Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

[Jason S.]

I am looking for advice regarding restoration shops some of the folks on this forum may have used in the past - specifically in Michigan, and if possible, around the Oakland County area. The restoration in question is a C2 '63 SWC, so shops experienced more with midyears more than anything else is of interest.

I am familiar with Werner Meier's shop in Madison Heights, MI - it appears that both he and his shop have a good reputation and he is well regarded in NCRS circles.

For starters, does anyone have any experiences with any of these shops:
---"Vettestorations" in Southfield, MI
---"The Vette Shop" in Clinton Township, MI
---"Paragon" in Swartz Creek, MI
These shops are geared more towards Corvette work than a "normal" bodyshop - but I'm not aware of whether they would do work up to an NCRS judging standard?

I have also heard people on some of the Corvette forums mention shops such as:
---Pratt & Miller - Near South Lyon, MI
---Mike Brown's Brownys Auto Body Experts in Commerce Township, MI
Both of these shops appear to lean more towards the Restomod/Autorama type of work rather than a "stock" NCRS type restoration?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

Jason,

Is the car in need of full restoration? Partial? Just a paint job?
And what is the goal in the end - factory authenticity, Top Flight, nice driver, ?

And have you spoken with other MI Chapter members?
It's the largest Chapter, and the vast majority of the members are right in your area.

Patrick

[Jason S.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

Patrick,
I suppose I'll take your questions one-by-one, since the answers from each lead into the next in my case:

1) Is the car in need of full restoration? Partial? Just a paint job?:
Originally what took this car off the road was a ruptured front-to-rear brake line. I realized that I wanted to replace the brake line properly, which on a '63 really requires the body to be separated from the frame. At that time, I figured separating the body would also allow me to correct some questionable repairs done to the fuel line on the car at some point as well - which also requires the body to be separated from the frame.
Now.......with that said, I realized that - if was going to separate the body from the frame - this would also be the prime time to go through alot of the suspension reworks that I have also had on my list for a while - bushing replacements, repainting or powdercoating this and that, etc., etc. And then while I poked and prodded underneath the car, I realized it was time to address some rust issues in the frame.
So......that lead to considering an effort towards a fully-restored chassis.
The car was last painted in '77 - to a reasonable standard for a "used Corvette" at the time - but it is showing it's age and should be taken to a higher standard for today. At this point, the question was......why put the body as-it-is back on a perfectly restored chassis? Bottom line is - the dominos have begun to fall, and I am looking towards pretty much a full restoration.

2) And what is the goal in the end - factory authenticity, Top Flight, nice driver, ?
I always referred to this car as a nice "driver" up to this point. BUT - since I'm accepting the fact that the car really needs to be blown entirely apart, this is the time to make it as "correct" as it could be (time and budget allowing, of course).
I don't know if it will ever be "Top Flight" per se - but while the car will be entirely apart I think it's worth spending extra time and money where necessary to take things to "the next level" rather than putting it back together as just "a driver".
This will (hopefully) be the only time in my lifetime this car gets gone through to this extent - so I am willing to redo the car to a high level.

3) And have you spoken with other MI Chapter members?
No, not directly at this point - just working with folks in this forum community up until now.
I assume you are referring to Tom Komendera for the Michigan Chapter?

[Tom M.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

Masterworks in Madison hts

[Patrick H.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

Jason,

Send me an email and I'll give you a few more specifics regarding your list. Include your phone number if you wish.

You could contact Tom, but I would highly recommend joining the MI Chapter and attending some of our upcoming Tech sessions. The most active members attend these in Jan/Feb/March, and the networking you could do will far outweigh the small number of MI members you could touch here.

If you're going that far then there's no reason it can't be a Top Flight car. Making it all the way to Duntov is a whole other level, but TF should not be an issue.

Patrick

[Don L.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

Hi Jason. I sent you a private message (PM) on this. I have experience with several of the shops on your list. My phone # is in my PM. I'm local to you (Commerce). Call to discuss.

[Tom M.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

masterworks in Madison hts is real good... 248-583-0594 , Ask for Werner meier or his son brian.....they did my frame off on my 69 L89

[Wally A.]

Re: Restoration Shops in Michigan - Specifically Oakland County

masterworks should be at the top of your list, best of the best