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 in Houston, Universial Car and Corvette, he quickly became one of the most well-known Corvette restorers in the state. However, Vinnie aspired to something greater. He soon expanded his knowledge base to include all things muscle car and opened Muscle Cars of Texas in 2000.
With hundreds of completed builds under his belt, Vinnie can diagnose a problem by simply listening to it. Learning the inner workings of classic car restoration the old-fashioned way by touch and test, much of Vinnie’s training was acquired by hands-on experience. For more than 40 years, Vinnie has served classic car enthusiast from all over the world, building custom and classic cars that have helped raise the bar for today’s restoration expectations.
“I dream of Jeannie” is a ‘car girl’ and has proven herself to be one of the Team! Jeannie has lived in some of the biggest cities in the U.S. and learned how to drive her first which was a Muscle Car, her Sister’s 1969 Camaro SS. Jeannie also got to test drive her son’s very first vehicle he bought out of pocket which was a 1991 305 TBI Camaro RS, which he might have regretted!
Jeannie is family, and we needed someone in the office that we could trust ‘right here at Muscle Cars of Texas’ and so we called her to come on down. Then before we knew she did what family does and listed her home outside of Chicago and sold it within days, packed up her car, and drove down to Alvin, Tx. Jeannie began working for us here at the shop a week later, kicking it in gear and hitting the floor running! She sure can hold her own with the guys even with all the dirt, grease, exhaust and al! Jeannie tries to get us to ‘step-it-up’ here at the shop, bringing with her many years of multi-industry Executive Business and Human Resource Management for International and Domestic Hotel Groups such as Hotel Inter-Continental - Chicago, Starwood Hotels and Resorts & Acquisitions (Westin & Sheraton), Mandarin Oriental - DC, and more.
Jeannie handles the front/back office duties of the daily operations of the business. From phones, to placing orders, ordering and receiving parts, bookkeeping, coordinating car shows and event planning, makes travel plans, coordinates drop off and delivery of customers vehicles, and helps keep projects on schedule. Oh yeh, she makes a lot of lists too!
Bill is from Beaufort, South Carolina, and his love of cars came from his father. Bill grew up working on cars and continues to work on them to this day.
Bill has learned over time that building customs is an art form that lets you express yourself and is fun and very gratifying. He says that “the smile and reactions of customers is by far the best part of this trade. Working in this trade, Bill says he is a ‘dream maker’, making customer’s dreams a reality. He grew up with Southern values and manners, and as an ex-veteran of USAF it helped him to succeed in life and in his 40-year career.
One of Bill’s accomplishments was building his own drag car in 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 being 1st in show and was featured in magazine articles.
Bill has been with Muscle Cars of Texas going on 4 years, supervising the Body and Paint Shop, and also filled in as a Mechanic. He recently stepped up as our Shop Manager and works hard to strive for ‘Excellence & Perfection’ on every customer job, surpassing every detail. Much like a family, Bill says that working at Muscle Cars of Texas is like family, our children, and “treating customer’s cars as if they were our own, caring and loving each and every one.”
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/Analyzation, and Sales. As well as 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 and body and mechanical repairs when repairing neighbor vehicles at 15 years old. He graduated from Sam Rayburn High School and took several automotive classes at San Jacinto College.
Jon worked at several shops through the years doing mechanical, paint & body repairs, then got into restorations and restomods 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 who he loves to spend time with, and he likes to fish in my spare time. This year Jon said he had found a home at Muscle Cars of Texas where he can use his knowledge and expertise, especially since we are always busy here!
Like every young boy Zach always liked cars & trucks. He grew up in Texas City, Texas and says that out of necessity he says he learned to work on vehicles with his dad and hasn’t stopped learning.
Zach always wanted to restore classic cars, just never found a place in his younger years that would give him a shot. So, like most able-bodied men with a soon to be growing family, he went to work in the Refinery Field as a Mechanic, then a Boiler Maker & Pipefitter. Zach learned lots of thing and saw a lot of places, but work was never close to home. Then he had an opportunity to meet us, the Muscle Cars of Texas Team, and we decided to give him the chance to show us what he can do. Zach has shown initiative and excitement when it comes to learn the craft that he really enjoys – and it shows! He says he values the ability to help bring people’s dream car to fruition, as well as the satisfaction of a job well done.
Zach says he has not had time to work on a car project for himself yet, though he has helped many friends, family members and neighbors get their cars up and running when needed. He really looks forward to showing his notable accomplishments here at Muscle Cars of Texas. Zach has built, lifted, and lowered trucks and cars before, but says they were nothing like the beautiful rides here at Muscle Cars of Texas. Although, he does say that his greatest accomplishment will always be, his daughter.
Zach’s place on the Team here at Muscle Cars of Texas is Mechanic Technician, and he can work on a little bit of everything. One of his best abilities is to problem solve and will not be stopped until the problem is solved and believes that it is important to put out the ‘best’ possible product for the customer.
Erick has always liked cars and while growing up he really took an interest in them. His first job was in Houston where he worked in a paint shop and then moved on to other shops over the last 12 years. Erick got his experience from working with other auto shops, and worked on cars on the side at home to support his family. He first learned auto mechanics and then worked into learning how to fix body dents and scrapes and prepping vehicles to be painted.
In his last position Erick worked for 5 years in a paint and body shop which is what brought him here to Muscle Cars of Texas. He has gained a lot of experience painting, and says he is learning even more to perfect techniques to provide the best for our customers. Erick says that it’s truly his passion to work on cars and will continue to have opportunities here to do just that.
Cesar is from Houston, Tx., and his passion for cars was sparked while in his Uncle’s small paint shop/garage. Cesar said his Uncle taught him enough to get him into this line of work and inspired the inner car enthusiast in him. In the past Cesar worked at several collision/body shops repairing vehicles, and a custom paint shop where there were newer vehicles, and he said it was fun.
Cesar said that while growing up and working on older classic cars, lowriders and hotrods, there was no other shop that has felt so much like home as Muscle Cars of Texas. He says that he has learned so much while working here and still learning new things every day; Tips, tricks and overall, just learning “how to better further himself and his career”.