Classic Cars Come to Life at Hog City Customs (First Person)

Robert Garza 

President, Hog City Customs Inc.

Springdale

Cars play a big part in people’s lives, and I like to make them look good. I’m one of those types that if you put something in front of me, I like to make it a little bit better or different or more distinct.

We opened Hog City Customs in October 2006 and started with nothing, like any other business. We’ve established some clientele and some accounts with local dealerships as well as repeat customers who build a lot of classic cars. They want a distinct interior.

Mainly what we do here is classic cars and anything out of the ordinary as far as modified vehicles – whatever the customer is asking for and what they want to spend.

If you want an award-winning car, you’re going to invest anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 on a vehicle. Some are to keep, some are to sell and make some money. A lot of customers take pride in what they build and for some, their reputation is on the line.

We like to do a little of everything from carpet to building seats from scratch, building door panels, color fabrics … it all builds into a good interior.

A customer may not know what he wants in a vehicle. We like to go off what it looks like on the exterior. An interior makes the vehicle. If the exterior is subtle, the interior needs to be classic. If it’s highly modified with the newest bells and whistles, we like to spice it up inside.

Our car business is heaviest in the spring and summer when people travel. Motorcycles usually pick up around Bikes, Blues and BBQ. Airplanes are still sporadic.

My Snap-On franchise is my primary business, and the only way I can balance this is my wonderful wife, Heather, and my partners.

It’s a challenge, but I’m always up for a challenge. I’m not good with failure. If you’re going to go into business, you have to give it more than 100 percent nowadays.

– Interviewed by Andrew Jensen