- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Topic
-
I’m looking for some recommendations on places in the Madison area to take a car for some work. I have a 1969 AMC Javelin that has been sitting in storage for close to 20 years and when it was put in storage nothing was done to prep it. I have spoken to Blue Chip Street Rods about the project and they were helpful, informative, very nice, etc. However, I would love to hear from people about other good local shops or hear from people who have used Blue Chip.
Thanks,
Renee
-
Replies
-
I used Blue Chip Street Rods (Dave & Kerry Larson) last year to do some work on my ’65 Mustang Fastback. (New headliner, windshield, seals and glass replacement, windlace, etc.) I was more than happy and completely satisfied with the quality and timeliness of their work. I can recommend this shop to you. I found it easy to work with these guys and I just felt comfortable having them work on my car. Most of my contact was with Kerry, and I stay in touch with him. I would take my car back to Blue Chip.
I use Capitol City Auto on Anton Drive which runs parallel to Verona Road. Have been very happy with the work they have done on all our cars.
I also agree with what GTO Man has posted. I have also used Capitol City Auto. My car was in Dan’s shop (Capitol City Auto) as recently as a week ago (Dan replaced a clutch for me, and worked on a few loose ends from last year). Thanks Dan, the car has never run better!
I guess the original posting needs to be clarified somewhat. If the poster is looking for someone to make the car roadworthy and get it running again, I would strongly recommend Capitol City Auto. We all know that Dan is a world class mechanic and his work is he can work his magic on just about anything. If the poster is looking for a shop to restore her car (beyond the mechanical necessities) then we should talk about Blue Chip, or Reese’s, or Benchmark Classics, or MuscleCarPerformance, or others.
Marshall
I agree with Marshall, Dan Ferguson has a great reputation and does great work. Capitol City Auto is great recommendation. I would also recommend Steve Helwig at Helwig Auto Clinic in Mt. Horeb. Steve’s a car guy, very anal, and does excellent work.
I would stay as far away from Muscle Car Performance as you can, they’re a bunch of ex-cons and hacks, and they will take you for everything they can. They used to be House of Horsepower over on Pennsylvania Ave. I don’t know of anyone that has been pleased with there work.
Thanks for the replies. This is quite helpful. Basically I’m looking to get the car engine running again but if that is possible then I will also need some brake work done, new tires, and I’m sure some other items so it is safe to drive. However, I would also like to take care of a few problem items that the car had when it went in storage – the driver’s side window doesn’t really work any more, the ceiling lining is falling off. I imagine after I do those things I will have surpassed my budget and I doubt I can justify spending any more at least not for awhile. Long term if I decide I want to keep the car I can see doing some additional work.
Would Capitol City Auto be a good option or would I want to stick with somewhere like Blue Chip or the others?
renee wrote:
Quote:Thanks for the replies. This is quite helpful. Basically I’m looking to get the car engine running again but if that is possible then I will also need some brake work done, new tires, and I’m sure some other items so it is safe to drive. However, I would also like to take care of a few problem items that the car had when it went in storage – the driver’s side window doesn’t really work any more, the ceiling lining is falling off. I imagine after I do those things I will have surpassed my budget and I doubt I can justify spending any more at least not for awhile. Long term if I decide I want to keep the car I can see doing some additional work.Would Capitol City Auto be a good option or would I want to stick with somewhere like Blue Chip or the others?
Capitol City could handle your mechanical repairs, but you may want to call and talk with Dan to see if he is interested in the trim/interior work.
Renee,
I would suggest that you go by Dan’s shop and talk with him or call him about what you propose to do. As moparkid25 posted, you should start with the necessary and required mechanical repairs first. You can just about count on one repair leading to another, with some unexpected repairs along the way. I will just about bet that your gas tank, fuel lines, brake lines, and carburetor will need to be serviced, cleaned, and or replaced. For these repairs, Dan (Capitol City Auto) would be my first choice.
The cosmetic, interior, and trim repairs can wait until the car is safe and dependable and you are happy with the way the car drives. I would choose Blue Chip to work on these items.
Welcome to the forum, and best of luck with this project.
Marshall
Thanks to everyone for the recommendation of Capitol City Auto. I talked to Dan today and he was so helpful. He walked me through everything that he anticipated would need to be done and answered all my questions. Ironically he is from the same part of the state as me and knows the person who owns the shed where my car has been stored. Small world!
I am definitely going to go with Capitol City Auto after talking with him. He said he would be able to take on my project in the next few weeks or so which should give me time to finalize my current task of getting a replacement title and the ok to register the car with the DMV.
I’ll post a picture after the car is running again and no longer has 4 flat tires and 19 years worth of dust on it.
Thanks again,
Renee
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.