location of restoration shop specializing in mustangs

Help I am looking for a restoration shop that specializes in mustangs that is located in northern Illinois or western Iowa or southern Wisconsin. Ant help would be much appreciated.  

Where are you located? There are some guys in Rockford, IL. that do great work. There is a guy that does only sheet metal and another that does the final body work and painting. They have seperate shops but they work together. If this helps let me know and I will get you their info.  

A word of caution, make sure the shop you find is very experienced in restorations and they understand completely what you want done. I searched several shops in my area in Virginia and chose one that was highly recommended. I thought they understood what was needed and what I expected only to find out $360.00 later they were done and didn't have time or wanted to continue. My doors didn't even line up.
I took the car to another recommended shop, had them give me an estimate based on what I wanted and what they recommended. I accepted their offer, had the work done, went to the shop to view it after painted and it looked good. However after the vehicle was delivered, Oh and the price went up by $800 because of paint costs and extra work they didn't see. Anyway the car was delivered with the items removed in the trunk (1/4 extensions, headlight buckets, etc). He was in a hurry to unload get his final payment to go pick up another car. Needless to say there were alot of issues I found while putting the car back together that do not meet my expectations. By the way I do have experience in Body and Paint work and welding most of which I did but didn't have the time to continue so I knew what to expect and what it should look like as a finished product. Sorry for the lengthy response but you should be very selective as to whom you choose and very specific in what you expect. Good Luck  

Join a local mustang club and ask the members there. That's what I did and the shop that was recommended saved me a ton of money and does quality work. I would have never ran across it on my own as it generally works on recommendations / repeat customers only.  

almost 2 yrs ago i came home with a project car and i couldnt believe it..my wife said cool..ok you have a project. after i went over it and was alittle annoyed at all the body work i found i told her i was going to send it out to a body shop for repair and paint.she talked me out of it saying youre the one wanted a project car youre the one that should be doing the work. not a shop not a friend and having me watch. now i thank her for those words because i've finished the body work. the car is ready for paint. and again she said you do it. it's your project. yes it may cost alittle more then a shop doing it but she says i know what i want out of the car. i've learned to weld all the right pieces in place..i've learned how to do body filler. and now i am working on painting the car. i have extra parts that i practice on first before i will really do a paint job. thanks to her i can actually say when the car is done. i restored this myself. i didnt have anyone else do the work. she says i'm very picking on how things are done and being i'm that way this car should be better then when it was first built over 40 yrs ago. geeez i hope shes right. LOL
anyhow.. if your going to bring your car to a shop. just dont go by recommendations. go to the shops before hand. talk with the owner the people working there. stop in at all hours of the day. look around see how long some cars have been sitting and ask why they've been around so long. also check and see why some cars are getting restored faster then others. . and then also like wode says join a club and see what they have to say or who they can recommend. also check the work on other cars make sure it's to your liken and if you put your car in a shop again check it on it all the time. it's your car it's your  right to make sure it's what you want. if the owner or someone says you cant do that. well find another shop. i've been to places where they tell me i cant see the work going on i just have to wait. so i just tell them i'll bring my cars somewheres else. get involved with the car anyway you can so your not taken for a ride. and then not disapointed in the work that was done to it.
good luck  

Good advice about researching shops.

We're in the process of putting together a listing of Mustang-related shops and services, by state, for the November or December issue. It's something we'll maintain, update, and reprint every year or so, and possibly have it on our website. We've been getting pretty good response from shops around the country but I'm sure that not everyone is aware. If you know of a reliable shop in your area that specializes in vintage Mustang restoration, maintenance, performance mods, etc., please have them drop us an e-mail at mustang.monthly@sorc.com.

Donald Farr
Editor  

Toms65stang,

Does your coach/manager/inspirational life partner/wife ever turn her head and let you waste time or goof off?  
Where would or who would you be without her?  

cushman

to tell you the truth i would be lost without her. still running around to the bars getting in trouble. the thing thats really great about her is she works till alomst 6 at night and i am self employed so when i get done working i'm done for the day. usually by noon most days. so i have plenty of time to goof off waste time or work on my car.
as for the car i put the first coat of paint on it yesterday. it came out ok but i dont think i like the color. burgandy metalic. it kinda looks like a dark pink and i dont like it. might have to resand the car and go find candy apple red.
by the way this sunday in fla. the webster swap meat for anyone going...see you there.  

hey toms65stang, do you know of any car clubs in the south florida area? maybe closer to miami?

im also looking for a good body shop in the area. if anyone knows of any, i would appreciate the info.