Hot Rod Business Rumbles Into Lakewood

Vintage car and hot rod restoration has arrived on Madison Avenue.

Rex Napier opened Rex’s Rods and Customs at 14041 Madison Avenue, in the space where Gasbox motorcycle shop was most-recently located.

The chopper outfit outgrew the space and moved to a larger location in North Olmsted.

But the 3,000-square-foot space is perfect for Napier, who’s looking to trade the rigidities of his 9-to-5 day job for his passion of restoring vintage cars and customizing hot rods. 

“When the money starts rolling in — and I hope it does — I will quit my day job to do this full-time,” he said.

“This is my passion.”

Napier who’s owned more than 100 cars, has been working on vintage cars since he was 16 years old.

Right now, Napier, 40, is the only employee, but as the president of the car club The Resurrectors, he said he has some help.

A refabricated hot rod ranges from about $4,000 for a “rat rod,” to $35,000 for a premium hot rod, “depending on what you want.”

Most of the cars Napier works on were made before 1964. His customers come from all over the country.

“The guy who owns the building told me that the last three people who were in this building all left to buy their own buildings because it wasn’t enough room,” said Napier.

“So I am hoping that this building still has a lot of luck left in it.”