Top Coupe builders in the New England area (Boston)

Rex Kapriellian

Rex Kapriellian

Well-Known Member
Messages
951
Reaction score
416
Location
Long beach california
I am not familiar with a lot of shops that restore Coupes other than coupeking and Carl in La Jolla.

I was approached by a friend to Recommend a shop to restore a coupe to a very high standard. He’s in the Boston area so I’m looking for a recommendation in the north east area.
 
VSR in NH is highly recommend by many members and I am sure they will be responding to this post.
 
VSR is probably THE premier coupe restorer, definitely on the East coast. They have had coupes invited to the Quail (which won its class) and to Amelia Island to name a few. Mario takes his work and quality very seriously and it shows. His head painter, Steve, is a wizard. I was there on Wednesday and I think he had 2 or 3 coupes in process. If your friend is in Boston, he should take a ride up there and check it out.
 
I would bet Mario has seen his car at one point, he knows all those in the area. I called to talk about a coupe I was looking at years ago and he knew where it had been, what it had done, who had owned it etc.
 
Is there an industry budget to restore one to a high level or maybe even a starting point? is there a difference in cost restoring a CS/CSI Versus a CSL (precious metal upcharge)
 
Hi Rex -- I was talking with Andrew Wilson at the PVGP about his recent 2002 restoration and about the detailed list he prepared for Mario to do his work. Perhaps you should reach out to him about this list. I strongly suspect obtaining a detailed understanding of what a particular car needs is very good mechanism for understanding what a restoration may cost.
 
while i haven't had Mario restore a coupe, i have dealt with him on multiple things (coupe related) as well as discussed a few different projects ... and i have never dealt with a more ethical person and someone who always works to a very high level. Rex, you cannot offer a better recommendation than Mario and the VSR team
 
Rex Kapriellian said:
Is there an industry budget to restore one to a high level or maybe even a starting point? is there a difference in cost restoring a CS/CSI Versus a CSL (precious metal upcharge)
Click to expand...

There is no difference in restoring a CS, CSi or CSL all depends what's found underneath the paint. Also depends on how far you want to take the car. VSR knows these cars inside out, up and down and sideways. Restorations can be anywhere from $30-150K+

VSR restored my CSi over 3 winters from 2013-2016 and worked with my budget during that time.

Advise writing a 'wish list' outlining what the coupe will ultimately be when complete. Best thing to do is call VSR (603)-228-2888 and set up an evaluation of the car to establish condition, work scope and budget. Mario & Chris Langsten are a pleasure to work with. They have restored 3 of my BMWs, Athena the 3.0 CSi, Rodney the 1988 M5 and Vern the 1973 2002Tii.

Hope this helps.
 
Restorations budgets are really just estimates until you take off the paint to see what is hidden. Add to that the rust that hides underneath the front fenders and rockers -its there. You don't really know the restoration requirement and budget until you get in there. Price really depends upon what you are starting with and how far you want to go.

CSLs will have a higher entry price but a potential higher value at the end also. You'll probably want to follow originality closer on a CSL.

Next step is a call to Mario and then a visit to his shop. He'll be brutally honest. Go see a "naked" coupe and you'll better understand the Karmann body madness, why it costs so much to restore and why many people say to buy the best coupe you can find.
 
VSR did a bare metal respray of my coupe and uncovered evidence of prior damage. The cost did escalate but Mario painstakingly reviewed what he was to do and why. The result was excellent! Now, 6 years later I am still very happy.
VSR is not just a body shop. They are capable of mechanical and engine work. They have build my engine, rebuilt the LSD differential, wired electric components and will be taking care of some upholstery needs this winter.
6F67CF14-CB2D-4A66-B080-9C8E4023037C_zps6hvcza9l.jpg
 
Indeed, GR8TWHT looks pretty awesome. I'm just noticing that you got rid of the side markers also. Really looks nice, Stan.

Interesting backdrop for the pic ;)
 
I had my rear seats redone in CSL fabric to match my Scheel fronts. Mario put me in touch with a guy local to me who was sending his e30 M3 up to Mario for a new engine. my seats rode up and back with the M3 at zero cost, and i didn't have to pack them. the work was perfect, but you gotta love the idea that they try to save you money where they can, and where it doesn't make a difference to quality.
P1016120.JPG
.
 
I've been wasting $ in the vintage car world for a while.
In comparison to nationally known restoration shops for other makes of cars I own (Alfa, Lotus, Elva, Jag), I'd say Mario is easily the most professional, no-BS, knows his shit shop. Plus, I'd say his value for money is also near the top. I would chose Mario over LJ or CK in a heartbeat. Because he's so intimately familiar with these cars, he is likely the most efficient shop for E9 restorations, and an idea shop for owners who don't want to be . LJ and CK are great places for used and reproduction parts, but having seen cars done at CK I'd chose VSR1 even if it meant shipping a car all the way across the country.
 
Upholstery? You are finally toning down that intense red interior I suppose?


Stan said:
... They have build my engine, rebuilt the LSD differential, wired electric components and will be taking care of some upholstery needs this winter.
Click to expand...
 
Rex Kapriellian said:
Sounds like a unanimous recommendation. Thank you all!
Click to expand...
Rex, I will pile on. I first saw Mario’s work when I saw Duane Swords e9 at a show at Lars Anderson years back. I was vacationing in the NE. I then visited Mario’s shop a few times, six months apart. I noticed that the cars that were there the first time were all completed and gone when I visited a second time. A very good sign.
As with all vintage cars, you don’t know what you really have until all the paint (and bondo) has been removed. The scope of work on my car changed dramatically once the paint was off. But what I received in the end was fantastic. The paint is superb. And Mario’s pricing is very fair. Not cheap, but fair. I see no need for your friend to look anywhere else.
 
I recently took my 1974 coupe to Mario to get his opinion on condition, originality etc. He spent nearly half a day with me, patiently going through all aspects of the car and making constructive (and informed) suggestions on what needed work and what didn't. He never tried to sell me anything I didn't need. Like others in this thread, I was very impressed with the quality of the work under way there.
 
Great intel., I have forwarded all the input and made the recommendation. Thanks again and keep them coming, it’s refreshing when something is good being said about a person or a business.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top