Our work is focused on classic and vintage vehicles, with an emphasis on restoring the body, structure, and sheet metal correctly rather than simply making a repair look good enough to get down the road.
This position is primarily focused on sheet-metal fabrication, rust repair, and panel replacement, with some frame straightening and structural repair using our professional frame-measuring and straightening equipment.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Sheet-metal fabrication and repair on classic cars and trucks
- Removing and replacing rusted sheet metal
- Fabricating patches and replacement panels
- Quarter-panel, rocker-panel, floor-pan, trunk-pan and other body-panel replacement
- Fitting and welding replacement panels with proper gaps and alignment
- MIG and TIG welding
- Working with original, reproduction and donor sheet metal
- Repairing and fabricating structural sheet-metal components
- Cutting, forming, shaping and fitting metal to match the original vehicle
- Performing some frame and structural repairs
- Measuring and straightening frames using a Chief frame straightening and measuring system
- Diagnosing frame damage and determining the proper repair procedure
- Working alongside other restoration technicians to bring vehicles through the restoration process
The Kind of Work We Do
You won’t be spending your day repairing late-model collision damage.
Our shop works on classic cars, muscle cars, vintage trucks and restoration projects, including vehicles from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and beyond.
Projects can involve anything from repairing localized rust to replacing complete quarter panels, rebuilding rocker structures, fabricating sheet metal, repairing frame damage and bringing badly deteriorated vehicles back to solid, usable condition.
We take pride in doing the work correctly and paying attention to the details that matter on a restoration.
What We’re Looking For
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience with classic car restoration or automotive sheet-metal repair
- Strong sheet-metal fabrication skills
- Experience with panel replacement and fitting
- Experience with MIG welding; TIG experience is a plus
- The ability to fabricate parts when an off-the-shelf replacement isn’t available
- An understanding of proper panel alignment, gaps and metal fitment
- Experience repairing rusted or deteriorated sheet metal
- Experience with frame straightening is a strong plus
- Experience using a Chief frame measuring system is highly desirable
- The ability to read measurements and work accurately to specifications
- Good mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills
- Pride in workmanship and attention to detail
- The ability to work independently while being part of a restoration team
Experience With Classic Cars Matters
We’re looking for someone who understands that restoring a classic car is different from repairing a modern collision vehicle.
Sometimes the correct repair means fabricating a piece of metal from scratch. Sometimes it means carefully removing a damaged panel without destroying the surrounding structure. Sometimes it means figuring out how the car was originally built before deciding how it should be repaired.
If you enjoy figuring out how to make old cars right, this may be the job for you.
What We Offer
- Work on interesting classic and performance vehicles
- A professional shop environment
- A steady variety of restoration and fabrication projects
- The opportunity to develop your skills in both sheet-metal restoration and structural repair
- Modern frame-measuring and straightening equipment
- A team that takes pride in quality workmanship
- Long-term opportunity with an established restoration business
This is a hands-on position for someone who wants to build things, repair things and see the results of their work.
If you’re the type of person who would rather spend the day cutting, forming, welding and fitting sheet metal on a classic car than doing the same repair over and over on late-model vehicles, we’d like to hear from you.
Application Process
If you are interested in this apprenticeship opportunity and possess a genuine passion for automotive metalwork, please submit your resume along with a brief statement outlining your interest and any relevant experience.
We look forward to welcoming a dedicated apprentice who shares our commitment to excellence in vehicle repair and restoration. This position provides a clear pathway for skill development and long-term career growth in the automotive fabrication industry.
Centerline Frame – Precision, Quality, and Craftsmanship in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Give us a call 651-233-3272 or fill out the contact form below!