OUR CREW

When he was only 16 years old, Vinnie completed his first restoration, on a 1932 

Pontiac two-door coupe, marking the beginning of his passion for cars and his 

life-long journey toward Muscle Cars of Texas. Vinnie moved to Texas in 1980 

from New York and opened his first shop, Universal Car and Corvette, in 

Houston; he quickly became one of the most well-known Corvette restorers in 

the state. However, Vinnie aspired to do something greater. He soon expanded 

his knowledge base to include all things muscle car and opened Muscle Cars 

of Texas in 2000. 

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With hundreds of completed builds, Vinnie can diagnose a problem by simply 

listening to it. Much of Vinnie's training was acquired by hands-on experience, 

as he learned the inner workings of classic car restoration the old-fashioned 

way, by touch and test. For more than 40 years, Vinnie has served classic car 

enthusiasts from all over the world, building custom and classic cars that 

have helped raise the bar for today’s restoration expectations. 

Jan met Vinnie on a golf course, where he set up an exploding golf ball for 

her to tee off! Her beautiful shot burst into a puff of smoke! Vinnie’s charm 

worked, and they were married in 1996. Together, they cherish three 

children and four grandchildren. 

Retiring from 35 years of teaching, Jan cared for one of her granddaughters 

full-time. When Jan’s sister, Jeannie, gave her two weeks’ notice in July 

2022, and Jan’s granddaughter started preschool, Vinnie asked his wife to 

come on board at Muscle Cars of Texas. Now they drive to and from Alvin, 

TX, together daily, discussing the past, present, and future of Muscle Cars 

of Texas and family. 

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Right here at Muscle Cars of Texas, Jan handles the front & back-office 

duties of the daily operations. From, greeting clients and visitors, 

connecting them with the appropriate party; entering customer or 

appointment information into the company database; managing 

documents and records; managing paper correspondence and phone calls; 

creating and managing filing systems; making travel arrangements; 

managing office supply inventory; placing orders, ordering, and receiving 

parts; coordinating car shows and event planning; coordinating drop-offs 

and deliveries of customer’s vehicles; to assisting in keeping projects on 

schedule, she is at the heart of MCoT’s hustle and bustle.

Bill Dornwell

SHOP MANAGER

Bill is from Beaufort, South Carolina, and his love of cars came from his father. 

Bill grew up working on cars and has continued to work on them to this day. 

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Over time, Bill has learned that building customs is an art form that lets you 

express yourself, is fun, and is very gratifying. He says that “the smiles and 

reactions of customers are by far the best part of this trade.” Working in this 

trade, Bill says he is a ‘dream maker, making customers' dreams a reality. He 

grew up with Southern values and manners, and as an ex-veteran of the USAF, 

it helped him succeed in life and his 40-year career. 

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One of Bill’s accomplishments was building his drag car, with which he 

competed in local and national events. He participated in several 

championships and had many wins. Bill was known as a ‘heavy hitter’ on the 

race circuit and was proud of his accomplishments, including being first in 

show and being featured in magazine articles. 

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Bill has been with Muscle Cars of Texas for about eight years, supervising the 

Body and Paint Shop and filling in as a Mechanic. He also stepped up as our 

shop manager and strives for ‘excellence and perfection’ in every customer’s 

job, surpassing every detail. Bill says that working at Muscle Cars of Texas is 

comparable to family. “The cars are our children, and we treat our customers' 

vehicles as if they were our own, caring for and loving each and every one.”​

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Bill’s management background includes completed courses in Customer 

Communications, Leadership Team Building and Development, and Problem 

Resolution. Bill’s education includes Body Shop Management Fundamentals, 

Inter-Departmental Development, Warranty Essentials for Body Shop 

Managers, Shop Production/Analysis, and Sales. He also completed courses in 

Automotive Steel GMA/Welding, Aluminum Straightening, Collision Repair 2000, 

Mechanical Systems, Steel Frame Technology and Repair, Auto Bonding, and 

ongoing Structural and Non-structural Repair. 

Born and raised in Pasadena, TX., Jon started paint, body, and mechanical work when he was 15, 

repairing neighbors’ vehicles. He graduated from Sam Rayburn High School and took several 

automotive classes at San Jacinto College. 



Jon worked at several shops over the years, doing mechanical, paint, and body repairs. He then 

got into restorations, restomod repairs, and upgrades. He takes pride in having earned a Master 

ASE Certification in both Mechanical Repair, Collision Repair, and Refinishing. 

In 2005, Jon had a son whom he loves to spend time with, and he likes to fish in his spare time. 

Jon said he has found a home at Muscle Cars of Texas, where he can use his knowledge and 

expertise, especially since we are always busy!