Don Hawkins
Nothing makes life easier than having a job that you love to do. I've been fascinated with mechanical devices and anything electrical since childhood, and that fascination led me to my career. In '98 I began working for Custom Auto, now I'm the owner and I feel lucky to do this for a living. These cars are an integral part of American history, they were part of all of us growing up, and seeing one of these cars transform from a forgotten hulk into a beautiful piece of art that you can drive and enjoy makes it all worthwhile.

Samantha
I don’t think I ever had a chance not to fall in love with cars. My mom drove a 1969 Chevelle which she gave to me when I turned 16 and my dad was always working in his garage letting me take apart carburetors and explaining to me how distributors worked. My first job was at a parts store, and now that I’m in College my dad lets me work at the shop during the summer which I love. Just being able to be around this many nice cars and the people that love them is awesome.

Cris Veenstra
It seems I've been involved with auto body and restoration work my whole life. My parents own their own shop, and I moved into the business on my own in '84. I specialize in painting and body work - I prefer to start with bare steel or fiberglass, prime and sand to get the surface as close to perfect as possible, and then move onto paint and polish. I've worked with nearly every brand of paint and primer, so I can determine the best fit for your project.

Robert Selix
Hot rods have been in my family for generations - my grandfather, my father and me. Growing up, I always wanted to be involved with cars, and now I am! I love working in the paint department and turning a customer's dream into reality. There's nothing better than seeing the expressions of happy customers when they see their project, freshly painted and polished. Working on cars isn't just my job. It's my life.

Pete Davies
My professional life started as an artist, with a passion for traditional hot rods and motorcycles. When I left California to move to the Northwest, I indulged that passion by searching for just the right shop to feed my mechanical addiction. At Custom Auto, I've had the privilege to wire, fabricate and assemble some of the finest classic restorations on the West Coast.

Robin Kopps-Kopra
My experience with Custom Auto started as a customer. But after I walked through the doors the very first time, I knew this was the only shop for me. It took a few months and many phone calls, but eventually I was hired. The opportunity to build cars to the highest standards is a dream come true.

Ron Wagner
Thirty-five years of experience in automobile metal fabrication make Ron an expert in his field. From rust repairs to one-of-a-kind customs, from panel shaping to lead work, Ron's seen and done it all. He's worked on and contributed to fifteen seperate cars that have gone to Pebble Beach, as well as Lonnie Gilbertson's Hall of Fame G Force 40, New Mad, Real Mad, and countless other classic restorations.

Julie O'Connell
I'm an Office Manager with a great amount of respect for the guys who work here. They are all artists in their own way, each one bringing a different experience and viewpoint to a project. In over twenty years of working full-time, I've never seen a team work so well together. They make my accounting job easy.

Jeremy O'Connell
When I wanted to earn money for a trip to Paris, my mom suggested I work at Custom Auto as the shop cleaner. It's been two and a half years already of sweeping, mopping, and cleaning. It's been great. As an artist, I appreciate what the techs do and I love watching the projects come together. Thanks for giving me a job, Don.