Kiddys Classics

Museum-bound!
This 1930 Franklin made a return visit to our shop for a few final touches before heading to the in Michigan.

We had the honor of doing extensive restoration work on this pre-war gem, and it’s always a pleasure to see it roll back through our doors.

Franklins were way ahead of their time — and if you’ve never ridden in one, it’s like floating down the road on your living room sofa. Smooth, quiet, elegant.

From Blank Sheet to Seamless Repair

It’s taken years to get our process here, and we’re still learning and refining every day.

Swipe to see each stage of this 1975 Dodge truck roof repair:
→ Patch panel formed on the Pullmax
→ Back-purged TIG welds
→ No grinding, just planishing using
→ Finished in 801-74 epoxy, with no filler

Every step in the process matters.

This work wouldn’t be what it is without the influence of . His understanding of metal, form, and material science fundamentally changed how I see the process. This panel is a direct result of those lessons.

This is how we restore the integrity of a panel, by shaping it, not hiding it.

We’ve been quiet, but not idle.

Over the past several years, we’ve rebuilt every step in our process, then rebuilt the shop around the ex*****on of that process.

What we’ve learned along the way has reshaped everything we thought we knew. It hasn’t been easy, and I’m forever grateful for a team that continues to grow and push alongside me.

In the photos, the Dart is on deck for final tuning of the reflection lines. By using matte black primer and proper lighting, we’re able to see the surface for what it is and refine the design as it was originally intended.

This is Body by Kiddy.

Around the shop this week at Kiddys.

A little Dart appreciation never hurt anyone.