Farm Boy Garage

With Christmas less than a month away, you may be trying to find the perfect gift for the special people in your life, but last-minute shopping can be difficult to say the least. That's why in this week's blog we are going to provide you with some amazing suggestions for gifts for the classic car lover in your life!  We may pride ourselves on our excellent classic car restoration skills, but we also have some great ideas for you to take advantage of this holiday season! Keep reading to find out some of our top picks!  Gift #1: Classic Car Show Tickets It's safe to assume that if you have a classic car lover in your life, they have either been to or want experience a classic car show! The great thing about getting tickets is that you can find tons of different classic car shows that happen all over the nation! Stay local, travel far, make a whole trip out of it!  Your classic car lover will be thrilled that they will get to see tons of fully restored vintage beauties! Plu...

We are proud to be the best muscle car restoration shop in Des Moines, Iowa ! We haven't come across a project that we couldn't handle, and in this blog we want to showcase some of our finest restoration projects!  If you're looking for a place that can restore your classic, no matter how vintage, we can get the job done!  Read below to see some of our favorite restorations we have done to date!  1978 Trans AM 1967 Chevelle 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner It makes us so proud to see these rides restored to their former glory! At Farm Boy Garage we take junk and turn it into treasure! All of our services are done in one place with experts you can trust! To view our full list of services or to contact us about restoring your classic car, visit our website at www.farmboygarage.com!

At Farm Boy Garage, we want you to know and trust who you are working with! Our team consists of experts in classic car restoration. In this week's blog, we are going to let you know who we are, and why you can trust us through every step of the process when it comes to the restoration of your American muscle car!  Read more below!  Nolan Hamilton: Custom Upholstery Nolan Hamilton was born and raised in Boone, Iowa. Nolan completed WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming in 2012. He received specialized training in automotive technology/trim and upholstery technology. He comes to Farm Boy Garage with 5 years experience. Nolan and Bryan became acquainted when Bryan was needing upholstery work done on one of his personal vehicles. Bryan was so impressed with Nolan’s work he handed Nolan his business card and said ” I am opening a  muscle car restoration shop  and would like it if you would come work for me”. A few months go by and Nolan found Bryan’s card in his wallet leading him...

Preparing for a big car show can take weeks, months, and even years depending on how much time you've put into your vintage ride. The effort that goes into the preparation of your classic car can be overwhelming, but our team at Farm Boy Garage has compiled a list of some of our top essential tips for showcasing your classic car!  Read below to find out our top picks!  1. Clean, Clean, Clean!  This should come as no surprise, but you absolutely need to clean your classic car thoroughly prior to the classic car show that you attend. We aren't just saying take a rag and run it across, but deep clean your ride to make yourself competitive! Under the hood, wheels, interior, exterior, and any other spot you could think to clean, no matter how small it may seem, needs to be vigorously cleaned to ensure the best chances of success!  2. Stay Informed of Event Details Again, this shouldn't be too much of a shock, but it is incredibly important to stay updated on event details...

One of the best perks of owning a classic car is being able to show it off! There are a variety of ways you can go about showcasing your car, including car shows, posting to social media, and driving it around. With that, you may find that using your classic car as a daily driver may not be the best option, and can actually have some pretty serious downsides!  Luckily, you've got the experts at Farm Boy Garage to help you navigate owning and restoring classic cars! Read below to find out some of the main risks of daily driving your ride! 1. It Can Be Costly If you have a muscle car, then you are aware of how costly owning one can be, not to mention ensuring regular maintenance on the vehicle. When you select your classic car as your daily driver, you run into the potential of increased wear and tear, which can lead you having to invest much more than you may have budgeted for initially.  This is before mentioning how much it costs to maintain a classic car that isn't driven da...

Some of the greatest vehicles ever created have been the American muscle cars. Throughout the years they have been a staple in history. But, what were the first muscle cars? How have they shaped the muscle cars that have been released in the following years?  In this week's blog, we are going to go over some of the muscle car pioneers! Look over them and see how they compare to your favorite and current day vehicles!  1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 This muscle car is considered to be the first muscle car ever released, so of course we had to include it!  This car had it all- a cool look, a powerful engine, and a light-weight body build! This muscle car was everything you could have wanted. This ride was an astronomical in the influence of other car manufacturers in creating some of our favorite muscle cars in the following years!  Chevy Corvette Shortly after the Oldsmobile Rocket 88, the Chevy Corvette made its fantastic appearance in 1953! Although not as powerful as so...

We are right in the middle of summer, which means it is the prime time for displaying, showcasing, and driving your classic car! But, what about when the fall season approaches?  It's no shocker that classic cars are typically stored for the fall and winter seasons to help avoid any damages or cosmetic issues from arising, but what is the best method of storing? And what impact can you expect from the cooler weather on your ride?  We are going to be answering that in this blog, so be sure to keep reading to find out how the tips we recommend at Farm Boy Garage for storing your classic car.  How the Fall Season Can Damage Your Car As we move into the fall in the coming months, you may be wondering how the fall weather can damage your classic car, and to be frank- there are quite a few.  One of the main dangers the fall weather can bring are falling leaves. If you aren't storing your car in an enclosed space, it is safe to assume that leaves will make their way onto yo...

At Farm Boy Garage, we don't settle for the bare minimum, but rather we strive to ensure that your experience here is an unforgettable one! Your classic car can't be trusted to just anyone, which is why we pride ourselves on our expert knowledge and skill in classic car restoration.  But, don't just take our word on the matter! We have compiled together some of the rave reviews we've gotten from our clients who felt their experience here went above and beyond their expectations!  Read all of the phenomenal reviews Farm Boy Garage has gotten over the years below!  Rave Reviews:  "This place is amazing, and great people. The work they do on the cars here is over the top." -Jeff E. "I have been to the shop numerous times. I have seen the work of these professionals. You will not find a better shop to have lovingly and professionally restored. All the finest details included." -P. W. "I had the pleasure of meeting with the owner, Bryan Kratzer, and ...

You have the car of your dreams! Now what? Aside from ensuring it stays in the best condition, you may feel a little unsure of what and how you should go about showcasing your classic car. You've put so much time and effort into the maintenance and the muscle car restoration so why not show it off?  In this blog, we aim to discuss some ideas on how you can showcase your car in the best ways possible, and how you can do so with some of the tips we provide! To find out how you can take your classic car to the next level, read below!  1. Classic Car Shows This one probably goes without saying, but car shows are a fantastic way to show off your new ride, and even win some prizes in the process! Regardless of where you reside in the United States, you should be able to find plenty of great car shows around, and what better way to get your car out and about than showing it off to a bunch of people?  If you are in Des Moines, IO, there are plenty of car shows to choose from, an...

Owning a classic car is one of the best experiences you can enjoy. Between the restoration process to going on a relaxing ride on the town, there's not much else that tops having one. Granted, with owning a classic car, you do have to ensure you are following proper maintenance and other guidelines to ensure your ride is one that stays with you for many years to come. One of these areas you need to keep in mind is the type of fuel you are using for your vehicle. The team here at Farm Boy Garage is here to help you with the best classic car restoration and provide you with the best tips, with that being said, let's take a look at what you should consider when getting fuel for your classic car. Modern Fuel With a modern car, it should come as no shock as to why modern fuel would be the best selection; however, when working with a vintage vehicle, modern may not always be the best choice for a few different reasons. For starters, fuel that contains ethanol can be detrimental to t...

It shouldn't come as any surprise that cars can overheat, especially in the summer season when the weather is hot and you are taking more joy rides than you typically would in any other season. That being said, the summer season can pose an issue to classic car owners in that in it being a vintage car, it may have some vintage parts. That being said, overheating may occur more commonly than you might expect. Fortunately, the team at Farm Boy Garage has a few tips and tricks to help you navigate your way through keeping your classic car cool this summer.  Have a Solid Thermostat As you can probably imagine, the thermostats initially used in a classic car weren't created with the technology we have today. Ensuring that your thermostat is regulating your car's temperature is a sure way to keep your car from overheating. If it isn't, then you may have an issue of age on your hands. If your thermostat fails, it remains closed and can cause your car to overheat very quickly. ...

If you are bringing a classic back to its former glory , there are essentially two choices. You can have the car restored to its original factory design and specs or you can customize the car to your desires. Both sides have valid points when it comes to choosing one over the other, and before you can make that decision, you must know the difference between the two. Farm Boy Garage will explain the differences between restoration and restomod . With this information, you can decide on what to do with your classic or muscle car. Restoration Most people will understand the concept of restoration. You are simply bringing a classic or muscle car back to its original state, just like when it came off the showroom floor. In a restoration project, you will want to use factory OEM parts as much as possible, keeping it as original as possible. When finished, the car will look original, just like the car has been preserved. Restomod What is a restomod? This concept is simply a mashup of restora...

Buying a classic car for the first time can bring up the possibility of not understanding all of the ins and outs of this new world you have entered into. Buying a classic car , in a way, enters you into a new community of amazing people that share your interests in loving antique cars. It is a great world to be in, and our classic car restoration shop wants you to have all of the helpful information you can have upfront so that you know what to expect. Keep reading this week's blog for 3 things you should be aware of that may delay your classic car restoration process and how you can avoid this issue in the future. Buying your classic car without getting it inspected. Any time you purchase a classic car, you should get it inspected. Not only for safety reasons, but you do not want to be fooled into buying something that's not entirely what has really been described. For example, if someone is trying to sell you a 67 Chevelle, you likely want a genuine 67 Chevelle, not someth...

Summer is officially winding down, but we aren’t done having fun just yet. Labor Day weekend is a great way to celebrate one last summer hoorah before we get ready for the fall season. Labor Day in Des Moines offers a ton of great activities around the area. Farm Boy Garage is here this week to share some of the fun things you can do this holiday weekend! Labor Day Events in Des Moines! Riverview Music Festival Saturday, September 4th 12:00 pm – 10:30 pm Prairie Meadows Riviera Amphitheater A brand new music festival in Des Moines, headlined by the Atlanta hip-hop duo EarthGang. This one day festival will feature national acts alongside regional and local talent. Taste of the Junction Friday, September 3rd 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Valley Community Center Enjoy a fun evening with food trucks, live music, art craft vendors, caricature artists, and more! Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow Saturday, September 4th – Monday, September 6th 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sleepy Hollow Sports Park Plan to visit ...