//Classic Car Restoration
Classic Car Restoration. Done Once. Done Right.
We are not the cheapest classic restoration shop in Minnesota. We are the one you only need to call once. Full body, paint, and structural restoration on classic vehicles, built to last another lifetime.
- Since 1966
- 5x Readers Choice
- A+ BBB Rated
- AkzoNobel™ Certified
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Spec - Established
- 1966
- Location
- Elko New Market, MN
- Recognition
- 5x Readers' Choice
- Guarantee
- Lifetime Workmanship
What We Do
We Take Restorations Personally
A classic restoration is not a repair. It is a multi-month commitment to bringing a vehicle back to a level of craftsmanship that has not existed since it left the factory. When you trust your classic to Bodywerks, we approach it the same way we would approach our own vehicle. We do it right, even when no one is watching. Especially when no one is watching.
Bodywerks handles the full scope of classic car restoration in our Elko New Market shop. From rust repair and body work to full color-matched custom paint, every step is done in-house by the same team that has been doing this work since 1966. Our painters and craftsmen, including team members with 40-plus years of restoration experience, hand-paint every vehicle that comes through the shop.
We work on American muscle, classic trucks, vintage European, and any other classic vehicle that deserves to be brought back to life. Whether your classic needs a full frame-off restoration or targeted body and paint work to bring it back to show condition, we have the experience and the patience to do it correctly.
Classic restoration services we provide
- Full frame-off restoration
- Rust repair and structural restoration
- Body and panel fabrication
- Custom paint and original color matching
- Restoration of trim, chrome, and detail work
- Full vehicle disassembly and reassembly
- Mechanical coordination with trusted partners
- Pre-show detail and finishing
- Custom and concours-level paint work
- Restoration of foreign and imported classics
How We Do It
The Bodywerks Restoration Process
Classic restoration is project-based, not turnaround-based. Every restoration follows a clear, documented process from initial assessment to final delivery.
Initial Assessment & Consultation
We sit down with you and the vehicle, assess its condition, discuss your goals, and build an honest scope of work. We do not start a restoration we cannot complete to the level you expect.
Documented Estimate & Timeline
You receive a detailed estimate broken down by phase, tailored to the specific vehicle and scope. Payment is structured in thirds across the project timeline.
Disassembly & Inspection
The vehicle is disassembled to the level the scope requires. Hidden damage, rust, and structural concerns are documented before any work begins.
Body, Structural & Paint Work
Body work, rust repair, panel fabrication, and structural restoration first. Then primer, base coat, clear coat, and our signature factory mirror finish, all in-house with AkzoNobel™ paint.
Reassembly, Detail & Delivery
The vehicle is reassembled, detailed, and inspected before delivery. You see it at multiple checkpoints, and the final reveal is the moment we work the whole project toward.
Why Bodywerks
Why Enthusiasts Trust Us With Their Classics
We Do It Right, Not Fast
Restoration is not a high-volume business. We take the time the project requires. Other shops try to push restorations through. We do not.
Done In-House From Start to Finish
Body, paint, fabrication, and finish work all happen under one roof in Elko New Market. We do not subcontract restoration work to other shops.
AkzoNobel™ Paint & Factory Mirror Finish
The same paint system used by major automakers, applied with the same care. Every clear coat hand-sanded for a true factory finish.
60 Years of Hands-On Craftsmanship
Founded 1966. Our team includes painters and craftsmen with decades of restoration experience. This is part of the shop's DNA, not a service we picked up last year.
Real Communication Through Every Phase
You hear from us at every checkpoint. No 'we will call you when it is done.' You stay involved in your project from start to finish.
We Are Not the Cheapest. We Are the Last Call.
We tell you what the project will cost to do correctly. Most of our restoration customers came to us after another shop got the project wrong.
Investment
How Classic Restoration Pricing Works
Classic restoration is project-based. Unlike collision repair, there is no insurance company setting the price. The cost is determined by the specific vehicle, the scope of work, and the level of finish you want. We tell you what the project will cost to do right, in writing, before any work begins.
Payment is structured in thirds. One third at project start to cover initial materials and labor. One third at the midpoint. One third at completion before delivery. This structure keeps the project predictable for both of us and lets you spread the investment across the timeline.
We will not give you a lowball estimate to win the job and then add costs as the work progresses. If the scope changes during disassembly because hidden damage is uncovered, we stop work, document it, and discuss the change with you before continuing. No surprises.
06 Where We Work
Serving the South Twin Cities & St. Croix Valley
We serve drivers across 8 communities in the south metro, with the same standard at every address.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Classic Restoration
How long does a classic restoration take?
How much does a classic car restoration cost?
Do you accept restoration projects from outside the south Twin Cities metro?
Can you restore foreign and imported classics?
Will I be able to see my vehicle during the restoration process?
Do you handle mechanical restoration as well as body and paint?
Why are you more expensive than other restoration shops?
Get Started Today
Have a Classic Worth Doing Right?
Call to schedule a restoration consultation. We will assess the vehicle, talk through your goals, and build an honest scope of work.
Real humans answer every call. Lifetime workmanship guaranteed.