I just bought a 1970 El Camino SS clone off of eBay. I made it home on the 10 hour drive, but I ran into some electrical gremlins. I'm looking for a shop that can fix the gremlins and maybe swap out the dash with SS guages.

Future projects include large-diameter four-wheel disc brakes, a posi rear end, a suspension update, and a six-speed manual transmission. These projects will take place over the next few years, but I would like to find a reputable Atlanta-area shop and stick with it.

My Elky will be a daily driver--well, a twice-a-week driver, since I commute by motorcycle most days. So I'm looking for a company that performs quality work, but I'm not worried about show car appearances.

Any recommendations? I saw an ad for www.YearOne.com in Braselton, GA, but it seems like they cater to expensive show cars.

-John
'70 El Camino
'98 Honda VFR800
'99 Suzuki SV650

John,

I think you will find Year One is a supplier, and not a restoration house. Although they do, do their own cars.

They supply quality parts - I've purchased from them for other cars I have owned. 442, GTO, Road Runner. And, always found them to be very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly to work with. I ever made a couple trips to their location over the years, to pick up parts, but mainly to converse with the guys working there. They are very helpful, and will put you on the right track, if you spend a few minutes with them.

If I were in your shoes/place, I would dedicate a couple hours to go over, and explain to them just what it is you are wanting to do. And, I'll bet, they will have some recommendations as to where to take your car, and who and who not to deal with in the Atlanta area. Good luck 8)

Update: I checked in with Kudzu.com and YearOne.com looking for an Atlanta repair/restoration shop. Here are some options I found.

Barron's Garage
1574 Garraux Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404) 352-9037

Kudzu.com is kinda like Epinions.com for Atlanta, and I had previously used the site to find Barron's Garage, off of Howell Mill in central Atlanta. They replaced the front discs and master cylinder on my old van. I felt they were honest in recommending work that needed to be done, but the discs warped a few months after installation. That said, I ride motorcycles and brake hard, and I have warped the van discs before. *That* said, I specifically asked about installing more powerful brakes, and they weren't keen on the idea. It seems like a good shop if you just want to replace the stock parts.

I called an asked if they would work on a 1970 Camino, and Chuck, the owner, said yes, but they would only work on an hourly rate without any estimates. It sounded like I would have to convince them to work on the car, so I moved on.

Larry Johnson's Buckhead Auto Center
3126 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 814-0204

I found this through Kudzu, and it was hard to miss with 47 reviews and a five-star rating. The reviews are so overwhelmingly positive that I'm thinking someone must have planted a few. The shop seems Internet-savvy, with a site at www.buckheadautocenter.com, and it wouldn't take much to enter dummy reviews on Kudzu. That said, they list "custom work" on their site and show restorations of a 1940 Packard and a 1942 Chevy.

I spoke to Bobby on the phone, and he said they enjoy working on classics. I described replacing the engine accessories with a serpentine belt setup, and he sounded interested and encouraged me to bring in the car for an estimate. So that's the way I'm gonna go. I'll post back to let you know how it turns out.

FYI, I contacted Year One and got a little feedback. One fellow said word of mouth at car shows is the best way to find a good mechanic. They also recommended checking listings in Hemming Motor News. I found these listings, but they were both out of town, and I have not called yet.

From http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/servicesoffered/na/unspecified/528388.html
Jasper, GA (1 hr north of ATL)
RESTORATION: full service with dedication to originality for all cars & trucks, domestic and import, body, mechanical, electrical, trim, weatherstrip, glass, interior, etc; we can handle any aspect of repair, partial or complete restoration, with competitive pricing and a sincere effort to include the customer in the rebuilding process. Classic Car Works Ltd, 770-735-3945, Jasper, GA.

From http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/servicesoffered/na/unspecified/519009.html
Oak Grove, GA (how far from ATL?)
GARY PIZZARELLO, former proprietor Corvette/GM restoration facility, member NCRS is now offering pre-purchase inspections; servicing GA, FL, SC, NC, TN, AL; truly a one-call procedure; we will inspect, consult, negotiate sellers price upon request, transact purchases and arrange delivery to your door. 770-529-2736 office, 678-458-4745 cell, GA.

-John
'70 El Camino
'98 Honda VFR800
'99 Suzuki SV650

If you're in the Marietta area, Kim at Fairground Auto is the place to go. He has classics he worked on over 25+ years ago still come by. He works on my Elkie and other cars as well and does great and reasonable things.