Stellar Rod and Custom

09/29/2026

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

At Stellar Rod and Custom, we'd like to start a conversation about something we believe is important to the future of the automotive restoration and customization industry: the people who do the work.

We hear a lot about how difficult it is for shops to find and keep good employees. But maybe we need to spend more time listening to the people we're trying to attract.

If you're a mechanic, fabricator, painter, body technician, or work in any other area of the restoration and custom automotive industry, we want to hear from you.

What makes a shop a great place to work? What makes you want to stay? What makes you decide it's time to leave? And when you're considering a new job, what are the things that matter most to you?

Maybe it's compensation, benefits, scheduling, management, the type of projects you're working on, the people you work alongside, or something entirely different.

There are no wrong answers, and nothing is off the table.

Tell us what you love about your job, what frustrates you, what you'd change, and what your ideal workplace would look like if you could build it yourself.

Our goal is simple: to help make the automotive restoration and customization industry a place where talented people want to work, enjoy what they do, and want to stay.

We don't pretend to have all the answers. That's why we're asking.

Please share your thoughts in the comments, and SHARE THIS POST with anyone you know working in the industry. The more voices we hear from, the more we can learn.

We're listening. Let's hear it!

AutoBody AutomotiveCareers SkilledTrades StellarRodAndCustom

09/17/2026

Continuing with what I guess is now my gratitude series...

Today I want to recognize Jake Montanari.

One of the things I always appreciated most about Jake was his endless desire to learn and improve. He never seemed content to simply know enough to get the job done. He wanted to understand why, he wanted to get better, and he was willing to challenge himself and step outside of his comfort zone to do it.

Jake brought a strong work ethic to the shop, tremendous attention to detail, and an enthusiasm for the work that was hard to miss. He genuinely cared about doing things right. He took pride in what he was working on, cared about the finished product, and brought a positive attitude with him while doing it. And our customers noticed too.

Watching him grow as a mechanic over the years was something I was proud to be a part of. He was willing to tackle things he hadn't done before, ask questions, learn from mistakes, and keep pushing himself to become better at his craft.

I've been thinking lately about how easy it is to notice what could be better while forgetting to acknowledge what is already good. I'm trying to be more intentional about doing the latter.

When I look back at Jake's years at Stellar, there is a lot to appreciate: the effort, the countless hours of hard work, the pride he took in his craft, the willingness to keep learning, and the contributions he made to Stellar Rod & Custom.

For all of that, I'm grateful.

08/27/2026

Got plans for the car THIS SATURDAY?

If not, here's a good reason to get it out.

Accelerating Hope is holding their Drive for Hope Car Show this Saturday at The Burroughs in Plymouth. It's a local charity doing some genuinely good work for families facing hardship, and we'd love to see the car community turn out and help make this a great event for them.

Bring the hot rod, classic, muscle car, truck, late-model — whatever you've got. Or just come out, check out the cars, grab some food and enjoy the day.

Saturday, August 29 • 10 AM–3 PM

All the details are in the flyer. Come out and help fill the place up!

08/26/2026

This Saturday in Plymouth!! Please share

The wait is over!

The countdown to Accelerating Hope: Drive for Hope 2026 is officially on (71 days😉), and we're ready to fill The Burroughs with incredible vehicles, amazing vendors, and a community coming together for a great cause.

Vehicle Pre-Registration: $20

Want to compete for awards? Enter as many categories as you'd like for $5 per category. One award will be presented in each category.

Vendor Spaces: $25 for a 10' x 10' booth space

Let's fill the lot, make some memories, and make a real impact right here in our community.

Register now:
https://linktr.ee/acceleratinghope

08/26/2026

Stellar Rod & Custom is looking for an experienced Hot Rod & Custom Car Builder to join our team in Plymouth, Michigan.

We’re looking for proven, hands-on experience. If you’ve spent years building, repairing, modifying, diagnosing, and improving classic or performance cars—and have the skills to show for it—we want to hear from you.

More than anything, we’re looking for a creative problem solver. Custom cars rarely come together exactly as planned. We want someone whose instinct when faced with a challenge is to figure out a solution.

The right person should be self-directed, resourceful, detail-oriented, and take genuine pride in doing things correctly. You should be comfortable working independently and have a high standard for the quality of your finished work.

We maintain a clean, well equipped shop and our projects cover a wide range of work, including:

Classic American cars and trucks

Hot rods, customs and restorations

Engine and transmission swaps

Chassis swaps

Performance upgrades and EFI

Brakes, suspension and steering

Electrical systems and troubleshooting

Custom installation, assembly and fabrication

Diagnosing and solving the unusual problems that come with building modified vehicles

What we offer:

Competitive pay based on experience and ability

Employer-matched 401(k)

Interesting, varied work on some very cool cars

A small-shop environment where skill, craftsmanship and good judgment are valued

If this sounds like you, send us a message and tell us a little about your experience. Photos of your work are encouraged.

Stellar Rod & Custom
Plymouth, Michigan