New Auto Body/Vintage Restoration Business Showing Steady Growth

      When customers of A+ Auto Body drop vehicles off for repairs, many of them, frowning over the possibility of  receiving more bad news, expect the worst  as they wait  for estimates repairing crushed grilles, dimpled doors, dangling fenders, chips and dents. On the trip inside to the shop, frowns disappear and foot traffic slows, as customers are drawn to the big, shiny, really shiny, purple farm truck parked nearby.  The story behind the truck's past and its renewed future is a reminder some auto body mechanics are trained vintage restoration specialists, as well,  and if A+ can do that to a farm truck, maybe a trip to the body shop is not so bad, after all.  

     Over a year ago, Charlie Kendall, disc jockey at radio station B-92, (Classic Hits), finished a straight, original restoration of one truck, when bids opened for a   "1953, five-window classic farm truck, a carry-the-corn farm truck", said Kendall, who put in the winning bid for it on E-Bay. 

     Sometime during Kendall's 650 mile road trip bringing the truck home, "It only failed once," Kendall chuckled, "the headlights quit and I spent an extra night over, continued driving the next day,"  he decided this truck carried enough corn, should be reincarnated as a "hot rod". A+ body shop manager, Elmer Taylor, with thirty years of body shop experience, accepted the challenge, and the painstaking, year-long "frame-off" restoration began.   

     A+ owner David Godsey opened the shop in Lane's Run business park six months ago, is quick to credit Taylor and his entire staff for the high quality of the restoration and their deep interest and dedication in following through on the project from start to finish.  Godsey's shop, an example of  a small business building a recession proof niche, is seeing an increase in repair customers, but Godsey was surprised by steady growth in vintage restoration projects.  The shop is currently working on 3  restoration projects, and 3 new restorations are coming in.

     Godsey emphasizes he is taking "baby steps" as he grows the new business, operates without any loans, stays on an all-cash basis.  Cautiously optimistic, his customer's enthusiasm when they point to the "big purple farm truck" is probably good for his shop, but there is competition out there, another restored 1953 Chevrolet pick up truck, painted bright blue, is cruising the streets in Georgetown.  

     Kendall has yet to meet the owner of the blue truck, turns down regular purchase offers for his truck, and Kendall's plans for his new purchase are simple.  "I intend to drive around in it and enjoy it," he said.  He looks forward to the day manager Elmer Taylor gives him the nod to "take her out", and maybe, if  he passes the owner of  "that other blue truck" they can "square off on Main Street," said Kendall.  Information:  A+ Auto Body, 104 Supply Ct., Georgetown, Ky  (502) 570-0888