Rocket City Customs

1. Can you give me an estimate to repair or restore my car? - In general, the answer is no. Classic vehicles often have unknown problems that cannot be identified until the vehicle or affected components have been inspected and, in some cases, disassembled. Previous repairs, hidden damage, missing or incorrect parts, parts availability, and reproduction-part fitment can all significantly affect the amount of labor and cost required to complete the work properly. Because of this, we cannot accurately provide an estimate simply from phone calls, text messages, photos, or brief visual inspections.

2. What kind of projects are a good fit for Rocket City Customs? - Rocket City Customs (RCC) specializes in classic cars and trucks. Our work ranges from routine maintenance and mechanical repair to paint and bodywork, metal fabrication, restoration, upgrades, and complete custom builds. You don't need to be restoring a car to bring it to us. We welcome classic vehicles that simply need maintenance, diagnosis, or repair as well as complete restoration and custom projects.

3. Why is servicing a classic car so expensive? - Classic cars often require more time to diagnose and repair than modern vehicles. Many problems cannot be identified through modern diagnostic systems, and repairs frequently involve troubleshooting, research, adjustment, parts restoration or fabrication, or fitting and modification of modern reproduction parts. Just as importantly, working on classic vehicles requires technicians with experience and skills specific to older cars—skills that have become increasingly difficult to find as these vehicles have aged. The cost of servicing a classic reflects both the additional time the work can require and the experience necessary to perform it properly.

4. What kind of cost am I looking at to restore my car? - A proper restoration is labor intensive and can require a substantial investment. In many cases, the cost of the restoration may approach or exceed the market value of the vehicle when it is completed. The actual cost depends heavily on the condition of the vehicle, the amount of previous work or damage, the level of restoration desired, parts availability, and the customer's goals for the finished car. For that reason, most restorations are not undertaken simply as a financial investment. Owners restore cars because of their attachment to the vehicle, a desire to preserve it, or because they want a particular car built specifically for them. If your primary consideration is whether the cost of the restoration will be less than the market value of the finished vehicle, a major restoration will most likely not be the right project for you.

5. So how does the process work? Begin by contacting the shop using the CONTACT tab above to discuss your project with Mike (the manager), including the issues you are having and/or the work you would like completed. We receive 5–10 potential project inquiries per week, so please understand that response and scheduling times may vary. If your project appears to be a good fit for RCC, you will be asked to submit it through the WAIT LIST tab above. When we have an opening appropriate for your project, we will contact you to schedule the vehicle. Depending on the scope of the project, we may need to keep the vehicle for several days to properly inspect and assess its condition. RCC will then discuss the findings, recommended scope of work, and an appropriate Not-To-Exceed (NTE) budget with you before work begins.

6. How does a Not To Exceed (NTE) budget work? - A Not-To-Exceed (NTE) budget is a working budget developed for the labor, parts, and materials required to accomplish the goals of your project. RCC will not exceed that budget without written authorization from you, the customer. RCC will work directly with you to develop an NTE budget based on the scope and goals of your project before work begins. Because classic car restoration and repair work often uncovers previously unknown issues, the scope of work and the budget required to accomplish your project goals may change as the project progresses. If the NTE budget is reached before the project goals are completed, RCC will pause work to discuss the remaining work, revised scope, and/or additional budget authorization before continuing.

7. How long will my project take? - Project timelines can vary significantly depending on the condition of the vehicle, parts availability, vendor delays, fabrication requirements, customer authorization and payment timing, changes in project scope, previously unknown issues discovered during the work, and the availability of the appropriate technician(s) required for your specific project. Because of the unpredictable nature of working on classic vehicles, RCC generally does not guarantee completion dates or fixed timelines.

8. How much do you charge for labor? - All labor is billed by the hour. RCC's current labor rate is $125 per hour for general shop labor and $105 per hour for paint labor. You are billed for the actual time spent working on your vehicle. For example, if a repair is expected to take 3 hours but only takes 30 minutes, you will be billed for 30 minutes. Time spent researching, sourcing, ordering, receiving, and/or picking up parts required for your project may also be billed as labor.

9. How do you charge for parts? - All parts costs will be passed directly to the customer. RCC does not apply an additional markup beyond the cost of parts, applicable tax, and shipping & handling charges.

10. How do you charge for materials? - In general, materials are consumable materials used by the shop to complete your project. Some examples would be sanding or grinding discs, sand paper, paint, masking tape or paper, cleaners, etc. Materials required to complete your specific project may be charged at cost.

11. Should I order my own parts and bring them in? - You should discuss this with RCC. In general, it is not recommended for customers to order their own parts as this could cause delays and cost increases when the incorrect parts are ordered for your application and must be returned and re-ordered. RCC has extensive experience sourcing parts for classic vehicles and can often locate not only the correct part, but the best part, more efficiently, ultimately saving you time and money.

12. Will I have to pay a deposit? - Depending on the project, RCC may require a deposit to purchase parts or materials before work begins. In general, deposits for labor are not required.

13. How will I be billed? - For small projects, RCC will generally send you an invoice when the work is complete. Larger projects are billed periodically, typically after approximately 20 hours of labor have been completed. Payment is expected within 10 business days. If payment is not received within 10 business days, work on your project may be stopped until the account is brought current. Outstanding balances may be subject to a fee of 10% per month after 30 calendar days.

14. If something comes up can I stop work on my car, pay for work completed and pick it up? - Yes, with reasonable notice, work can be stopped at any time. Upon paying any remaining invoices, the car can be picked up. Vehicles left at the shop for more than 30 calendar days after work is completed or a stop work request has been issued by the customer may be charged a storage fee of $20 per day.

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For more details, please read our Work Authorization Agreement below.

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