Top 10 Custom Car Shops Turning Dreams into Machines
Custom cars have come a long way! Remember when hotrods raced in the Southern California desert during the Great Depression? Today, custom car shops have improved on customization by having rugged off-roaders and exotic hyper-tuned supercars. Here are ten must-visit custom car shops that redefine what’s possible on four wheels.
SpeedKore
This custom shop pushed the limits of carbon-fiber engineering with lightweight, high-performance muscle cars. You can check out the mesmerizing builds on their website, including the fully carbon-fiber-bodied Dodge Demon and “Tantrum” Charger, each with a 9.0L V8. SpeedKore’s restomod work has attracted Robert Downey Jr., Eddie Van Halen, and Kevin Hart.
Ringbrothers
Since starting in 2011, Ringbrothers has become one of the most visited shops for custom classics. It thrills celebrities like Jay Leno by building impressive versions of vintage muscle cars. This Spring Green-based shop fits classics with top-of-the-line, high-performance powertrains, luxe interiors, and wild bodywork. They built the award-winning “Defiant” AMC Javelin and the carbon-fiber-bodied ’69 Camaro.
Singer Vehicle Design
Rob Dickinson grew his vision to “reimagine” the classic Porsche 911 into a full-blown business. Today, it’s the go-to shop for tuning Porsches. Henry Catchpole even commissioned Singer’s $1.8m DLS Porsche 911 restomod, which has a screaming 9000rpm flat-six. Porsche North America built all the engines in Singer’s Classic models according to predetermined specifications.
RUF
When RUF released their custom-built CTR “Yellowbird,” it became the fastest production car worldwide at 213 mph. Although RUF built the vehicle from a lightweight 3.2 Porsche 911 Carrera, they manufacture cars under their name, with hand-built engines and chassis. This legendary German carmaker has blossomed from a mechanic shop to turning Porsches into high-performance beasts.
Superformance
As its name suggests, Superformance is a top-tier Southern California-based custom shop famous for recreating high-performance customs. They’ve worked on legendary sports cars like the Ford GT40 and Corvette Grand Sport. Although they make “continuation” models with modern tech, they retain the vehicle’s original designs. Superformance even received an official license from Carroll Shelby to build the only Shelby Cobra replica.
ICON
ICON 4×4 started as a husband-and-wife business in 1996. Now, it’s one of the most respected vehicle customization outfits for resto-modified FJ Cruisers and Ford Broncos. Their ability to upgrade old-school legends with modern engines and high-tech interiors has attracted famous customers like Jonathan Ward and Joe Rogan. With prices stretching from $200,000 to $1 million, these custom builds offer unparalleled craftsmanship.
West Coast Customs
Many of you will remember West Coast Customs from the popular TV show “Pimp My Ride.” You can’t easily forget their wild, jaw-dropping custom cars with unique designs. They’ve had celebrity collaborations with clientele like Justin Bieber and Microsoft. West Coast Customs never fails to push the boundaries of creativity with tricked-out supercars and outlandish custom interiors.
NOVITEC
This Bavarian shop’s history dates back to 1989. NOVITEC is a leading tuner for exotic sports cars like the Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. They enhance ultrafast supercars by adding carbon-fiber body kits, performance upgrades, and custom interiors. In addition to pushing cars to the extreme in speed and aesthetics, NOVITEC also sells custom-made wheels, exhausts, and other additional upgrades.
Mansory
Though German-based, Mansory has a solid American presence thanks to ultra-luxury customizations of brands like McLaren, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley. In 2024, they transformed Lamborghini’s four-door Urus into a $2 million two-door. They built only eight units! Mansory’s bold designs, flashy paint jobs, and jaw-dropping interiors serve an elite clientele with superstars like Floyd Mayweather and Christiano Ronaldo.
INKAS AVM
INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing (AVM) in Toronto creates some of the world’s most advanced bulletproof vehicles. They fortify high-end cars like Mercedes, Cadillac, and Range Rover with bulletproof windows, blast protection, electrified door handles, and run-flat tires. Their battle-tested builds are popular among VIPs, diplomats, and security-conscious individuals who want security without compromising looks.
