832-717-0774
The Restoration Ranch
Expert Repair, Restorations and Restomods
One Small Idea Birthed A Legend...
A whispering thought in the heart of a builder grew to become the largest and most prestigious choice for classic car repair and restorations in Houston Texas.
​
That original restoration idea was rooted in three big picture ideas: Offering a transparent time and materials build/bill process. Creating a work environment filled with craftsman from various build disciplines gathered together under one visionary standard. Proving no job is too big or no job too small.
​
The City Classic Cars Restoration Ranch is home of the signature CityMod Restomod. The CityMod is known throughout the aftermarket industry and Houston Texas for uncompromising build standards in restoration, attention to details and classic car craftsmanship. The City Classic Cars story is one of expert repair, restorations and powerful restomods serving Texans.
Hockley Texas
To understand and appreciate our classic automotive restoration world is to understand the region of Texas and the training regimen of Championship horses. The brand has adapted its restoration campus to the same principles and flow measures used to train and race championship Thoroughbreds. Great horse programs develop horses on the farm while perfecting this training at the race track. The Farm is where horses get their "bottom" or foundation from the ground up and the track is where they "race". Horses start on the farm with hopes of graduating to the track.
So think of our state of the art automotive restoration facility located in a suburb of Houston Texas resting on nearly 5 acres in Harris County about 15 miles from Houston and about 90 miles from Austin Texas at the intersection of State Highway 290 and State Highway 99 off Becker road in the southern living environment of Hockley Texas as the place where automotive champions are built.
​
With all of the work done at our spacious facilities located in the greater Houston Texas area, you can trust that your project is in great hands. If you’re looking for a classic car shop that specializes in full restorations, custom restomods and classic car repairs, you’ve come to the right place!
Facility Tour
The Restoration
Office
Sabra has a dedicated office team to handle the business administration, project management, and customer update process to ensure he and his crew of restoration craftsmen can stay focused on the work. This area of the Restoration facility is anchored by Carol Sosa, the GM, Sara Ann, Client Relations, and Chris Knight Marketing and Brand Management.
The Receiving
Barn
Every car that comes to the facility, like a horse entering a new race track, must first enter the receiving barn which in this case is Bay 2. Although Sabra Johnson has an office in the administrative wings, like every great trainer he spends most of his time with the automotive horses.
The Galloping
Track
Horses are born knowing how to run, but they have to be developed to race as champions. The track is where they learn the art of racing. Sabra views his north building as his Galloping Track where the vehicles are broken, legged up, conditioned, and learn to master the “gates”. In this building, Sabra has a dedicated fabrication and suspension Shop for building and modifying chassis, a vintage body shop where cars are worked the old way and finally this building houses Sabra’s paint booth, state-of-the-art mixing room, and the recipes to his specialty signature colors.
The Holding
Barn
About 4 hours before the race, horses head to a secure “holding barn” to ensure there is no tampering and to ensure horses are ready when their turn for the gates arrive. Sabra has a Barn dedicated to “holding” restorations post paint. In the holding barn, projects are broadly assembled, pre-mechanicals are completed and interior touches are finished. Large shelves and countertops allow the many multiple parts to be laid out and the car remains in a quarantine state.
Performance
Stables
Once a horse is trained and racing, he will need rehabilitation and special care to keep winning championships. Classic and Vintage cars require rehabilitation and mechanical maintenance to keep them moving whether that’s minor brake services or major wiring overhauls and safety upgrades. This area of the Shop is dedicated to only servicing classic, vintage and antique for “heavy line” work and restorative mechanical work. In horse racing rehabilitation involves regular examinations, nerve blocks, thermography, radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopy, fully equipped lab and technician all play crucial roles in developing an individualized rehabilitation program based on your horse’s injuries or needs. Sabra has a signature classic car rehabilitation center for cars already built and restored.
The Parade
Paddock
The horse paddock is where the runners in the forthcoming race are paraded for racegoers to get a proper look at them. The parade also gets the horses moving and relaxed. The horses are led around by their grooms, with the process designed to help them stay warm and focused. Racegoers can get an early look at the horses without saddling equipment to assess their raceway demeanor and fitness. In this phase, Sabra has a special Bay where he gets the cars moving in a controlled environment at the front of the Shop area where all staffers and guests like to look and see the iron horses run. Nearer to race time, horses will move from the pre-parade ring to the main paddock. Owners and trainers (often collectively referred to as ‘connections’) will be waiting for the jockeys to appear and to talk over their tactics for the race before the jockeys get aboard their horses and depart the parade ring to go out on the track. Before moving to the ed station, this is where Sabra invites his clients out to view and feel the milestone moments of this phase.
The Test
Barn
Pre and post-race sampling protocols at the racetrack test barn are the industry’s front line for ensuring fair, safe racing through medication and substance integrity. The cars start at Sabra’s bays and the last few steps end at Sabra’s workstation in the shop. Although Sabra inspects every department and oversees every step of the process, he anchors Steps 3 and 22-25, or shall we say the beginning and the end. Like every great trainer, there are some things you must do yourself.
The Road to Restoration Starts Here
Congratulations on starting your restoration journey! Upon completion of the general intake questionnaire, our General Manager will contact you to schedule your personal consultation.
