MANSFIELD — After being in the car restoration business since 1990, one thing is fairly clear — Safety Fast Restoration (118 Park Ave. E.) is good at what it does.
The company, which specializes in restoring primarily 1930-era MGs back to their glory days, has won numerous awards for its work over the past quarter century.
“We’ve done really well with Antique Auto Club of America meetings and Concours d’Elegance events that some of my own cars and some customer cars as well,” said Tom Metcalf, owner of Safety Fast Restoration.
Metcalf realized the British cars as his favorite at a young age.
“When I was in high school I thought (the 1948 MG TC) was it. (Other cars) were popular then, but I thought the MG TC was as good as it gets. When I was in College I got an MGPB, which is pre-war. It was built in 1935. That was my first car.”
Since obtaining his first MG, Metcalf caught the bug. He now spends his time in the basement of 118 Park Avenue East, among the cars and their parts.
“We see about 12 cars a year, and we finish maybe two a year. It’s a niche market,” he said. “We totally disassemble the car down to its last nut and bolt. Usually the frame needs to be straightened, all the original parts need to be stripped apart and we rebuild from there.”
When it’s all said and done, Metcalf said total restoration can cost over $100,000. But the price is worth it to those who have it done.
Metcalf and his five workers have had national recognition for their craftsmanship.
“Recognition comes with more business. It’s nice. We’ve won Best in Class at Amelia Island five times, Best in Class at Hilton Head five times also. I just won with one of my own cars Best in Class.”
The cars are judged for their aesthetic appeal, craftsmanship and care for the car.
“Everything is 100 percent authentic and the restoration work nowadays is a much higher quality than the cars were originally,” the classic car enthusiast said. “That’s just the way it is with any car’s restoration because materials are better, craftsmanship is better.
“You just spend more money on the restoration than the car was 50-, 60-years ago.”
Metcalf’s business is currently housing eight cars in various stages of completion. His love for the cars has spread to his family. He is working on a iris blue MG for his wife and his son’s red MG is in the shop as well.
“It started out doing a single car at a time,” He said. “My background is computers. I quit that and started on a friend’s MG and it sort of started from there. I’ve always been a car fan — and MG fan.”
