Lincoln muscle car shop weathers economic storm and finds national attention

It’s not always possible to make a hobby into a successful and profitable business.  However, one Lincoln businessperson found a way to make a passion for cars into a successful restoration business.

Dave Hall, the owner and operator of Restore a Muscle Car LLC in Lincoln, started out in the computer science field working mostly in networking, security, web-based development and as a partner in several software companies.  However, his hobby was always in car restoration.  His love of cars started when he worked on cars with his father.

After 13 years in the computer industry, Hall decided to take a chance and started his restoration business.  He began by renting a 4,000 square foot facility.  The shop was run by Hall and he employed just 2 technicians.  Six years later, he owns a 15,000 square foot facility and two acres of land.  The shop now has a full-time and part-time staff running numerous restoration projects.

“When I started the business, this particular industry was booming,” Hall said. “There was a call for it. There was a need for somebody who does what we do, especially in the Midwest.”

Restore a Muscle Car started by focusing on one specific type of vehicle. They now are able to restore any make or model.

Hall said one of the greatest things he did to help his business grow was to initially focus on one particular make and model of car.  This allowed him to establish the company and its reputation in the area and eventually nationwide and worldwide.

“We tried to start the business and stay 100 percent focused on building our reputation, building the business on one make or model and staying focused on that as much as possible for about the first three years,” he said.

“By keeping that focus, it was easier to be able to reproduce something you know very well than to try to reproduce several different makes and models.

“Whether it’s computer programming or manufacturing or any type of professional line, staying focused on one particular thing helps you become good at it and be one of the best at it and you expand from there.  You take what you’ve learned from that one streamlined position and go from there.”

Another resource unique to Restore a Muscle Car is the constant interactivity with the customer.  The website features instant updates on restorations from the shop, making it conveniently easier for the customer.  Hall said this type of feature helps make his business stand out against other car restoration businesses.

The location in Nebraska also played a key role in his success.

“Being in the Midwest, our expense rates are less than those on the coast,” he said.

Shortly after his business began, Hall started an annual event called the Bandit Run.  Each year, vintage car lovers drive from a starting location to an ending location together, seeing sites along the way.  This event gained so much attention, that the New York Times and other various media venues covered its success.

By building exposure through events like the Bandit Run, Hall was able to start sales of products with foreign companies and even attract the attention of actor Burt Reynolds, who invited Hall and his crew down to his hometown of Jupiter, FL on their last Run.

Dave Hall's Restore a Muscle Car has been an example of successful entrepreneurship in Nebraska.

The recent economic crisis had some effects on Restore a Muscle Car but overall, the business saw a balance in services.  Placing money in muscle cars proved to be a strong investment during the early days of the economic downturn.  Business and work on restorations stayed consistent, but different sales, such as parts sales slowed down.  However, since the start of the year, things began to slowly turn around.

Hall believes entrepreneurs should use the recession as a learning experience and realize there are still ways to be successful.

“There are a lot of sacrifices that have to be made along the way,” Hall said.  “Any entrepreneur in this economy going through these ups and downs that we’ve had to deal with and are still dealing with makes it tough.

“But at the same time, it almost helps you strengthen your core by streamlining your business expenses and fine-tuning your customer base.”