated than it might seem on the surface - as many times, a cars problems are not only hidden deeper than what might immediately be evident, but in many cases, years of neglect or improper repairs have masked and hidden the underlying problem. Peeling back the layers and thinking through a problem - not taking the easy way out - this is what is required to get the job done correctly. The art of Restoration is a process that in principal, seems basically simple: take something apart, clean and fix it, and put it back together again. Unfortunately, as they say, the devil is in the details, and it is the hundreds if not thousands of details that make or break projects. For instance, “Body Work” sounds simple enough, but to a restoration shop (at least this restoration shop), Body Work means the meticulous alignment of every body panel and the fitting of every molding, mirror and emblem on the car. Every piece is fit and refit, new opening springs are installed, hinges are re-bushed, all new rubber seals and bumpers are installed – all to ensure that gaps are tight, the car sits square and everything lines up beautifully - this happens on top of the steps taken to provide for a flawless and lasting paint finish! The time it takes to complete any given project can vary greatly, but in general there are two main factors: How rare is the car, and how bad condition the starting point. In other words, ordering Mustang parts from National Parts Depot and having them arrive the next day with original Ford markings and a full warranty is quite a bit different than working with translators to procure a part from the Stanguellini Museum in Modena, Italy. So if your car is well "covered" and in great starting condition, you can expect about a year. If your car is the opposite, 18 months to two years or more could/should be expected. An average restoration could log 2000 man hours to complete, with rare and exotic cars cresting 3000 hours. An argument is often raised regarding marque "specialists" versus "multi-marque" shops. Obviously, there are arguments for both sides of the coin. We have chosen a multi-marque approach for many reasons. Most importantly, we feel that by working with many marques and eras, our overall skill set, troubleshooting abilities, knowledge base and contacts can be maximized. Although we do not focus on any one particular type of vehicle we would not consider ourselves "generalists" either – rather, we specialize in the quality of the work and the dedication to the project that we offer. As craftsmen, making these connections between cars and acquiring these skills is a critical part of us becoming better at what we do – every day.		"The Creative workshop, a cathedral of automotive couture, is as far removed from your local body shop as Neiman Marcus is from Marshals" - Ocean Drive Magazine