GREENFIELD — Vail’s Classic Cars Inc. is completing construction on its new location on CR 150W while continuing to work on and sell cars in the meantime until a grand opening projected for April of next year.

Ronald Vail, owner and manager, has been open since 1985, and the family business first started on 847 West Main St., where Vail and his parents bought property and built a shop for Vail to work out of while his mother ran the front desk, his father working for Ford.

In 2000, they bought Greenfield Lanes and transformed it into what it was for the past 22 years, but in 2022, Vail decided it was time for a larger location, one where he could keep his classics that he is working on inside.

Vail said that they had found the current and newest shop in 2022 and had everything finalized on December 1.

Vail said that at the old location, it had come to the point where he wasn’t fully utilizing the outdoor lot. However, at this new location, there was plenty of room for Vail’s car to be stored inside and even had what eventually became the upstairs showroom.

Since the purchase, Vail said they have been in the process of moving from the old location to this one and working on reconstruction, tackling projects room by room. One room that is already completed is the upstairs showroom, which displays approximately 15 cars, from older classics like the 1965 Ford Thunderbird to a newer 2015 Ford Mustang.

“It was a cool facility when we bought it, and I feel like we’ve taken it to the next level,” Vail said. “… Just being able to have everything under cover in one facility, and that’s what this does.”

When working on and building cars, Vail said they travel to many different car shows, some national, and compete with others who also build cars, winning many awards.

“That’s where you start building your reputation,” said Vail, who builds cars for people not just in the states, but all over the world. The first car Vail sold out of the country went to China.

Vail said while his “bread and butter” is mainly the five-state area, he sells cars around the world because of their quality, which is what put them on the map.

While Vail shared that he specializes in Ford Mustangs, they work on any make model and year of car, the oldest being an 1910 Lambert that was originally built in Anderson. He said he considers most cars that they work on family heirlooms because of the sentimental value they carry.

For example, Vail is currently working with a customer who is wanting to recreate his first car he had while in high school.

“We build cars that mean something to somebody,” Vail said.

Vail said they have approximately six restorations in a year while working on about a total of 300 cars for smaller projects such as changing brakes, tune ups and more.

Vail says they also offer consignment, meaning they use their knowledge and expertise to help sell someone’s car for 10% of the profit. They also have heated storage, something new offered since moving to the current location.

Vail said with the business, they just don’t build cars but build relationships.

“Cause by the time you get done dealing with somebody for basically a year when going through the car — ya know, you want to see them at a car dealership or at a car show…,” Vail said.

Vail said being in business since the mid-80s has allowed them to build relationships with the local community.

“Greenfield’s been good. And I look forward to years to come because there is no shortage of needing to find people to work on these cars,” Vail said. “… People love their cars.”

Vail said he’d like to complete construction and renovating of the new space and have a grand opening in April — ideally on the anniversary of the Ford Mustang.

For more information or to see what cars Vail has recently been working on and has for sell, visit vailsclassics.com.

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