Services
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"We have found that there is no substitute for quality work, which calls for careful, conscientious attention to the small details, and which involves time, expeditiously spent, to perform and execute a job well done."
Tom Nelson, the owner
Fuel problems fixed
Electrical Wiring: repair and diagnosis
Header and exhaust work
Mechanical Restoration
Brake rebuilding and disc brake conversion
Our Story
Welcome to TJ Auto! My name is Tom Nelson and I was raised in the car business. Our family collected and restored many antique and classic cars in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area including many Ford Model T and Model A cars, a 1939 Packard V12 limo, 1930 Pierce Arrow sedan, 1925 Franklin Boattail roadster, 1929 Cord L29 Brougham sedan, 1926 Stutz sedan, Porsche 356, Alfa Romeos, a 1960 Jaguar XK 150 roadster, a 1967 Jaguar XKE roadster, 1925 Franklin air cooled boat tailed roadster, a Jordan Playboy roadster, and many dirt track sprint cars including an Ardun powered flathead and a Ford Model B sprint car with Riley overhead valve conversion. I moved to Raleigh in 2000 and in 2005, I opened my own business: T J Auto, Inc where we sold many thousand late model used cars while also restoring antique and classic cars. In 2014, we decided to concentrate solely on buying, selling and servicing antique and classic cars. We have serviced, repaired and restored many foreign and domestic antique and classic cars, including: many Porsches 356, 911, 912, Karmann Ghias, VW Beetles, Chevrolets, Fords, GM, Chryslers, Studebaker, Fiats, Buicks and other brands including race and track cars. My first car that I worked on was a Jaguar XJ150 which my father purchased when I was 14 years old. It did not run and was not drivable. He told me: "If you work on this car and get it running and driving safely, then this will be your car when you turn 16". So with my father's help we restored it and I drove it almost daily when weather permitted (and sometimes when it did not!).
Restoration process
19 YEARS
Continual business
A+
Rating from BBB
Numerous
Diverse projects
A Glimpse into Our Growth
I'm P. Bolebruch, and after taking my '65 Buick Skylark to TJ Auto, I'm convinced it's a hidden gem. The team is incredibly kind, walking me through each repair with photo and video updates. They went above and beyond, finding and fixing additional issues, making sure I was part of the process. Highly recommended for your classic car needs!
I brought my '76 VW Westfalia to Tom, and he saved me from an expensive misdiagnosis. It only needed valve adjustments, not a full rebuild! Tom's shop not only fixed it at a reasonable cost but also provided exceptional service, with his wife even offering a 40-minute ride home. I'm thrilled with their honesty and highly recommend them.
Lisa Hall
Tom, Joe, and the crew did wonders on my '64 Fairlane. They tackled my list of concerns with excellent communication, sending progress pics and videos. Tom takes the time to understand and answer all questions thoroughly. Their detail-oriented, fair, and honest approach earned them five stars from me!
Paul Young
After careful research, I trusted my '81 Fiat Spider to Tom, Nancy, Joe, and their team. They lived up to their reputation, expertly handling everything from tie rods to a new soft top, all at a fair price. The pictures sent during the process were a nice touch. I highly recommend them to all classic car enthusiasts.
J.T. Raymond
Tom and Nancy run a well-oiled and honest shop. I've relied on their expertise for my '77 Ford F100, valuing their transparency and advice. They quickly addressed a recent electrical issue, and I respect their careful workmanship. It's a comfort to have a team with such integrity for my classic car needs.
Scott Hazard
Testimonials
Contact Us
EFI & HEI Installation
and tuning
LS Engine Swap, Installation & Tuning
Tuning & Drivability
Metal work, body work and paint
Carburetor Rebuilding
Diagnostic
Mechanical restoration
Disassembly
Documenting the projected costs and scope of the restoration work.
Written estimate
Metal work, body work
and paint
Final
inspection
Test drive
and tuning
Reassembly